NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Norah Head, 2263
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Norah Head is a coastal smaller community where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Sea and sand are the main draw, with neighbouring coastal communities easy to explore on a free afternoon. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. 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.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker transport and access and safety against similar coastal suburbs, even with parks and green space holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,149
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,711
- Dwelling vacancy
- 12.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 61 of 477
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 52%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 31 / 24 / 10
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)
- $450
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $570
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 230
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)
- 127
- Against the person
- 40
- Against property
- 40
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 110.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 29 residents
- State safety percentile
- 78.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order193
- Breach Bail Conditions442
- Domestic Violence Related Assault201
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment344
- Malicious Damage To Property238
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
Public transport
32 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bungary Rd Before Henderson St
- Denison St At Bungary Rd
- Denison St At Dyson Dr
- Wilfred Barrett Dr Before Bungary Rd
- Wilfred Barrett Dr Opp Noraville Cemetery
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).
60 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
June 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading; Supporting Development40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 VIEW STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool14 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2025· 6 proposals
November 2025
- Subdivision8 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
October 2025
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 MITCHELL STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Additional Information Requested
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home10 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure28 MAITLAND STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading; Supporting Development40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool7 MATHEWS STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 BELLEVISTA CLOSE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
August 2024
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Business identification sign; Hours of operation and trading; Supporting Development40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 MEREDITH CLOSE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
June 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure48 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
May 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure2 Young Street, Norah HeadDetermined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool25 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 KENDALL CRESCENT NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2023· 11 proposals
November 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Retail Premise; Market32 VICTORIA STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 CLIFF STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
August 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development28 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition25 BUNGARY ROAD NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces6 BARTON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing10 MATHEWS STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
June 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development8 HENDERSON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development16 VICTORIA STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling5 LAWSON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
January 2023
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision of land; Other25 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development37 KENDALL CRESCENT NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
2022· 9 proposals
December 2022
- Other40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
November 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces6 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Withdrawn
September 2022
- Other40 BUSH STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
July 2022
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development38 SOLDIERS POINT DRIVE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
June 2022
- Dwelling4 BALD STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development9 BALD STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development5 MEREDITH CLOSE NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
April 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing15 BAYNTON STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land2 YOUNG STREET NORAH HEAD 2263Withdrawn
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
- Norah Head PatisserieBakery
69 Bungary Road, Norah Head
- Norah Head Beauty CentreBeauty salon
69 Bungary Road, Norah Head
- Bench (5)
- Bungary Rd at Paterson StBus stop
- Bungary Rd at View StBus stop
- Bungary Rd before Henderson StBus stop
- Bungary Rd before Maitland StBus stop
- Bungary Rd opp Denison StBus stop
- Bungary Rd opp Henderson StBus stop
- Denison St after Kendall CresBus 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
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Brush Street ReservePark
- Mazlin ReservePark
- Toukley Lions ParkPark
- Young Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
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
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Norah Head Lightstation PrecinctBush Street, Norah 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)
- 12
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 38.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3711th in Australia
- State rank
- 1161st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #55 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #122 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Bungary Rd at Paterson Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bungary Rd at View Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bungary Rd before Henderson Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bungary Rd before Maitland Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bungary Rd opp Denison Stamenitiesbus_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.