Casuarina
An 18.1% vacancy rate stands out in Casuarina, alongside 4.31% annual growth and household income at the 88.7th percentile nationally. The 3,256-person coastal suburb is detached-house dominant: 71.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.5% contain 4 or more bedrooms. Its median age of 41 is 1.0 year above national, while university attainment is 11.8 percentage points higher. Compared with nearby Kingscliff, Casuarina's 2.68 sq km footprint and 1,215.8 people per sq km support a compact setting, with new development still shaping the suburb.
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
49
Casuarina suits buyers who prioritise larger dwellings and a home-based work setup. Separate houses account for 71.1% of homes, 4 or more bedrooms for 52.5%, and working from home for 30.3%, so the stock can support families, multigenerational households or dedicated offices. Borrowing exposure is significant: 46.1% of households hold a mortgage versus 31.2% owning outright, with a mortgage payment marker of $2,500 per month. Mortgage payments equal 24.8% of household income, below the 27.3% rent-to-income figure. Buyers should compare recent sales, insurance and coastal conditions by street before committing.
For Buyers
Casuarina suits buyers who prioritise larger dwellings and a home-based work setup. Separate houses account for 71.1% of homes, 4 or more bedrooms for 52.5%, and working from home for 30.3%, so the stock can support families, multigenerational households or dedicated offices. Borrowing exposure is significant: 46.1% of households hold a mortgage versus 31.2% owning outright, with a mortgage payment marker of $2,500 per month. Mortgage payments equal 24.8% of household income, below the 27.3% rent-to-income figure. Buyers should compare recent sales, insurance and coastal conditions by street before committing.
For Investors
Investors get a mixed rental signal. Weekly rent is $635 and 22.3% of households rent, while rent growth has reached 10.2%, which can support income growth compared with a flat-rent market. However, the 18.1% vacancy rate is high and may lengthen letting times or increase incentives, so returns should be stress-tested below full occupancy. Casuarina recorded 51 development applications in 12 months, creating both renewal potential and added competition. Annual growth is forecast at 4.31% and is driven by internal migration, but the 31.2% outright ownership share means demand is not solely tenant-led.
Development Activity
Total DAs
334
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Casuarina has an older-than-national age profile but a relatively strong tertiary-educated base. Median age is 41, 1.0 year above national, and 41.9% hold a university qualification, 11.8 percentage points above national. Average household size is 2.9, or 0.4 above national, consistent with 52.5% of families being couples with children and 36.2% couples without children. English, Irish and Scottish ancestries count 1,523, 467 and 390 respectively; Christianity has 1,566 responses and no religion 1,437. With 74.9% staying at the same address, turnover is 25.1%, suggesting a settled base compared with a highly transient suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.1%
Houses
16.2%
Townhouse
12.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Casuarina's housing mix is weighted toward family-sized stock. Separate houses represent 71.1%, semi-detached homes 16.2% and apartments 12.7%, while 52.5% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms. Tenure is more mortgage-led than rental-led: 46.1% have a mortgage versus 22.3% renting, with 31.2% owned outright. The main cost markers are $2,500 per month for the mortgage and $635 per week for rent. Mortgage-to-income is 24.8%, lower than rent-to-income at 27.3%, and neither stress flag is raised. Compared with smaller-unit coastal markets, the larger stock may suit owner-occupiers because it provides more family-sized options, although the 18.1% vacancy rate deserves attention when assessing leasing conditions.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $635.
