Erina
An older, low-turnover suburb of 5,205 people, Erina has a median age of 61, which is 21 years above the national comparison. About 78.2% of residents stayed at the same address, supporting an established, settled feel, while 75.5% of homes are separate houses. Growth is comparatively slow at 0.33% annually, and household income sits at the 13th percentile. Compared with nearby Gosford and Terrigal, Erina is more strongly shaped by detached housing, older residents and car-based daily routines. Its appeal is tied to stability and practical services, while affordability and limited public transport remain important considerations.
Population
5,205
Median Age
61.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,010/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
62
Erina suits buyers who value established streets and detached housing more than apartment living. Separate houses account for 75.5% of dwellings, substantially higher than the 4.3% apartment share, while semi-detached homes make up 20.2%. The largest bedroom category is 2 bedrooms at 43.3%, followed by 4 or more bedrooms at 27.7% and 3 bedrooms at 23.4%, creating options for singles, couples and downsizers. Mortgage pressure is significant because mortgage repayments average $2,146 per month and the mortgage-to-income measure is 49.1%. With household income at the 13th percentile, buyers should compare recent sales, strata or renovation costs and likely holding expenses carefully.
For Buyers
Erina suits buyers who value established streets and detached housing more than apartment living. Separate houses account for 75.5% of dwellings, substantially higher than the 4.3% apartment share, while semi-detached homes make up 20.2%. The largest bedroom category is 2 bedrooms at 43.3%, followed by 4 or more bedrooms at 27.7% and 3 bedrooms at 23.4%, creating options for singles, couples and downsizers. Mortgage pressure is significant because mortgage repayments average $2,146 per month and the mortgage-to-income measure is 49.1%. With household income at the 13th percentile, buyers should compare recent sales, strata or renovation costs and likely holding expenses carefully.
For Investors
Erina has a predominantly owner-occupied profile, with 47.4% of homes owned outright, 20.9% under mortgage and 18.4% rented. That renter share is lower than the outright ownership share, so investor demand is likely to depend on a smaller but established tenant pool rather than a highly rental-oriented market. Weekly rent is $380 and vacancy is 5.2%, while 65 development applications were recorded over 12 months, indicating ongoing property activity. Rent growth of 49.1% is a material consideration, but affordability is worsening and mortgage stress is flagged at 49.1%. Compared with a high-turnover market, Erina's 21.8% turnover rate points to longer-term residents and potentially steadier tenancy patterns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
371
Last 12 Months
62
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Erina
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Erina's median age of 61 is 21 years above the national comparison, while its average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national figure. The age profile helps explain why 52.7% of couples have no children and why 78.2% of residents stayed at the same address. Overseas-born residents account for 24.6%, which is 3 percentage points above the national comparison, although university attainment at 24.1% is 6 points below the national figure. English ancestry is recorded for 2,133 people, followed by Irish at 580 and Scottish at 526. Christianity has 3,014 adherents compared with 1,447 reporting no religion. Compared with nearby Gosford and Terrigal, Erina presents as more settled and older in character.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.5%
Houses
20.2%
Townhouse
4.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Erina's housing mix is led by separate homes at 75.5%, with semi-detached dwellings at 20.2% and apartments at 4.3%. Two-bedroom properties form 43.3% of the stock, while 4 or more bedrooms account for 27.7% and 3 bedrooms for 23.4%. Ownership is comparatively strong: 47.4% own outright, above the 20.9% mortgage share and 18.4% rental share. This established tenure pattern helps explain the suburb's 21.8% turnover rate, but it does not remove affordability pressure. Mortgage repayments average $2,146 monthly, mortgage costs equal 49.1% of income and rent costs equal 37.6%, so housing stress is more pronounced than the stable ownership profile might suggest. Household income is at the 13th percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$2,146
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $380.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $693 · units $600
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$607
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
119
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
49.1% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.4%
Couples with children
52.7%
Couples, no children
13.4%
Single parent
1,257
