Wamberal is a coastal town in New South Wales, in Central Coast Council. It is close to the Wamberal Lagoon.
Public transport coverage is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked coastal towns. Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group, and reported crime is lower than in most comparable places, and working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 55% above the peer median, and university qualifications are a relative strength, with university qualifications 21% above the peer median. Housing is expensive relative to comparable places, with median house prices 40% above the peer median.
Overall, Wamberal suits people prioritising public transport and socio-economic advantage over lower housing costs.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Coastal town · compared with coastal towns in New South Wales (162)
Strengths
Public transport coverage is exceptionally strong
Socio-economic advantage is among the highest in the peer group
Reported crime is lower than in most comparable places
Working from home is more common than in comparable places
University qualifications are a relative strength
Weaknesses
Housing is expensive relative to comparable places
What stands out
Wamberal Beach
Spoon Bay Beach
Wamberal Lagoon
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★☆☆☆
Professionals★★★☆☆
Retirees★★☆☆☆
Students★☆☆☆☆
Budget buyers★☆☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Wamberal compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.56M
-1.6% change
Median rent
$800/wk
Houses $875 · Units $690
Population (ERP)
6,695
+0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
10.4%
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
#30
among Coastal & beach · Established
Crime rate
14th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
40th
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
18%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
68th
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
51.7/100 — Average
State standing
Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
1688th in Australia
State rank
594th in NSW
Peer rank
#30 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#91 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
94%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$690
Houses (January to March 2026)
$875
All types (January to March 2026)
$800
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
185
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$1,565,000
Median price change
-1.6%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
+0.1% annual · +2.4% over 5 years · 40th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.1%
5-year growth
+2.4%
Change in 1 year
+6
Change in 5 years
+159
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 (~7,050), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
6,991
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$2,407
Dwelling vacancy
10.4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
271 of 2,594
Median monthly mortgage
$2,500
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$500
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
37.9% / 44.6% / 17.6%
Employment rate
63.2%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
32.1% / 0.8% / 49.3%
Walked or cycled to work
0.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,023 / 110 / 182
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
28.5% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 17.3% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified28.5% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified11.8% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational17.3% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below42.3% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce22.5%
Health15.2%
Education13.8%
Society and culture11.9%
Engineering and related technologies11.5%
Architecture and building9.4%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$62,585
71st percentile in NSW · +7% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$68,038
68th percentile in NSW · +5% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
19.0%
78th percentile in NSW · +38% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$112,237
87th percentile in NSW · +77% vs Australia
Residents with business income
11.0%
59th percentile in NSW · +6% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2260 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
16,323
Taxpayers reporting net rent
3,087
Median net rent
$0
Taxpayers reporting business income
1,832
Taxable income vs state median
+12%
Salary / wages vs state median
+8%
Rental investment vs state median
+36%
Super vs state median
+59%
Business income vs state median
+10%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
5.2% speak a language other than English at home; 15.9% born overseas
Language at home
6,400 English only · 354 other
Non-English at home
5.2%
Born overseas
1,074 (15.9%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
170 (2.4%)
Australian citizens
6,444
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
20
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
German15 · 11.4%
Spanish13 · 9.8%
Arabic10 · 7.6%
Punjabi10 · 7.6%
Afrikaans9 · 6.8%
French9 · 6.8%
Italian8 · 6.1%
Greek7 · 5.3%
Religion
49.9%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 49.9%, while 42.7% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
42.7%
32.8%
Christianity
49.9%
47.6%
Other / not stated
7.5%
19.6%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
21.6%
22.4%
Anglican
15.8%
11.9%
Uniting Church
2.5%
2.1%
Christian (not further defined)
2.2%
2.4%
Other Protestant
2.1%
0.4%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2260, which is shared with other suburbs.
