Tuggerawong
At 861.6 people per square kilometre across just 1.49 square kilometres on the NSW Central Coast, Tuggerawong is one of the more densely settled lake-edge pockets in the region, yet 87.5% of its 1,285 residents live in separate houses, a higher detached house share than the national average. The median age of 43 sits 3.0 years above the national figure, reflecting a settled, owner-occupier community: 35.7% own outright and only 11.0% were born overseas, compared to the national average of 21.6%. Household income at the 45.8th percentile nationally means the suburb is squarely middle-market, and mortgage-to-income at 29.5% stops just below the 30% stress threshold.
Population
1,285
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,477/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$820K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price sits at $820,000, with prices easing from $840,000 in 2024 to $770,000 in 2025, a fall of 8.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,885 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 29.5%, just below the 30% stress threshold, so repayments are more manageable than many coastal NSW markets. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 87.5%, with apartments at just 1.0%, meaning buyers get consistency of product but limited variation. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.5% and four-plus bedroom homes for 35.6%, skewing toward family buyers rather than renters.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $820,000, with prices easing from $840,000 in 2024 to $770,000 in 2025, a fall of 8.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,885 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 29.5%, just below the 30% stress threshold, so repayments are more manageable than many coastal NSW markets. Stock is almost entirely detached houses at 87.5%, with apartments at just 1.0%, meaning buyers get consistency of product but limited variation. Three-bedroom homes account for 40.5% and four-plus bedroom homes for 35.6%, skewing toward family buyers rather than renters.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $350 against an $820,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.2%, below what most Central Coast investors target. The vacancy rate of 7.9% is elevated, signalling that rental demand is softer than supply and letting periods may stretch. The renter share of 27.6% provides a baseline tenant pool, but the 8.3% price fall from 2024 to 2025 shows a market in correction rather than growth. Development is minimal at 13 applications in 12 months, none for new dwellings. The low overseas-born share of 11.0%, well below the national average, means migration adds limited new rental demand compared to higher-diversity suburbs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
59
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Tuggerawong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Tuggerawong Public School
K-6 · 208 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, pointing to an established, older resident base. Overseas-born residents account for just 11.0%, which is 10.6 percentage points below the national average, making this one of the more locally-born communities on the Central Coast. Ancestry runs strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (532 residents), Scottish (135) and Irish (131). University qualifications at 19.2% sit 10.9 percentage points below national, consistent with a trades-and-services workforce. Couples with children (419 families) outnumber couples without children (277), suggesting active family formation despite the older median age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.5%
Houses
4.2%
Townhouse
1.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 87.5% of dwellings, well above the national average, reflecting a low-density layout typical of lake-fringe suburbs. Tenure splits between outright owners (35.7%), mortgage holders (36.6%) and renters (27.6%), a balance that leans toward established ownership compared to many coastal markets. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 40.5%, followed by four-plus bedroom at 35.6%, so the typical product is a family-sized detached house. The median price fell 8.3% from $840,000 in 2024 to $770,000 in 2025. Rent of $350 a week is modest, and the 7.9% vacancy rate signals more rental supply than demand.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,885
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$717
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.9%
Unoccupied
41
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.1%
Couples, no children
1,023
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employing industry at 20.2% (70 workers), followed by Construction at 14.5% (50 workers) and Education at 9.0% (31 workers), reflecting a residential suburb that sends workers outward rather than generating local employment. Retail and Public Admin each account for 8.4%. The unemployment rate of 6.7% sits above the national average because the participation rate is just 50.2%, dragged down by the older median age leaving 387 residents outside the labour force. Full-time employment at 60.1% is reasonable among those who do participate. Personal weekly income of $717 aligns with the 45.8th household income percentile nationally, placing Tuggerawong firmly in the middle-income tier.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
50.2%
Employed
491
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.2%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
11.0%
Dwellings
481
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 90.0% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, and only 1.2% use public transport, reflecting the limited transit options common in small lake-edge suburbs. No schools are recorded within the Tuggerawong boundary, so families rely on services in neighbouring suburbs. The volunteering rate of 11.5% is moderate and only 6.3% of residents (76 people) require daily assistance, suggesting the community manages well despite the older median age of 43. Rent-to-income at 23.7% and mortgage-to-income at 29.5% both sit below the standard 30% stress benchmarks, so housing costs are not a major liveability pressure compared to many coastal NSW areas.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tuggerawong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuggerawong a good suburb to live in?
Tuggerawong suits buyers who prioritise detached houses and an established, low-turnover community. At 87.5% separate houses and a median age of 43, it is 3 years older than the national average and strongly owner-occupier. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5% stays below the 30% stress threshold. The main limitation is limited public transport, with 90% of residents driving to work.
What is the median house price in Tuggerawong?
The median house price is $820,000, with the tracked price easing from $840,000 in 2024 to $770,000 in 2025, a fall of 8.3%. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,885, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 29.5%.
What schools are in Tuggerawong?
No schools are recorded within the Tuggerawong suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding suburbs, including Wyong and Kanwal. University qualifications among residents reach 19.2%, which is 10.9 percentage points below the national average.
Is Tuggerawong safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Tuggerawong in this dataset. As indirect indicators, only 6.3% of residents (76 people) require daily assistance, the community has a high stability rate of 84.9% staying at the same address, and the volunteering rate of 11.5% suggests an engaged and connected population.
Is Tuggerawong good for property investment?
The investment case is modest. Weekly rent of $350 against an $820,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.2%, and a vacancy rate of 7.9% is elevated compared to stronger rental markets. The price fell 8.3% from 2024 to 2025. Only 13 development applications were lodged in 12 months, so supply is not expanding rapidly.
How is Tuggerawong's population changing?
The population stands at 1,285 and the suburb is stable rather than fast-growing. Residential turnover is low, with 84.9% of residents remaining at the same address over the measured period. The overseas-born share of 11.0% is 10.6 percentage points below the national average, limiting migration-driven demand growth. The older median age of 43 suggests slow 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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