Median house price
$1.34M
+9.4% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Empire Bay, 2257
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,598
Growth (1 yr)
+0.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.9%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,884/wk
Employment rate
57.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,340,000
Languages at home
4.5%non-English
Most common: French, Spanish, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Central Coast Council, Empire Bay is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, and buses help with longer trips.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus growth momentum.
At a glance
Empire Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$615/wk
Houses $650 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
2,598
+0.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.7%
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
#146
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
28th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
53rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
64th
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
- 43.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 46% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3183rd in Australia
- State rank
- 968th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #146 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #625 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $615
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 246
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,340,000
- Median price change
- +9.4%
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
2,598(June 2025)
+0.6% annual · +1.9% over 5 years · 53th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.6%
- 5-year growth
- +1.9%
- Change in 1 year
- +16
- Change in 5 years
- +49
- Growth rank in NSW
- 53th 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 (~2,650), extrapolated at +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,522
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,884
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 83 of 959
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,165
- Employment rate
- 57.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 821 / 34 / 19 (+ 6 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)
- 123
- Against the person
- 41
- Against property
- 50
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 47.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 62 residents
- State safety percentile
- 27.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +4.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order132
- Domestic Violence Related Assault138
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property174
- Other Offences94
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
- 1,039
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 64th
School list
- Empire Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1039 · 64th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 426 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 0.6 km awayView 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
58 public transport stops in this suburb
- Empire Bay Dr Before Greenfield Rd
- Greenfield Rd Before Rickard Rd
- Greenfield Rd Opp Rosella Rd
- Kendall Rd Opp Shelly Beach Rd
- Sorrento Rd At Boongala Av
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
52 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 3 cafes · 1 supermarkets · 3 playgrounds · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 58 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 63/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 1.19
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.59
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.4
Food & drink(4)
- Chef's GardenCafe
- Empires DelightCafe
- Pie FaceCafe
- Impact PlantsRestaurant
Shopping(1)
- QuickstopSupermarket
Community(1)
- Empire Bay Public SchoolSchool
234 Empire Bay Drive
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Park
- Playground (3)
- Sports field
Transport(25)
25 bus stops
Other(13)
- Bench
- Samaldo Caravan ParkCaravan Site
- Empire Bay Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
7 Shelly Beach Road, Empire Bay
- Cockle Bay InterpretationInformation
- Parking (2)
- United Empire BayPetrol station
306 Empire Bay Drive
- Picnic Table
- Empire Bay Post OfficePost office
2b Kendall Road
- Public Toilet United Empire BayPublic toilets
306 Empire Bay Drive
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
- Central Coast CouncilSlipway
- Waste Basket (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- Central Coast Day Hospital (7.3 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)
- 61
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.5
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
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 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· 15 proposals
July 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Jetty; Mooring Pen145 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation54 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation22 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation65 HILLCREST ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation271 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool265 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah423 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure429 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 MYRTLE ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool65 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation13A POMONA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure8 ECHUCA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Withdrawn
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5 GORDON ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 HILLCREST ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure57 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool5 GORDON ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure39 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool65 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 SHELLY BEACH ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Shade structures of canvas, fabric, mesh or the like; Supporting Development433 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation271 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
May 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure70 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 47 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Mooring; Water supply system170 Wharparilla Road, EchucaAdditional Information Requested
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space19 POMONA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 AWINYA CLOSE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 GORDON ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation61 ROSELLA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
July 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure77 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation69 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space9 palmers lane empire bay 2257Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)437 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
March 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Swimming pool1 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces148 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
2023· 2 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space14 ROSELLA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
November 2023
- Subdivision of land260 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
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)
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
- Robertson
- Member of Parliament
- Gordon REID (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 114,922
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +7.1 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.6%Labor 59.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.0 km away).
Coalition 39.1%Labor 60.9%
1.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +9.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Empire BayLabor 60.8% · Coalition 39.2% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- Booker BayLabor 51.9% · Coalition 48.1% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Hardys BayLabor 72.8% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
- DavistownLabor 57.2% · Coalition 42.8% TPP (2025)2.9 km away
- Ettalong CentralLabor 65.0% · Coalition 35.0% TPP (2025)3.1 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)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
More in Central Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.