Ourimbah
With 91.2% of workers driving to their jobs and only 2.4% using public transport, Ourimbah reads as a committed car-dependent community on the NSW Central Coast. The median house price of $885,000 sits below the Sydney metropolitan median, drawing mortgage-belt families who make up 43.9% of households. Household income sits at the 72.9th percentile nationally, above average but not wealthy. The suburb spans 87.15 square kilometres at just 46.1 people per km2, and 76.6% of dwellings are detached houses, confirming a lifestyle focused on space rather than density. Population growth is slow at 0.04% annually, and the age profile is trending older, with the senior share rising 4.8 points over the decade.
Population
4,019
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,940/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
36
Median House
$885K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $885,000 in Ourimbah is lower than most Sydney-adjacent markets, which explains its appeal to families priced out of the city. The price history shows volatility: the median reached $930,000 in 2024 before pulling back to $821,500 in 2025, an 11.7% decline in one year. Separate houses dominate at 76.6% of stock, with 44.2% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, giving families genuine space. Semi-detached homes account for 22.9% and apartments just 0.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold and comfortably affordable compared to inner-city benchmarks. Outright ownership at 32.4% indicates a base of longer-term, debt-free residents.
For Buyers
The median house price of $885,000 in Ourimbah is lower than most Sydney-adjacent markets, which explains its appeal to families priced out of the city. The price history shows volatility: the median reached $930,000 in 2024 before pulling back to $821,500 in 2025, an 11.7% decline in one year. Separate houses dominate at 76.6% of stock, with 44.2% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms, giving families genuine space. Semi-detached homes account for 22.9% and apartments just 0.5%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.2%, below the 30% stress threshold and comfortably affordable compared to inner-city benchmarks. Outright ownership at 32.4% indicates a base of longer-term, debt-free residents.
For Investors
A 23.6% renter share and weekly rent of $400 gives landlords a modest tenant pool, but yields are thin against the $885,000 median, implying a gross return near 2.4%. The 4.4% vacancy rate is higher than many comparable Central Coast suburbs, suggesting some softness in rental demand. Development activity totals 36 applications in the past 12 months, covering alterations, new garages and dwelling additions rather than new supply. Population growth of 0.04% annually is effectively flat, so rental demand is not expanding quickly. Net internal migration averages negative 66 per year, meaning more residents leave than arrive domestically, with overseas migration adding 32 annually to partially offset the loss. Rent growth of 42.9% over the decade outpaced income growth of 16.4%, compressing affordability for tenants over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
154
Last 12 Months
36
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-2.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Ourimbah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ourimbah Public School
K-6 · 332 students
Demographics
The median age is 39, one year below the national figure, placing Ourimbah close to the national average rather than notably younger or older. The trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 4.8 points and the young share fell 2.9 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents at 16.8% sit 4.8 points below the national average, confirming the Anglo-dominant character. Ancestry is led by English (1,836 residents), followed by Irish (502) and Scottish (483). University qualifications reach 30.2%, just 0.1 points above the national figure, meaning educational attainment is at parity with national rather than above or below it. Average household size is 2.7, marginally above the national average by 0.2. Volunteering runs at 16.5% and 5.3% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.6%
Houses
22.9%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Ourimbah's housing market is overwhelmingly detached: 76.6% separate houses, 22.9% semi-detached and just 0.5% apartments. The four-plus bedroom category accounts for 44.2% of dwellings and three-bedroom homes for 42.5%, reflecting the large-lot, family-oriented character. Tenure splits across 32.4% owned outright, 43.9% under mortgage and 23.6% renting, a mortgage-belt profile where most households are still paying off their purchase. The median house price fell from $930,000 in 2024 to $821,500 in 2025, a peak-to-current decline of 11.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2% remains below the stress threshold of 30%. Weekly rent of $400 produces a rent-to-income ratio of 20.6%, also below stress levels, making the suburb accessible for both buyers and renters relative to national benchmarks.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$840
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.4%
Unoccupied
66
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.1%
Couples, no children
3,340
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is by far the largest employer in Ourimbah, accounting for 23.4% of workers (339 residents), more than double the share of any other sector. Education follows at 11.7% (169 workers), Construction at 9.9% (143) and Retail at 7.6% (110), with Professional/Tech at 7.0% (101). By occupation, Professionals lead with 451 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin (300), Managers (297) and Community/Personal services (280). The unemployment rate of 3.4% is low, and the full-time employment rate is 59.3%. The SEIFA IRSD score puts the suburb at decile 8 nationally for relative disadvantage, meaning it is less disadvantaged than roughly 70% of Australian suburbs. The IER (economic resources) decile of 9 reflects relatively strong household asset bases despite household income sitting at the 72.9th percentile rather than the top tier.
