NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council

Hardys Bay, NSW, 2257

Desirability index

86.9/100

#57 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Hardys Bay is a small locality in the Central Coast (NSW) area, home to around 233 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,501 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (+4%), roughly 6442.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $615 (flats $500, houses $650), 14 public transport stops within the suburb, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.

Population

Population
233
Median age
59
Median household income / week
$2,068
Dwelling vacancy
39.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
68 of 171
Median monthly mortgage
$1,409
Employment rate
52.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
8 / 5 / 0

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian 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

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 weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Data sources & freshness

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
1,501
Against the person
503
Against property
607
Rate per 1,000 residents
6,442.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 1 residents
State safety percentile
64.8th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
+4.1%

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order132
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault138
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
  • Malicious Damage To Property174
  • Other Offences94

Data sources & freshness

  • BOCSAR postcode crime statisticsNSW 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

Public transport

14 public transport stops in this suburb

  • 53 Heath Rd
  • 56 Heath Rd
  • Araluen Dr Opp Killcare Rd
  • Heath Rd Opp Araluen Dr
  • Killcare Rd After Nukara Av

Data sources & freshness

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

35 planning-related records

2026· 7 proposals
  • May 2026

  • Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise
    58 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    39 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    86 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    70 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • April 2026

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    140 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
  • March 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    27 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY NSW 2257Under Assessment
  • February 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    44 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2025· 5 proposals
  • November 2025

  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    55 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
  • October 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    14 NUKARA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • June 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)
    25 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • May 2025

  • Shop top housing; Commercial development; Erection of a new structure
    58 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Under Assessment
  • February 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    86 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2024· 8 proposals
  • December 2024

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    37 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    91 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • November 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    21 NUKARA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • May 2024

  • Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    182 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club
    14 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • March 2024

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    140 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    2A HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Withdrawn
  • January 2024

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    70 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2023· 4 proposals
  • April 2023

  • Alterations and additions to commercial development
    14 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Attached dwelling
    76 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    140 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Withdrawn
  • February 2023

  • Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development
    55 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Withdrawn
2022· 4 proposals
  • November 2022

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    100A ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    156 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • September 2022

  • Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing
    35 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • April 2022

  • Dwelling; Demolition
    86 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2021· 4 proposals
  • November 2021

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    2 FLORA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • Other
    71 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • April 2021

  • Alterations and additions to residential development
    2 HAWKE HEAD DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • February 2021

  • Attached dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development
    63 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
2020· 3 proposals
  • October 2020

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    116 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • August 2020

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs
    5 FLORA AVENUE HARDYS BAY 2257Determined
  • July 2020

  • Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development
    49 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Determined

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

30 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Alcohol
  • Bench (2)
  • 53 Heath RdBus stop
  • 56 Heath RdBus stop
  • Araluen Dr after Killcare RdBus stop
  • Araluen Dr opp Killcare RdBus stop
  • Heath Rd before Araluen DrBus stop
  • Heath Rd opp Araluen DrBus stop
  • Killcare Rd after Nukara AvBus stop
  • Picnic Table (10)

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Desirability index

Desirability score
86.9/100
Cohort rank
#57 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • 53 Heath Rdtransport
  • 56 Heath Rdtransport
  • Araluen Dr Opp Killcare Rdtransport
  • Heath Rd Opp Araluen Drtransport
  • Killcare Rd After Nukara Avtransport
  • Alterations and additions to commercial developmentplanning14 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Lodged 18 Apr 2023 · Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning100A ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Lodged 28 Nov 2022 · Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning156 ARALUEN DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Lodged 02 Nov 2022 · Determined
  • Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning2 HAWKE HEAD DRIVE HARDYS BAY 2257Lodged 07 Apr 2021 · Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)planning25 HEATH ROAD HARDYS BAY 2257Lodged 15 Jun 2025 · Determined

Data sources & freshness

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