Skennars Head
Older residents, high property wealth, and very low population density define Skennars Head on the NSW far north coast. The median house price of $1,400,000 sits well above the national average for coastal lifestyle markets, while the median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure. SEIFA scores place the suburb at decile 8 on IRSAD and decile 9 on IRSD, meaning advantage is high relative to most Australian communities. Just 1,303 people live across 7.46 square kilometres, giving a density of 175 people per km2 compared to the urban Australian norm. The high ownership rate, 53% owning outright, confirms this is a settled, low-turnover community where wealth has compounded over long periods.
Population
1,303
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,674/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
37
Median House
$1.4M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $1,400,000, edging down 1.2% from $1,417,500 in 2024. Separate houses dominate at 88.7% of dwellings, and 45.5% of homes have four or more bedrooms, higher than most NSW coastal towns. Semi-detached homes account for 9.7% and apartments just 0.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,297, which at 31.7% of household income sits above the standard stress threshold, meaning buyers are stretching for this market. For families prioritising larger detached homes on acreage, the bedroom profile and separate-house dominance make it a more practical option than nearby Ballina or Byron Bay, where apartments and smaller lots are more common. Outright owners at 53% outnumber mortgage holders at 30.5%, pointing to a long-held ownership base.
For Buyers
The median house price is $1,400,000, edging down 1.2% from $1,417,500 in 2024. Separate houses dominate at 88.7% of dwellings, and 45.5% of homes have four or more bedrooms, higher than most NSW coastal towns. Semi-detached homes account for 9.7% and apartments just 0.6%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,297, which at 31.7% of household income sits above the standard stress threshold, meaning buyers are stretching for this market. For families prioritising larger detached homes on acreage, the bedroom profile and separate-house dominance make it a more practical option than nearby Ballina or Byron Bay, where apartments and smaller lots are more common. Outright owners at 53% outnumber mortgage holders at 30.5%, pointing to a long-held ownership base.
For Investors
The rental market here is thin but yields more than Byron Bay luxury benchmarks. Weekly rent is $550 against a $1,400,000 median, implying a gross yield near 2.0%, which is below the national average but in line with premium NSW coastal markets. The rental vacancy rate is 3.8%, above the sub-2% threshold associated with tight rental conditions, signalling some available stock. Only 16.5% of residents rent, well below the national average, so the investor pool competes for a small portion of total dwellings. Development activity reached 36 applications in the past 12 months, including residential new builds and seniors housing proposals, suggesting slow but ongoing supply additions. Net internal migration averages 123 arrivals per year, providing steady demand underpinning capital values.
Development Activity
Total DAs
393
Last 12 Months
37
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-44.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Skennars Head iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Holy Family Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 446 students
Xavier Catholic College Ballina
7-12 · 884 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, and the trajectory is clearly aging: the senior share increased 5.6 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 2.5 points. Only 12.2% of residents were born overseas, which is 9.4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the strong Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (576 residents), Irish (251) and Scottish (183). University qualifications reach 37.1%, which is 7 points above the national average, consistent with a professional and managerial occupational base. Average household size is 2.5, equal to the national benchmark. Couples with children (412 families) and couples without children (363 families) together make up the dominant household types, with very low one-parent family counts.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.7%
Houses
9.7%
Townhouse
0.6%
Apartment
Tenure
The ownership profile strongly favours outright ownership: 53% own without a mortgage, 30.5% have a mortgage, and only 16.5% rent. This tenure split is unusual nationally and points to a resident base that bought decades ago or purchased in full. Separate houses make up 88.7% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 9.7% and apartments at 0.6%, meaning buyers will find very limited high-density options. The four-plus bedroom segment at 45.5% is notably high, above what you find in comparable coastal areas. Median prices moved from $1,417,500 in 2024 to $1,400,000 in 2025, a 1.2% decline, modest after significant rises in the prior cycle. Mortgage stress applies: repayments represent 31.7% of median household income, above the conventional 30% threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,297
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$794
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
20
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.9% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.7% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.4%
Couples, no children
1,055
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 20.8% of the local workforce (97 workers), followed by Education at 16.1% (75 workers), Construction at 10.1% (47 workers) and Professional/Tech at 8.8% (41 workers). By occupation, Professionals (159) and Managers (98) are the two largest groups, which aligns with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation advantage. The unemployment rate is 5.0% and the full-time employment rate is 55.3%, with 272 residents working part-time and 353 not in the labour force, partly explained by the older median age. SEIFA scores of decile 9 on IRSD and decile 8 on IRSAD and IEO confirm advantage is consistently above average across all four indexes. Real incomes grew 26.7% over the decade, above the national pace for comparable coastal markets.
