Copacabana
A 28.4% vacancy rate is Copacabana's most unusual housing signal, so buyers should test whether a property suits permanent living rather than relying on listing scarcity. The suburb has 2,809 residents across 2.0 sq km, with a median age of 43, or 3.0 years above the national comparison. Household income sits at the 81.6th percentile, while 41.2% work from home. While Avoca Beach and Terrigal are nearby coastal reference points, Copacabana's own profile is defined by detached housing and 0.22% annual growth rather than a high-turnover apartment market.
Local council: Central Coast (NSW)
Population
2,809
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,143/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
52
Copacabana suits buyers seeking detached housing, because 94.5% of homes are separate houses and 54.5% contain four or more bedrooms. That proportion is substantially higher than the 2.6% apartment share, making the suburb more relevant to families, renovators and buyers wanting outdoor space than to apartment purchasers. The typical mortgage payment is $2,300 per month, while mortgage costs represent 24.8% of household income, below common stress thresholds. Ownership is also established, with 34.8% of homes owned outright and 41.9% owned with a mortgage. Compared with smaller-home stock, the larger-house bias can increase maintenance and purchase costs.
For Buyers
Copacabana suits buyers seeking detached housing, because 94.5% of homes are separate houses and 54.5% contain four or more bedrooms. That proportion is substantially higher than the 2.6% apartment share, making the suburb more relevant to families, renovators and buyers wanting outdoor space than to apartment purchasers. The typical mortgage payment is $2,300 per month, while mortgage costs represent 24.8% of household income, below common stress thresholds. Ownership is also established, with 34.8% of homes owned outright and 41.9% owned with a mortgage. Compared with smaller-home stock, the larger-house bias can increase maintenance and purchase costs.
For Investors
The rental profile needs careful interpretation. Weekly rent is $510 and 22.6% of households rent, but the 28.4% vacancy rate is higher than the renting share, so occupancy assumptions should be tested against the exact property and its likely tenant market. Development activity is notable, with 50 applications lodged in the past 12 months, creating potential for renovations and additional competition between properties. Rent growth is recorded at 50.7%, while overseas migration is the primary forecast migration driver. These factors can support demand, but the high vacancy figure means an investor should compare leasing history, holding costs and seasonal exposure before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
289
Last 12 Months
52
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+4.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Copacabana
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Copacabana has an older age profile than Australia overall: the median age is 43, which is 3.0 years above the national comparison. University attainment is 38.7%, or 8.6 percentage points above the national figure, supporting a professional and managerial presence. Overseas-born residents account for 18.3%, 3.3 points below the national comparison, while English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1,238, 399 and 299 respectively. Couples with children represent 45.4% of families, compared with 36.3% for couples without children. This combination points to established households and family stability, reinforced by an 80.8% two-year resident retention rate. Compared with nearby Avoca Beach and Terrigal, the key demographic story is a mature, settled coastal population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.5%
Houses
2.4%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with separate houses accounting for 94.5% of stock compared with 2.6% apartments and 2.4% semi-detached homes. Larger dwellings dominate, as 54.5% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 36.3% have three bedrooms. Tenure is more mortgage-oriented than rental-oriented: 41.9% of households have a mortgage versus 22.6% renting, while 34.8% own their home outright. Mortgage payments average $2,300 per month and equal 24.8% of household income, only slightly above the 23.8% rent-to-income figure. The 28.4% vacancy rate is high compared with the rental share, so buyers should distinguish permanent housing from intermittently occupied homes. Compared with apartment-focused markets, Copacabana carries more land, maintenance and renovation exposure.
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $510.
