Copacabana
With a $1,670,000 median house price on a 2.0 km2 footprint, Copacabana sits firmly in the premium coastal tier of the Central Coast. Household income lands at the 81.6th percentile nationally, and SEIFA scores reach decile 9 on IRSAD and IRSD, placing the suburb in the top tenth for both advantage and low disadvantage. The defining physical fact is that 94.5% of dwellings are separate houses, one of the highest rates you will find anywhere, and 28.4% of properties sit vacant, typical of holiday and investment stock on the coast. Population of 2,809 has grown just 7.2% over the decade, confirming an established community with limited expansion.
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
53
Median House
$1.7M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,670,000 reflects premium Central Coast coastal positioning, with the 2025 figure of $1,600,000 down 6.2% from the $1,705,000 peak in 2024, offering buyers a slightly softer entry than 12 months ago. At 94.5% separate houses, buyers get a genuine detached-house market with very little apartment competition. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 54.5%, and three-bedroom at 36.3%, so family-sized stock is the norm rather than the exception. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because household incomes sit at the 81.6th percentile nationally. Outright owners (35.1%) and mortgage holders (42.2%) together hold 77.3%, with renters at just 22.8%.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,670,000 reflects premium Central Coast coastal positioning, with the 2025 figure of $1,600,000 down 6.2% from the $1,705,000 peak in 2024, offering buyers a slightly softer entry than 12 months ago. At 94.5% separate houses, buyers get a genuine detached-house market with very little apartment competition. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 54.5%, and three-bedroom at 36.3%, so family-sized stock is the norm rather than the exception. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because household incomes sit at the 81.6th percentile nationally. Outright owners (35.1%) and mortgage holders (42.2%) together hold 77.3%, with renters at just 22.8%.
For Investors
Rental yield is thin at this price point: weekly rent of $510 against the $1,670,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.6%, below most metropolitan benchmarks. The high vacancy rate of 28.4% reflects the holiday-home character of the suburb rather than structural oversupply, meaning short-term or holiday letting may be more relevant than long-term residential yield. Only 22.8% of properties are rented long-term, so the tenant pool is limited. Migration shows a net internal outflow of 105 residents per year, offset partially by 80 overseas arrivals, leaving annual population growth at just 0.22%. Development applications reached 52 in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and single dwellings, not new supply that would dilute values.
Development Activity
Total DAs
280
Last 12 Months
53
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Copacabana iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Copacabana Public School
K-6 · 259 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the trend is aging: the senior share rose 5.8 points while the working-age share fell 3.5 points over the decade. At 18.3% born overseas, the suburb sits 3.3 points below the national average, with ancestry led by English (1,238), Irish (399) and Scottish (299), reflecting a strongly Anglo-Celtic background. University qualifications reach 38.7%, which is 8.6 points above the national rate, consistent with a professional and managerial resident base. Average household size is 2.8, slightly above the national average of 2.5. Couples with children (1,050) outnumber couples without (603), and 80.8% of residents stayed at the same address over the five-year period, pointing to a stable, long-settled community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.5%
Houses
2.4%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between mortgage holders (42.2%) and outright owners (35.1%), with renters at 22.8%, well below typical rates. Outright owners at 35.1% represent established, debt-free wealth, while the 42.2% mortgage share captures recent buyers stretching for a premium coastal address. Stock is overwhelmingly separate houses (94.5%), with apartments at only 2.6% and semi-detached at 2.4%, so the market has almost no apartment segment. Bedroom composition skews large: 54.5% have four or more bedrooms and 36.3% have three, leaving smaller dwellings at under 10% combined. Prices pulled back from $1,705,000 in 2024 to $1,600,000 in 2025, a 6.2% decline. Mortgage-to-income sits at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 23.8%, both below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wk
$510
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
25.2%
Couples, no children
2,397
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is led by Healthcare (20.0%, 204 workers) and Education (15.2%, 155 workers), together accounting for more than a third of employed residents. Construction (11.4%, 117) and Public Admin (9.4%, 96) follow, with Professional/Tech at 9.0% (92 workers). By occupation, Professionals (405) and Managers (226) are the top two groups, consistent with SEIFA decile 9 on the IEO index for education and occupation. Unemployment is 4.2%, and the full-time employment rate of 56.9% is moderate, with 546 part-time workers suggesting flexible working patterns common in coastal areas. Real income grew 14.3% over the decade. The IER score of decile 10 reflects high physical and economic resources, above the IEO decile 8 level.
