Median house price
—
No data available
NSW · Council TBC
Scotts Head
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,028
Growth (1 yr)
+0.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.0%
Median age
54
Median income
$1,212/wk
Employment rate
42.3%
Languages at home
4.2%non-English
Most common: Australian Indigenous languages, French
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- National parks
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Scotts Head is a quieter smaller community in the local area, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Homes are neither a bargain nor a premium buy against the wider market. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
Against similar regional towns, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus community and employment lag behind, despite relative strength in safety and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Scotts Head snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
1,028
+0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
26.0%
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
#317
among Country & regional · Mature
Pop. growth
40th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
53rd
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
- 33.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4937th in Australia
- State rank
- 1585th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #317 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #638 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
1,028(June 2025)
+0.1% annual · +4.0% over 5 years · 40th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.1%
- 5-year growth
- +4.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +1
- Change in 5 years
- +40
- Growth rank in NSW
- 40th 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 (~1,050), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 986
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,212
- Dwelling vacancy
- 26%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 143 of 550
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 42.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 357 / 16 / 20 (+ 5 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.
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,014
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 53th
School list
- Scotts Head Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1014 · 53th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 73 students · Top SEA quarter 15%View 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
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Adin St Before Short St
- Oleander Dr After Warrell Cl
- Scotts Head Public School, Vernon Rd
- Scotts Head Sports Oval, Vernon St
- Scotts Head Sports Oval, Vernon St
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
- Adin Street ReservePark
- Buz Brazel ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Macksville Hospital (4.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Scotts Head Medical PracticeDoctor
- Scotts Head PharmacyPharmacy
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)
- 41
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 39.9
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° / 19°
- Rainfall
- 439 mm · ~55 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 494 mm · ~62 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 252 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 279 mm · ~35 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· 10 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7A OCEAN STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation25 SOUTH PACIFIC DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking spaceGANNET DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation26 MATTHEW STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 WARRELL CLOSE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
March 2026
- Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Minor building alterations (internal); Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading1 9 ADIN STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 RALEIGH STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 SUNRISE CLOSE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure45 WALLACE STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 WEST STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 OCEAN STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 OCEAN STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Under Assessment
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah77 RALEIGH STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor)26 WEST STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Pathways and paving; Swimming pool33 WALLACE STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation57 RALEIGH STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)12 WARRELL CLOSE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 BANKSIA CRESCENT SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport42 VERNON STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 SOUTH PACIFIC DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
April 2025
- Subdivision29 MATTHEW STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport10 SOUTH PACIFIC DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
March 2025
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 WEST STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool6 SANDPIPER DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 HIBISCUS WAY SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 OLEANDER DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Deferred Commencement
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure41 WALLACE STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
2024· 13 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 SUNRISE CLOSE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 WARATAH STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 HILL STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24A SANDPIPER DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Subdivision47 RALEIGH STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 MATTHEW STREET SCOTTS HEAD NSW 2447Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool1 KENT STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport24A SANDPIPER DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Operational consent issued
September 2024
- SubdivisionSCOTTS HEAD ROAD SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 WARATAH STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming pool24A SANDPIPER DRIVE SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure33 WEST STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57 RALEIGH STREET SCOTTS HEAD 2447Determined
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
- Cowper
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONAGHAN (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 131,639
- Turnout (2025)
- 90.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.1%Labor 40.9%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 14.3 km away).
Coalition 55.1%Labor 44.9%
4.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -1.1 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Scotts HeadLabor 55.0% · Coalition 45.0% TPP (2025)5.3 km away
- Nambucca Heads WestLabor 42.5% · Coalition 57.5% TPP (2025)6.6 km away
- MacksvilleLabor 34.8% · Coalition 65.2% TPP (2025)6.7 km away
- Nambucca HeadsLabor 47.9% · Coalition 52.1% TPP (2025)6.9 km away
- Warrell CreekLabor 26.9% · Coalition 73.1% TPP (2025)10.5 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)
- 5/10
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
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.