NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Empire Bay, 2257
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 22.1° / 14° today · 3.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Central Coast (NSW), Empire Bay is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because housing affordability and safety lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and community and employment.
Population
- Population
- 2,522
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,884
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 83 of 959
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,165
- Employment rate
- 57.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 64 / 34 / 19
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $615
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 246
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 125
- Against the person
- 42
- Against property
- 50
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 49.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 60 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +4.5%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order132
- Domestic Violence Related Assault138
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property174
- Other Offences94
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,039
- Empire Bay Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
58 public transport stops in this suburb
- Empire Bay Dr Before Greenfield Rd
- Greenfield Rd Before Rickard Rd
- Greenfield Rd Opp Rosella Rd
- Kendall Rd Opp Shelly Beach Rd
- Sorrento Rd At Boongala Av
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
146 planning-related records
2026· 12 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation65 HILLCREST ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation271 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool265 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah423 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure429 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Under Assessment
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 MYRTLE ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool65 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation13A POMONA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure8 ECHUCA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Withdrawn
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5 GORDON ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure36 HILLCREST ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure57 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool5 GORDON ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure39 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool65 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 SHELLY BEACH ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Shade structures of canvas, fabric, mesh or the like; Supporting Development433 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation271 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
May 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure70 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 47 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure18 KENDALL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
January 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Mooring; Water supply system170 Wharparilla Road, EchucaAdditional Information Requested
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space19 POMONA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 AWINYA CLOSE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 GORDON ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation61 ROSELLA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
July 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure77 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation69 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space9 palmers lane empire bay 2257Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (indoor)437 WARDS HILL ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
March 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Swimming pool1 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool15 RICKARD ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
February 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces148 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 BOONGALA AVENUE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
2023· 2 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space14 ROSELLA ROAD EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
November 2023
- Subdivision of land260 EMPIRE BAY DRIVE EMPIRE BAY 2257Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
43 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- 142 Empire Bay DrBus stop
- 227 Empire Bay DrBus stop
- 249 Empire Bay RdBus stop
- 271 Empire Bay DrBus stop
- 33 Greenfield RdBus stop
- 38 Greenfield RdBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Awinya ClBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr at Poole ClBus stop
- Empire Bay Dr before Greenfield RdBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 44.3/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 41% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2716th in Australia
- State rank
- 864th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #268 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #543 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 142 Empire Bay Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 227 Empire Bay Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 249 Empire Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 271 Empire Bay Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 33 Greenfield Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 38 Greenfield Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Central Coast Councilamenitiesslipway
- Chef's Gardenamenitiescafe
- Empire Bay Dr at Awinya Clamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Central Coast (NSW) Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.