Sapphire Beach
At 10.3%, vacancy is the standout signal in Sapphire Beach, running higher than a tightly occupied owner-occupier market and pointing to a meaningful holiday or part-time housing presence. The suburb has 2,660 residents and a median age of 46, which is 6 years above the national comparison. Detached homes account for 84.7% of housing, while household income sits at the 77.1 percentile. Compared with Coffs Harbour's urban core, Sapphire Beach has a lower-density coastal setting between Korora and Moonee Beach, with a more established, older resident base and a strong preference for larger homes.
Local council: Coffs Harbour
Population
2,660
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,056/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
32
Sapphire Beach suits buyers prioritising detached space, with 84.7% of dwellings separate houses and 58.6% containing 4 or more bedrooms. The tenure split shows 45.0% owned outright and 36.5% held with a mortgage, suggesting a substantial established-owner base rather than a predominantly entry-level market. Mortgage repayments represent 24.4% of household income, below a level generally associated with acute repayment stress, while weekly rent is $475 and the listed monthly mortgage figure is $2,174. Compared with apartment-led coastal markets, the suburb's housing form favours families, downsizers wanting land, and buyers seeking privacy, although maintenance costs can be higher.
For Buyers
Sapphire Beach suits buyers prioritising detached space, with 84.7% of dwellings separate houses and 58.6% containing 4 or more bedrooms. The tenure split shows 45.0% owned outright and 36.5% held with a mortgage, suggesting a substantial established-owner base rather than a predominantly entry-level market. Mortgage repayments represent 24.4% of household income, below a level generally associated with acute repayment stress, while weekly rent is $475 and the listed monthly mortgage figure is $2,174. Compared with apartment-led coastal markets, the suburb's housing form favours families, downsizers wanting land, and buyers seeking privacy, although maintenance costs can be higher.
For Investors
The investment case is mixed. Only 17.5% of households rent, which is lower than in a strongly tenant-oriented market, while weekly rent is $475. A 10.3% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied rental market and may lengthen letting periods or reflect seasonal and holiday-use properties. There were 31 development applications in 12 months, but the examples include a shed and alterations rather than confirmed new dwellings, so approvals should not be counted as additional rental stock. With 2,660 residents and a 26.4% turnover rate, investors should focus on property presentation, leasing demand and exact street conditions rather than assume uniform returns.
Development Activity
Total DAs
231
Last 12 Months
32
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Sapphire Beach has an older profile than the national comparison: the median age is 46, or 6 years above it. University attainment is 39.1%, 9 percentage points above the national comparison, while overseas-born residents account for 18.2%, 3.4 points below the national figure. Average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above national, with couples without children making up 49.8% of families and couples with children 40.3%. English ancestry is recorded for 1,187 people, followed by Irish at 407 and Scottish at 330. Compared with Coffs Harbour's urban core, the profile is more settled and low-density, with 73.6% of residents staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.7%
Houses
6.6%
Townhouse
7.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is strongly detached and relatively spacious across 7.83 square kilometres, with a density of 339.6 people per square kilometre and a population of 2,660. Separate houses represent 84.7% of dwellings, compared with 7.4% apartments and 6.6% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile reinforces that pattern: 58.6% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, 30.3% have 3, and 7.1% have 2. Ownership is split between 45.0% outright owners, 36.5% mortgage holders and 17.5% renters. Compared with apartment-heavy coastal markets, Sapphire Beach provides more family-scale housing, but detached stock can carry higher upkeep and insurance costs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,174
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $475.
