Median house price
$1.02M
+4.6% change
NSW · Coffs Harbour Council
Sandy Beach, 2456
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,065
Growth (1 yr)
+0.9%
Growth (5 yr)
+9.3%
Median age
35
Median income
$1,567/wk
Employment rate
58.4%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,020,000
Languages at home
10.4%non-English
Most common: Punjabi, German, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Coffs Harbour Council, Sandy Beach keeps a rural calm, a mid-sized suburb with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Crime reports are up on the previous period. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Desirability sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus parks and green space the main drag compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Sandy Beach snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$665/wk
Houses $700 · Units $545
Population (ERP)
3,065
+0.9% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.2%
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
#155
among Country & regional · Emerging
Safety
47th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
62nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
35th
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
- 34.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4709th in Australia
- State rank
- 1497th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #155 among Country & regional · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #575 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $545
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $665
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 124
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,020,000
- Median price change
- +4.6%
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
3,065(June 2025)
+0.9% annual · +9.3% over 5 years · 62th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.9%
- 5-year growth
- +9.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +26
- Change in 5 years
- +260
- Growth rank in NSW
- 62th 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 (~3,350), extrapolated at +1.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,913
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,567
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 68 of 1,100
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,810
- Employment rate
- 58.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,004 / 18 / 3
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)
- 198
- Against the person
- 53
- Against property
- 78
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 64.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 55 residents
- State safety percentile
- 46.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +13.5%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order88
- Breach Bail Conditions76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment113
- Malicious Damage To Property102
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
- 973
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 35th
School list
- Sandy Beach Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 973 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 336 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.2 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
- Bangalee Early Learning CentreDiamond Head Drivekindergarten
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
- Sandy Beach Dr After Ironbark Av
- Sandy Beach Dr At Blue Gum Av
- Sandy Beach Dr Opp Acacia Av
- Sandy Beach Public School, Saye Cl
- Sandy Beach Rural Fire Brigade, Turpentine Av
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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 1 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 67 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
- 0.34
Community(1)
- Sandy Beach Public SchoolSchool
19 Saye Close, Sandy Beach
Sport & outdoors(4)
- Waterways ParkPark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
Other(3)
- Sandy Beach Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
26 Turpentine Avenue
- Parking (3)
- Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesPlace of worship
1374 Solitary Islands Way, Sandy Beach
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Waterways ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- 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
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
1374 Solitary Islands Way, Sandy Beach
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Baringa Private Hospital (16.6 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)
- 79
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 25.8
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
- 26° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 504 mm · ~63 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 15°
- Rainfall
- 522 mm · ~65 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 199 mm · ~25 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 270 mm · ~34 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· 14 proposals
August 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5 BANKSIA CLOSE SANDY BEACH 2456Under Assessment
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support69 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation47 BLUE GUM AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space39 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure84 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 TI-TREE ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 SEACREST BOULEVARD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 TURPENTINE AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool9 BLUE GUM AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool91 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 JOHNSONS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Privacy screens; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Stairway; Residential Accommodation98 SANDYS BEACH DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
2025· 16 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space39 BLACKBUTT AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Additional Information Requested
September 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure6 CHESTNUT AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)20 SANDYS BEACH DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure86 SANDYS BEACH DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture89-91 HOLLOWAYS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)119 CONDONS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport30 PINE CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool39 SOMERVALE ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 CORAL DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool12 REDBOX CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1380 SOLITARY ISLANDS WAY SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport34 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 REDBOX CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Secondary dwelling; 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 Australia128 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure102 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
2024· 12 proposals
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool154-156 HOLLOWAYS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 BLUE GUM AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 ZENITH AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Subdivision15 PINE CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 OAK CLOSE SANDY BEACH NSW 2456Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Pathways and paving2B-2C MORGANS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
September 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool6 ROCKPOOL AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportMORGANS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Withdrawn
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure47 MAPLE ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure81 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
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
- 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
- Page
- Member of Parliament
- Kevin HOGAN (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,373
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.4 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.3%Labor 40.7%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 17.6 km away).
Coalition 48.5%Labor 51.5%
10.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.7 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Sandy BeachLabor 52.6% · Coalition 47.4% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- WoolgoolgaLabor 44.0% · Coalition 56.0% TPP (2025)3.9 km away
- Woolgoolga CentralLabor 47.1% · Coalition 52.9% TPP (2025)4.9 km away
- MullawayLabor 49.3% · Coalition 50.7% TPP (2025)7.5 km away
- KororaLabor 46.6% · Coalition 53.4% TPP (2025)13.0 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)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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 Coffs Harbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.