The Entrance
A vacancy rate of 37.3% in a suburb where 59.4% of residents rent tells you a lot about The Entrance: this is a coastal community built as much around tourism and seasonal use as permanent settlement. At a median age of 50, residents are 10 years older than the national median, and the aging trajectory is continuing as the senior share climbs and the younger working-age cohort stays thin. Household income sits in just the 11.9th percentile nationally, yet the median house price holds at $685,000, a tension explained by the high renter share and the weight of retiree and tourist-adjacent demand pushing prices above what local incomes alone would support.
Population
4,244
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$971/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
59
Median House
$685K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $685,000, based on PSI-derived data through 2024-2025. Price history across two data points shows $682,600 in 2024 and $690,000 in 2025, a 1.1% one-year move that is modest compared to most coastal NSW markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but income is low: household income is in the 11.9th percentile nationally, meaning mortgage stress is likely for most buyers financing at median price. Dwellings skew heavily toward apartments, which make up 53.0% of stock, with semi-detached at 19.3% and only 26.2% separate houses. Two-bedroom dwellings are the dominant form at 57.6%, with three-bedroom at 26.8% and four-plus at just 7.2%, so buyers wanting detached family homes face limited local supply.
For Buyers
The median house price is $685,000, based on PSI-derived data through 2024-2025. Price history across two data points shows $682,600 in 2024 and $690,000 in 2025, a 1.1% one-year move that is modest compared to most coastal NSW markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but income is low: household income is in the 11.9th percentile nationally, meaning mortgage stress is likely for most buyers financing at median price. Dwellings skew heavily toward apartments, which make up 53.0% of stock, with semi-detached at 19.3% and only 26.2% separate houses. Two-bedroom dwellings are the dominant form at 57.6%, with three-bedroom at 26.8% and four-plus at just 7.2%, so buyers wanting detached family homes face limited local supply.
For Investors
The Entrance has a renter majority at 59.4%, well above the national average, and weekly rent averages $360. Against a $685,000 median, that implies a gross yield around 2.7%, low for the income profile. The key risk is the 37.3% vacancy rate, among the highest of any monitored suburb, driven by holiday letting, seasonal demand, and a large stock of small apartments. Overseas migration adds a net 118 residents per year while internal migration removes 47, so underlying demand is positive but thin. Development is active, with 57 applications in the past 12 months, including residential flat building modifications and dual occupancy works, signalling ongoing densification in an already apartment-dominant market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
221
Last 12 Months
59
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+40.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in The Entrance iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
The Entrance Public School
P-6 · 422 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, and the shift since 2011 confirms the direction: the senior share rose 4.7 points, the young share fell 3.2 points, and the working-age share barely moved (+0.1 points). Overseas-born residents account for 20.7%, slightly below the national average. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,690 residents), Irish (522) and Scottish (388). University qualifications reach 21.3%, which is 8.8 points below the national figure, consistent with a community that skews toward trades and service work rather than professional occupations. Average household size is 1.9, below the national norm by 0.6, reflecting the prevalence of couples without children (36.7% of families) and single-person households in a retirement and coastal lifestyle setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
26.2%
Houses
19.3%
Townhouse
53.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is unusual even by coastal standards: 59.4% of residents rent, well above the national average, while only 29.2% own outright and 11.4% hold a mortgage. That mortgage share is extremely low, pointing to a population that either rents or has paid off debt, with relatively few new buyers financing purchases. Apartments at 53.0% dominate the stock, followed by semi-detached at 19.3% and separate houses at 26.2%. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 57.6% of all homes, the highest single category. The median house price moved from $682,600 in 2024 to $690,000 in 2025, a 1.1% gain. Rent-to-income sits at 37.1% and mortgage-to-income at 41.2%, both above the standard stress thresholds, reflecting the mismatch between local incomes in the 11.9th percentile nationally and the broader coastal price base.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$599
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
37.3%
Unoccupied
1,229
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
41.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.7%
Couples, no children
2,655
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local industry base at 24.8% of employed residents (225 workers), more than double the next industry, which reflects the suburb's aging population generating high demand for care services. Construction follows at 10.9% (99 workers), then Education at 9.4% (85), Hospitality at 9.1% (82) and Retail at 6.4% (58). Occupations lean toward community and personal service (239), labourers (221) and professionals (210). The unemployment rate is 10.1%, considerably above typical levels, which partly reflects a participation rate of only 37.5% because 1,808 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with a large retiree cohort. SEIFA scores place The Entrance in decile 2 for IRSD and IRSAD, indicating significant relative disadvantage compared to national norms, and decile 4 on IEO.
