Dudley
NSW 2290 · Lake Macquarie
2,505 (2021) → 2,576 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Lake Macquarie local government area (est. 222,310 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Dudley is a moderate growth suburb in Lake Macquarie, NSW 2290, about 109km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.49M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 29/100, and is right by the coast. Dudley has an overall score of 52/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 91/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2290 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (2.59%), USA (0.64%), South Africa (0.6%), Canada (0.52%), Germany (0.52%)
Top languages: German (0.48%), Thai (0.32%), Cantonese (0.24%), French (0.24%), Italian (0.24%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1036 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Dudley Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1095
Nearby (within 10km)
- Redhead Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1089
- Whitebridge High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1022
- Charlestown East Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.8kmICSEA 1036
- Wiripaang Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 3kmICSEA 853
- St Paul's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3kmICSEA 1023
- St Mary's Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 3kmICSEA 1062
- Kahibah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.1kmICSEA 1076
- Hunter Sports High SchoolSecondary · Government · 3.1kmICSEA 955
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.3kmICSEA 1102
- St Pius X Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.6kmICSEA 847
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.8kmICSEA 1037
- Windale Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 4.1kmICSEA 793
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Some green space
Around the national average — a reasonable amount of parks and outdoor space nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Rich cultural scene
Well above average — a strong mix of cultural venues nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Childcare desert
Very limited childcare services in and around this suburb — families may face significant travel for childcare.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Lake Macquarie
Compare Dudley with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Dudley
Is Dudley safe?
Dudley has a residential safety score of 91/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 1,956 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Dudley?
In Dudley, the median house price is $1.49M and the median unit price is $672K. Median weekly house rent is $720.
How far is Dudley from Sydney CBD?
Dudley is about 109.0 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 249 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Dudley?
Dudley has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1095 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Dudley?
Dudley has a transport score of 29/100 and 24 bus stops.