Holgate
With a median house price of $2,252,500 and household incomes in the 96.9th percentile nationally, Holgate sits among the Central Coast's most financially concentrated communities. The suburb of 1,023 residents occupies 9.05 km2 on the Gosford fringe, yet its density of 113 people per km2 reflects a mostly rural residential character where 97.4% of dwellings are separate houses. University qualifications reach 44.9%, some 14.8 percentage points above the national average, and the median age of 43 is 3 years older than the national figure. Nearly 78% of homes have four or more bedrooms, pointing to large family households with an average size of 3.3, compared to the national norm of 2.5.
Population
1,023
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,951/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$2.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $2,252,500 is well above the national median and reflects the premium placed on large, detached properties in a low-density setting. Price data shows growth from $2,200,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, a 13.6% rise in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.5%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because household incomes sit at the 96.9th percentile. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 97.4%, and 78.2% of those carry four or more bedrooms. With 52.9% of residents on a mortgage and only 4.1% renting, Holgate caters to established owner-occupiers rather than renters or investors chasing yield.
For Buyers
The median house price of $2,252,500 is well above the national median and reflects the premium placed on large, detached properties in a low-density setting. Price data shows growth from $2,200,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, a 13.6% rise in one year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.5%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the high purchase price, because household incomes sit at the 96.9th percentile. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 97.4%, and 78.2% of those carry four or more bedrooms. With 52.9% of residents on a mortgage and only 4.1% renting, Holgate caters to established owner-occupiers rather than renters or investors chasing yield.
For Investors
Holgate's investor appeal is limited by fundamentals. Weekly rent of $335 against a $2,252,500 median produces a gross yield well below 1%, among the lowest viable investment metrics. Vacancy stands at 3.3%, modestly elevated, while only 4.1% of dwellings are rented, the lowest renter share typical of a premium owner-occupier suburb. Development activity is thin at 11 applications in 12 months, including one secondary dwelling and mostly alterations, so new supply is not a risk but rental demand is also not deep. The 13.6% price rise from 2024 to 2025 shows capital growth momentum, and an 82.1% resident retention rate signals low turnover. Investors considering Holgate should weigh that the return is almost entirely capital growth dependent rather than income driven.
Development Activity
Total DAs
71
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-7.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Holgate iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Holgate Public School
K-6 · 95 students
Demographics
Holgate's population of 1,023 sits at a median age of 43, three years above the national figure, which reflects an established, family-oriented community. University qualifications at 44.9% run 14.8 percentage points higher than the national average, placing the suburb in an educated upper tier. Overseas-born residents account for 17.3% of the population, 4.3 percentage points below national, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (480 residents), Irish (146) and Scottish (117) lead. Average household size of 3.3 compares to a national average of about 2.5, consistent with large family homes where couples with children (408 families) make up the dominant household type. Volunteering is active at 20.0% of residents, above typical suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.4%
Houses
1.3%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock in Holgate is distinctively large and owner-occupied. Separate houses account for 97.4% of all dwellings, far above the national mix, and 78.2% have four or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes make up 15.5%, while dwellings with two or fewer bedrooms are rare. Outright owners (43.1%) and mortgage holders (52.9%) together account for 96% of residents, with renters at just 4.1%. The median house price rose from $2,200,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, a 13.6% annual gain. Mortgage-to-income at 23.5% stays below the stress level, and rent-to-income at 11.4% is very low, reflecting that the small renter cohort pays modest rent relative to local incomes. Both stress metrics sit below national thresholds.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wk
$335
HH Size
3.3
Personal Income / wk
$976
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.3%
Unoccupied
10
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
11.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.6%
Couples, no children
935
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 20.3% (73 workers), followed by Education at 15.0% (54), Construction at 13.1% (47) and Professional and Technical services at 11.4% (41). By occupation, Professionals (168) and Managers (87) form the top two tiers, consistent with a high-income suburb where household incomes rank in the 96.9th percentile nationally. The full-time employment rate is 55.2% and the unemployment rate is 3.8%, broadly in line with state norms. Participation rate of 55.8% is lower than expected for a working-age community, because 268 residents are outside the labour force, likely reflecting early retirement or part-time lifestyle choices among the wealthier residents. Personal weekly income averages $976, and family weekly income reaches $2,919.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.2%
Part-time
41.0%
Participation
55.8%
Employed
435
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.9%
Postgraduate
14.7%
Born Overseas
17.3%
Dwellings
304
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near universal in Holgate: 93.8% of residents drive to work, with only 2.7% walking or cycling, which reflects the low-density 9.05 km2 footprint with limited public transport options. The suburb lacks recorded schools within its boundary, so families depend on facilities in neighbouring Gosford and Kariong. Housing stress is low on both measures: mortgage-to-income at 23.5% and rent-to-income at 11.4% stay well below national stress thresholds. Only 3.7% of residents (37 people) need daily assistance, a low figure for a suburb with a median age of 43. Crime data is not recorded for Holgate in this dataset, but the very low renter share of 4.1% and high-income household base are indirect indicators of a settled, low-disadvantage environment.
Drive
93.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Holgate compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holgate a good suburb to live in?
Holgate suits families seeking large, quiet acreage-style living within reach of Gosford. Household incomes rank in the 96.9th percentile nationally, university qualifications at 44.9% run 14.8 points above national, and housing stress is low with mortgage-to-income at 23.5%. The main trade-off is near-total car dependence at 93.8% and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Holgate?
The median house price is $2,252,500, rising from $2,200,000 in 2024 to $2,500,000 in 2025, a 13.6% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,000. Weekly rent is $335, though only 4.1% of dwellings are rented, making this overwhelmingly an owner-occupier market.
What schools are in Holgate?
No schools are recorded inside the Holgate suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Gosford and surrounding Central Coast suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, the resident population is highly educated, with 44.9% holding university qualifications, which is 14.8 percentage points above the national average.
Is Holgate safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Holgate. Indirect indicators point to a low-disadvantage profile: household incomes sit in the 96.9th percentile nationally, only 4.1% of dwellings are rented, 82.1% of residents remained in the suburb over the measured period, and only 3.7% of the 1,023 residents need daily assistance.
Is Holgate good for property investment?
Holgate is a capital-growth play rather than a yield investment. Weekly rent of $335 against a $2,252,500 median produces a gross yield well below 1.5%, and the renter pool is very thin at just 4.1% of dwellings. The 13.6% price rise from 2024 to 2025 shows strong capital growth, but investors should expect minimal income return.
How is Holgate's population changing?
Holgate's population stands at 1,023 with a turnover rate of 17.9% and an 82.1% retention rate, indicating a very stable community. Only 11 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so supply additions are minimal. The high median age of 43, three years above national, suggests the suburb is aging gradually rather than attracting large numbers of younger residents.
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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