Unemployment
2.1%
Labour Force
2,911
Unemployed
60
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.3%
Part-time
37.3%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
1,837
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.2%
Postgraduate
6.2%
Born Overseas
16.8%
Dwellings
1,411
Transport to Work
Car dependence is the defining transport characteristic: 91.2% of workers drive, higher than the national average, and only 2.4% use public transport, reflecting limited rail and bus options in this low-density, spread-out suburb. The large 87.15 square kilometre area at just 46.1 residents per km2 makes walking and cycling impractical for most trips, with only 1.6% walking or cycling to work. No schools are recorded inside the Ourimbah boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Central Coast options. SEIFA IRSAD at decile 7 places the suburb in the upper-middle range nationally for socioeconomic advantage. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 23.2% and rent-to-income at 20.6% both sit well below the 30% stress threshold. The 80.3% residential stability rate means most residents have stayed put, indicating strong community continuity.
Drive
91.2%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.04%/yr
(+2 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth in Ourimbah is minimal at 0.04% annually, adding roughly 2 residents per year. The 10-year change was 2.8%, and medium-case forecasts project the population rising from 4,934 in 2025 to around 4,973 by 2031, an increase of fewer than 40 people across six years. The primary migration driver is overseas arrivals at a net 32 per year, offset by net internal outflow of 66 per year. The aging trajectory continued through the decade, with the senior share rising 4.8 points and working-age share nearly flat. The gentrification score of 24 places Ourimbah in the early signs stage, with real income growth of 16.4% over the decade and rent growth of 42.9%, suggesting rents have climbed faster than incomes but without the full gentrification dynamic seen in inner-city markets.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+32
Net Internal / yr
-66
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ourimbah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ourimbah a good suburb to live in?
Ourimbah suits families and owner-occupiers looking for large homes at a lower price point than Sydney. The suburb ranks at SEIFA IRSAD decile 7 nationally, above average but not elite. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 23.2% and rent-to-income at 20.6%. The main limitation is high car dependence: 91.2% of workers drive, and public transport is used by only 2.4% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Ourimbah?
The median house price is $885,000 based on 2024-2025 data. Prices peaked at $930,000 in 2024 and fell to $821,500 in 2025, a decline of 11.7%. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.2%.
What schools are in Ourimbah?
No schools are recorded inside the Ourimbah boundary in this dataset. Families typically access schools in nearby Central Coast suburbs. Locally, 30.2% of residents hold university qualifications, at parity with the national average, and the suburb's 4,019 population is spread across 87.15 square kilometres.
Is Ourimbah safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Ourimbah in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, meaning it is less disadvantaged than around 70% of Australian suburbs. Only 5.3% of residents (205 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a stable, lower-disadvantage community.
Is Ourimbah good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $400 against an $885,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, low by national standards. The 4.4% vacancy rate signals moderate rental softness. Net internal migration averages negative 66 per year, limiting tenant demand growth. Rent grew 42.9% over the decade, outpacing income growth of 16.4%, but with 0.04% annual population growth, returns depend more on capital growth than rental income.
How is Ourimbah's population changing?
Growth is effectively flat at 0.04% annually, adding about 2 residents per year. The 10-year change was 2.8%, and medium forecasts project the population reaching around 4,973 by 2031, up from 4,934 in 2025. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 4.8 points over the decade, while overseas migration of 32 per year is offset by net internal outflow of 66 per year.
How much development is happening in Ourimbah?
There were 36 development applications lodged in the past 12 months in Ourimbah. Applications cover swimming pools, garages, dwelling alterations and residential additions rather than large new-supply projects, consistent with an established, slow-growth suburb at 0.04% annual population change.
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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