$780
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $850 · units $580
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$893
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
28.4%
Unoccupied
392
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.4%
Couples with children
36.3%
Couples, no children
16.6%
Single parent
821
Total families
Economy & Employment
Copacabana's household income is relatively strong, at $2,143 per week and the 81.6th percentile nationally. Employment is concentrated in healthcare at 20.0% or 204 workers, education at 15.2% or 155, construction at 11.4% or 117, public administration at 9.4% or 96, and professional and technical services at 9.0% or 92. Professionals number 405 and managers 226, consistent with the suburb's above-average university attainment. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, with a 65.5% participation rate and 50.8% full-time employment rate. Socioeconomic positioning ranks highly, with an IRSAD decile of 9, an IER decile of 10 and an IEO decile of 8. The mix of essential services and professional work helps support income resilience, although commuting remains relevant for some workers.
Unemployment
3.7%
Labour Force
1,476
Unemployed
55
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.8%
Part-time
38.4%
Participation
65.5%
Employed
1,421
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.7%
Postgraduate
8.9%
Born Overseas
18.3%
Dwellings
992
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented. A total of 53.4% of residents drive to work, compared with 1.2% using public transport and 0.8% walking or cycling, while 41.2% work from home. This pattern suits a low-density coastal suburb because working from home reduces some commuting pressure, but households without a car may face fewer convenient options. Copacabana Public School provides one local government primary-school option; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. With 2.0 sq km and a density of 1,407.5 people per sq km, the suburb is compact but predominantly detached. An IRSAD decile of 9 places socioeconomic advantage above most Australian areas. The car-driver share is much higher than public transport use, so transport access and parking deserve attention when comparing homes.
Drive
53.4%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
41.2%
Growth Outlook
Copacabana is classified as an established suburb, with forecast annual growth of 0.22% and wider-area population change of 7.2% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary forecast migration driver, but the overall trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen by 5.8 percentage points, while the young share has fallen 1.9 points and the working share 3.5 points. The aging shift is more pronounced than the annual growth signal because household change is occurring gradually rather than through rapid expansion. Affordability is labelled Worsening, moving from 53.0 in 2011 to 56.8 in 2021. Gentrification indicators are mixed, with a shift measure scoring 49 at Active stage, while the current gentrification field records 0 and Not gentrifying. Compared with fast-growth markets, the likely focus is gradual renewal and demographic change.
Population trend: Central Coast (NSW) council area
Copacabana sits in the Central Coast (NSW) council area. These are the council area's residents, not Copacabana'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 Copacabana compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Copacabana a good suburb to live in?
Copacabana can suit households seeking detached coastal housing, established streets and a strong work-from-home pattern. The median age is 43, 41.2% work from home and household income sits at the 81.6th percentile. Car dependence is significant, with 53.4% driving to work, so transport preferences should be considered.
What is the median house price in Copacabana?
Review recent settled sales and a current valuation before budgeting, particularly because 94.5% of homes are separate houses and 54.5% have four or more bedrooms. Those figures indicate that the relevant comparison set is mainly detached family housing rather than the 2.6% apartment segment.
What schools are in Copacabana?
Copacabana Public School is the local government primary-school option identified in the suburb. Families should confirm the current enrolment zone for an address before signing a contract, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. The local school mix includes 1 listed primary school.
Is Copacabana safe?
Make a safety decision using current incident information and a visit to the exact street at different times of day. Copacabana has 2,809 residents and a density of 1,407.5 people per sq km, but population density alone cannot establish safety for a particular property or street.
Is Copacabana good for property investment?
Copacabana has a $510 weekly rent, a 22.6% rental share and 50 development applications in the past 12 months. However, the 28.4% vacancy rate is a major due-diligence issue. Investors should verify leasing history, likely tenant demand, maintenance costs and the effect of local renovation activity.
How is Copacabana's population changing?
Growth is gradual, with forecast annual growth of 0.22% and wider-area population change of 7.2% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 5.8 percentage points while the young share has fallen 1.9 points. Overseas migration is the primary forecast migration driver.
What development is happening in Copacabana?
There were 50 development applications in the past 12 months. Examples include 1 dwelling house, a swimming pool, and works involving a balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah. Check the exact property and approval status because application types range from new housing to alterations and outdoor improvements.
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).
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