Casuarina
Household income in the 88.7th percentile nationally, a $1,360,000 median house price, and a 41.9% university qualification rate that runs 11.8 points above the national average paint a picture of concentrated affluence in a compact 2.68 km2 footprint. The 18.1% vacancy rate is unusually high, a function of the coastal holiday-home character and low renter share of 22.3%, where many dwellings sit empty for most of the year. At median age 41, residents are broadly in line with the national figure, yet over half of all dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, indicating large family homes rather than an apartment-heavy stock.
Population
3,256
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,327/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
46
Median House
$1.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,360,000 median house price reflects a premium coastal market, with prices rising 11% from $1,297,500 in 2024 to $1,440,000 in 2025, reaching that level as the current peak. Separate houses dominate at 71.1% of stock, and 52.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, making Casuarina one of the more spacious markets in NSW compared to urban centres. Semi-detached homes account for 16.2% and apartments just 12.7%, so detached-house buyers face a concentrated pool of comparable stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the elevated median price. Outright owners at 31.4% and mortgage holders at 46.3% suggest an active buyer base still carrying debt rather than an entrenched, debt-free cohort.
For Buyers
The $1,360,000 median house price reflects a premium coastal market, with prices rising 11% from $1,297,500 in 2024 to $1,440,000 in 2025, reaching that level as the current peak. Separate houses dominate at 71.1% of stock, and 52.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, making Casuarina one of the more spacious markets in NSW compared to urban centres. Semi-detached homes account for 16.2% and apartments just 12.7%, so detached-house buyers face a concentrated pool of comparable stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,500, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, which stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the elevated median price. Outright owners at 31.4% and mortgage holders at 46.3% suggest an active buyer base still carrying debt rather than an entrenched, debt-free cohort.
For Investors
With only 22.3% of dwellings rented and a vacancy rate of 18.1%, investor returns depend heavily on short-stay or holiday letting rather than the long-term rental market. Weekly rent of $635 against a $1,360,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, low by NSW standards, though comparable coastal markets have similar constraints. Development activity is healthy at 44 applications in the past 12 months, skewing toward new dwellings and pool installations, consistent with a lifestyle-upgrade market rather than speculative apartment supply. Price momentum is positive, with an 11% gain in the most recent year, above the national average annual movement. The 25.1% turnover rate signals active resale activity, meaning owner-occupier capital growth remains the primary investment thesis.
Development Activity
Total DAs
320
Last 12 Months
46
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 41 sits 1 year above the national figure, consistent with an established coastal owner-occupier community. University qualifications at 41.9% run 11.8 points above the national average, indicating a highly educated resident base. English ancestry leads with 1,523 residents, followed by Irish (467) and Scottish (390), giving the suburb a strongly Anglo-Celtic character, and overseas-born residents at 17.7% are 3.9 points below the national figure. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, reflecting the prevalence of couples with children (1,481 families) and large 4-plus bedroom dwellings. The volunteering rate of 18.8% suggests a community-engaged population, and only 3.1% of residents require daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.1%
Houses
16.2%
Townhouse
12.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with 31.4% owning outright, 46.3% under mortgage, and 22.3% renting, an unusually low renter share compared to state averages that reflects the owner-dominated coastal character. The stock strongly favours large detached houses: 71.1% are separate dwellings and 52.5% have 4 or more bedrooms, while 29.2% have 3 bedrooms. Semi-detached homes make up 16.2% and apartments 12.7%. The median house price climbed from $1,297,500 in 2024 to $1,440,000 in 2025, an 11% one-year gain, with $1,440,000 the current peak. Mortgage-to-income at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 27.3% both sit below standard stress thresholds of 30%, meaning housing costs remain manageable relative to household incomes in the 88.7th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wk
$635
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$983
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.1%
Unoccupied
234
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.8%
Couples, no children
2,776
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in three sectors: Healthcare at 17.9% (217 workers), Construction at 14.5% (176), and Education at 14.4% (174), with Professional/Tech at 10.8% (131). By occupation, Professionals lead at 436 workers, followed by Managers at 290, which is consistent with the 88.7th-percentile income ranking nationally. The full-time employment rate is 54.6% and the participation rate is 65.5%, with 75 residents unemployed, translating to a 4.7% unemployment rate that is broadly in line with national averages. The Construction sector at 14.5% is notably elevated above state norms, reflecting ongoing residential development activity in a growing coastal corridor.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.6%
Part-time
40.7%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
1,532
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.9%
Postgraduate
9.8%
Born Overseas
17.7%
Dwellings
1,061
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total at 88.7% of commuters driving, compared to higher public transport use in major urban centres, which reflects Casuarina's coastal location away from heavy rail corridors. Walking and cycling account for 5% of commute trips, above the national average for comparable-sized towns. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby schools in the Tweed Coast area. Rent-to-income at 27.3% keeps housing costs below the 30% stress threshold for tenants, and mortgage-to-income at 24.8% is similarly manageable. The 3.1% requiring daily assistance (96 residents) is low relative to the population, and the 18.8% volunteering rate is above the national average, reflecting strong community engagement.
Drive
88.7%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Casuarina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Casuarina a good suburb to live in?
Casuarina ranks in the 88.7th percentile nationally for household income and has a university qualification rate of 41.9%, which is 11.8 points above the national average. The suburb offers large detached homes with 52.5% having 4 or more bedrooms. The main trade-offs are the $1,360,000 median house price and a high 18.1% vacancy rate due to its holiday-home character.
What is the median house price in Casuarina?
The median house price is $1,360,000. Prices rose 11% from $1,297,500 in 2024 to $1,440,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $635 and monthly mortgage repayments are about $2,500, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Casuarina?
No schools are recorded inside the Casuarina suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby schools in the broader Tweed Coast area. The local adult population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 41.9%, which is 11.8 points above the national figure.
Is Casuarina safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Casuarina in this dataset. As indirect indicators, household income sits in the 88.7th percentile nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.7%, and only 3.1% of the 3,256 residents require daily assistance, all consistent with a low-disadvantage, low-stress community environment.
Is Casuarina good for property investment?
Rent of $635 a week against a $1,360,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%. The 18.1% vacancy rate signals that much of the stock is holiday-let or owner-vacant. Prices rose 11% in the most recent year, so the investment case rests on capital growth rather than rental yield, backed by 44 development applications in the past 12 months.
How is Casuarina's population changing?
Casuarina has a population of 3,256 within its 2.68 km2 area, at a density of 1,215.8 residents per km2. The 25.1% turnover rate indicates active property resale activity. The suburb's high 18.1% vacancy rate reflects discretionary holiday-home ownership rather than a declining population, with owner-occupier demand driving price growth of 11% in 2024 to 2025.
How much development is happening in Casuarina?
There were 44 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Applications include new dwelling houses, swimming pools, indoor recreation facilities, and internal alterations, consistent with a lifestyle-upgrade market. This level of activity is notable for a suburb of 3,256 people and reflects continued buyer confidence in the Tweed Coast corridor.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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