NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Pretty Beach, 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
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Pretty Beach is a practical smaller community in Central Coast (NSW), well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Reasonable public transport access helps with commuting and getting around locally. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because housing affordability and transport and access lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 314
- Median age
- 57
- Median household income / week
- $1,818
- Dwelling vacancy
- 42.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 91 of 215
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,547
- Employment rate
- 44.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 11 / 4 / 0
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)
- 16
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 6
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 51
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 63 residents
- State safety percentile
- 27.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +7%
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
- 1,102
- Pretty Beach 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
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Heath Rd Opp Pretty Beach Public School
- Pretty Beach Public School, Heath Rd
- Pretty Beach Public School, Heath Rd
- Pretty Beach Rd At Oroo St
- Pretty Beach Rd Opp Oroo 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).
53 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Residential Accommodation86 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 VENICE ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation262 ARALUEN DRIVE PRETTY BEACH 2257Under Assessment
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure173 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Residential Accommodation177 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
September 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure48 VENICE ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support149 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 PRETTY BEACH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure167 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space21 COMO PARADE PRETTY BEACH 2257Additional Information Requested
2024· 5 proposals
October 2024
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Minor building alterations (external)61 HIGH VIEW ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6A COMO PARADE PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure108 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure26 VENICE ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40-42 COMO PARADE PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
2023· 10 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure123 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Pathways and paving42 VENICE ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation31 HIGH VIEW ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
September 2023
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition19 PRETTY BEACH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
August 2023
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs12 PRETTY BEACH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
July 2023
- Alterations and additions to industrial development42 VENICE ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development12 PRETTY BEACH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development23 PRETTY BEACH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
January 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development12 PRETTY BEACH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development105 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
2022· 9 proposals
November 2022
- Secondary dwelling98 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
October 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces42 VENICE ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling10A COMO PARADE PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development7 como parade pretty beach nsw 2257Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Other42 HIGH VIEW ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development88 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development151 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
February 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing175 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Under Assessment
- Dwelling102 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
2021· 6 proposals
December 2021
- Development Application173 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
November 2021
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces149 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees131 HEATH ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
October 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces4 COMO PARADE PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
August 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Other42 HIGH VIEW ROAD PRETTY BEACH 2257Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development53 HIGH VIEW ROAD PRETTY BEACH 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
12 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bbq
- Heath Rd opp Pretty Beach Public SchoolBus stop
- Pretty Beach Public School, Heath RdBus stop
- Pretty Beach Rd at Oroo StBus stop
- Pretty Beach Rd opp Oroo StBus stop
- Playground
- Public toilets
- Shelter (3)
- Slipway
- Sports field
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Turo ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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
- 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)
- 1
- 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
- 24.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6176th in Australia
- State rank
- 1925th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #128 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #840 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
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Heath Rd opp Pretty Beach Public Schoolamenitiesbus_stop
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Pretty Beach Public School, Heath Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Pretty Beach Rd at Oroo Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Pretty Beach Rd opp Oroo Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Public toiletsamenitiestoilets
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
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.