Ettalong Beach
A median age of 54, a 13.6% vacancy rate and a population of 5,161 define Ettalong Beach as a compact, older coastal market rather than a high-turnover commuter suburb. Density is 2,904.2 people per sq km, while 44.2% of homes are owned outright and 38.3% are rented. Age sits 14.0 years above the national comparison, and household income ranks at the 16.5th percentile. Compared with nearby Umina Beach and Woy Woy, Ettalong Beach reads as more concentrated around established residents, smaller households and semi-detached living, although those neighbours remain relevant alternatives for buyers assessing the same peninsula.
Population
5,161
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,077/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
81
Ettalong Beach suits buyers who value a smaller, older coastal setting but can manage tight cash flow. The typical dwelling profile leans to 3 bedrooms at 47.8%, with 52.1% separate houses and 35.7% semi-detached homes, so buyers have more attached stock to compare than in a detached-only market. A $1,950 monthly mortgage sits alongside household income of $1,077 per week, and mortgage costs reach 41.8% of income. Rent is $390 weekly and rent stress reaches 36.2%, showing why a budget buffer matters. Compared with Umina Beach or Woy Woy, inspect each dwelling's condition, coastal exposure, strata costs and parking rather than relying on suburb averages, because the 1.78 sq km area contains a concentrated mix of housing.
For Buyers
Ettalong Beach suits buyers who value a smaller, older coastal setting but can manage tight cash flow. The typical dwelling profile leans to 3 bedrooms at 47.8%, with 52.1% separate houses and 35.7% semi-detached homes, so buyers have more attached stock to compare than in a detached-only market. A $1,950 monthly mortgage sits alongside household income of $1,077 per week, and mortgage costs reach 41.8% of income. Rent is $390 weekly and rent stress reaches 36.2%, showing why a budget buffer matters. Compared with Umina Beach or Woy Woy, inspect each dwelling's condition, coastal exposure, strata costs and parking rather than relying on suburb averages, because the 1.78 sq km area contains a concentrated mix of housing.
For Investors
Ettalong Beach is a rental market where vacancy needs close attention. Rents average $390 a week, 38.3% of occupied dwellings are rented and the vacancy rate is 13.6%, so headline yield can be undermined by longer gaps between tenants. Development activity reached 79 applications in 12 months, including alterations, additions and dwelling-house work, which may gradually increase choice. Resident turnover is 25.8%, while 74.2% stayed at the same address, suggesting a mix of mobility and local loyalty. Compared with a lower-vacancy market, the 13.6% rate makes tenant selection and cash-flow resilience more important. Compare achieved rent and days on market with Umina Beach and Woy Woy before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
424
Last 12 Months
81
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ettalong Beach
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
At 54, Ettalong Beach's median age is 14.0 years above the national comparison, making its age profile the clearest demographic signal. Average household size is 1.9 people, 0.6 below the national figure, and couples without children account for 50.8% of families, while one-parent families represent 21.8%. English ancestry is recorded for 2,128 residents, followed by Irish at 654 and Scottish at 567. Overseas-born residents make up 20.4%, 1.2 percentage points below the national comparison, and university attainment is 24.2%, 5.9 points below it. Compared with Umina Beach and Woy Woy, the suburb is likely to appeal more to downsizers and established households because smaller households and older residents shape local demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
52.1%
Houses
35.7%
Townhouse
7.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Ettalong Beach is split between outright ownership, renting and attached formats. Outright owners account for 44.2% of homes, mortgage holders 16.5%, renters 38.3% and other tenure 1.0%, indicating a sizeable established-owner base alongside a meaningful tenant market. Separate houses represent 52.1%, semi-detached dwellings 35.7% and apartments 7.8%; 3-bedroom homes dominate at 47.8%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 34.1%. Household income is $1,077 weekly, with mortgage costs at 41.8% of income and rent at 36.2%, so affordability can remain pressured even where outright ownership is high. Compared with Umina Beach and Woy Woy, buyers should compare like-for-like dwelling types, land, parking and strata exposure rather than treating one suburb-wide price as representative.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $390.
