Median house price
$1.11M
+17% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Redhead, 2290
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,906
Growth (1 yr)
+5.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.1%
Median age
48
Median income
$1,598/wk
Employment rate
52.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,115,000
Languages at home
4.3%non-English
Most common: German, Macedonian, French
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
Suburb profile
Life in Redhead revolves around the coast at a genuine remove from Sydney. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many coastal suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Most routine trips are on foot, while buses cover longer journeys across the metro area.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Steady development is bringing new homes and gradual renewal to parts of the suburb.
Growth momentum, plus community and employment push the suburb to a good desirability read, even as safety, plus schools and education look more ordinary among similar coastal suburbs.
At a glance
Redhead snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$670/wk
Houses $720 · Units $575
Population (ERP)
3,906
+5.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.4%
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
#11
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
48th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
98th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
81st
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
- 56.6/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 19% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1377th in Australia
- State rank
- 406th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #11 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #40 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $575
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $670
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 207
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,115,000
- Median price change
- +17.4%
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
3,906(June 2025)
+5.2% annual · +5.1% over 5 years · 98th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +5.2%
- 5-year growth
- +5.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +192
- Change in 5 years
- +191
- Growth rank in NSW
- 98th 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 (~4,050), extrapolated at +0.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,785
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,598
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 50 of 1,465
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,300
- Employment rate
- 52.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,310 / 83 / 11
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 258
- Against the person
- 63
- Against property
- 142
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 60 residents
- State safety percentile
- 48.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +1.1%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault162
- Fraud206
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment188
- Malicious Damage To Property201
- Steal From Retail Store455
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
- 1,089
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 81th
School list
- Redhead Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1089 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 240 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 0.3 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Redhead Community Preschoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
67 public transport stops in this suburb
- 53 Red Head Rd
- Allard St Opp Cowlishaw St
- Collier St At Shortland St
- Cowlishaw St At Allard St
- Red Head Rd Opp Redhead Gardens
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
149 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 5 cafes · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 bakeries · 1 libraries · 2 places of worship · 3 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 1 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 67 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 44 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 84/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 1.32
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.85
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.26
Food & drink(7)
- Redhead BakehouseBakery
- Cafe
- Cafe on CowlishawCafe
- Industrial TakewayCafe
- Surge CafeCafe
- VillaCafe
- Seaview Malaysian RestuarantRestaurant
Shopping(2)
- Supermarket
Community(3)
- Redhead Men's ShedCommunity centre
- Redhead Community PreschoolKindergarten
- Redhead LibraryLibrary
Health & services(3)
- Redhead Family DentalDentist
- Redhead General PracticeMedical clinic
- Redhead PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(45)
- Cain Street ReservePark
- Playground (3)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (40)
Entertainment(3)
- George Stanton LookoutViewpoint
- Viewpoint (2)
Transport(19)
19 bus stops
Other(22)
- Bench (10)
- Bicycle Parking
- Redhead AutomotiveCar repair
- Redhead Vehicle RepairsCar repair
- Anglican Church Op ShopCharity
- Drinking water (3)
- Garden (2)
- Ice Cream
- Freshwater Creek ReserveNature Reserve
- Parking (15)
- Webb Park parkingParking
- Metro PetroleumPetrol station
- Picnic Table (15)
- Holy Name Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
- Place of worship
- Post office
- Public toilets
- Shelter (4)
- Shower (4)
- Roscos Pump TrackTrack
- Waste Basket
- Water Point
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Cain Street ReservePark
- Freshwater Creek ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Holy Name Anglican Church
- Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Lake Macquarie Private Hospital (3.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Redhead Family DentalDentist
- Redhead General PracticeDoctor
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)
- 102
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 26.1
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· 26 proposals
August 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool3 CAIN STREET REDHEAD 2290Under Assessment
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 DODDS STREET REDHEAD 2290Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure51 WOODS STREET REDHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation27 STEEL STREET REDHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support1 STEEL STREET REDHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation13 BROWN STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool37 BEACH ROAD REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool10 WHITE CAP CLOSE REDHEAD 2290Determined
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool62 COWLISHAW STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah39 WOODS STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)137A COWLISHAW STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
May 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (external)2 ELSDON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)12 BOMBORA CLOSE REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 COWLISHAW STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 HIGH STREET REDHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)10 EBSWORTH STREET REDHEAD 2290Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 DODDS STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support13 BROWN STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Light industry30 KALAROO ROAD REDHEAD 2290Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 CAIN STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation9 EBSWORTH STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 DODDS STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure50A WOODS STREET REDHEAD 2290Withdrawn
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space17 HUTCHINSON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 BURNS STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Subdivision28 SHORTLAND STREET REDHEAD 2290Under Assessment
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 HUTCHINSON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure50 ELSDON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation3 BENNETT STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 ELSDON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision9 WOODS STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)30 HUTCHINSON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Subdivision19 ALLARD STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 ALLARD STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation50 ELSDON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool10 WHITE CAP CLOSE REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 BURNS STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool34 SEA SCAPE DRIVE REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space43B BROWN STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation46 COLLIER STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support13 BROWN STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 OCEAN STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool19 STOKES STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Environmental protection works100 Oakdale Road, RedheadDetermined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)11 DODDS STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22A BROWN STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house25 ALLARD STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 39 HUTCHINSON STREET REDHEAD 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure83 REDHEAD ROAD REDHEAD 2290Determined
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
- Shortland
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONROY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,971
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.5 km away).
Coalition 37.5%Labor 62.5%
1.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- RedheadLabor 61.0% · Coalition 39.0% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- DudleyLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.7% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- JewellsLabor 62.0% · Coalition 38.0% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
- GatesheadLabor 68.8% · Coalition 31.2% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
- WindaleLabor 76.1% · Coalition 23.9% TPP (2025)3.7 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)
- 8/10
- 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
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.