Median house price
$890k
+15% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Norah Head, 2263
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,159
Growth (1 yr)
+0.4%
Growth (5 yr)
-1.4%
Median age
51
Median income
$1,711/wk
Employment rate
52%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$890,000
Languages at home
3.7%non-English
Most common: Malayalam, Greek, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Norah Head is a coastal smaller community where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. City outings and nearby suburbs add variety without undoing the coastal pace of everyday life. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood.
Food and coffee punch above the usual for coastal suburbs, giving the suburb a lived-in social scene. Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Desirability lands around average here: softer safety, plus local dining and lifestyle amenities weighing on the result versus similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Norah Head snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$570/wk
Houses $600 · Units $450
Population (ERP)
1,159
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
12.8%
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
#44
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
76th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
48th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
62nd
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
- 41.7/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3454th in Australia
- State rank
- 1061st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #44 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #103 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)
- $450
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $570
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 230
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $890,000
- Median price change
- +14.5%
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
1,159(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · -1.4% over 5 years · 48th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.4%
- 5-year growth
- -1.4%
- Change in 1 year
- +5
- Change in 5 years
- -16
- Growth rank in NSW
- 48th 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 (~1,200), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,149
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,711
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 61 of 477
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 52%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 373 / 24 / 10 (+ 9 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 120
- Against the person
- 38
- Against property
- 37
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 103.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 30 residents
- State safety percentile
- 75.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order193
- Breach Bail Conditions442
- Domestic Violence Related Assault201
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment344
- Malicious Damage To Property238
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
- 1,034
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 62th
School list
- St Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1034 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 545 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 1.9 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
32 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bungary Rd Before Henderson St
- Denison St At Bungary Rd
- Denison St At Dyson Dr
- Wilfred Barrett Dr Before Bungary Rd
- Wilfred Barrett Dr Opp Noraville Cemetery
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
84 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 restaurants · 3 cafes · 1 fast food · 1 bakeries · 3 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 32 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 44/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 2.61
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 6.09
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 4.35
Food & drink(7)
- Norah Head PatisserieBakery
69 Bungary Road, Norah Head
- The Ark CafeCafe
- The Island CafeCafe
69 Bungary Road, Norah Head
- The Kraken KioskCafe
101 Soldiers Point Drive, Norah Head
- Woody's Surf InnFast food
- Beach HausRestaurant
8 Bush Street, Norah Head
- Johnny TapasRestaurant
Sport & outdoors(10)
- Liberté Pilates StudioGym
Unit 2 69 Bungary Road, Norah Head
- Brush Street ReservePark
- Mazlin ReservePark
- Park
- Young Street ReservePark
- Playground (3)
- Sports field
- Norah Head Rock PoolSwimming pool
Entertainment(4)
- Rossetti LookoutViewpoint
Bald Street, Norah Head
- Viewpoint (3)
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(15)
- Norah Head Beauty CentreBeauty salon
69 Bungary Road, Norah Head
- Bench (5)
- Drinking water (2)
- Norah Head Lighthouse Quarters By ReflectionsGuest House
- Information
- Surfside SnaxKiosk
Norah Head
- Parking (14)
- Parking Space (10)
- Picnic Table (6)
- Public Toilet Norah Head RockpoolPublic toilets
Bald Street, Norah Head
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
- Shower (3)
- Norah Head Boat RampSlipway
Bald Street, Norah Head
- Aurrum Norah HeadSocial Facility
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
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Brush Street ReservePark
- Mazlin ReservePark
- Toukley Lions ParkPark
- Young Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital (7.8 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)
- 39
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 33.6
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° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 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· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading; Supporting Development40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 VIEW STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool14 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2025· 6 proposals
November 2025
- Subdivision8 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
October 2025
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 MITCHELL STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Additional Information Requested
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home10 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 MAITLAND STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading; Supporting Development40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool7 MATHEWS STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 BELLEVISTA CLOSE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
August 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading; Supporting Development40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 MEREDITH CLOSE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
June 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
May 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure2 Young Street, Norah HeadDetermined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool25 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 KENDALL CRESCENT NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2023· 11 proposals
November 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Retail Premise; Market32 VICTORIA STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 CLIFF STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
August 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development28 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition25 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces6 BARTON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing10 MATHEWS STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
June 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development8 HENDERSON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development16 VICTORIA STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling5 LAWSON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
January 2023
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision of land; Other25 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development37 KENDALL CRESCENT NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2022· 9 proposals
December 2022
- Other40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
November 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces6 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Withdrawn
September 2022
- Other40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2022
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development38 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
June 2022
- Dwelling4 BALD STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development9 BALD STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development5 MEREDITH CLOSE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
April 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing15 BAYNTON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land2 YOUNG STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Withdrawn
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
- Norah Head Lightstation PrecinctBush Street, Norah 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
- Dobell
- Member of Parliament
- Emma McBRIDE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,541
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 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 8.3 km away).
Coalition 41.5%Labor 58.5%
0.9 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Norah HeadLabor 58.1% · Coalition 41.9% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- Toukley EastLabor 61.4% · Coalition 38.6% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- ToukleyLabor 59.1% · Coalition 40.9% TPP (2025)3.0 km away
- GorokanLabor 65.4% · Coalition 34.6% TPP (2025)6.1 km away
- Lake HavenLabor 65.3% · Coalition 34.7% TPP (2025)7.0 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.