Unemployment
1.1%
Labour Force
4,218
Unemployed
47
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.9%
Part-time
38.9%
Participation
58.7%
Employed
1,268
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.7%
Postgraduate
8.9%
Born Overseas
18.3%
Dwellings
992
Transport to Work
Car dependency is extreme at 90.8% of commuters driving, compared to the national figure and well above inner-suburban rates, which is expected for a 2.0 km2 coastal suburb with limited public transport: only 2.0% use public transport. Walking and cycling account for 1.4%. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families rely on surrounding Central Coast schools. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSAD, placing it in the top tier for relative advantage nationally, and decile 9 on IRSD, meaning very few residents face material disadvantage. Only 3.1% (84 residents) need daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 18.7%, above national norms, and housing stress is absent with mortgage-to-income at 24.8% and rent-to-income at 23.8%.
Drive
90.8%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+17 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is minimal at 0.22% annually, equivalent to just 17 persons per year, and the 10-year rise of 7.2% classifies Copacabana firmly as an established, slow-growth area. Historical data from 2023 to 2025 shows the broader SA2 area holding near 7,578 residents with no meaningful trajectory. Medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 7,718 by 2031, a modest addition of around 140. The suburb loses more residents to internal migration than it gains, with a net internal outflow of 105 per year, while overseas migration adds 80. The gentrification score of 49 and stage of Active from the shift data contrast with the separate gentrification module which flags net internal outflow and labels it not gentrifying, meaning the suburb is already at high advantage with limited further upside.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
-105
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -105/yr
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 scores decile 9 on IRSAD and IRSD, placing it in the top tier nationally for both advantage and low disadvantage. Household income sits at the 81.6th percentile and 38.7% of residents hold university qualifications, 8.6 points above the national rate. The trade-off is a $1,670,000 median house price and extreme car dependence at 90.8% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Copacabana?
The median house price is $1,670,000 (2024-2025 PSI derived). The price eased from $1,705,000 in 2024 to $1,600,000 in 2025, a 6.2% decline. Weekly rent averages $510 and monthly mortgage repayments are approximately $2,300, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.8%.
What schools are in Copacabana?
No schools are recorded inside the Copacabana boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Central Coast suburbs. Despite the lack of local schools, 38.7% of residents hold university qualifications, 8.6 points above the national average, reflecting a well-educated resident base.
Is Copacabana safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Copacabana in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 9 on IRSAD, placing it in the top tier nationally. Only 3.1% of its 2,809 residents (84 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable community.
Is Copacabana good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $510 against a $1,670,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.6%, low by standard benchmarks. The 28.4% vacancy rate reflects holiday-home stock rather than oversupply. Annual population growth is 0.22% and net internal migration is negative at minus 105 per year, so yield returns are modest and the investment case depends on capital preservation in a premium coastal market.
How is Copacabana's population changing?
Population is growing slowly at 0.22% annually, adding roughly 17 persons per year. The 10-year rise is 7.2%. Net internal migration removes 105 residents per year, partially offset by 80 overseas arrivals. The suburb is aging, with the senior share up 5.8 points and the working-age share down 3.5 points over the decade, and medium forecasts project just modest growth through 2031.
How much development is happening in Copacabana?
There were 52 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include dwelling additions, new house constructions and complying development certificates for pools and garages. Activity is moderate for a 2.0 km2 established suburb with 94.5% detached houses and just 0.22% annual population growth, indicating renovation and upgrade work rather than major new supply.
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.
Explore Copacabana on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map