Median house price
$550k
-8.3% change
NSW · Kempsey Council
Crescent Head, 2440
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,535
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+2.5%
Median age
50
Median income
$1,317/wk
Employment rate
49.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$550,000
Languages at home
4.4%non-English
Most common: Portuguese, French, German
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Well away from Sydney, Crescent Head is a coastal smaller community built around sand, sea and space. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
Desirability sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus safety the main drag compared with similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Crescent Head snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$480/wk
Houses $490 · Units $380
Population (ERP)
1,535
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.9%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#117
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
94th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
55th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
41st
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 26.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6064th in Australia
- State rank
- 1957th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #117 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #192 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $380
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $490
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $480
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 112
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $550,000
- Median price change
- -8.3%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
1,535(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +2.5% over 5 years · 55th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +2.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +10
- Change in 5 years
- +38
- Growth rank in NSW
- 55th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~1,550), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,633
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,317
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 104 of 747
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,591
- Employment rate
- 49.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 534 / 58 / 47 (+ 10 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 252
- Against the person
- 67
- Against property
- 97
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 164.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 24 residents
- State safety percentile
- 94.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order264
- Breach Bail Conditions556
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment411
- Malicious Damage To Property362
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 987
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 41th
School list
- Crescent Head Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 987 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 167 students · Top SEA quarter 12%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
15 public transport stops in this suburb
- Crescent Head Rd At Beranghi Rd
- Crescent Head Rd Opp Beranghi Rd
- High St At Kinchela St
- Mainski Inn Crescent Head, Pacific St
- Rankine St Opp Gowing St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Lloyd ParkPark
- Yarri Barri Nature ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Kempsey District Hospital (19.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 55
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.8
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 439 mm · ~55 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 494 mm · ~62 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 252 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 279 mm · ~35 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 23 proposals
August 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation33 Banksia Drive Crescent Head 2440Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces29 BANKSIA DRIVE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Under Assessment
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club1 RANKINE STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 NOONGAH TERRACE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Under Assessment
- Subdivision1718 CRESCENT HEAD ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Swimming pool31 BANKSIA DRIVE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport189 BERANGHI ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool711 POINT PLOMER ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)5 ROY KEMP CLOSE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Supporting Development50 MAIN STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 OFFSHORE LANE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Subdivision; AgricultureBERANGHI ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
April 2026
- Subdivision1022 CRESCENT HEAD ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 ROSEVALE LANE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation174 NEVILLE MORTON DRIVE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17A DULCONGHI STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Subdivision16 MAY STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Commercial livestock grazing; Agriculture1718 CRESCENT HEAD ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
February 2026
- Farm buildings; Erection of a new structure733 BERANGHI ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space7 MAIN STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 SUNSHINE LANE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 KOROGORA STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure173 NEVILLE MORTON DRIVE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure165 NEVILLE MORTON DRIVE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1 SUNSHINE LANE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure103 RANCH ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Deferred Commencement
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use103 NEVILLE MORTON DRIVE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development39 SKYLINE CRESCENT CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure910 MARIA RIVER ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development28 HODGSON STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home66 SKYLINE CRESCENT CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Ancillary commercial development1734 CRESCENT HEAD ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia155 NEVILLE MORTON DRIVE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Stairway24 HODGSON STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 DULCONGHI STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah32 SKYLINE CRESCENT CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation17 KOROGORA STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development39 SKYLINE CRESCENT CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1 SUNSHINE LANE CRESCENT HEAD 2440Withdrawn
July 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Pub; Small bar; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Mobile food and drink outlet; Outdoor dining - general; Outdoor dining - registered club; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drinkLot 226 DP 754441 1 Rankine Street Crescent HeadUnder Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure680 MARIA RIVER ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture680 MARIA RIVER ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space1 BERANGHI STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 DULCONGHI STREET CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support271 loftus road Crescent Head 2428Determined
May 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support910 MARIA RIVER ROAD CRESCENT HEAD 2440Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Marie Short Farmhouse Kempsey Beranghi Road, Crescent HeadSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Cowper
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONAGHAN (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,639
- Turnout (2025)
- 90.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.1%Labor 40.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 20.4 km away).
Coalition 57.2%Labor 42.8%
1.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Crescent HeadLabor 49.3% · Coalition 50.7% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
- KundabungLabor 38.8% · Coalition 61.2% TPP (2025)7.9 km away
- Kempsey EastLabor 35.5% · Coalition 64.5% TPP (2025)16.1 km away
- Kempsey SouthLabor 40.4% · Coalition 59.6% TPP (2025)16.2 km away
- KempseyLabor 41.6% · Coalition 58.4% TPP (2025)16.9 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Kempsey Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.