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Erina's largest recorded industry, employing 263 people or 24.1%, more than construction at 123 people or 11.3% and education at 113 or 10.4%. Professional and technical work accounts for 79 people, while retail accounts for 72. The occupational mix includes 364 professionals, 234 clerical and administrative workers, 221 trades workers and 212 managers. Unemployment is 4.0% among a labour force of 1,650, but participation is only 36.1% because 2,199 people are not in the labour force, a pattern consistent with the median age of 61. Economic resources rank in decile 8, higher than the education and occupation decile of 6, while both disadvantage and advantage indexes sit at decile 7. Compared with the broader decile profile, the 13th household-income percentile suggests uneven financial capacity.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
1,650
Unemployed
66
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.5%
Part-time
36.6%
Participation
36.1%
Employed
1,584
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.1%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
24.6%
Dwellings
2,143
Transport to Work
Daily life in Erina is strongly car-oriented: 59.0% of commuters drive, compared with just 1.3% using public transport, while 33.7% work from home. This pattern fits the suburb's detached-house share of 75.5% and makes access to employment, shopping and services more convenient by car than by transit. Two nearby government schools cover primary and secondary years, providing a local sector mix of one primary and one secondary campus; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Erina records an IRSAD decile of 7 and an IRSD decile of 7, placing it above lower-ranked areas but below the highest decile. About 11.4% of residents need assistance and volunteering is 14.0%, so accessibility and support services matter. Check current NSW Police information and address-level conditions because a suburb crime rate is not available.
Drive
59.0%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
33.7%
Population Forecast
+0.33%/yr
(+49 people/yr)
EstablishedErina has a cautious growth outlook: the annual trend is 0.33%, migration is classified as Balanced and population change across the wider area is 8.6% over 10 years. The defining direction is Aging, with the senior share rising 5.8% versus a 1.0% fall in the young share and a 3.2% decline in the working share. This is consistent with an established suburb where 78.2% of residents remained at the same address. Affordability is worsening, even though real income growth reached 12.3% and rent growth was 49.1%. The current gentrification signal is modest at score 8 and classified as Not gentrifying, compared with the shift profile's score of 47 and Active label. Growth is therefore more likely to come through gradual change than rapid transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+111
Net Internal / yr
+67
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal migration +67/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Erina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Erina a good suburb to live in?
Erina can suit residents seeking established housing, local schools and a settled environment. Its median age is 61, 75.5% of homes are separate houses and 78.2% of residents stayed at the same address. The trade-offs are car dependence, with 59.0% driving, and affordability pressure from a 49.1% mortgage-to-income measure.
What is the median house price in Erina?
A current median house price is not available. Check recent settled sales and compare properties by land size, condition and bedroom count. Separate houses represent 75.5% of dwellings, while 27.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. Ownership is established, with 47.4% of homes owned outright.
What schools are in Erina?
The suburb includes Erina High School, a government secondary school, and Woodport Public School, a government primary school. Together they provide 2 local government campuses across primary and secondary years. Families should confirm intake areas, transport arrangements and current enrolment requirements for the exact address.
Is Erina safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety should be assessed using recent NSW Police information, street conditions and the exact address. Erina covers 5.16 square kilometres and has a median age of 61. Check whether lighting, traffic, property access and nearby activity suit your household before committing.
Is Erina good for property investment?
Erina may suit investors seeking an established market rather than a high-growth rental precinct. Weekly rent is $380, vacancy is 5.2% and renters comprise 18.4% of households. There were 65 development applications over 12 months, while the current gentrification score is 8 and classified Not gentrifying. Check yields, insurance and holding costs carefully.
How is Erina's population changing?
Erina's current population is 5,205 and the wider-area trend is gradual, at 0.33% annual growth and 8.6% change over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 5.8% while the young share fell 1.0%. Balanced migration supports continuity, but the suburb is not following a rapid population-growth pattern.
What development is occurring in Erina?
Erina recorded 65 development applications over 12 months. Recent examples include a secondary dwelling, alterations to an existing structure, privacy screens and a retail food-and-drink premise. The volume indicates ongoing property and commercial activity, but buyers should check each proposal's status, scale and effect on the surrounding street.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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