Unemployment
1.2%
Labour Force
5,522
Unemployed
68
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.3%
Part-time
39.7%
Participation
60.3%
Employed
608
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.1%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
12.2%
Dwellings
506
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 91% of residents drive to work, and public transport figures are not available in this dataset, reflecting the limited transit infrastructure typical of small far-north-coast communities. Walking and cycling account for 3.1% of commutes. SEIFA decile 9 on IRSD places Skennars Head among the lower-disadvantage communities nationally, and decile 8 on IRSAD confirms broad socioeconomic advantage. Volunteering is strong at 17.8%, above the national average, suggesting a high degree of civic participation relative to the population of 1,303. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring Ballina or Lennox Head. Crime data is not available for this suburb in the dataset, but the SEIFA advantage profile and low-density character are consistent with low-crime coastal communities.
Drive
91.0%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.77%/yr
(+182 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is running at 1.77% annually, adding around 182 people per year. Over the 10-year period, the suburb grew 25.8%, well above most established coastal communities. The broader SA2 area's historical population moved from 9,677 in 2023 to 10,282 in 2025. Migration is balanced: net internal arrivals average 123 per year and net overseas migration adds 80 per year. Rent growth of 52.6% over the decade reflects strong demand from tree-changers and lifestyle seekers outpacing supply. The gentrification score of 42 with an Active stage and signals including population growth of 35% since 2011 indicate that value uplift here is still underway rather than complete. Medium forecasts project population rising to 11,121 by 2031, driven by continued internal migration.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+80
Net Internal / yr
+123
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +35% since 2011, Net internal migration +123/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 27%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Skennars Head compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skennars Head a good suburb to live in?
Skennars Head scores decile 9 on IRSD and decile 8 on IRSAD, placing it in the upper tier of advantage nationally. With 53% of residents owning their home outright and a median age of 47 (7 years above national), it suits established owner-occupiers seeking a low-density coastal lifestyle. The main trade-off is limited transit and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Skennars Head?
The median house price is $1,400,000, based on 2025 data. Prices edged down 1.2% from $1,417,500 in 2024. Weekly rent averages $550 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,297, which represents 31.7% of median household income, just above the standard stress threshold.
What schools are in Skennars Head?
No schools are recorded inside the Skennars Head suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Ballina and Lennox Head. Despite this, 37.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 7 points above the national average, reflecting the professional and managerial character of the local population.
Is Skennars Head safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Skennars Head in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD, the index of relative disadvantage, placing it among the lower-disadvantage communities nationally. Only 4.6% of residents (58 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a stable, advantaged area.
Is Skennars Head good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $550 against a $1,400,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.0%, below the national average for residential property. The vacancy rate is 3.8%, above the tight-market threshold. However, rent grew 52.6% over the decade and population grew 25.8% over 10 years, with 36 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, signalling ongoing demand.
How is Skennars Head's population changing?
Population is growing at 1.77% per year, adding about 182 residents annually. The suburb expanded 25.8% over 10 years. Net internal migration averages 123 arrivals per year and overseas migration adds 80 per year. Medium forecasts for the broader SA2 area project population reaching 11,121 by 2031, up from 10,282 in 2025.
How much development is happening in Skennars Head?
There were 36 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including new dwelling houses, alterations and additions, and a seniors housing proposal. Activity is moderate for a suburb of 1,303 residents, suggesting incremental growth rather than rapid densification. The gentrification score of 42 with an Active stage indicates sustained reinvestment rather than speculative development.
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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