North Curl Curl
Household income is the standout feature, sitting at the 99.1st percentile nationally, while North Curl Curl combines 4,288 residents with a dense 3,633.9 people per square kilometre. The suburb is strongly detached-house oriented, with 88.5% of dwellings separate houses, and work from home is unusually common at 55.8%. University-educated residents account for 53.3%, or 23.2 percentage points above the national comparison. Compared with nearby Dee Why, North Curl Curl is better suited to buyers seeking larger, low-rise housing, although its compact area and high income base support substantial housing demand.
Population
4,288
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,611/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
87
North Curl Curl is primarily a detached-house purchase market, with 88.5% of dwellings separate houses and 57.9% containing four or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes represent another 27.2%, so the suburb is oriented towards families and households needing space rather than small-unit living. The stated mortgage cost is $4,000 per month, with mortgage commitments at 25.6% of household income versus 19.4% for rent. That comparatively higher mortgage burden reflects the value of larger homes, while the high household income base helps support borrowing capacity. Compared with nearby Dee Why, the local choice is more house-led and less apartment-focused.
For Buyers
North Curl Curl is primarily a detached-house purchase market, with 88.5% of dwellings separate houses and 57.9% containing four or more bedrooms. Three-bedroom homes represent another 27.2%, so the suburb is oriented towards families and households needing space rather than small-unit living. The stated mortgage cost is $4,000 per month, with mortgage commitments at 25.6% of household income versus 19.4% for rent. That comparatively higher mortgage burden reflects the value of larger homes, while the high household income base helps support borrowing capacity. Compared with nearby Dee Why, the local choice is more house-led and less apartment-focused.
For Investors
Rental demand has several supporting factors: weekly rent is $700, 18.4% of households rent, and the vacancy rate is 5.0%. Development activity is also substantial, with 86 applications recorded over 12 months, which points to ongoing renovation, replacement and dwelling-change activity rather than a static housing market. Rent growth of 34.8% is a notable historical signal, but the vacancy rate means investors should still test leasing assumptions carefully. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may broaden tenant demand. Compared with the 40.1% of households owning outright, the rental share is smaller, so this remains a predominantly owner-occupied market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
379
Last 12 Months
87
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Curl Curl
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
North Curl Curl has a median age of 40, exactly in line with the national comparison, but its education and household measures sit higher. University participation is 53.3%, which is 23.2 percentage points above the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 26.7%, or 5.1 points higher nationally. Average household size is 3.2, 0.7 above the national comparison, and couples with children account for 60.9% of families. This family orientation is reinforced by 83.0% of residents staying at the same address, because established households tend to create lower turnover. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry are prominent, alongside smaller German, Portuguese, Mandarin, French and Italian language groups.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.5%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
6.7%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is strongly family-sized and detached: 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 6.7% apartments and 4.3% semi-detached homes. Four-bedroom-plus properties make up 57.9%, while three-bedroom dwellings account for 27.2%. Tenure is divided between 40.1% owning outright, 40.5% paying a mortgage and 18.4% renting. This structure supports residential stability because 80.6% of households are either mortgage holders or outright owners. Mortgage commitments equal 25.6% of household income, higher than the 19.4% rent share. Compared with an apartment-led market, North Curl Curl requires buyers to assess land, renovation and family-home pricing more closely.
Mortgage / mo
$4,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $700.
$850
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,150 · units $820
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,110
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
68
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
60.9%
Couples with children
25.8%
Couples, no children
12.4%
Single parent
1,127
Total families
Economy & Employment
North Curl Curl has a professional and relatively high-income employment base. Professional and technology industries lead with 18.6% and 307 workers, followed by healthcare at 12.8% and 211, finance at 11.5% and 189, construction at 10.2% and 168, and education at 10.0% and 165. The occupational mix is similarly skilled, led by 686 professionals and 474 managers, compared with 278 clerical and administrative workers. Labour force participation is 68.6%, unemployment is 3.0%, and 54.5% of residents work full time. Compared with a lower-income suburb, the 99.1 household-income percentile supports stronger spending power, while the industry mix links local households to professional, health and finance employment.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
2,285
Unemployed
69
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.5%
Part-time
34.4%
Participation
68.6%
Employed
2,216
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
53.3%
Postgraduate
13.7%
Born Overseas
26.7%
Dwellings
1,292
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-leaning rather than transit-led: 36.1% of residents drive to work, compared with only 1.8% using public transport, while 55.8% work from home. That pattern suits households prioritising home space and local access, but it is less convenient than a rail or rapid-transit suburb. Two nearby government schools provide one primary and one secondary option, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. Volunteering is reported at 20.7%, and 2.8% of residents need assistance. Compared with a transit-heavy suburb, North Curl Curl offers a more residential daily rhythm, but safety decisions should rely on current street-level NSW Police information rather than assumptions.
Drive
36.1%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
3.4%
Work from Home
55.8%
Population Forecast
+0.56%/yr
(+53 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth appears measured but mixed rather than explosive. The annual trend is 0.56%, while the primary driver is overseas migration and the trajectory is labelled Mixed. Population change across the wider area runs at 11.5% over 10 years, and rent growth of 34.8% is much stronger than the annual population trend, because housing demand can rise faster than resident numbers. Gentrification signals are also uneven: the shift measure records a score of 31 at the Early signs stage, while the current gentrification measure records 10 and is labelled Not gentrifying. The suburb also recovered from a 2.3% COVID dip, with 2.8% recovery, supporting an established rather than emerging-market character.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+158
Net Internal / yr
-160
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -160/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Curl Curl compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Curl Curl a good suburb to live in?
North Curl Curl suits households seeking larger homes, family space and a strong work-from-home environment. It has 88.5% separate houses, 57.9% four-bedroom-plus dwellings and 55.8% working from home. The trade-off is limited public transport use at 1.8%, so buyers should consider car access and daily travel needs.
What is the median house price in North Curl Curl?
Check recent settled sales and a current suburb market source for the latest median house price. North Curl Curl is a predominantly detached market, with 88.5% separate houses and 57.9% of dwellings containing four or more bedrooms, so comparisons should focus on similar land size, bedroom count and renovation condition.
What schools are in North Curl Curl?
North Curl Curl has 2 nearby government schools covering the main primary and secondary stages: Curl Curl North Public School and Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus. School access depends on the exact address, so families should confirm enrolment zones, transport arrangements and current intake rules before signing a lease or contract.
Is North Curl Curl safe?
Use current NSW Police incident information and inspect the immediate streets at different times before making a safety decision. North Curl Curl has 4,288 residents across 1.18 square kilometres, so conditions can vary between small pockets. Housing stability is relatively high, with 83.0% of residents staying at the same address.
Is North Curl Curl good for property investment?
North Curl Curl has an owner-occupier-led market with useful rental indicators: weekly rent is $700, vacancy is 5.0% and 18.4% of households rent. Development activity reached 86 applications over 12 months, while rent growth was 34.8%. Investors should still verify purchase price, insurance, maintenance and achievable yield for each property.
How is North Curl Curl's population changing?
North Curl Curl has 4,288 residents today. Growth across the wider area is forecast at 0.56% annually, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver and a Mixed trajectory. Ten-year population change is 11.5%, while the median age is 40 and the senior share has increased by 1.1 percentage points.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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