suburb.guide

NSW · Richmond Valley Council

Evans Head, 2473

Current weather

17.9°CLight drizzle

84% humidity · 13.8 km/h wind · 22° / 13.1° today · 0.3 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

44.1/100
Average

Top 38% of New South Wales' suburbs

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Excellent transport
  • Green suburb
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
  • Café precinct
What Evans Head is known for: Excellent transport, Green suburb, Education hub, High desirability, Café precinct

Suburb profile

Evans Head anchors everyday life in Richmond Valley, a regional mid-sized suburb with its own identity and rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood.

Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.

Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because housing affordability and community and employment lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in growth momentum and parks and green space.

Population

Population
2,907
Median age
52
Median household income / week
$1,086
Dwelling vacancy
18.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
280 of 1,536
Median monthly mortgage
$1,642
Employment rate
44.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
99 / 428 / 90

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

Houses (January to March 2026)
$600

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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
188
Against the person
60
Against property
73
Rate per 1,000 residents
64.7
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 48 residents
State safety percentile
43.2th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-9.8%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order18
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault17
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment19
  • Malicious Damage To Property31
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault17

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
955
  • Evans River Community SchoolCombined

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

148 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Bottlebrush Cres At Acacia St
  • Carrabeen St After Woodburn St
  • Currajong St At Cassia St
  • Flame St At Pine Lane
  • Woodburn St At Elm St

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).

192 planning-related records

2026· 15 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home
    36 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Subdivision
    51 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Under Assessment
  • Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    108 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Under Assessment

  • May 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal)
    4 SEAMIST LANE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    57 BANKSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development
    43 TERRACE STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • April 2026

  • Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    63 BEECH STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • March 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
    1 1 FERN PLACE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    41 CYPRESS STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • February 2026

  • Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure
    1 8 Elm Street Evans Head 2473Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    16 WIRRAWAY AVENUE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • January 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
    80 CURRAJONG STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Light industry; Artisan food and drink industry
    1-3 WINJEEL ROAD EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    5 CATALINA CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    40-42 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Deferred Commencement
2025· 25 proposals

  • December 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    37 Park Street, Evans Head. NSW 2473Determined
  • Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading
    1 8 OAK STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Demolition; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    16 CARRABEEN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    18 BOTTLEBRUSH CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    63 BEECH STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • November 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space
    14 MANGROVE STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
    14 RIVERVIEW STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    3 51 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation
    62 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • October 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Specialised Retail Premises
    22 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • September 2025

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Swimming pool
    81 BEECH STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • August 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    3 51 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport
    11 BOTTLEBRUSH CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • July 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    14 BANKSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Commercial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    33 WOODBURN STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    3 51 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    43 CASSIA STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)
    23 RIVERVIEW STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure
    127 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    17 WIRRAWAY AVENUE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • June 2025

  • Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
    16 SEAMIST LANE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    37 PACIFIC CRESCENT EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures
    89 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

  • May 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool
    89 OCEAN DRIVE EVANS HEAD 2473Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    4 MANGROVE STREET EVANS HEAD 2473Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

49 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • The BakeryBakery

    12 Oak Street

  • Wurlitzer BakeryBakery

    37 Woodburn Street

  • Bbq
  • Bench
  • Woodburn St at Elm St (Evans Head Coach Stop)Bus stop
  • Johnny's Cafe - RestaurantCafe
  • Drinking water
  • Riverfront KioskFast food
  • Laundry (3)
  • Evans Head Branch LibraryLibrary

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

Parks & reserves

4 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Dirrawong ReservePark
  • Evans Head Recreation ReservePark
  • Payne OvalPark
  • Riverside Memorial ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

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

Heritage

1 state heritage place

  • Evans Head Memorial AerodromeMemorial Airport Drive, Evans HeadSHR

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

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)
7
Parks (OSM)
7

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
44.1/100 — Average
State standing
Top 38% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
2559th in Australia
State rank
799th in NSW
Peer rank
#82 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#217 among Country & regional 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

  • Bbqamenitiesbbq
  • Benchamenitiesbench
  • Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
  • Evans Head Aquatic Centreamenitiessports_centre
  • Evans Head Branch Libraryamenitieslibrary
  • Evans Head Fishermans Co-opamenitiesseafood
  • Evans Head Police Stationamenitiespolice
  • Evans Head Post Officeamenitiespost_office
  • Evans Head Presbyterian Churchamenitiesplace_of_worship
  • Evans Head RSL Clubamenitiesrestaurant

Data sources & freshness

More in Richmond Valley Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.