Moving to Dapto NSW 2530
What the official numbers say about living in Dapto — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $400 a week, against a median household income of $1,475 a week.
About 74% of homes are owner-occupied and 25% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Dapto grew 2% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (10,735 → 10,954 people).
Around 72% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: Macedonian, Spanish, Arabic.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Dapto scores below the national average (decile 3 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (78% of workers), while 19% work from home.
Nearest train station: Dapto, 1 km north.
Nearest railway halt: Kembla Grange, 4.2 km north-east.
Nearest airport: Shellharbour Airport, 6.4 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 80 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 8 schools · 5 cafes & restaurants · 6 supermarkets · 13 parks — see them all on the Dapto profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Lakelands Public School 350 m · Dapto High School 750 m · St John's Catholic Primary School 1.2 km · Koonawarra Public School 1.3 km · Kanahooka High School 1.3 km · Mount Brown Primary 1.7 km · Dapto Primary School 1.8 km · Hayes Park Primary School 2.4 km
Groceries: IGA 700 m · Woolworths 800 m · Pilipinas Emporium 850 m · Coles 900 m · ALDI 1000 m · Horsely Convenience Centre 1.9 km
Parks and reserves: Lakelands Park 300 m · Hartigan Park 1 km · Reed Park 1.3 km · Lion's Park 1.5 km · Gilba Road Reserve 1.6 km · Dimond Brothers Park 1.7 km · Khan Park 1.9 km · Kundle Street Reserve 1.9 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Dapto, most often seen first: Common Myna · Magpie-lark · Australian Raven · Welcome Swallow · Australian Magpie · Willie Wagtail.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Dapto, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dapto here | 10,954 | — | 3/10 | 16% |
| Koonawarra | 3,732 | — | 1/10 | 14% |
| Avondale | 1,695 | — | 3/10 | 35% |
| Kanahooka | 5,698 | — | 5/10 | 10% |
| Horsley | 9,437 | — | 7/10 | 11% |
| Kembla Grange | 1,452 | — | 9/10 | 20% |
| Haywards Bay | 1,280 | — | 9/10 | 6% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Wollongong — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Whitlam — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2530 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Dapto profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $400 a week, and about 25% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 2% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 10,735 people to 10,954. It sits about 80 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Dapto station is roughly 1 km away. Local government is Wollongong council, and the federal seat is Whitlam.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Dapto vs Kanahooka · Dapto vs Horsley.
Nearby guides: Koonawarra · Avondale · Kanahooka · Horsley · Kembla Grange · Haywards Bay.
Keep an eye on Dapto
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