Palm Beach is a coastal town in New South Wales. It is close to the Palm Beach and the Summer Bay.
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns, and university qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 69% above the peer median, and working from home is an exceptional strength, with working from home 117% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are weaker population growth and higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population, with population growth 90% below the peer median.
Palm Beach is a better fit for people who value socio-economic advantage and university qualifications more than population growth.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in New South Wales (162)
Strengths
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group
Working from home is a relative strength
Shops and everyday services are easier to access than in most comparable places
Weaknesses
Population has been growing more slowly than in comparable places, or declining
Recorded crashes relative to resident population are elevated
What stands out
Palm Beach
Sandy Beach
Summer Bay
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
FamiliesInsufficient data
Professionals★★★★☆
Retirees★☆☆☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★☆☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Palm Beach compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
—
No data available
Median rent (Census)
$895/wk
2021 Census median weekly rent
Population (ERP)
1,701
-0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
38.5%
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
#43
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Pop. growth
5th
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
17%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
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
51.6/100 — Average
State standing
Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
1704th in Australia
State rank
598th in NSW
Peer rank
#43 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#92 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
71%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
1,701(June 2025)
-0.4% annual · +0.4% over 5 years · 5th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.4%
5-year growth
+0.4%
Change in 1 year
-7
Change in 5 years
+7
Growth rank in NSW
5th 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 (~1,700), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
1,652
Median age
58
Median household income / week
$2,807
Dwelling vacancy
38.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
415 of 1,077
Median monthly mortgage
$4,000
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$895
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
58.1% / 24.5% / 17.4%
Employment rate
50.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
45% / 0% / 39.7%
Walked or cycled to work
2.1%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
591 / 8 / 63
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
39.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 10.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified39.8% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified11.2% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational10.6% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below38.4% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce27.2%
Society and culture14.3%
Health12.1%
Engineering and related technologies10.8%
Education9%
Creative arts8.6%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Community & culture
5.4% speak a language other than English at home; 22.5% born overseas
Language at home
1,492 English only · 85 other
Non-English at home
5.4%
Born overseas
354 (22.5%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
11 (0.7%)
Australian citizens
1,505
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
5
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Spanish11 · 47.8%
French3 · 13%
Italian3 · 13%
Persian3 · 13%
Russian3 · 13%
Religion
48.7%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 48.7%, while 40.5% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
40.5%
32.8%
Christianity
48.7%
47.6%
Other / not stated
10.8%
19.6%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Anglican
22.4%
11.9%
Catholic
17.4%
22.4%
Uniting Church
2.7%
2.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.5%
1.9%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Offence counts & rates
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
18
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
10.58
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Great for outdoor family life — 8 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 57 public transport stops
Strong local sport and recreation — 10 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
48/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
2.42
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
5.45
Parks per 1,000 residents
4.84
Food & drink(9)
2108 ExpressoCafe
Cafe
Coast Palm BeachCafe
1031 Barrenjoey Road
Hole in One CafeCafe
Palm Beach Fish & ChipsFast food
Beach Road DiningRestaurant
DunesRestaurant
1193 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach
Restaurant
The Joey'sRestaurant
Shopping(1)
Barrenjoey wineryBottle shop
Everyday services(1)
JoltEV charging
Sport & outdoors(40)
BBQ (3)
Beach
Palm BeachBeach
Sandy BeachBeach
Snapperman BeachBeach
Station BeachBeach
Boat ramp
Drinking water (7)
Palm Beach YogaGym
Palm Beach
Barrenjoey Head Aquatic ReserveNature reserve
Dark Gully ReserveNature reserve
McKay ReserveNature reserve
Sunrise ReserveNature reserve
Hordern ParkPark
Iluka ParkPark
Lucinda ParkPark
Ocean Road ReservePark
Park
Pittwater ParkPark
Wiltshire ParkPark
Playground (2)
Northern Beaches CouncilPublic toilets
Public toilets
The Boathouse Palm BeachPublic toilets
Palm Beach Rock PoolSwimming pool
Swimming pool (6)
Transport(21)
21 bus stops
Other(19)
Bench (21)
Bicycle Parking
Barrenjoey Boating ServicesBoat Rental
Barrenjoy Boatshed, Palm Beach
Gonsalves BoatshedBoat Rental
Alf's bait shopFishing
Motorcycle Parking (2)
Dunes CafeOutdoor Seating
The Boathouse groupOutdoor Seating
Northern Beaches CouncilParking
Parking (8)
Pittwater Park Carpark SouthParking
Parking Space (5)
Picnic Table (15)
Shelter (3)
Northern Beaches CouncilShower
Shower (4)
TelstraTelephone
Vending machine
Waste Basket (5)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Health access
Nearest hospital
Arcadia Pittwater Private Hospital (9.5 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
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.
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 (12%)
Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks; Stairway
1176 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Additional Information Requested
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
18 PALM BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Withdrawn
Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
989 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
April 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
136 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
1110 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
325 WHALE BEACH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
9 THYRA ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
85 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
153 PACIFIC ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
Subdivision
826 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Withdrawn
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
2 WARATAH ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)
1169 BARRENJOEY ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
7 OCEAN ROAD PALM BEACH 2108Determined
November 2025
Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
Barrenjoey Head LightstationBarrenjoey Headland, Palm BeachSHR
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Mackellar
Member of Parliament
Sophie SCAMPS (Independent)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
129,339
Turnout (2025)
93.3%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+4.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 53.7%Labor 46.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 7.0 km away).
Coalition 57.4%Labor 42.6%
3.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +42.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Palm BeachLabor 42.0% · Coalition 58.0% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
Avalon BeachLabor 53.1% · Coalition 46.9% TPP (2025)3.8 km away
AvalonLabor 50.4% · Coalition 49.6% TPP (2025)4.2 km away
Avalon SouthLabor 50.1% · Coalition 49.9% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
Bilgola PlateauLabor 52.2% · Coalition 47.8% TPP (2025)5.1 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.
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 (12%)