Norah Head
A median house price of $1,500,000 combined with a SEIFA disadvantage decile of 2 on both IRSD and IEO makes Norah Head one of the more unusual coastal profiles on the Central Coast. The suburb's 1,149 residents skew heavily older, with a median age of 51 that is 11 years above the national figure, and 48.4% own their homes outright, pointing to established long-term residents rather than a transient buyer cohort. The 12.8% vacancy rate sits well above typical levels, reflecting a holiday and seasonal-use component in a stock that is 89.7% detached houses.
Population
1,149
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,711/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$1.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,500,000 is a premium entry point for the Central Coast, where the stock is dominated by large detached homes: 89.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 52% have four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2%, below the 30% stress threshold but still substantial relative to household incomes at the 60.2nd percentile nationally. Price history across 2024 and 2025 shows the median holding at $1,500,000 with no recorded movement, suggesting the local market is stable rather than actively appreciating. Buyers should note that the SEIFA IEO decile of 2 indicates lower education and occupation profiles than the price level alone would suggest.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,500,000 is a premium entry point for the Central Coast, where the stock is dominated by large detached homes: 89.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 52% have four or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.2%, below the 30% stress threshold but still substantial relative to household incomes at the 60.2nd percentile nationally. Price history across 2024 and 2025 shows the median holding at $1,500,000 with no recorded movement, suggesting the local market is stable rather than actively appreciating. Buyers should note that the SEIFA IEO decile of 2 indicates lower education and occupation profiles than the price level alone would suggest.
For Investors
Norah Head presents a mixed investment picture. The 12.8% vacancy rate is elevated and signals meaningful unoccupied stock, likely tied to holiday use across a suburb that is 4.25 km2 with only 1,149 residents. Weekly rent of $400 against a $1,500,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.4%, very low for a market at this price level. The renter share is just 18.7%, well below the national average, because 48.4% own outright. Annual population growth is 0.32%, equivalent to 32 persons per year, with net internal migration averaging 32 and overseas migration 26 a year. Only 11 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, confirming low new supply pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
74
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national figure, making Norah Head one of the older coastal communities in NSW. Couples without children account for 34.3% of families, consistent with empty-nester and retiree dominance. Overseas-born residents are just 9.7% of the population, which is 11.9 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry leans almost entirely Anglo-Celtic: English (496), Irish (152) and Scottish (130) are the top three. University qualifications reach 27.2%, sitting 2.9 points below the national rate, and the participation rate is low at 45.2%, because 419 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the older age profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.7%
Houses
5.8%
Townhouse
2.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached houses make up 89.7% of the housing stock, and the bedroom profile skews large: 52% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 35.4% have three, which together cover 87.4% of all homes. Tenure is weighted toward outright ownership at 48.4%, compared to 32.8% carrying a mortgage and 18.7% renting. This tenure split reflects the older population rather than high recent purchase activity. The SEIFA IER decile of 3 for economic resources sits in the lower range, meaning that despite premium house prices, measurable household wealth indicators are modest, partly because a large share of value is locked in property held without debt. Rent-to-income at 23.4% is below the 30% stress threshold for tenants.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$811
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.8%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.3%
Couples, no children
892
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment in Norah Head is concentrated in Education (18.5%, 58 workers), Healthcare (18.2%, 57) and Construction (15.9%, 50), with Public Administration at 6.4% and Retail at 5.1%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 107, followed by Clerical/Admin at 74 and Community/Personal at 68. The unemployment rate is low at 2.7%, with only 12 residents recorded as unemployed, but the participation rate of 45.2% is well below national norms because the retirement-age cohort is large. Real income grew 20.3% over the decade, and household weekly income of $1,711 places the suburb at the 60.2nd percentile nationally, above average but not in the top tier given the high house prices relative to earnings.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
4,447
Unemployed
241
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.6%
Part-time
37.7%
Participation
45.2%
Employed
426
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.2%
Postgraduate
6.6%
Born Overseas
9.7%
Dwellings
416
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 92.3% of commuters driving, with only 1.7% walking or cycling, and no public transport usage data is available, consistent with a coastal suburb beyond the main bus corridors. No schools are recorded within the Norah Head boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Central Coast suburbs. The IRSAD decile of 2 indicates relatively lower advantage nationally, sitting in the bottom fifth, which contrasts with the premium house prices and reflects the older, lower-participation workforce profile. Volunteering is active at 15.4% of residents, and housing stress is contained: rent-to-income is 23.4% and mortgage-to-income is 29.2%, both below the 30% threshold.
Drive
92.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow and stable: the annual rate is 0.32%, equivalent to roughly 32 new residents per year, and the 10-year population change is 10.1%. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 population rising from 9,908 in 2025 to approximately 10,234 by 2031 at trend continuation. The gentrification stage is classified as not gentrifying, with a score of 0, because the suburb is already an established premium market. Affordability held steady at around 54-55% across 2011 to 2021, indicating no structural pricing shift compared to incomes over the decade. Migration is balanced: 32 net internal arrivals and 26 net overseas arrivals annually, a low base that limits near-term demand acceleration.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+26
Net Internal / yr
+32
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Norah Head compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norah Head a good suburb to live in?
Norah Head suits those seeking a quiet coastal lifestyle with large detached homes. The median age is 51, some 11 years above the national figure, and 48.4% own their home outright, reflecting an established, settled community. Housing costs are high at a $1,500,000 median, and the IRSAD decile of 2 indicates below-average advantage nationally. Car ownership is essential, with 92.3% of commuters driving.
What is the median house price in Norah Head?
The median house price is $1,500,000, a figure that held steady across both 2024 and 2025 with no recorded movement. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 29.2%. Weekly rent averages $400 for the 18.7% of residents who rent.
What schools are in Norah Head?
No schools are recorded within the Norah Head boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Central Coast suburbs. Despite this, 27.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is within 3 points of the national rate.
Is Norah Head safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Norah Head in this dataset. As an indirect measure, the suburb has a low unemployment rate of 2.7% and housing stress is below threshold, with mortgage-to-income at 29.2% and rent-to-income at 23.4%, both indicators associated with lower financial stress levels.
Is Norah Head good for property investment?
The investment case is cautious. Weekly rent of $400 against a $1,500,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.4%, well below typical return benchmarks. The 12.8% vacancy rate is elevated, likely reflecting holiday use. Annual population growth is only 0.32%, and the price has been flat between 2024 and 2025, making capital growth rather than yield the primary investment thesis.
How is Norah Head's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.32% annually, adding about 32 residents per year. Over 10 years the suburb grew 10.1%. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching around 10,234 residents by 2031 from a 2025 base of 9,908. Migration is balanced, with 32 net internal and 26 net overseas arrivals each year.
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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