Sandy Beach
With 98% of dwellings being separate houses and just 0.3% apartments, Sandy Beach is one of the most detached-dominant suburbs on the NSW Mid North Coast. At a median house price of $875,000 and median age of 35, five years below the national average, it attracts families and working-age buyers rather than retirees. Healthcare accounts for 23.9% of employed residents, nearly double the next largest industry, creating a locally anchored workforce. Household income sits at the 51.1st percentile nationally, close to the median, which shapes a mortgage belt profile: 44% of dwellings carry a mortgage against 29.5% owned outright.
Population
2,913
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,567/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
21
Median House
$875K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $875,000 sits at a premium for the region, rising from $806,250 in 2024 to $911,000 in 2025, a 13% gain in one year. That price trajectory reflects growing coastal demand, though the latest reading of $875,000 is 4% below the 2025 peak, suggesting some softening. Separate houses make up 98% of stock, so buyers face very little apartment or semi-detached competition but limited entry-level options. Four-bedroom homes represent 41.9% of dwellings, with three-bedroom at 43.8%, making this predominantly a family-sized market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,810, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, indicating households are managing repayments comfortably compared to many coastal markets.
For Buyers
The median house price of $875,000 sits at a premium for the region, rising from $806,250 in 2024 to $911,000 in 2025, a 13% gain in one year. That price trajectory reflects growing coastal demand, though the latest reading of $875,000 is 4% below the 2025 peak, suggesting some softening. Separate houses make up 98% of stock, so buyers face very little apartment or semi-detached competition but limited entry-level options. Four-bedroom homes represent 41.9% of dwellings, with three-bedroom at 43.8%, making this predominantly a family-sized market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,810, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 26.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, indicating households are managing repayments comfortably compared to many coastal markets.
For Investors
A rental vacancy rate of 6.2% is elevated compared to the national norm of around 1-2%, flagging oversupply risk in the rental segment. Weekly rent of $420 against a median price of $875,000 implies a gross yield near 2.5%, modest for a regional market. The renter share is 26.5% of households, giving landlords a tenancy base but not a deep one given the vacancy pressure. Development activity totalled 17 applications in the past 12 months, a low count that includes dwelling demolitions and pool additions rather than new land releases, so supply growth is minimal. A 13% price gain from 2024 to 2025 demonstrates capital growth potential, though investors should weigh that against the high vacancy rate before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
161
Last 12 Months
21
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-16.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Sandy Beach iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Sandy Beach Public School
K-6 · 336 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national average, signalling a younger than typical coastal suburb that has avoided the retiree drift common to comparable NSW beachside communities. Overseas-born residents make up 14.4%, which is 7.2 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English leads at 1,173 residents, followed by Irish (331) and Scottish (323). University qualifications reach 24.6%, which is 5.5 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a workforce concentrated in health, construction and community services rather than knowledge-intensive industries. Average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above the national figure, supported by the 43.4% share of couples with children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.0%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The ownership structure leans toward mortgage holders at 44%, with outright owners at 29.5% and renters at 26.5%. The dominance of mortgages over outright owners signals a relatively recent buyer cohort rather than long-established residents, consistent with the younger median age of 35. Stock composition is almost entirely separate houses at 98%, making Sandy Beach a rarity among coastal NSW suburbs where medium density is common. Three and four-bedroom homes together represent 85.7% of dwellings, reinforcing the family orientation. The median price rose 13% from $806,250 in 2024 to $911,000 in 2025 before settling at $875,000 in the most recent period. Rent-to-income at 26.8% stays below the 30% stress line, meaning tenants face manageable housing costs relative to local income levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,810
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$763
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
68
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.4%
Couples, no children
2,374
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 23.9% (212 workers), nearly double Education at 12.6% and Public Administration at 10.8%. Construction follows at 10.1% and Agriculture at 6.1%, together reflecting the mix of coastal services and rural activity typical of the Mid North Coast. By occupation, Professionals lead at 235, followed by Community and Personal Service workers at 214, which aligns with the healthcare concentration. The unemployment rate is 6.9%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 58.9% is moderate, with 714 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 59.9% of jobs held. Volunteering reaches 12.6% of residents, suggesting meaningful community engagement despite the limited SEIFA data available for this suburb.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.9%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
58.9%
Employed
1,238
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.6%
Postgraduate
4.1%
Born Overseas
14.4%
Dwellings
1,025
Transport to Work
Sandy Beach is almost entirely car-dependent: 93.5% of residents drive to work, compared to the national car-driver share of roughly 70%, and just 0.3% use public transport. This reflects the coastal-rural setting with limited transit infrastructure. Walking and cycling account for 1.7% of commutes. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby Woolgoolga or Coffs Harbour. The need-for-assistance rate of 5.5% covers 149 residents, moderate for a suburb of 2,913 people. Crime data is not available in this dataset. Rent-to-income at 26.8% and mortgage-to-income at 26.7% both sit below 30%, placing Sandy Beach below the stress threshold and making it financially accessible compared to many NSW coastal suburbs.
Drive
93.5%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sandy Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sandy Beach a good suburb to live in?
Sandy Beach suits families and working-age buyers who prioritise space and coastal access over urban convenience. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national average, reflecting a younger demographic. Mortgage-to-income at 26.7% is below the 30% stress threshold, and 98% of dwellings are separate houses, giving residents more space than most suburbs. The main trade-off is car dependency, with 93.5% of residents driving to work and almost no public transport.
What is the median house price in Sandy Beach?
The median house price is $875,000. Prices rose 13% from $806,250 in 2024 to $911,000 in 2025 before settling slightly. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,810, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.7%. Weekly rent averages $420, though a 6.2% vacancy rate signals more supply than demand in the rental segment.
What schools are in Sandy Beach?
No schools are recorded inside the Sandy Beach boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in nearby Woolgoolga or Coffs Harbour. University qualifications among residents stand at 24.6%, which is 5.5 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce concentrated in healthcare and community services rather than knowledge sectors.
Is Sandy Beach safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Sandy Beach in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the need-for-assistance rate is 5.5%, covering 149 of the suburb's 2,913 residents, which is within a normal range. The volunteering rate of 12.6% suggests community engagement that is often associated with lower-disadvantage areas. SEIFA index data is not available for this suburb.
Is Sandy Beach good for property investment?
The 13% price growth from $806,250 in 2024 to $911,000 in 2025 demonstrates capital appreciation potential. However, the 6.2% rental vacancy rate is well above the national average of roughly 1-2%, indicating rental oversupply. Weekly rent of $420 against a $875,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.5%, modest for a regional coastal market. Low development activity (17 applications in 12 months) limits new supply but does not guarantee sustained price growth.
How is Sandy Beach's population changing?
Sandy Beach has a population of 2,913 with a median age of 35, five years below the national average, suggesting the suburb is attracting younger buyers rather than aging in place. The turnover rate is 27.3%, meaning 72.7% of residents stayed over the census period, indicating stability. No long-range population forecast is available, but the family-sized housing stock (85.7% three and four-bedroom homes) supports continued family household formation.
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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