Canton Beach
An older, compact lakeside market, Canton Beach has 1,202 residents, a median age of 61 and an average household size of 1.8. The age profile is 21 years above the national comparison, while household income sits at the 2.2 percentile, pointing to a materially lower-income market. Housing is mainly detached, with 73.4% separate houses, 52.3% owned outright and 31.4% rented. Compared with nearby Toukley and Norah Head, Canton Beach is smaller and more settled, supported by 78.5% of residents staying at the same address. That stability reflects the older resident base and helps explain the limited mortgage share of 11.0%.
Local council: Central Coast (NSW)
Population
1,202
Median Age
61.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$710/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Canton Beach suits buyers prioritising a compact, established home market over high-density living. Separate houses account for 73.4% of dwellings, while apartments represent 7.1% and semi-detached homes 15.2%. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 55.1%, followed by three-bedroom homes at 25.8%, which fits the suburb's median age of 61 and average household size of 1.8. Compared with an apartment-led market, buyers can expect more detached housing but fewer obvious large-family options. Affordability still needs careful testing because the typical mortgage payment is $1,781 per month and mortgage stress reaches 57.9%, while rent stress is 42.3% at $300 per week.
For Buyers
Canton Beach suits buyers prioritising a compact, established home market over high-density living. Separate houses account for 73.4% of dwellings, while apartments represent 7.1% and semi-detached homes 15.2%. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 55.1%, followed by three-bedroom homes at 25.8%, which fits the suburb's median age of 61 and average household size of 1.8. Compared with an apartment-led market, buyers can expect more detached housing but fewer obvious large-family options. Affordability still needs careful testing because the typical mortgage payment is $1,781 per month and mortgage stress reaches 57.9%, while rent stress is 42.3% at $300 per week.
For Investors
The rental case is mixed rather than straightforward. Canton Beach has 31.4% renters, a weekly rent of $300 and an 8.9% vacancy rate, which is a higher-vacancy signal than a tightly supplied rental market. That can make tenant acquisition slower, particularly where demand depends on a small local catchment. The 73.4% separate-house share supports family and downsizer rental formats, while 55.1% of dwellings have 2 bedrooms. Only 7 development applications were recorded across the latest 12-month period, indicating a smaller pipeline compared with major growth corridors. Investors should allow for vacancy, maintenance and the suburb's older, lower-income profile rather than relying on rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+16.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Canton Beach has a distinctly older and more Anglo-leaning population. Its median age of 61 is 21 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 9.9%, or 20.2 percentage points below the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 14.6%, 7.0 percentage points below the national comparison. English ancestry is recorded for 569 residents, followed by Irish at 175 and Scottish at 120. Christianity has 670 adherents and no religion 385. With an average household size of 1.8, which is 0.7 below the national comparison, demand is more likely to centre on couples without children, singles and downsizers than on large families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
73.4%
Houses
15.2%
Townhouse
7.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Canton Beach's housing profile is shaped by outright ownership and smaller dwellings. Fully owned homes account for 52.3% of occupied housing, compared with 11.0% held with a mortgage and 31.4% rented. Two-bedroom properties make up 55.1% of dwellings, while 3-bedroom homes account for 25.8%; 4-bedroom-or-larger homes are only 7.0%. Compared with a family-growth suburb, this mix is more compact and better aligned with the median age of 61 and household size of 1.8. The $300 weekly rent appears accessible in headline terms, but rent stress is still 42.3%, and mortgage stress is 57.9%, so household budgets remain an important constraint.
Mortgage / mo
$1,781
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $300.
$580
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $600 · units $500
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$526
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
42.3% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
57.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.0%
Couples with children
52.2%
Couples, no children
17.5%
Single parent
268
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Canton Beach's largest listed industry at 26.6%, followed by construction at 19.8%, education at 9.0%, hospitality at 7.3% and manufacturing at 5.6%. This mix connects local employment to care services, trades and community-facing work rather than a large corporate base. Occupations are led by labourers at 61 people, trades at 55, community and personal service workers at 47, clerical and administrative workers at 41, and professionals at 35. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, participation is 32.6% and 47.2% of employed residents work full time. Household income at the 2.2 percentile is well below the national average, because the labour force is small and 616 residents are outside it.
Unemployment
6.9%
Labour Force
348
Unemployed
24
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
47.2%
Part-time
34.3%
Participation
32.6%
Employed
324
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.9%
Postgraduate
1.7%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
624
Transport to Work
Daily life in Canton Beach is strongly car-oriented. About 72.8% of residents drive to work, compared with only 1.2% who walk or cycle, while 18.7% work from home. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, residents should plan around private vehicle access, trip length and practical parking. The median age of 61 and average household size of 1.8 support a quieter routine, while 10.7% volunteering indicates some local civic participation. Families should check school enrolment zones, nearby options and travel times against the exact address before buying or renting. The 13.7% needing assistance, equal to 150 residents, also makes access to health, support and everyday services important for livability.
Drive
72.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
18.7%
Growth Outlook
Canton Beach's growth outlook is more settled than expansion-led. The suburb has 1,202 residents, with 78.5% staying at the same address and 21.5% turning over, so change is likely to come gradually through replacement buyers, renters and downsizers rather than rapid household churn. The median age of 61 is higher than the national comparison by 21 years, reinforcing an aging-trajectory profile. Seven development applications over 12 months indicate some activity, including a 2-dwelling dual-occupancy proposal, but a smaller pipeline compared with major release areas. This combination supports incremental change because established residents remain in place while limited additions broaden the housing mix.
Population trend: Central Coast (NSW) council area
Canton Beach sits in the Central Coast (NSW) council area. These are the council area's residents, not Canton Beach's.
Residents 2025
357,816
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Canton Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canton Beach a good suburb to live in?
Canton Beach may suit residents seeking a quieter, older coastal setting with smaller households and a high level of housing stability. It has 1,202 residents, a median age of 61 and 78.5% of residents staying at the same address. Car access matters because 72.8% drive to work and only 1.2% walk or cycle.
What is the median house price in Canton Beach?
Check recent settled sales for the current median house price, since a single headline figure can be misleading in a compact 0.83 square kilometre market. Canton Beach has 73.4% separate houses, 55.1% two-bedroom dwellings and 52.3% homes owned outright. Compare at least 12 months of like-for-like sales by size and condition.
What schools are in Canton Beach?
School choices should be confirmed through current enrolment information for the exact address, including public and independent options in the surrounding area. Travel planning matters because 72.8% of residents drive to work and only 1.2% walk or cycle. Families should compare catchment boundaries, transport availability and daily travel times before committing to a property.
Is Canton Beach safe?
Safety should be assessed using recent local incident information, street-level conditions and the exact property's surroundings rather than demographics alone. Canton Beach has 1,202 residents and a median age of 61, with 78.5% remaining at the same address. Buyers and renters should inspect the area at different times and check current police and council updates.
Is Canton Beach good for property investment?
Canton Beach can suit investors seeking a small detached-housing market, but the rental profile needs caution. Weekly rent is $300, the vacancy rate is 8.9% and 31.4% of occupied dwellings are rented. With only 7 development applications over 12 months, supply is limited compared with major growth corridors, but vacancy and resale depth should be tested carefully.
How is Canton Beach's population changing?
Canton Beach appears relatively settled rather than highly mobile. There are 1,202 residents, 78.5% stayed at the same address and the turnover rate is 21.5%. The median age of 61 is 21 years above the national comparison, so population change is more likely to reflect gradual aging, downsizing and replacement households than rapid family-led expansion.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
Explore Canton Beach on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map