$1,000
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,398 · units $890
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
52.5%
Couples with children
36.2%
Couples, no children
11.0%
Single parent
903
Total families
Economy & Employment
Casuarina's income and employment profile is stronger than the national midpoint, with household income at the 88.7th percentile. Healthcare is the largest listed industry at 17.9% or 217 workers, followed by construction at 14.5% or 176, education at 14.4% or 174, professional and technical services at 10.8% or 131, and public administration at 5.5% or 67. The occupation mix is led by 436 professionals and 290 managers, with 211 clerical and administrative workers and 201 trades workers. Labour-force participation is 69.9%, unemployment is 4.4%, and 837 people work full time versus 695 part time, indicating a broad service and skilled-work base rather than one dominant employer.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
1,715
Unemployed
75
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.0%
Part-time
42.4%
Participation
69.9%
Employed
1,640
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.9%
Postgraduate
9.8%
Born Overseas
17.7%
Dwellings
1,061
Transport to Work
Casuarina's daily pattern is car-oriented: 61.8% drive to work, compared with 0.5% using public transport and 3.5% walking or cycling. That matters because local trips and regional commuting are likely to be less convenient without a car, while the 30.3% working-from-home share can reduce weekday travel for many households. At 2.68 sq km and 1,215.8 people per sq km, the suburb is compact, which supports shorter local distances than a spread-out area. The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above national. Families should check school enrolment zones and nearby government or non-government options against the exact address, and review current safety information before choosing a street.
Drive
61.8%
Public Transport
0.5%
Walk / Cycle
3.5%
Work from Home
30.3%
Population Forecast
+4.31%/yr
(+584 people/yr)
High GrowthCasuarina is on a high-growth path, with annual growth forecast at 4.31% and internal migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 196.3% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed, so momentum may not be uniform across every pocket. Rent growth of 10.2% and affordability moving from 54.0 in 2011 to 38.2 in 2021 point to stronger demand but tighter buying conditions compared with the earlier period. Growth appears development-led rather than gentrification-led: the gentrification score is 0, with the stage labelled New development and a shift classification of Not gentrifying. The 51 development applications in 12 months reinforce the need to track delivery, not just approvals.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+126
Net Internal / yr
+731
Gentrification Signal
New development
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 can suit households seeking larger homes, a coastal setting and flexibility for working from home. About 71.1% of dwellings are separate houses, 52.5% have 4 or more bedrooms and 30.3% work from home. The 18.1% vacancy rate and car-oriented transport profile are important trade-offs compared with more transit-focused areas.
What is the median house price in Casuarina?
Check recent comparable sales for the current median house price, particularly because dwelling type and coastal exposure can vary by street. Key cost markers are a $635 weekly rent, a $2,500 monthly mortgage payment and an 18.1% vacancy rate. A local agent or recent settled sales will give a more reliable current figure than a broad suburb estimate.
What schools are in Casuarina?
Use the exact address to check enrolment zones and nearby government or non-government schools, because catchments can cross suburb boundaries. Casuarina covers 2.68 sq km and has 3,256 residents, but those figures do not identify the closest campus. Families should confirm travel times, available places and sector requirements before signing a lease or contract.
Is Casuarina safe?
A current suburb-specific safety check is important before buying or renting. Review NSW Police and council information, inspect the exact street at different times and compare recent incidents with nearby areas. Casuarina has 3,256 residents and 61.8% drive to work, so traffic, activity and perceived safety can vary between local pockets.
Is Casuarina good for property investment?
Casuarina has supportive demand indicators, including $635 weekly rent, 10.2% rent growth, 4.31% annual growth and internal migration as the main driver. The 18.1% vacancy rate increases leasing risk, while 51 development applications in 12 months may add both housing choice and competition. Returns should be tested below full occupancy.
How is Casuarina's population changing?
Casuarina has 3,256 residents today. Growth is forecast at 4.31% a year, driven by internal migration, while population change across the wider area is 196.3% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Mixed, so the direction is strongly positive but uneven rather than a uniform surge in every part of the suburb.
Is Casuarina seeing new development?
Yes. Casuarina recorded 51 development applications in the past 12 months, including a dwelling house, internal and external alterations, and office or retail-related modifications. The growth profile is labelled New development, with a gentrification score of 0. Buyers and investors should check the status, scale and likely timing of nearby approvals.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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