Killarney Vale
Healthcare employs nearly 1 in 4 working residents (24%), making it the dominant industry in Killarney Vale by a wide margin over construction (15%) and education (11.4%). The median house price of $900,000 rose 4.1% from $873,750 in 2024, yet household income sits at just the 48th percentile nationally, creating a price-to-income tension typical of Central Coast mortgage-belt suburbs. With 91.7% separate houses and only 10.4% born overseas, the suburb reads as a homogeneous detached-housing corridor where 81% of residents stayed at the same address over the census period.
Population
7,491
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,524/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
74
Median House
$900K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Detached houses dominate at 91.7% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes making up 49.7% and 4-plus bedroom homes 32.7%. The median house price of $900,000 grew 4.1% year-on-year from $873,750 in 2024. Mortgage repayments of $1,907 per month absorb 28.9% of household income, just below the 30% stress threshold. Compared to nearby Tuggerah or Long Jetty, Killarney Vale offers slightly more space per dollar but demands car dependence: 90.7% drive to work, while only 1.5% use public transport.
For Buyers
Detached houses dominate at 91.7% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes making up 49.7% and 4-plus bedroom homes 32.7%. The median house price of $900,000 grew 4.1% year-on-year from $873,750 in 2024. Mortgage repayments of $1,907 per month absorb 28.9% of household income, just below the 30% stress threshold. Compared to nearby Tuggerah or Long Jetty, Killarney Vale offers slightly more space per dollar but demands car dependence: 90.7% drive to work, while only 1.5% use public transport.
For Investors
Renters make up 27.2% of the population with a median weekly rent of $400. Vacancy at 5.8% sits above the Sydney metropolitan average, though the Central Coast typically runs looser than inner Sydney. With 67 development applications in 12 months, including new dwelling houses and dual occupancies, supply is actively expanding. Rent-to-income ratio of 26.2% keeps tenants below the stress line. The 81% residential stability rate means tenant turnover costs may be lower than in higher-churn coastal suburbs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
362
Last 12 Months
74
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+10.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Killarney Vale iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Killarney Vale Public School
K-6 · 477 students
Brooke Avenue Public School
K-6 · 420 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 sits 1 year below the national figure, with ancestry skewing heavily English (3,194), Irish (800), and Scottish (670). Only 10.4% of residents were born overseas, 11.2 percentage points below the national average, making it one of the more Anglo-leaning suburbs on the Central Coast. University attainment at 18.1% runs 12 points below the national rate. Average household size of 2.6 sits near the national average, and 2,400 families have children while 1,406 are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.7%
Houses
8.1%
Townhouse
0.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Median prices moved from $873,750 in 2024 to $910,000 in 2025, a 4.1% gain. Ownership is split between outright owners (32.1%), mortgage holders (40.7%), and renters (27.2%). Semi-detached homes account for 8.1%, while apartments are virtually absent at 0.2%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.9% sits just below stress levels, though this is higher than the national median. Rent at $400 per week consumes 26.2% of household income, more comfortable than many comparable Central Coast locations.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,907
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$711
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
165
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.8%
Couples, no children
5,918
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (24%), construction (15%), and education (11.4%) are the top 3 employers, a service-economy profile typical of regional NSW suburbs near hospitals and schools. Professionals lead occupations (538), followed by community and personal service workers (458) and clerical/admin (422). Labourers (398) rank fourth, reflecting the construction sector's influence. Unemployment at 5.2% runs above the national rate, and participation at 50.3% is comparatively low. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 places Killarney Vale below the national midpoint for advantage, consistent with a working-to-lower-middle income profile.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
11,600
Unemployed
400
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.9%
Part-time
36.9%
Participation
50.3%
Employed
2,840
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.1%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
10.4%
Dwellings
2,679
Transport to Work
Car dependence is extreme: 90.7% drive, 1.5% use public transport, and 2.4% walk or cycle. Two government primary schools serve the suburb: Killarney Vale Public (ICSEA 963, 477 students) and Brooke Avenue Public (ICSEA 931, 420 students). Both sit below the ICSEA national average of 1,000, indicating student populations from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds compared to the national baseline. The SEIFA disadvantage decile of 4 ranks Killarney Vale in the lower-middle range nationally.
Drive
90.7%
Public Transport
1.5%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+74 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth trends at 0.32% per year, adding 74 persons annually at the SA2 level. The area grew from 22,970 in 2023 to 23,090 in 2025. Net overseas migration of 81 per year is the primary driver, with internal migration near flat at 6 per year. Medium projections forecast 23,610 by 2031. The gentrification score of 45 flags active gentrification signals, with real income growing 23.3% over the decade while rent grew 48.1%, suggesting incoming residents are bidding up housing costs faster than incomes have risen.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+81
Net Internal / yr
+6
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Killarney Vale compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Killarney Vale a good suburb to live in?
Killarney Vale suits buyers prioritising space and affordability on the Central Coast. With 91.7% detached houses and a median of $900,000, it trades below northern beaches prices. The trade-off is car dependence (90.7% drive) and a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4, ranking below the national midpoint for socioeconomic advantage.
What is the median house price in Killarney Vale?
The median house price is $900,000 as of 2024-2025 (PSI derived). This represents a 4.1% increase from $873,750 in 2024. Three-bedroom homes make up 49.7% of housing stock, with 4-plus bedrooms at 32.7%.
What schools are in Killarney Vale?
Two government primary schools serve the suburb: Killarney Vale Public School (ICSEA 963, 477 enrolments) and Brooke Avenue Public School (ICSEA 931, 420 enrolments). Both ICSEA scores sit below the national benchmark of 1,000, indicating student backgrounds with relatively more disadvantage.
Is Killarney Vale safe?
Suburb-level crime data is not available for Killarney Vale in the current dataset. The SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage places the suburb in decile 4, which is below the national midpoint. Central Coast crime patterns are typically reported at the LGA level rather than by suburb.
Is Killarney Vale good for property investment?
The 27.2% renting rate and $400 weekly rent provide a baseline yield. With 67 DAs in 12 months, including dual occupancy proposals, the development pipeline is active. Vacancy at 5.8% is manageable but higher than tighter Sydney sub-markets. Price growth of 4.1% in the past year tracks close to the national average.
How is Killarney Vale's population changing?
Population grows at 0.32% per year, adding about 74 people annually at the SA2 level. Overseas migration of 81 people per year is the primary driver, while internal migration is near flat at 6 per year. Medium projections forecast 23,610 by 2031, up from 23,090 in 2025.
What development is happening in Killarney Vale?
There were 67 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent activity includes new dwelling houses, dual occupancy (attached) proposals, and modification to complying development certificates. The mix suggests incremental residential densification rather than large-scale apartment development.
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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