East Gosford
With a 42.7% renter share and a median age of 44, East Gosford sits four years above the national median age while drawing more than four in ten residents from the private rental market. The suburb packs 4,391 people into just 2.07 square kilometres, producing a density of 2,121 per km2. Household income ranks in the 33rd percentile nationally, below average, yet the median house price reached $860,000 in 2025, creating a tension between local wages and housing costs. Healthcare dominates the local economy at 25.3% of workers, more than double the next largest sector, which points to the suburb's role as a service hub for the Central Coast.
Population
4,391
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,330/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
37
Median House
$851K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $860,000 as of 2025, up from $850,000 in 2024, a 1.2% annual increase at a CAGR of 1.2% over the available period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, but mortgage-to-income sits at 34.7%, above the 30% stress threshold because household income ranks only in the 33rd percentile nationally. The housing mix is unusually balanced: 38% separate houses, 30.4% apartments and 31.4% semi-detached dwellings, meaning buyers across budget levels find options. Three-bedroom homes make up 49.1% of stock, with two-bedroom at 25.6%. Outright owners at 31.3% and mortgage holders at 25.9% together hold just over half of dwellings, while 42.7% rent, higher than average for a suburb at this price point.
For Buyers
The median house price is $860,000 as of 2025, up from $850,000 in 2024, a 1.2% annual increase at a CAGR of 1.2% over the available period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, but mortgage-to-income sits at 34.7%, above the 30% stress threshold because household income ranks only in the 33rd percentile nationally. The housing mix is unusually balanced: 38% separate houses, 30.4% apartments and 31.4% semi-detached dwellings, meaning buyers across budget levels find options. Three-bedroom homes make up 49.1% of stock, with two-bedroom at 25.6%. Outright owners at 31.3% and mortgage holders at 25.9% together hold just over half of dwellings, while 42.7% rent, higher than average for a suburb at this price point.
For Investors
A 42.7% renter share is well above average and provides a broad tenant pool for landlords. Weekly rent averages $380, giving a gross yield of approximately 2.3% against the $860,000 median, modest but above inner-city benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 7.2% is elevated and warrants attention, particularly in the apartment segment, which accounts for 30.4% of stock. Development activity is active, with 33 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including school alterations and hospitality works that signal ongoing local investment. The suburb's concentration of healthcare workers at 25.3% of the workforce underpins stable rental demand from hospital and clinic staff. Price growth at 1.2% annually is slow, so the investment case leans more on yield and stability than capital appreciation.
Development Activity
Total DAs
177
Last 12 Months
37
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+19.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Gosford iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 384 students
St Joseph's Catholic College
7-12 · 802 students
St Edward's Christian Brothers' College
7-12 · 971 students
Gosford East Public School
K-6 · 334 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, placing East Gosford firmly in aging-community territory. University qualifications reach 33.8%, which is 3.7 percentage points above the national average. Overseas-born residents make up 24%, slightly above the national benchmark, with the top non-English languages being Mandarin (31 speakers), Korean (26) and Persian (15). Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,770), Irish (603) and Scottish (476). Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below the national figure, consistent with a population weighted toward older couples and singles. Couples with children account for 1,190 families while couples without children number 915, and the participation rate of 50.1% is lower than national, partly because 1,437 residents are outside the labour force.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
38.0%
Houses
31.4%
Townhouse
30.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split reveals a market that serves renters as much as owners: 31.3% own outright, 25.9% carry a mortgage and 42.7% rent, a renter proportion higher than most comparable regional suburbs. Median house prices moved from $850,000 in 2024 to $860,000 in 2025, a 1.2% rise, with the CAGR of 1.2% suggesting steady but unspectacular growth compared to broader Sydney market movements. The stock is evenly split across types, with separate houses at 38%, semi-detached at 31.4% and apartments at 30.4%, offering entry points at different price levels. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 49.1%, two-bedrooms at 25.6%, and 4-plus bedrooms at 15.7%. Rent-to-income at 28.6% sits just below the 30% stress threshold, while mortgage-to-income at 34.7% already exceeds it.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$759
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.2%
Unoccupied
154
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
34.7% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
29.1%
Couples, no children
3,144
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local economy at 25.3% of workers (359 people), more than double Education at 10.8% and Construction at 9.6%. Professional/Tech sits at 9.4% and Public Admin at 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 553 workers, followed by Managers at 273 and Clerical/Admin at 264. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, modestly above recent national lows, and the full-time employment rate is 60.3%. Personal weekly income averages $759, placing household income in the 33rd percentile nationally, which is below average for a suburb with an $860,000 median house price. The participation rate of 50.1% is lower than national norms, partly reflecting the older age profile, with 1,437 residents not in the labour force.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.3%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
50.1%
Employed
1,757
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.8%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
24.0%
Dwellings
1,973
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 86.8% using a private vehicle to travel to work, while only 4.8% use public transport and 3.2% walk or cycle. Rent-to-income at 28.6% keeps tenants just below the stress threshold, though mortgage holders face pressure at 34.7%. The volunteering rate of 14.8% indicates moderate community engagement. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in the dataset, so families depend on nearby institutions in Gosford and surrounding areas. The 7.3% of residents needing daily assistance (305 people) is notable given the older median age of 44, which is 4 years above the national median. Healthcare's 25.3% employment share means medical services are accessible locally, a practical livability benefit for an aging population compared to suburbs without that concentration.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
4.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Gosford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Gosford a good suburb to live in?
East Gosford suits residents who value a dense, service-rich area on the Central Coast. The median age of 44 is 4 years above national, and healthcare jobs represent 25.3% of employment, so medical services are accessible. Household income sits in the 33rd percentile nationally, so affordability relative to the $860,000 median house price is a real consideration.
What is the median house price in East Gosford?
The median house price is $860,000 as of 2025, up 1.2% from $850,000 in 2024. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,000. Mortgage-to-income at 34.7% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, reflecting the mismatch between local incomes in the 33rd percentile nationally and current purchase prices.
What schools are in East Gosford?
No schools are recorded inside the East Gosford boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in neighbouring Gosford and other nearby suburbs. The local adult population has university qualifications at 33.8%, which is 3.7 percentage points above the national average, indicating an educationally engaged community despite the lack of in-boundary schools.
Is East Gosford safe?
Crime data specific to East Gosford is not available in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the suburb has a high renter proportion at 42.7% and a 7.2% vacancy rate, both of which can correlate with transience. The 14.8% volunteering rate suggests reasonable community cohesion, and healthcare concentration (25.3% of jobs) means emergency services infrastructure is present locally.
Is East Gosford good for property investment?
The 42.7% renter share provides a wide tenant pool and weekly rent of $380 gives an estimated gross yield of approximately 2.3% against the $860,000 median, higher than many Sydney suburbs. The 7.2% vacancy rate is elevated and requires monitoring, particularly in the apartment segment at 30.4% of stock. Price growth of 1.2% annually is slow compared to state averages, so returns depend on yield rather than capital gains.
How is East Gosford's population changing?
The suburb has a stable resident base, with 76% of residents staying in place over the census period and a turnover rate of 24%. The population of 4,391 in 2.07 square kilometres gives a density of 2,121 per km2, leaving limited room for significant growth. The aging profile, with a median age of 44 that is 4 years above national, suggests gradual demographic shift toward older residents rather than expansion.
How much development is happening in East Gosford?
There were 33 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including school alterations, hospitality works and complying development certificates. This activity level signals ongoing reinvestment in existing infrastructure rather than large-scale new supply, consistent with a built-out suburb at 2,121 residents per km2 with limited greenfield land.
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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