Iluka
A median age of 62 makes Iluka one of coastal NSW's most senior-skewing communities, sitting 22 years above the national figure. Just 1,764 residents occupy 12.79 square kilometres, giving a density of 137.9 people per km2, far lower than most NSW towns. Household income ranks in the 5.5th percentile nationally, reflecting a retired population drawing on superannuation and pensions rather than wages. Yet 55.5% of residents own their homes outright, the highest tenure pattern in the dataset, because these are asset-rich, income-modest retirees. The vacancy rate of 26.4% points to a substantial holiday-home component, far above the state average.
Population
1,764
Median Age
62.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$834/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
63
Median House
$570K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $570,000 is accessible by coastal NSW standards, and prices moved from $545,000 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025, an 11% one-year rise. Separate houses dominate at 72.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached homes at 14.8% and apartments at just 4.4%, so buyers get genuine freestanding houses rather than a dense apartment market. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.6% of stock and two-bedroom 29.6%, meaning supply skews toward smaller footprints suited to downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but mortgage-to-income at 36% exceeds the standard 30% stress threshold because household income sits at just the 5.5th percentile nationally. Buyers with equity from elsewhere will find repayments manageable; buyers relying on local income will face pressure.
For Buyers
The median house price of $570,000 is accessible by coastal NSW standards, and prices moved from $545,000 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025, an 11% one-year rise. Separate houses dominate at 72.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached homes at 14.8% and apartments at just 4.4%, so buyers get genuine freestanding houses rather than a dense apartment market. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.6% of stock and two-bedroom 29.6%, meaning supply skews toward smaller footprints suited to downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, but mortgage-to-income at 36% exceeds the standard 30% stress threshold because household income sits at just the 5.5th percentile nationally. Buyers with equity from elsewhere will find repayments manageable; buyers relying on local income will face pressure.
For Investors
Iluka's rental market is thin but present: 31.1% of residents rent, weekly rent is $300, and 55 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. The vacancy rate of 26.4% is the standout risk, substantially higher than the national average, reflecting the holiday-home nature of much of the stock. At $300 per week rent against a $570,000 median, gross yield sits near 2.7%, below what investors typically seek in comparable coastal markets. Development activity includes recent subdivisions and dwelling applications, suggesting modest but ongoing supply growth. The 11% price rise from 2024 to 2025 shows capital growth momentum, but thin rental demand and high vacancy mean returns depend on that trend continuing rather than on income.
Development Activity
Total DAs
231
Last 12 Months
63
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+53.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Iluka iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Iluka Public School
K-6 · 96 students
Demographics
The median age of 62 sits 22 years above the national figure, the defining feature of Iluka's population. Only 28.8% of residents participate in the labour force, compared to the national average above 60%, because most residents are retired. Overseas-born residents make up just 9.4%, which is 12.2 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly Anglo-Celtic community. Ancestry is led by English (867), Irish (274) and Scottish (241). University qualifications reach only 14.2%, some 15.9 percentage points below national, which is consistent with the age profile since older cohorts historically had lower tertiary participation rates. Average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below national, matching the couples-without-children pattern: 55.1% of families are couples with no children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.2%
Houses
14.8%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Iluka is unusually skewed toward outright ownership: 55.5% own their home free of mortgage, compared to 13.3% with a mortgage and 31.1% renting. This is the signature of a retirement community where residents arrived with paid-down equity. Separate houses make up 72.2% of dwellings, far above average for a small coastal town. The median price rose 11% from $545,000 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025, and the CAGR over the single measured year is 11.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,300 look modest in absolute terms, but rent-to-income at 36% and mortgage-to-income at 36% both flag stress relative to the local income base, which ranks at just the 5.5th percentile nationally. The high 26.4% vacancy rate reflects holiday homes sitting empty for much of the year.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$487
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
26.4%
Unoccupied
305
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.0% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.0% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.1%
Couples, no children
1,205
Total families
Economy & Employment
With a labour force participation rate of just 28.8%, far below the national norm, Iluka's economy is shaped more by retirement income than active employment. Among the 412 employed residents, Healthcare leads at 16.8% (46 workers), followed by Education at 15.4% (42) and Construction at 15.0% (41). By occupation, Labourers (72) and Professionals (67) sit closest to parity, unusual for a coastal retiree town. The unemployment rate is 10.8%, elevated compared to national figures, but this reflects a small base of 50 unemployed people rather than a structural jobs crisis. SEIFA places Iluka in decile 3 on IRSD and IRSAD, meaning it ranks among the more disadvantaged communities in Australia on both relative disadvantage and overall advantage measures. The IRSAD score of 933 is consistent with low incomes and limited access to economic resources.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.7%
Part-time
37.5%
Participation
28.8%
Employed
412
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.2%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
9.4%
Dwellings
849
Transport to Work
Iluka's livability calculus suits retirees more than young families. Car use is high at 81.1%, which is expected in a small coastal town 700 km north of Sydney with limited public transport options, and 13.2% walk or cycle, above average for a rural setting. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children depend on facilities in nearby Yamba or Grafton. The volunteering rate of 20% is high, consistent with the retired population having discretionary time. About 11% of residents (181 people) need daily assistance, above average for a community of this size, directly linked to the older age profile. The IRSAD decile 3 score places Iluka below average nationally on combined advantage measures, though the high outright ownership rate of 55.5% suggests many residents are asset-secure despite low incomes.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
13.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Iluka compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iluka a good suburb to live in?
Iluka suits retirees and sea-change buyers well: 55.5% of residents own their homes outright and the median house price of $570,000 is accessible by coastal NSW standards. The median age is 62, the volunteering rate is 20%, and the area is quiet and low-density at 137.9 people per km2. Families with children face limited local schools and services compared to larger towns.
What is the median house price in Iluka?
The median house price in Iluka is $570,000, based on PSI-derived data. Prices rose 11% from $545,000 in 2024 to $605,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, though the mortgage-to-income ratio is 36%, above the standard 30% stress threshold given local incomes rank at the 5.5th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Iluka?
No schools are recorded within the Iluka suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically use schools in nearby Yamba and Grafton. University qualifications among local residents stand at 14.2%, which is 15.9 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with an older population that attended school before tertiary participation expanded.
Is Iluka safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Iluka in this dataset. As a proxy, the suburb scores decile 3 on IRSD and IRSAD, placing it in the lower-advantage tier nationally. However, 55.5% of residents own their homes outright, turnover is 19.7%, and the retired community profile is generally associated with low property crime in comparable coastal towns.
Is Iluka good for property investment?
The 11% price rise from $545,000 to $605,000 in one year shows strong capital growth. However, the 26.4% vacancy rate is well above the national average, reflecting holiday-home stock, and weekly rent of $300 against a $570,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.7%. Investment returns depend more on lifestyle demand and capital appreciation than on rental income.
How is Iluka's population changing?
Iluka's population of 1,764 faces a slow structural decline risk because the median age is 62, some 22 years above the national figure. Labour force participation is just 28.8%, well below national norms, as most residents are retired. About 80.3% stayed in the same address over the census period, indicating a stable but aging base with limited natural population growth.
How much development is happening in Iluka?
55 development applications were lodged in Iluka in the past 12 months. Recent samples include subdivisions, dwelling house approvals and CDC modifications. For a suburb of 1,764 residents, this is a moderate level of activity, indicating ongoing interest in improving and extending existing stock rather than large-scale new supply.
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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