Matcham
Household income at the 98.8th percentile nationally makes Matcham one of the wealthiest small communities on the Central Coast, yet its population of just 1,038 across 8.85 square kilometres keeps the density at 117 people per km2, far below urban averages. The median house price sits at $2,480,500 as of 2025, and 97.2% of dwellings are separate houses, meaning this is overwhelmingly an acreage-style, detached-home market. University qualifications reach 45.3%, which is 15.2 points above the national figure, and 78.1% of homes have four or more bedrooms, pointing to a community built around large family estates rather than a conventional residential grid.
Population
1,038
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,360/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Median House
$2.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $2,480,500 in 2025, down 11.4% from the $2,800,000 peak recorded in 2024. At a monthly mortgage repayment of $3,517 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2%, buyers with above-average incomes remain below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price. The stock is dominated by large homes: 78.1% have four or more bedrooms and 97.2% are separate houses, making apartments or smaller dwellings rare here. Only 6.1% of residents rent, compared to the national average of around 30%, so buyers are entering a market defined by long-term, committed owner-occupiers. The 11.4% price correction from the 2024 peak may create a negotiating window before demand at this price tier restabilises.
For Buyers
The median house price is $2,480,500 in 2025, down 11.4% from the $2,800,000 peak recorded in 2024. At a monthly mortgage repayment of $3,517 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2%, buyers with above-average incomes remain below the 30% stress threshold despite the high entry price. The stock is dominated by large homes: 78.1% have four or more bedrooms and 97.2% are separate houses, making apartments or smaller dwellings rare here. Only 6.1% of residents rent, compared to the national average of around 30%, so buyers are entering a market defined by long-term, committed owner-occupiers. The 11.4% price correction from the 2024 peak may create a negotiating window before demand at this price tier restabilises.
For Investors
Investor fundamentals are constrained by the suburb's ownership structure. Renters account for only 6.1% of households, one of the lowest shares nationally, and the weekly rent of $550 against a $2,480,500 median implies a gross yield below 1.2%. The vacancy rate sits at 7.1%, above comfortable letting territory. Development activity recorded 20 applications in the past 12 months, a modest figure for a suburb this size. The 11.4% price fall from 2024 to 2025 signals short-term capital risk. The investment case here is a long-hold, land-value story rather than a yield-driven one, suited to buyers who want wealth preservation in a premium acreage location rather than income return above state averages.
Development Activity
Total DAs
137
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-4.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4.0 years above the national figure, and the household composition reflects this maturity: 42.3% of families are couples with children and 26.2% are couples without, with no recorded single-parent families. Average household size is 3.2, which is 0.7 above national, indicating that larger multigenerational or family households are the norm. University qualifications reach 45.3%, some 15.2 points above the national average. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, with English (482), Irish (136) and Scottish (127) the top three groups. Overseas-born residents make up 19.6% of the population, 2.0 points below the national rate, reflecting the suburb's predominantly locally-rooted character. Volunteering at 20.9% indicates strong community engagement relative to typical suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.2%
Houses
1.6%
Townhouse
1.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between outright owners at 49.5% and mortgage holders at 44.4%, with renters at just 6.1%. That near-equal split between owned and mortgaged homes, against a $2,480,500 median, means a large share of households hold substantial equity. The 2025 price of $2,480,500 represents an 11.4% fall from $2,800,000 in 2024, a notable correction in a thinly traded market. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 78.1% of stock, and three-bedroom homes add 14.6%, meaning smaller homes are an exception rather than the norm. Separate houses represent 97.2% of all dwellings, compared to national rates where apartments and semi-detached homes together typically account for more than 30% of stock. Rent-to-income at 16.4% is well below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,517
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$953
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.1%
Unoccupied
24
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.2%
Couples, no children
933
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local industry at 28.0% of employed residents (95 workers), followed by Construction at 13.0% (44), Education at 10.9% (37) and Professional/Tech at 8.8% (30). By occupation, Professionals (155) and Managers (99) together account for the two largest groups, consistent with a high-income suburb. The unemployment rate is 1.6%, substantially below state and national averages, and the full-time employment rate is 55.6%. Participation sits at 54.0% with 296 residents not in the labour force, a pattern partly explained by the older median age of 44 and the high proportion of financially independent households at the 98.8th income percentile nationally. Healthcare dominance may reflect a resident cohort that works in Central Coast health services while living in this semi-rural setting.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
42.8%
Participation
54.0%
Employed
437
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.3%
Postgraduate
11.9%
Born Overseas
19.6%
Dwellings
318
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 92.9% of residents drive to work, compared to national rates where public transport and active travel together typically account for 20% or more. Only 1.3% walk or cycle, consistent with a low-density, semi-rural layout that lacks walkable amenity. The need-assistance rate is 3.4% (34 people), typical for the population profile. Volunteering at 20.9% is above average nationally, pointing to an engaged resident base. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on Central Coast institutions in neighbouring areas. Crime data is not available in this dataset. The combination of large blocks, high incomes at the 98.8th percentile nationally, and very low renter turnover at 6.1% creates the conditions for a quiet, stable residential setting with minimal transient population.
Drive
92.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Matcham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matcham a good suburb to live in?
Matcham suits buyers who prioritise space, income peers, and a quiet acreage setting. Household income sits at the 98.8th percentile nationally, the unemployment rate is 1.6%, and 97.2% of homes are separate houses with 78.1% having four or more bedrooms. The trade-offs are high entry cost at a $2,480,500 median, no schools recorded within the suburb, and 92.9% car dependency.
What is the median house price in Matcham?
The median house price is $2,480,500 as of 2025, down 11.4% from the 2024 peak of $2,800,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.2% sits below the 30% stress threshold for households at this income level.
What schools are in Matcham?
No schools are recorded within the Matcham suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Central Coast suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, university qualifications reach 45.3% among residents, which is 15.2 points above the national average.
Is Matcham safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Matcham in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the unemployment rate is 1.6%, well below national averages, household income sits at the 98.8th percentile nationally, and just 6.1% of residents rent, all factors associated with lower crime incidence in comparable rural-residential communities.
Is Matcham good for property investment?
The investment case is limited for yield-focused buyers. Weekly rent of $550 against a $2,480,500 median implies a gross yield below 1.2%, and vacancy stands at 7.1%. The 11.4% price fall from 2024 to 2025 introduces short-term capital risk. Long-hold buyers targeting land value in a premium acreage pocket have a stronger case than those seeking income returns above state averages.
How is Matcham's population changing?
Matcham's current population is 1,038 across 8.85 square kilometres. The residential stability rate is 80.9%, meaning most residents stayed in place over the measured period. The suburb has 20 development applications in the past 12 months, a modest figure, suggesting slow rather than rapid population growth in the near term.
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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