$670
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $695 · units $535
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$636
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.6%
Unoccupied
395
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.2% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
41.8% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.1%
Couples with children
50.8%
Couples, no children
21.8%
Single parent
1,385
Total families
Economy & Employment
Ettalong Beach's economy is anchored by care, education and practical services. Healthcare is the largest industry at 21.2% with 259 workers, followed by Education at 11.0% and 134, Construction at 10.8% and 132, Professional/Tech at 9.6% and 117, and Finance at 5.8% and 71. Occupations reinforce that pattern: 373 professionals, 269 trades workers, 259 clerical or administrative workers, 236 community or personal service workers and 225 managers. Participation is 44.5%, unemployment 6.4% and full-time employment 52.0%, while 2,203 people are not in the labour force. Compared with a younger commuter suburb, the lower participation profile is consistent with a median age of 54 and an older or non-working cohort, while healthcare demand may remain important.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
2,002
Unemployed
128
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.0%
Part-time
35.4%
Participation
44.5%
Employed
1,874
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.2%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
20.4%
Dwellings
2,480
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for residents comfortable with a compact, car-oriented coastal setting. The suburb covers 1.78 sq km and has 5,161 residents, producing density of 2,904.2 people per sq km. Public transport is used by 2.9% of commuters, 52.7% drive a car and 2.3% walk or cycle, while 37.4% work from home, so daily convenience depends heavily on the exact address, parking and local services. Ettalong Public School is the identified local government primary option; check enrolment zones and transport against the address, compared with relying on suburb boundaries. No local crime rate is quoted, so review current NSW Police figures and visit at different times. Volunteering is 11.7%, while 7.9% need assistance.
Drive
52.7%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
37.4%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ettalong Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ettalong Beach a good suburb to live in?
Ettalong Beach can suit downsizers, couples and buyers wanting a compact coastal setting, but affordability requires care. The median age is 54, average household size is 1.9 and 44.2% of homes are owned outright. Compared with a younger, larger-household suburb, local housing and service needs are different, so inspect parking, access, insurance and coastal exposure before committing.
What is the median house price in Ettalong Beach?
A current median house price is not stated, so use recent settled sales for the exact street and dwelling type rather than relying on one headline figure. Ettalong Beach has 52.1% separate houses, 35.7% semi-detached homes and 47.8% three-bedroom dwellings, so the mix can shift the result. Compare like-for-like sales, strata costs and land size before setting a budget.
What schools are in Ettalong Beach?
Ettalong Public School is the identified local school, and it is a government primary school. Families should check the enrolment zone and travel options against the exact address, because one local primary option does not answer secondary or specialist needs. The suburb covers 1.78 sq km and public transport is used by 2.9% of commuters, so access can differ compared with a larger school catchment.
Is Ettalong Beach safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not available to quote. Check NSW Police figures, recent incident patterns and the immediate streetscape at different times before deciding. Ettalong Beach has a median age of 54 and density of 2,904.2 people per sq km; those measures describe the setting but do not replace a safety check compared with relying on a broad suburb impression.
Is Ettalong Beach good for property investment?
Ettalong Beach may suit investors who can tolerate vacancy risk and variable tenant demand. Weekly rent is $390, renting accounts for 38.3% of homes and vacancy is 13.6%, while 79 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Compare achieved rents, vacancy and days on market with Umina Beach and Woy Woy, then test the loan against repairs, insurance and strata costs; the 41.8% mortgage-to-income ratio highlights broader affordability pressure.
How is Ettalong Beach's population changing?
The suburb has 5,161 residents today, with a median age of 54. Population stability is notable: 74.2% stayed at the same address and turnover was 25.8%, indicating change without a wholly transient base. Compared with a younger, faster-moving suburb, Ettalong Beach is more likely to see demand shaped by downsizers, established households and accessible services. Check the latest regional forecast before assuming the pace of future change.
What development is occurring in Ettalong Beach?
Development activity is active rather than limited: 79 applications were lodged over 12 months, including alterations, additions and dwelling-house work. That may improve housing choice gradually, but it can also affect parking, construction disruption and local vacancy. Compared with a low-development pocket, buyers and landlords should inspect approvals near the address and compare the likely end product with the existing mix of 52.1% separate houses and 35.7% semi-detached homes.
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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