Median house price
$690k
+4.5% change
NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Red Head, 2430
Est. population · Jun 2025
857
Growth (1 yr)
+1.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+10.7%
Median age
58
Median income
$1,228/wk
Employment rate
43.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$690,000
Languages at home
2.9%non-English
Most common: German
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Life in Red Head revolves around the coast at a genuine remove from Sydney. Neighbouring centres cover more of the weekly rhythm than the distant capital does. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Everyday basics may be close by, but bigger shopping and services typically require a trip to a nearby centre. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many coastal suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Desirability sits below average overall, with community and employment, plus schools and education the main drag compared with similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Red Head snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$510/wk
Houses $550 · Units $400
Population (ERP)
857
+1.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
17.6%
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
#74
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
73rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
86th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
56th
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
- 36.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4448th in Australia
- State rank
- 1412th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #74 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #143 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)
- $400
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $550
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $510
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 263
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $690,000
- Median price change
- +4.5%
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
857(June 2025)
+1.9% annual · +10.7% over 5 years · 86th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.9%
- 5-year growth
- +10.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +16
- Change in 5 years
- +83
- Growth rank in NSW
- 86th 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 (~950), extrapolated at +2.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 798
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,228
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 70 of 398
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,863
- Employment rate
- 43.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 297 / 17 / 13
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)
- 86
- Against the person
- 25
- Against property
- 29
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 100.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 32 residents
- State safety percentile
- 73.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -11.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order246
- Breach Bail Conditions547
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment396
- Malicious Damage To Property367
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
- 1,021
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 56th
School list
- Hallidays Point Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1021 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 302 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 1.7 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
- 8 Hope St
- Cottesloe Cct At Torquay Cct
- Cottesloe Cct Before Airlie Cl
- Diamond Beach Rd At Belgraiv Cl
- Red Head Rd Opp Coromont Dr
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
7 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 2 parks mapped in suburb
- Well connected by public transport — 32 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.51
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Park (2)
Entertainment(4)
- Viewpoint (4)
Other(1)
- Beachfront Holiday ResortResort
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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- Forster Private Hospital (14.8 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)
- 21
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 24.5
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
- 28° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 372 mm · ~46 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 329 mm · ~41 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 148 mm · ~18 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 218 mm · ~27 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· 9 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah38 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support18 TWILIGHT CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Under Assessment
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation72 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool3 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Under Assessment
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport16 MYALUP COURT RED HEAD 2430Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 SEASCAPE DRIVE RED HEAD 2430Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision45 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure51 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Carport; Swimming pool45 HOPE STREET RED HEAD 2430Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 HOPE STREET RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 AVOCA COURT RED HEAD 2430Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation27 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Dwelling house; Swimming pool137 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool20 TWILIGHT CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
2024· 18 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah38 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support8 NOOSA CRESCENT RED HEAD 2430Determined
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport44 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support1 AIRLIE CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; 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 Australia18 SEASCAPE DRIVE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- SubdivisionNOOSA CRESCENT RED HEAD 2430Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming pool129 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation34 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 AIRLIE CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision73 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space45 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure37 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool137 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
2023· 3 proposals
September 2023
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees3 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing35 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development37 COROMONT DRIVE RED HEAD 2430Determined
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
- No overlay at centroid
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
- Lyne
- Member of Parliament
- Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,584
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.8%Labor 40.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 16.0 km away).
Coalition 57.5%Labor 42.5%
2.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Hallidays PointLabor 41.6% · Coalition 58.4% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- Diamond BeachLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- Old BarLabor 47.4% · Coalition 52.6% TPP (2025)10.7 km away
- TuncurryLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)13.3 km away
- Forster EastLabor 49.4% · Coalition 50.6% TPP (2025)13.9 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 Mid-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.