Coutts Crossing
With 94.8% of dwellings being separate houses and a median house price of $571,000, Coutts Crossing sits in detached-dominant, owner-occupier territory well below the coastal NSW median. Household income falls at the 22.3rd percentile nationally, yet mortgage-to-income at 25.9% stays under the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local earnings. The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, reflecting an aging trajectory that has seen the senior share grow 5.4 points over the decade.
Population
1,053
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,157/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$571K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $571,000 is accessible compared to many NSW coastal markets, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,300 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Prices were $595,000 in 2024 before dipping to $555,000 in 2025, a 6.7% fall, so buyers now enter below the recent peak. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 94.8% are separate houses, a far higher share than the state average. Bedroom distribution leans towards 3-bedroom homes at 51.1% and 4-plus at 32.5%. Outright owners account for 45.5% of households, suggesting long-held equity rather than recent churn.
For Buyers
The median house price of $571,000 is accessible compared to many NSW coastal markets, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $1,300 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Prices were $595,000 in 2024 before dipping to $555,000 in 2025, a 6.7% fall, so buyers now enter below the recent peak. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 94.8% are separate houses, a far higher share than the state average. Bedroom distribution leans towards 3-bedroom homes at 51.1% and 4-plus at 32.5%. Outright owners account for 45.5% of households, suggesting long-held equity rather than recent churn.
For Investors
The rental market is thin: only 13.8% of households rent, below state averages, and weekly rent is $300. A vacancy rate of 4.2% is elevated compared to the national benchmark near 2-3%, suggesting modest supply overhang. Development activity is low at 6 applications in 12 months, mostly sheds rather than dwellings. Net internal migration of 44 per year and overseas migration of 15 per year support 1.37% annual population growth. Rent surged 83% over the decade, above many comparable rural areas, and the gentrification score of 22 signals early-stage uplift with population up 22% since 2011.
Development Activity
Total DAs
56
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-45.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coutts Crossing iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Coutts Crossing Public School
K-6 · 66 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure. The university qualification rate of 9.3% is 20.8 percentage points below national, consistent with a trade-oriented workforce. Overseas-born residents at 6.5% are 15.1 points below the national share, reinforcing the Anglo-Celtic character seen in the top ancestries: English (465), Scottish (149), Irish (104) and German (71). Average household size of 2.6 is above national, and 29.9% of families are couples without children. Volunteering runs at 17.2% and 7.6% of residents need daily assistance, both reflecting the older age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.8%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupancy dominates: 45.5% own outright and 40.7% carry a mortgage, leaving only 13.8% renting, well below the state average. With 94.8% separate houses, the market moves almost entirely on detached values. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.1% of stock and 4-plus bedrooms for 32.5%. The median price fell from $595,000 in 2024 to $555,000 in 2025, a 6.7% decline. Rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income both sit at 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning costs remain proportionate despite a household income percentile of 22.3 nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$536
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.2%
Unoccupied
17
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.9%
Couples, no children
829
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads at 22.9% of employed residents (53 workers), followed by Public Administration at 14.7% (34) and Retail at 11.7% (27). Construction and Education each account for 10.8%. By occupation, Community/Personal workers and Labourers each number 61. The unemployment rate is 7.6%, above the national average, and participation at 46.6% is low because 369 residents are not in the labour force, largely due to the older median age of 44. SEIFA IRSD and IER deciles both sit at 4, below the national median, while the IRSAD decile of 5 is near the national average.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
2,108
Unemployed
41
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.3%
Part-time
32.1%
Participation
46.6%
Employed
363
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.3%
Postgraduate
0.6%
Born Overseas
6.5%
Dwellings
386
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 90.9% driving to work, above the national average, which reflects the rural density of 17.8 persons per km2. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on nearby Grafton. Crime data is not available. The IRSAD decile of 5 places Coutts Crossing near the national median for overall advantage, while the IRSD decile of 4 indicates slightly above-average disadvantage nationally. Both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income sit at 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, and volunteering at 17.2% reflects active community participation.
Drive
90.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.37%/yr
(+43 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth of 1.37% is steady by rural NSW standards, adding about 43 persons per year, with the broader area forecast to reach 3,385 by 2031 from 3,147 in 2025. The 10-year change of 17.4% is above the national average for similarly sized rural localities. Net internal migration of 44 per year is the primary driver, above what comparable small communities typically attract. Affordability has worsened from 21.2% in 2011 to 29.5% in 2021 and rent grew 83% over the decade, indicating sustained demand pressure.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+15
Net Internal / yr
+44
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Accelerating: -0% → 22%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coutts Crossing compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coutts Crossing a good suburb to live in?
Coutts Crossing suits buyers seeking detached houses at accessible prices, with 94.8% of dwellings being separate houses and a median of $571,000. Housing costs are manageable with mortgage-to-income at 25.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. The main trade-offs are a low household income percentile of 22.3 nationally and high car dependence at 90.9%.
What is the median house price in Coutts Crossing?
The median house price is $571,000 based on recent data. Prices were $595,000 in 2024 and fell to $555,000 in 2025, a 6.7% decline. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300 and weekly rent is $300.
What schools are in Coutts Crossing?
No schools are recorded inside the Coutts Crossing suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 1,053 across 59 square kilometres, families typically rely on schools in the nearby Grafton area in the Clarence Valley. The local university qualification rate is 9.3%.
Is Coutts Crossing safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Coutts Crossing in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, slightly below the national median, and 7.6% of residents need daily assistance. Community engagement is relatively high, with a volunteering rate of 17.2%.
Is Coutts Crossing good for property investment?
The rental market is modest with only 13.8% renting, a vacancy rate of 4.2% above the typical 2-3% national benchmark, and weekly rent of $300. However, population has grown 17.4% over 10 years with 1.37% annual growth projected, and rent surged 83% over the decade. The suburb is classified at an early-signs gentrification stage with a score of 22.
How is Coutts Crossing's population changing?
The population was estimated at around 1,053 in the suburb, with the broader area growing at 1.37% annually, adding about 43 persons per year. The 10-year population change is 17.4%, and the medium forecast projects the wider locality reaching 3,385 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with 44 net internal arrivals and 15 net overseas arrivals per year.
What is the main industry in Coutts Crossing?
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 22.9% of workers (53 residents), followed by Public Administration at 14.7% (34) and Retail at 11.7% (27). Construction and Education each account for 10.8%. The unemployment rate of 7.6% is above the national average, partly because the participation rate is 46.6% given the older median age of 44.
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 Coutts Crossing on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map