Unemployment
5.6%
Labour Force
7,839
Unemployed
440
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
31.2%
Participation
37.5%
Employed
1,261
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.3%
Postgraduate
5.1%
Born Overseas
20.7%
Dwellings
2,063
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 83.3% driving to work, above national norms, while public transport use sits at just 5.7% and walking or cycling at 6.2%. The IRSAD decile of 3 and IRSD decile of 2 indicate above-average disadvantage nationally, meaning access to services and household resources are below typical levels. Housing stress is confirmed by both measures: rent-to-income at 37.1% and mortgage-to-income at 41.2% exceed the 30% threshold. Around 9.3% of residents (362 people) need assistance with daily tasks, higher than many comparable suburbs and connected to the older age profile. No schools are recorded inside the 1.65 km2 suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby Gosford-area communities. Volunteering sits at 9.6%, slightly below national norms.
Drive
83.3%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.0%/yr
(+164 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 13.3% over 10 years, reaching 4,244 residents in the suburb boundary. The SA2-level historical data shows the broader area at 16,336 people in 2025, up from 15,999 in 2023. The medium forecast holds annual growth at around 1.0%, adding roughly 164 persons per year, with the medium scenario projecting the broader SA2 reaching 17,503 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net 118 per year, partially offset by internal outflow of 47. The gentrification score is 4 (not gentrifying), and the affordability trend is classified as stable, shifting only from 56.4% in 2011 to 55.1% in 2021. Real income grew 16.7% over the decade, a positive signal, but the starting base remains low relative to national benchmarks.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+118
Net Internal / yr
-47
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How The Entrance compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Entrance a good suburb to live in?
The Entrance suits retirees and coastal lifestyle seekers more than young families or career-focused buyers. The median age is 50, which is 10 years above the national figure, and household income sits in just the 11.9th percentile nationally. The suburb scores decile 2 on IRSD, indicating relatively higher disadvantage. The appeal is the coastal setting and low-density lifestyle, but services, income levels, and transport options are below average.
What is the median house price in The Entrance?
The median house price is $685,000, based on PSI-derived data for 2024-2025. Prices moved from $682,600 in 2024 to $690,000 in 2025, a 1.1% gain. Weekly rent averages $360 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733. With household incomes in the 11.9th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 41.2%, above the stress threshold.
What schools are in The Entrance?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.65 km2 The Entrance suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring communities in the Central Coast council area. University qualification rates are 21.3% among residents, which is 8.8 percentage points below the national average.
Is The Entrance safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for The Entrance in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on IRSD (relative disadvantage) and decile 3 on IRSAD, both below national norms. Around 9.3% of residents (362 people) need daily assistance, somewhat elevated. The 10.1% unemployment rate is above typical levels and may correlate with higher social stress.
Is The Entrance good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. The renter majority at 59.4% provides a large tenant pool, and weekly rent of $360 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.7%. However, a 37.3% vacancy rate is a significant risk signal, reflecting heavy holiday and seasonal letting. Overseas migration adds 118 net residents a year, supporting long-run demand, but the high vacancy rate warrants caution in the apartment segment.
How is The Entrance's population changing?
The suburb has grown 13.3% over 10 years. The broader SA2 area reached 16,336 people in 2025, up from 15,999 in 2023. Annual growth is around 1.0%, adding roughly 164 persons per year. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 118 net per year, partially offset by internal outflow of 47. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.7 points since 2011.
How much development is happening in The Entrance?
There were 57 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include residential flat building modifications and dual occupancy works, consistent with ongoing densification in an apartment-heavy market where 53.0% of existing dwellings are already apartments. The modification-focused activity suggests intensification of existing sites rather than large-scale new 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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