Median house price
$940k
+6.8% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Wadalba, 2259
Est. population · Jun 2025
4,366
Growth (1 yr)
+2.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+18.7%
Median age
32
Median income
$1,942/wk
Employment rate
62.4%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$940,000
Languages at home
12.9%non-English
Most common: Malayalam, Filipino, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Central Coast Council, Wadalba is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. A younger crowd gives the area energy, with family life visible on every street.
Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, and buses help with longer trips.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. A growing community is gradually adding fresh energy without losing its local identity.
The desirability picture is around average, weighed down by softer safety, plus schools and education relative to similar metro suburbs.
At a glance
Wadalba snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$680/wk
Houses $700 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
4,366
+2.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
4.3%
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
#131
among Metro Sydney · Growth area
Safety
72nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
93rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
20th
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
- 45.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 39% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2758th in Australia
- State rank
- 835th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #131 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #564 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $680
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 472
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $940,000
- Median price change
- +6.8%
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
4,366(June 2025)
+2.7% annual · +18.7% over 5 years · 93th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.7%
- 5-year growth
- +18.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +115
- Change in 5 years
- +689
- Growth rank in NSW
- 93th 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 (~5,350), extrapolated at +4.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 4,204
- Median age
- 32
- Median household income / week
- $1,942
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 61 of 1,410
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 62.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,282 / 74 / 0 (+ 4 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.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 430
- Against the person
- 108
- Against property
- 141
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 98.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 39 residents
- State safety percentile
- 71.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions789
- Domestic Violence Related Assault437
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment636
- Malicious Damage To Property530
- Transport Regulatory Offences1055
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 938
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 20th
School list
- Wadalba Community SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 941 · 22th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 1,414 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Tacoma Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 938 · 20th percentile · LBOTE 16% · 186 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- HopeTown SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 797 · 3th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 43 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 1.8 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
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
44 public transport stops in this suburb
- Mascord Park, Louisiana Rd
- Orchid Way After Figtree Bvd
- Pacific Hwy Before Figtree Bvd
- Pacific Hwy Before Johns Rd
- Pacific Hwy Opp London 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
66 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 2 supermarkets · 4 playgrounds · 12 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Great for outdoor family life — 4 parks mapped in suburb, 4 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 44 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 17 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 57/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.24
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.24
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.95
Food & drink(1)
- Sam's Cafe and BakeryCafe
Shopping(2)
- ColesSupermarket
1 Edward Stinson Avenue
- WoolworthsSupermarket
1 Figtree Boulevarde, Wadalba
Community(1)
- Kindergarten
Health & services(1)
- Kanwal Wadalba Medical PracticeMedical clinic
Sport & outdoors(21)
- Mascord ParkPark
- Owl ParkPark
- Settlement Drive ReservePark
- Voyager Street ReservePark
- Playground (4)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (12)
Transport(22)
22 bus stops
Other(9)
- Owl StatueArtwork
- Bench (4)
- Drinking water (2)
- Wadalba Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
Louisiana Road
- Parking (4)
- WoolworthsParking
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
- Waste Basket (2)
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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Mascord ParkPark
- Owl ParkPark
- Settlement Drive ReservePark
- Voyager Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Wyong Hospital (1.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Kanwal Wadalba Medical 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)
- 214
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 49.0
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· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Subdivision130 JENSEN ROAD WADALBA 2259Under Assessment
May 2026
- Subdivision539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision539 Pacific Highway, WadalbaDetermined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure33 GLENELG AVENUE WADALBA 2259Determined
2025· 19 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition110 JENSEN ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision61-63 CLYDESDALE STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision13 CRESWELL STREET WADALBA 2259Under Assessment
October 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling74 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
August 2025
- Subdivision17 CRESWELL STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool190A JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support196 JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care1 JADE PLACE WADALBA 2259Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure64 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 NINOX CLOSE WADALBA 2259Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 CHILDERS CIRCUIT WADALBA 2259Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision130 JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 DURIAN STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia9 HOMESTEAD ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support55 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
January 2025
- Subdivision40 JENSEN ROAD WADALBA 2259Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 CHILDERS CIRCUIT WADALBA 2259Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 HOMESTEAD ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 CHILDERS CIRCUIT WADALBA 2259Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility155 LOUISIANA ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure59 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 MAROUBRA CLOSE WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 CRESWELL STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care2 ORCHID WAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure62 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Caravan park195 JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 DURIAN STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 THE RIDGE WADALBA 2259Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 FRANK AVENUE WADALBA 2259Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 GLENELG AVENUE WADALBA 2259Determined
March 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 TYTO CLOSE WADALBA 2259Determined
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
- Dobell
- Member of Parliament
- Emma McBRIDE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,541
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.6%Labor 59.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.8 km away).
Coalition 36.5%Labor 63.5%
4.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WadalbaLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- TuggerawongLabor 63.7% · Coalition 36.3% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- KanwalLabor 63.9% · Coalition 36.1% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- Hamlyn TerraceLabor 63.3% · Coalition 36.7% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
- Warnervale EastLabor 59.3% · Coalition 40.7% TPP (2025)2.6 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)
- 5/10
- 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
More in Central 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.