Moving to Barnsley NSW 2278
What the official numbers say about living in Barnsley — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $360 a week, against a median household income of $1,784 a week.
About 86% of homes are owner-occupied and 13% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Barnsley shrank 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,813 → 1,735 people).
Around 80% of households are families, averaging 2.7 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: Greek, Macedonian, Tagalog.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Barnsley scores below the national average (decile 3 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (82% of workers), while 16% work from home.
Nearest train station: Cockle Creek, 3.3 km south-east.
Nearest airport: Lake Macquarie Airport, 16 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 110 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 13 schools · 1 cafe or restaurant · 1 supermarket · 8 parks — see them all on the Barnsley profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Barnsley Public School 450 m · Appletree Early Education and Preschool 500 m · Edgeworth Heights Public School 1.8 km · St Benedicts Primary School 2.1 km · West Wallsend High School 2.3 km · Edgeworth Public School 2.8 km · West Wallsend Public School 3 km · Argenton Public School 3.7 km
Groceries: Woolworths 1.7 km
Parks and reserves: Taylor Memorial Park 500 m · Estellville Park 1.7 km · Joseph Holmes Memorial Park 1.9 km · Centennial Park 2.1 km · Pasterfield Sports Complex 2.2 km · Kane Bruce Memorial Park 2.6 km · Gregory Park 2.8 km · Country Grove Reserve 2.9 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Barnsley, most often seen first: Black Swan · Australian Pelican · Magpie-lark · Australian Magpie · Chestnut Teal · Superb Fairy-wren.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Barnsley, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley here | 1,735 | — | 3/10 | 54% |
| Holmesville | 1,413 | — | 2/10 | 36% |
| West Wallsend | 2,981 | — | 3/10 | 73% |
| Cameron Park | 9,977 | — | 8/10 | 49% |
| Edgeworth | 6,401 | — | 2/10 | 40% |
| Teralba | 2,654 | — | 6/10 | 59% |
| Boolaroo | 1,636 | — | 4/10 | 5% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Lake Macquarie — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Hunter — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2278 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Barnsley profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $360 a week, and about 13% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,813 people to 1,735. It sits about 110 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Cockle Creek station is roughly 3.3 km away. Local government is Lake Macquarie council, and the federal seat is Hunter.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Barnsley vs Holmesville · Barnsley vs West Wallsend.
Nearby guides: Holmesville · West Wallsend · Cameron Park · Edgeworth · Teralba · Boolaroo.
Keep an eye on Barnsley
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