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
237
Against the person
85
Against property
98
Rate per 1,000 residents
35.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 82 residents
State crime-rate percentile
13.6th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-0.1%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
79
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
11.8
Most common offence types
Domestic Violence Related Assault18
Fraud25
Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment29
Malicious Damage To Property25
Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault21
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
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
1,048
Median ICSEA percentile
68th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
4
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
4
School list
Wamberal Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1048 · 68th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 475 students · Top SEA quarter 23% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Erina HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Erina Hts PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Holgate PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Terrigal HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Terrigal PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
TLSC The EntranceGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
TLSC Tumbi UmbiGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Wamberal PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
NSW government school intake zones — NSW Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
1 cafes · 2 places of worship · 1 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools · 3 beaches · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
A car helps for daily needs
Decent local green space — 6 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
Well connected by public transport — 131 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
32/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.14
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.14
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.86
Food & drink(1)
Three DonkeysCafe
Ghersi Avenue
Shopping(1)
Convenience store
Everyday services(2)
AmpolPetrol station
Wamberal Post OfficePost office
780 The Entrance Road
Community(2)
Wamberal Memorial HallCommunity centre
Wamberal Public SchoolSchool
Wamberal
Sport & outdoors(11)
Beach
Spoon Bay BeachBeach
Wamberal BeachBeach
Wamberal Lagoon Nature ReserveNature reserve
Park (2)
Rysdyk Parade PlaygroundPark
Wamberal ParkPark
Playground
Public toilets
Swimming pool
Transport(31)
31 bus stops
Other(12)
Bench
Wamberal Rural Fire BrigadeFire station
Tumbi Road, Wamberal
Forresters Beach Garden CentreGarden Centre
905 The Entrance Road, Wamberal
Information
Wamberal Lagoon Nature ReserveInformation
Parking (5)
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's WitnessesPlace of worship
8 Old Tumbi Road, Wamberal
Wamberal CRCAPlace of worship
Post Box
Shelter
Forresters Sand and SoilTrade
905 The Entrance Road, Wamberal
Waste Basket (3)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
8 Old Tumbi Road, Wamberal
Wamberal CRCA
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
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.
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° / 18°
Rainfall
386 mm · ~48 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 14°
Rainfall
394 mm · ~49 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
17° / 8°
Rainfall
266 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
22° / 13°
Rainfall
253 mm · ~32 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
12 OKANAGAN CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
9 KUROW CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
108 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation
442 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
August 2026
Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
19 LUMEAH AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
10 OKANAGAN CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
July 2026
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
1 DASHWOOD CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
81 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
19 LUMEAH AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Additional Information Requested
Home business; 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 Australia
20 WINDSOR ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
73 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
74 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
83A OLD GOSFORD ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
4 ANGOPHORA CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
June 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)
1 CABARITA STREET WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
22 WAIRAKEI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Subdivision
8 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
27 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
17 DILLON ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
May 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
531 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Additional Information Requested
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation
442 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
18 MAWARRA ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
56 TALL TIMBERS ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
17 BUNDARA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
9 KUROW CLOSE WAMBERAL 2260Withdrawn
Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
7A WARRAMBOOL ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
April 2026
Subdivision; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached)
141A OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
28 MCGEE AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
March 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
69 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
52 LAKE VIEW ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
14 DILLON ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Subdivision
7-9 RENOWN STREET WAMBERAL 2260Determined
February 2026
Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
111 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
8 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
84 BRUSH ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
9 ARILA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
2025· 13 proposals
December 2025
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
79B OLD GOSFORD ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure
41 LEA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Withdrawn
Shed; Erection of a new structure
588A THE ENTRANCE ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
5 460 TUMBI ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
65 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
93 BLUE BELL DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
13 BUNDARA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Under Assessment
November 2025
Shed; Erection of a new structure
4/490 Tumbi Road, WamberalDetermined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Residential Accommodation
37 BUNDARA AVENUE WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
42 DALPURA ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Co-living
171 OCEAN VIEW DRIVE WAMBERAL 2260Additional Information Requested
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
39 WINDSOR ROAD WAMBERAL 2260Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood 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 4.4 km away).
Coalition 42.6%Labor 57.4%
2.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +9.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Wamberal NorthLabor 57.5% · Coalition 42.5% TPP (2025)0.2 km away
Wamberal (Dobell)Labor 54.6% · Coalition 45.4% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
Forresters BeachLabor 51.6% · Coalition 48.4% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
Bateau Bay EastLabor 60.4% · Coalition 39.6% TPP (2025)3.3 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.
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 (12%)