Coledale
A household income sitting in the 93.5th percentile nationally and a median house price of $2.31 million signal that Coledale operates well above the typical Australian suburb. With only 1,372 residents across 2.1 square kilometres, this Northern Illawarra coastal community is small by any measure, yet 51.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 21.6 percentage points above the national average. Ownership without a mortgage reaches 44.2%, well above national norms, and 92.6% of dwellings are separate houses, reflecting a settled, owner-occupied character rather than a transient rental market.
Population
1,372
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,586/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$2.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $2.31 million places Coledale well into premium territory for the Illawarra region, and the price history shows significant movement: the median peaked at $2.8 million in 2024 before falling to $2.05 million in 2025, a 26.8% correction from peak. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.6%, and bedrooms skew large, with 41.8% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 43.3% having 3 bedrooms. Only 14.8% of households rent, compared to the national average, reinforcing that this is an owner-occupier community where established families are the primary buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $2.31 million places Coledale well into premium territory for the Illawarra region, and the price history shows significant movement: the median peaked at $2.8 million in 2024 before falling to $2.05 million in 2025, a 26.8% correction from peak. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 92.6%, and bedrooms skew large, with 41.8% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 43.3% having 3 bedrooms. Only 14.8% of households rent, compared to the national average, reinforcing that this is an owner-occupier community where established families are the primary buyers.
For Investors
Rental demand in Coledale is structurally thin. The renter share is just 14.8%, far lower than most Sydney-adjacent markets, and the vacancy rate sits at 10.2%, which is very high and signals limited absorption capacity for new rental stock. Weekly rent averages $600, and against the $2.31 million median house price, that implies a gross yield well below 1.4%. Only 19 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, mostly dwelling alterations rather than new supply, consistent with a mature, low-turnover suburb. The 86.1% resident stability rate, meaning 86% of people stayed put over a five-year period, confirms low churn. Investment returns here depend heavily on capital growth rather than yield, and the 26.8% price fall from the 2024 peak is a material risk factor.
Development Activity
Total DAs
145
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coledale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Coledale Public School
K-6 · 135 students
Demographics
Coledale skews older, with a median age of 42, which is 2 years above the national figure. The community is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (552), Irish (232) and Scottish (209) as the top ancestries. Overseas-born residents account for 15.4% of the population, which is 6.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a locally-born character. University qualifications reach 51.7%, running 21.6 points above national, and the typical household contains 2.8 people, slightly above the national household size of 2.5. Couples with children (538 families) outnumber couples without children (311), pointing to a family-oriented community. The volunteering rate of 24.5% is notably high, suggesting strong community participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.6%
Houses
5.8%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership dominates the tenure mix: 44.2% of households own their home outright and 41% carry a mortgage, leaving just 14.8% renting, well below national norms. This heavy owner-occupier weighting reflects both the premium price point and the long-term stability of residents. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 92.6%, with semi-detached dwellings accounting for 5.8% and apartments just 1.6%. Large homes are the norm: 41.8% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 43.3% have 3 bedrooms. The price moved sharply, falling from a 2024 median of $2.8 million to $2.05 million in 2025, a 26.8% decline. Mortgage stress is not currently an issue, with the mortgage-to-income ratio at 23.2%, and the rent-to-income ratio is identical at 23.2%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,001
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.2%
Unoccupied
52
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.0%
Couples, no children
1,150
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce in Coledale is concentrated in professional and knowledge-based roles. Healthcare leads all industries at 17.9% (96 workers), followed by Education at 16.0% (86) and Professional/Tech at 14.6% (78). Construction accounts for 9.9% and Public Administration 8.0%. By occupation, Professionals make up the largest group at 269 workers, followed by Managers at 123. The full-time employment rate is 56.3%, with 265 people working part-time. The unemployment rate is 4.7%, and participation sits at 58.3%, below the national norm because 349 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age and high outright ownership indicating a meaningful retired or semi-retired cohort. Personal weekly income averages $1,001, and family weekly income of $2,951 is well above the national average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.3%
Part-time
39.0%
Participation
58.3%
Employed
607
Occupations
Top Industries
University
51.7%
Postgraduate
17.5%
Born Overseas
15.4%
Dwellings
448
Transport to Work
Transport patterns in Coledale are dominated by car use: 86.5% of residents drive to work, which is well above the national average, and only 1.8% use public transport. Active transport is above average, with 6.2% walking or cycling, likely reflecting the compact coastal geography. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families with school-age children depend on neighbouring suburbs for education. The community shows low housing stress, with both mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income ratios at 23.2%. The high volunteering rate of 24.5% and the low need-for-assistance figure of 4.0% (52 residents) point to a self-sufficient, engaged population. The high vacancy rate of 10.2% indicates that a portion of the housing stock functions as holiday or part-time accommodation.
Drive
86.5%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coledale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coledale a good suburb to live in?
Coledale offers a high-income, owner-occupier environment with household income in the 93.5th percentile nationally. University qualifications at 51.7% run 21.6 points above national. The suburb suits established families and retirees more than renters or first-home buyers, given the $2.31 million median house price and only 14.8% rental stock.
What is the median house price in Coledale?
The median house price is $2.31 million as of 2024-2025. Prices peaked at $2.8 million in 2024 before falling to $2.05 million in 2025, a 26.8% decline from peak. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%, below the stress threshold.
What schools are in Coledale?
No schools are recorded within the Coledale suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 51.7% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 21.6 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Coledale safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Coledale are not available in this dataset. Indirect indicators suggest a low-disadvantage area: household income sits in the 93.5th percentile nationally, housing stress is absent with mortgage-to-income at 23.2%, and the unemployment rate is 4.7%. Only 4.0% of residents (52 people) need daily assistance.
Is Coledale good for property investment?
The investment case is challenging. Weekly rent of $600 against a $2.31 million median implies a gross yield below 1.4%, and the 10.2% vacancy rate suggests limited rental demand. The renter share is just 14.8%. Prices fell 26.8% from the 2024 peak of $2.8 million, making near-term capital growth uncertain.
How is Coledale's population changing?
Coledale has 1,372 residents across 2.1 square kilometres, giving a density of 653.7 people per km2. The suburb has high residential stability, with 86.1% of residents staying at the same address over the census reference period. Development activity is low at 19 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations rather than new dwellings.
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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