San Remo
With a median age of 34, San Remo sits 6 years below the national average, making it one of the younger communities on the Central Coast. The suburb covers 2.28 km2 at a density of 1,944 people per km2, and 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses, a detached-house dominance that is well above the national share. Household income sits at the 36.3rd percentile nationally, placing residents firmly in the lower-middle tier, yet median house prices reached $754,500 in 2025 after a 9.7% rise from 2024. Nearly 8.8% of residents need daily assistance, pointing to a notable care burden across this predominantly Anglo-Celtic community.
Population
4,434
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,375/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$735K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $754,500 in 2025, up 9.7% from $687,500 in 2024, a gain that outpaced many coastal NSW markets. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 96.4%, so buyers face a narrow pool of property types. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.2% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 31.8%, giving families solid choice in layout. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and at household income in the 36.3rd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers can service loans without being stretched thin compared to higher-cost Sydney markets.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $754,500 in 2025, up 9.7% from $687,500 in 2024, a gain that outpaced many coastal NSW markets. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 96.4%, so buyers face a narrow pool of property types. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 54.2% of dwellings, followed by 4-plus bedroom homes at 31.8%, giving families solid choice in layout. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, and at household income in the 36.3rd percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers can service loans without being stretched thin compared to higher-cost Sydney markets.
For Investors
A 34.6% renter share supports steady tenant demand, with weekly rent at $380 against the $754,500 median, implying a gross yield of roughly 2.6%. The vacancy rate at 8.1% is elevated and warrants attention, suggesting some rental supply exceeds near-term demand. Development activity is active with 28 applications lodged in the past 12 months, including several secondary dwelling proposals, which signals owner interest in adding rentable space. The rent-to-income ratio of 27.6% keeps tenants from being over-stressed. San Remo sits in IRSAD decile 1, the lowest advantage tier nationally, a factor that limits premium tenant profiles but supports steady lower-cost rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
142
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+20.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in San Remo iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Northlakes High School
7-12 · 789 students
Northlakes Public School
K-6 · 341 students
Demographics
The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national figure, driven by younger families who account for 34.6% of households under a mortgage or rent arrangement. Overseas-born residents at 8.7% are 12.9 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,856 residents) leads, followed by Scottish (444) and Irish (421). Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above the national average, consistent with more family-sized households. University qualifications reach only 11.3%, which is 18.8 points below the national figure, pointing to a blue-collar and trades-oriented workforce rather than a professional one.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.4%
Houses
3.1%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.4%, with semi-detached at 3.1% and apartments a marginal 0.5%, which is strikingly above the detached-house share in most urban NSW suburbs. Three-bedroom homes are the clear majority at 54.2%, and 4-plus bedroom homes at 31.8% reflect the family orientation of the suburb. Tenure splits as 26.4% owned outright, 39.0% with a mortgage, and 34.6% renting. The outright-ownership share is lower than mortgage holders, a sign that the suburb is still in an accumulation phase rather than a settled, debt-free one. Prices moved from $687,500 in 2024 to $754,500 in 2025, a 9.7% rise, at a median household income in the 36.3rd percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$658
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.1%
Unoccupied
139
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.9%
Couples, no children
3,529
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 24.4% of employed residents (248 workers), well above the share in most coastal NSW suburbs. Construction follows at 12.4% (126 workers) and Retail at 9.7% (99 workers). By occupation, Labourers (290) and Community/Personal service workers (284) are the two largest groups, consistent with SEIFA IEO decile 1, the lowest education and occupation advantage tier nationally. Unemployment sits at 8.2%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 48.7% is low, partly because 1,347 residents are not in the labour force at all. Full-time employment reaches 60.2% of those employed, meaning those who do work tend to hold steady full-time roles.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.2%
Part-time
31.6%
Participation
48.7%
Employed
1,554
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.3%
Postgraduate
1.7%
Born Overseas
8.7%
Dwellings
1,565
Transport to Work
San Remo is strongly car-dependent, with 91.4% of residents driving to work compared to the national average, while only 0.8% use public transport and 1.1% walk or cycle. This reflects the suburb's low-density layout and limited transit links. The IRSAD decile of 1 places San Remo in the lowest advantage tier nationally, and the IRSD decile of 2 confirms meaningful relative disadvantage. Volunteering reaches 7.9% of residents, modest but present. Rent-to-income at 27.6% and mortgage-to-income at 27.3% are both below the 30% stress threshold, offering households financial breathing room relative to higher-cost coastal markets. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How San Remo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Remo a good suburb to live in?
San Remo suits families and younger households. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national average, and 96.4% of homes are detached houses with a strong 3-4 bedroom stock. Housing costs stay manageable with mortgage-to-income at 27.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. The trade-offs are high car dependence at 91.4% of commuters and IRSAD decile 1, the lowest advantage tier nationally.
What is the median house price in San Remo?
The median house price reached $754,500 in 2025, up 9.7% from $687,500 in 2024. Weekly rent averages $380 and monthly mortgage repayments run $1,625. Household incomes sit at the 36.3rd percentile nationally, so buyers should factor affordability carefully against the $754,500 entry price.
What schools are in San Remo?
No schools are recorded inside the San Remo suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 11.3%, which is 18.8 points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly trades and services workforce.
Is San Remo safe?
Crime statistics are not available for San Remo in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 2, the second-lowest national tier for relative disadvantage, and 8.8% of the 4,434 residents need daily assistance. These factors suggest some community vulnerability compared to higher-decile NSW suburbs.
Is San Remo good for property investment?
The 9.7% price gain from 2024 to 2025 is a positive signal, and the 34.6% renter share provides a tenant base. However, the vacancy rate is 8.1%, above typical investment comfort levels, and gross yield is roughly 2.6% against the $754,500 median. The suburb ranks in IRSAD decile 1 nationally, which limits premium rental demand.
How is San Remo's population changing?
Resident stability is high: 78.2% of residents remained in San Remo in the five years before the Census, while 21.8% had moved in during that period. The median age of 34 is 6 years below the national average, suggesting ongoing appeal to younger families rather than an aging or declining demographic profile.
How much development is happening in San Remo?
There were 28 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, with secondary dwelling proposals appearing multiple times among recent submissions. This reflects owner interest in adding granny flats, which is consistent with the 34.6% renter share and the suburb's affordable entry price of $754,500.
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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