Gorokan
Both mortgage and rent stress flags are triggered in Gorokan, with mortgage-to-income at 32.0% and rent-to-income at 30.3%, making it one of the most financially strained suburbs in this analysis. Household income at just the 22nd percentile ($1,156/week) sits in the bottom quartile nationally, yet the $716,000 median house price is not low enough to compensate. The IEO decile 1 (lowest education-occupation index nationally) and IRSAD decile 1 confirm deep structural disadvantage. Despite this, 67 DAs in 12 months indicate active rebuilding and secondary-dwelling construction, driven by affordability seekers priced out of other Central Coast suburbs.
Population
8,624
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,156/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
72
Median House
$716K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $716,000 median (PSI-derived) rose 8.0% from $687,500 in 2024 to $742,500 in 2025. Detached houses at 78.3% dominate, but apartments at 17.6% are significant for the Central Coast. Three-bedroom homes (45.0%) are the most common, with 2-bedrooms at 28.5% reflecting smaller, older stock. Monthly mortgage of $1,603 against $1,156/week income gives a 32.0% mortgage-to-income ratio, above the stress threshold. Only 1 school operates in the suburb: Gorokan Public School (ICSEA 913), 87 points below the national benchmark. Buyers should note the 8.5% unemployment rate, more than double the national average.
For Buyers
The $716,000 median (PSI-derived) rose 8.0% from $687,500 in 2024 to $742,500 in 2025. Detached houses at 78.3% dominate, but apartments at 17.6% are significant for the Central Coast. Three-bedroom homes (45.0%) are the most common, with 2-bedrooms at 28.5% reflecting smaller, older stock. Monthly mortgage of $1,603 against $1,156/week income gives a 32.0% mortgage-to-income ratio, above the stress threshold. Only 1 school operates in the suburb: Gorokan Public School (ICSEA 913), 87 points below the national benchmark. Buyers should note the 8.5% unemployment rate, more than double the national average.
For Investors
The 38.2% renter share is well above the national average, and weekly rent at $350 produces roughly 2.5% gross yield on the $716,000 median. The 6.8% vacancy rate is elevated. Rent grew 44.0% over the decade, outpacing the 20.4% real income growth. With 67 DAs in 12 months (including secondary dwellings), supply is expanding but demand from affordability seekers maintains the pipeline. Population growth at 0.42% per year (96 persons) is slow, driven by overseas migration (100 net per year) with minimal internal flows (30). The gentrification score of 48 previously registered as 'active', though current forecasts show it as 'not gentrifying'.
Development Activity
Total DAs
301
Last 12 Months
72
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+44.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Gorokan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Gorokan Public School
K-6 · 620 students
Demographics
University qualifications at 13.5% sit 16.6 points below national, the widest gap in this batch, consistent with the IEO decile 1. English ancestry dominates (3,692), with Irish (952) and Scottish (779) following in a homogeneous Anglo-Celtic profile. Only 12.9% were born overseas, 8.7 points below national. Non-English language speakers are minimal (Italian 12, Serbian 12). The median age of 41 is 1 year above national, and average household size of 2.3 is below the 2.5 benchmark. Not-in-labour-force at 3,080 (42.5% participation rate) is very high, with need-for-assistance at 10.1% (807 residents), roughly double the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.3%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
17.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Owned outright at 31.9%, mortgaged at 29.9% and renting at 38.2% create a roughly three-way split. The median rose from $687,500 to $742,500 (8.0% in one year). Three-bedrooms (45.0%) dominate, but apartments at 17.6% and two-bedrooms at 28.5% indicate smaller, older stock compared to growth suburbs. The 32.0% mortgage-to-income and 30.3% rent-to-income ratios both exceed stress thresholds. IRSD decile 2 confirms high relative disadvantage. Affordability has remained stable at around 58% over the decade, one of the most stretched ratios in this batch.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,603
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$613
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
255
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.3% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.0% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.5%
Couples, no children
6,283
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 24.9% (484 workers), the highest share in this batch, reflecting the local aged-care and disability-service sector. Construction (13.4%, 261), Education (9.8%, 191), Retail (8.3%, 161) and Manufacturing (7.2%, 139) follow. Community/Personal services (539) and Labourers (444) lead occupations, ahead of Professionals (413), showing a blue-collar tilt. Unemployment at 8.5% is more than double the national rate. The participation rate of 42.5% is exceptionally low, with 3,080 not in the labour force. The IER decile 2 confirms limited economic resources alongside the IEO decile 1.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
10,836
Unemployed
628
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
31.2%
Participation
42.5%
Employed
2,762
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.5%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
12.9%
Dwellings
3,491
Transport to Work
One school serves the suburb: Gorokan Public School (Government Primary, ICSEA 913, 620 enrolments), sitting 87 points below the national benchmark, the widest gap in this batch. No secondary school operates within the suburb. Public transport at 2.1% is very low, with 90.8% driving. Need-for-assistance at 10.1% (807 residents) is roughly double the national rate. The IRSAD decile 1 is the lowest possible, and the volunteering rate of 8.5% is below national, both indicators of limited community resources.
Drive
90.8%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.42%/yr
(+96 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew just 8.2% over the decade, reaching approximately 22,880 by 2025. Annual growth of 0.42% (96 persons) is well below the national average. Overseas migration (100 net per year) is the primary driver, with internal migration near zero (30 per year). The trajectory is mixed: the young share fell 1.9 points and the senior share rose 2.2 points, but the working-age share held stable (+0.8 points). Rent grew 44.0% over the decade, far outpacing the 20.4% real income growth, tightening an already-stressed housing market.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+100
Net Internal / yr
+30
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gorokan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gorokan a good suburb to live in?
Gorokan has challenges: IRSAD decile 1 (lowest nationally), 8.5% unemployment (double the national rate) and both mortgage and rent stress exceeding 30%. Need-for-assistance at 10.1% is double the national average. However, the $716,000 median is accessible for the Central Coast, and 67 DAs show active renewal.
What is the median house price in Gorokan?
The median is $716,000 (PSI-derived, 2024-2025), rising 8.0% from $687,500 to $742,500. Monthly mortgage of $1,603 produces a 32.0% mortgage-to-income ratio, above the stress threshold at 22nd-percentile household income ($1,156/week). Weekly rent of $350 also creates stress at 30.3% of income.
What schools are in Gorokan?
Gorokan has 1 school: Gorokan Public School (Government Primary, ICSEA 913, 620 enrolments). At 87 points below the national benchmark of 1,000, it is among the lower-scoring schools in this analysis. No secondary school operates within the suburb boundaries.
Is Gorokan safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Gorokan in the current dataset. However, the IRSD decile 2 and 8.5% unemployment rate correlate with above-average crime nationally. Need-for-assistance at 10.1% (807 residents) is double the national average, indicating significant social stress compared to state benchmarks.
Is Gorokan good for property investment?
The 38.2% renter share provides a large tenant pool, and rent grew 44.0% over the decade. Gross yield is roughly 2.5% ($350/week on $716,000). However, the 6.8% vacancy rate is elevated, and population growth of just 0.42% per year limits demand. The rent stress flag (30.3%) signals tenants are already at their affordability limit.
How is Gorokan's population changing?
Population grew just 8.2% over the decade, reaching about 22,880 by 2025. Growth of 0.42% per year is well below national averages. Overseas migration at 100 per year is the primary driver. The senior share rose 2.2 points and the young share fell 1.9 points, showing gradual aging in a suburb that was already mixed-age.
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 Gorokan on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map