NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Narara, 2250
Current weather
16.1°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 21.8° / 13.6° today · 4.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Narara is a well-connected established suburb in Central Coast (NSW) with everyday amenities close at hand. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar metro suburbs, even with parks and green space and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 8,471
- Median age
- 38
- Median household income / week
- $1,896
- Dwelling vacancy
- 2.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 89 of 3,062
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 61.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 238 / 351 / 23
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)
- $640
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $690
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 540
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)
- 983
- Against the person
- 211
- Against property
- 287
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 116
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 40 residents
- State safety percentile
- 80.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -3.6%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions922
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment540
- Malicious Damage To Property490
- Steal From Retail Store460
- Transport Regulatory Offences1947
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 974
- Glenvale SchoolSpecial
- Narara Valley High SchoolSecondary
- St Philip's Christian College - GosfordCombined
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
124 public transport stops in this suburb
- CCP Goonak Pde
- CCP Narara Val Dr
- Narara Station
- Narara Station, Narara Valley Dr
- Narara Valley Dr Opp Narara Station
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).
259 planning-related records
2026· 20 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support22 MARRIL ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks11 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 CORELLA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation17 BOOBOOK RISE NARARA 2250Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool123 CARRINGTON STREET NARARA 2250Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 ARRAWARRA STREET NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 HOLCOMBE AVENUE NARARA 2250Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport9 GLENWOOD ROAD NARARA 2250Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 KINTAY LANE NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 SYNCARPIA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Under Assessment
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)25 Fountains Road, NararaAdditional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure83 DEANE STREET NARARA 2250Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Manufactured home15 BOOBOOK RISE NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 HOLCOMBE AVENUE NARARA 2250Determined
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School2-30 NARARA CREEK ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation51 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation10 COURALLIE ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 BOOBOOK RISE NARARA 2250Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation53 SYNCARPIA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Determined
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision18 ORCHARD DOWNS ROAD NARARA 2250Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure91 DEANE STREET NARARA 2250Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care9 GOONAK PARADE NARARA 2250Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure46 YEO STREET NARARA 2250Determined
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School2-30 NARARA CREEK ROAD NARARA 2250Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care9 GOONAK PARADE NARARA 2250Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure4 MANGROVE ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)55 SYNCARPIA CRESCENT NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 WAROOKA STREET NARARA 2250Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation30 DEANE STREET NARARA 2250Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise12 CALLISTEMON CLOSE NARARA 2250Under Assessment
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home1 PENLOO CLOSE NARARA 2250Determined
- Subdivision112 REEVES STREET NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 KONINDERIE PARADE NARARA 2250Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport65 GILDA DRIVE NARARA 2250Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 BALGARA RISE NARARA 2250Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport14 ISABELLA CLOSE NARARA 2250Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure23 GUGANDI ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 42 REEVES STREET NARARA 2250Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures7 COURALLIE ROAD NARARA 2250Determined
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
106 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (22)
- Bicycle Parking
- Bike Lockers - Narara Station, Narara Valley DrBicycle Parking
- Dalmeny Rd at Mangrove RdBus stop
- Deane St at Hanlan St SouthBus stop
- Deane St opp Cathy CresBus stop
- Gilda Dr after Dalmeny RdBus stop
- Gilda Dr opp Dalmeny RdBus stop
- Glenvale School, Manns RdBus stop
- Hanlan St South at Carrington StBus 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
Parks & reserves
12 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Apara Close ReservePark
- Canning ParkPark
- Carrington Street OvalPark
- Goonak Parade PlaygroundPark
- Goonak Parade ReservePark
- Karina Drive PlaygroundPark
- Mitchell ParkPark
- Reeves Street Bush ReservePark
- Sensory ParkPark
- Treeline ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Narara Valley MedicalNarara Valley Drivedoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Narara Preschoolkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
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)
- 41
- Parks (OSM)
- 12
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
- 52.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 25% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1644th in Australia
- State rank
- 524th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #193 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #364 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Basketball Courtamenitiespitch
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
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.