NSW · Richmond Valley Council
Evans Head, NSW, 2473
Desirability index
#410 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Evans Head is a smaller suburban community in the Richmond Valley area, home to around 2,907 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 207 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-10%), roughly 71.2 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $535, 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 2,907
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,086
- Dwelling vacancy
- 18.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 280 of 1,536
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,642
- Employment rate
- 44.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 99 / 428 / 90
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 207
- Against the person
- 66
- Against property
- 81
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 71.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 44 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -10%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order18
- Domestic Violence Related Assault17
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment19
- Malicious Damage To Property31
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault17
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 955
- Evans River Community SchoolCombined
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
148 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bottlebrush Cres At Acacia St
- Carrabeen St After Woodburn St
- Currajong St At Cassia St
- Flame St At Pine Lane
- Woodburn St At Elm St
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
192 planning-related records
2026· 15 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home36 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision51 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Under Assessment
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space108 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal)4 SEAMIST LANE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool57 BANKSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development43 TERRACE STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure63 BEECH STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation1 1 FERN PLACE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 CYPRESS STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
February 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure1 8 Elm Street Evans Head 2473Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 WIRRAWAY AVENUE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport80 CURRAJONG STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Light industry; Artisan food and drink industry1-3 WINJEEL ROAD EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 CATALINA CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation40-42 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Deferred Commencement
2025· 34 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure37 Park Street, Evans Head. NSW 2473Determined
- Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading1 8 OAK STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Demolition; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah16 CARRABEEN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure18 BOTTLEBRUSH CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure63 BEECH STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space14 MANGROVE STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)14 RIVERVIEW STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 51 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation62 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Specialised Retail Premises22 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
September 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Swimming pool81 BEECH STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 51 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport11 BOTTLEBRUSH CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport14 BANKSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia33 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 51 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space43 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)23 RIVERVIEW STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure127 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 WIRRAWAY AVENUE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
June 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)16 SEAMIST LANE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37 PACIFIC CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures89 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool89 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 MANGROVE STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
2024· 41 proposals
41 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 20 proposals
20 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 37 proposals
37 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 45 proposals
45 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026; 2021; 2022… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
44 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- The BakeryBakery
12 Oak Street
- Wurlitzer BakeryBakery
37 Woodburn Street
- Bbq
- Bench
- Woodburn St at Elm St (Evans Head Coach Stop)Bus stop
- Johnny's Cafe - RestaurantCafe
- Drinking water
- Riverfront KioskFast food
- Laundry (3)
- Evans Head Branch LibraryLibrary
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Dirrawong ReservePark
- Evans Head Recreation ReservePark
- Payne OvalPark
- Riverside Memorial ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Evans Head Memorial AerodromeMemorial Airport Drive, Evans HeadSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 56.1/100
- Cohort rank
- #410 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bottlebrush Cres At Acacia Sttransport
- Carrabeen St After Woodburn Sttransport
- Currajong St At Cassia Sttransport
- Flame St At Pine Lanetransport
- Woodburn St At Elm Sttransport
- Evans Head Memorial AerodromeheritageMemorial Airport Drive, Evans HeadSHR
- Dirrawong Reservegovernmentpark
- Evans Head Recreation Reservegovernmentpark
- Payne Ovalgovernmentpark
- Riverside Memorial Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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