$600
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $680 · units $500
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$955
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.3%
Unoccupied
112
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.3%
Couples with children
49.8%
Couples, no children
9.0%
Single parent
789
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 26.0%, employing 248 people, followed by Education at 12.7% and 121 people, Construction at 10.6% and 101, Public Administration at 8.2% and 78, and Professional and Technical services at 7.8% and 74. The occupation mix includes 362 Professionals and 233 Managers, alongside 175 Clerical and Administrative workers. Unemployment is 3.3%, participation is 61.3% and the full-time rate is 57.4%, indicating a mixed employment base rather than a purely retiree economy. Household income of $2,056 per week sits above the national midpoint at the 77.1 percentile, which supports local spending capacity compared with lower-income markets.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
1,315
Unemployed
43
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
37.7%
Participation
61.3%
Employed
1,272
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.1%
Postgraduate
9.0%
Born Overseas
18.2%
Dwellings
971
Transport to Work
Daily travel is strongly car-oriented: 75.1% of residents drive, compared with 0.7% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling to work. A further 17.6% work from home, which can reduce commuting pressure and increase the value of home office space. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, errands and school travel are likely to require more planning around roads and parking. Families should confirm nearby primary and secondary options, enrolment zones and travel times against the exact address, since catchments can cross suburb boundaries. With 2,660 residents and 31 recent development applications, buyers should also inspect traffic, construction activity, lighting and pedestrian links at different times before committing.
Drive
75.1%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
17.6%
Growth Outlook
The current growth picture combines a settled resident base with ongoing property activity. Sapphire Beach has 2,660 residents, a 26.4% turnover rate and 73.6% of residents remaining at the same address, so change is likely to be gradual and shaped by replacement buyers, renovations and lifestyle demand. Development activity reached 31 applications over 12 months, although the examples include a shed and two dwelling alterations rather than confirmed new homes. The 17.6% work-from-home rate may support continued demand from location-flexible households. Compared with a high-turnover growth suburb, Sapphire Beach appears more dependent on existing housing, coastal amenity and incremental redevelopment than on large-scale population churn.
Population trend: Coffs Harbour council area
Sapphire Beach sits in the Coffs Harbour council area. These are the council area's residents, not Sapphire Beach's.
Residents 2025
82,109
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Sapphire Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sapphire Beach a good suburb to live in?
Sapphire Beach suits people seeking detached coastal housing, larger floorplans and a quieter resident profile. The median age is 46, 84.7% of homes are separate houses and 17.6% of workers work from home. Car dependence is high at 75.1%, so daily convenience depends on access to a vehicle.
What is the median house price in Sapphire Beach?
A current median house price should be confirmed using recent settled sales and the exact property type. Sapphire Beach has 84.7% separate houses and 58.6% of homes with 4 or more bedrooms, so a suburb-wide figure can conceal large differences between older houses, renovated homes and premium coastal properties.
What schools are in Sapphire Beach?
School choices and enrolment zones should be confirmed for the exact address with the relevant NSW education provider. Families should compare primary and secondary options, travel times and transport arrangements, particularly because 75.1% of local workers drive and only 0.7% use public transport.
Is Sapphire Beach safe?
Safety should be assessed from recent local incidents, street lighting, traffic conditions and the exact property's surroundings rather than assumed from its coastal setting. For a suburb of 2,660 residents, inspect the street during both daytime and evening conditions and review current police incident information before signing a contract.
Is Sapphire Beach good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking a coastal asset, but the 10.3% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied rental market. Weekly rent is $475 and only 17.5% of households rent, so leasing demand may be narrower than in a tenant-heavy suburb. Review seasonal demand, insurance, maintenance and the 31 recent development applications.
How is Sapphire Beach's population changing?
The current profile points to a relatively settled suburb rather than rapid turnover. It has 2,660 residents, a 26.4% turnover rate and 73.6% staying at the same address. A median age of 46, together with 31 development applications in 12 months, suggests change is likely to come through renovations, replacement buyers and gradual housing adjustments.
What development is occurring in Sapphire Beach?
There were 31 development applications over the past 12 months. Recent examples include a new shed structure and 2 dwelling alterations or additions. These approvals indicate ongoing property investment, but they do not by themselves confirm 31 new homes or a large expansion of housing supply.
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).
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