Chinderah
At a median age of 62, Chinderah sits 22 years above the national figure, making it one of the most retirement-concentrated suburbs in the Tweed region. That age profile explains almost everything else: a participation rate of just 30.4% compared to the national norm, 72.3% of dwellings owned outright with no mortgage, and an average household size of 1.8, well below the national 2.5. Despite household incomes in the 2.3rd percentile nationally, median house prices hit $885,000, reflecting retirees who hold paid-off assets rather than wage-based purchasing power. With 80.7% of residents staying put over five years, this is a highly stable, low-churn community.
Population
1,639
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$719/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$885K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Buying into Chinderah means entering a market where 72.3% of owners carry no mortgage, a striking contrast to most Australian suburbs where mortgaged households dominate. The median house price stands at $885,000, underpinned by demand from retirees rather than upgraders or first-home buyers. Price history shows strong movement: from $818,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025, a 30.8% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 62.6%, well above the 30% stress threshold, because local incomes are low. Separate houses make up only 46.9% of dwellings and 0-1 bedroom stock accounts for 38.3%, reflecting the retiree-centric layout rather than a family-oriented housing mix.
For Buyers
Buying into Chinderah means entering a market where 72.3% of owners carry no mortgage, a striking contrast to most Australian suburbs where mortgaged households dominate. The median house price stands at $885,000, underpinned by demand from retirees rather than upgraders or first-home buyers. Price history shows strong movement: from $818,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025, a 30.8% gain in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, but the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 62.6%, well above the 30% stress threshold, because local incomes are low. Separate houses make up only 46.9% of dwellings and 0-1 bedroom stock accounts for 38.3%, reflecting the retiree-centric layout rather than a family-oriented housing mix.
For Investors
Chinderah's rental market is slim: only 16.6% of households rent, compared to the national average, and weekly rent of $245 is low for a coastal NSW suburb. Against the $885,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield around 1.4%, well below typical investment thresholds. The 3.9% vacancy rate sits at the edge of balance, and with 80.7% of residents staying more than five years, turnover that refreshes tenant demand is limited. Development activity is modest at 14 applications in the past 12 months, offering little evidence of supply-side pressure. The 30.8% price growth recorded in 2024-2025 is notable, though a one-year data window is too narrow to establish a reliable trend.
Development Activity
Total DAs
74
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 62 is 22 years above the national figure, placing Chinderah firmly in the retiree-dominated segment of the housing market. Overseas-born residents account for 17.9%, which is 3.7 percentage points below the national rate, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (746 residents), Scottish (219) and Irish (210). University qualifications reach only 12.7%, sitting 17.4 points below the national average, consistent with the older cohort who pre-date the expansion of tertiary education. Couples without children make up 47% of families, more than double the share with children. Average household size of 1.8 is 0.7 below national, because most households are two-person retired couples rather than families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
46.9%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright ownership at 72.3% is exceptional by any comparison: nationally, fewer than one-third of households own without a mortgage. Only 11.1% carry a mortgage and 16.6% rent, a structure that reflects decades of owner-occupation by retirees who have paid down debt. The stock mixes separate houses (46.9%) with a high proportion of 0-1 bedroom dwellings (38.3%), pointing to units and retirement-style accommodation rather than family homes. Price history shows the median moved from $818,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025, a 30.8% year-on-year rise. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,950 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 62.6%, the highest stress indicator relative to local earnings, because household incomes rank in the 2.3rd percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$245
HH Size
1.8
Personal Income / wk
$521
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
34
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
62.6% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
47.0%
Couples, no children
952
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy reflects a retired population more than a working one. The participation rate of 30.4% is well below the national level, with 864 residents recorded as not in the labour force. Of those who do work, Healthcare leads at 19.5% (54 workers), followed by Construction at 17.0% (47) and Education at 13.0% (36). By occupation, Labourers (87) outnumber Professionals (59) and Managers (51), which is unusual for a high-asset suburb and points to part-time, service-oriented work among residents who have not fully retired. Unemployment at 3.9% aligns with national averages, and full-time employment among the working-age cohort runs at 53.6%. Household income in the 2.3rd percentile nationally makes Chinderah low-income by census measures despite its high property values.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.6%
Part-time
42.5%
Participation
30.4%
Employed
442
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.7%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
17.9%
Dwellings
812
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near total: 83.8% of residents drive to work, public transport use is 1.1%, and 8.0% walk or cycle, lower than most inner regional towns but consistent with a spread-out suburb at 14.88 square kilometres. No schools are recorded within the Chinderah boundary, so families with children rely on neighbouring suburbs for education. Detailed crime data is not available, and SEIFA decile scores are not populated in this dataset, preventing a direct disadvantage comparison. What the data does show is that 11.7% of residents (177 people) need daily assistance, above the share typically seen in younger suburbs, because the median age of 62 means a significant portion of the population is in advanced retirement.
Drive
83.8%
Public Transport
1.1%
Walk / Cycle
8.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Chinderah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chinderah a good suburb to live in?
Chinderah suits retirees well. The median age of 62 is 22 years above the national figure, 72.3% of homes are owned outright, and 80.7% of residents have stayed more than 5 years, indicating strong community stability. The main limitations are minimal public transport (1.1% usage) and no schools inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Chinderah?
The median house price is $885,000 based on recent PSI data. Price history shows a rise from $818,000 in 2024 to $1,070,000 in 2025, a 30.8% increase. Weekly rent averages $245 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $1,950.
What schools are in Chinderah?
No schools are recorded within the Chinderah suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on educational facilities in neighbouring suburbs. The local population has university qualifications at 12.7%, which is 17.4 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the older resident demographic.
Is Chinderah safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Chinderah in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, 80.7% of residents have stayed in the area for more than 5 years and the turnover rate is 19.3%, suggesting a settled, low-disruption community rather than a high-transient environment.
Is Chinderah good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $245 against an $885,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.4%, low by investment standards. Only 16.6% of households rent and vacancy sits at 3.9%, limiting tenant demand. The 30.8% price rise in 2024-2025 is notable, though the dataset covers only one year.
How is Chinderah's population changing?
The suburb has a population of 1,639 with no detailed forward forecast available. The aging-in-place dynamic is strong: the median age is 62 and 80.7% of residents stayed at their address over the past 5 years. Development activity is modest at 14 applications in the past 12 months, not consistent with rapid 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 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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