NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Red Head, 2430
Current weather
17.6°CClear sky
67% humidity · 6.7 km/h wind · 23.7° / 12.6° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Life in Red Head revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community that never strays far from the water. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Homes offer solid value for the lifestyle on offer.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access the main drags compared with similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 798
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,228
- Dwelling vacancy
- 17.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 70 of 398
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,863
- Employment rate
- 43.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 27 / 17 / 13
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)
- $400
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $550
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $510
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 263
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)
- 84
- Against the person
- 24
- Against property
- 28
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 105.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 33 residents
- State safety percentile
- 74.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.4%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order246
- Breach Bail Conditions547
- Domestic Violence Related Assault317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment396
- Malicious Damage To Property367
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
- 8 Hope St
- Cottesloe Cct At Torquay Cct
- Cottesloe Cct Before Airlie Cl
- Diamond Beach Rd At Belgraiv Cl
- Red Head Rd Opp Coromont Dr
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).
118 planning-related records
2026· 7 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation72 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430On Exhibition
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Swimming pool3 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430On Exhibition
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure12 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Carport16 MYALUP COURT RED HEAD 2430Determined
January 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 SEASCAPE DRIVE RED HEAD 2430Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Subdivision45 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure51 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Carport; Swimming pool45 HOPE STREET RED HEAD 2430Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 HOPE STREET RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support2 AVOCA COURT RED HEAD 2430Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation27 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Dwelling house; Swimming pool137 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool12 TORQUAY CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool3 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool20 TWILIGHT CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
2024· 18 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah38 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support8 NOOSA CRESCENT RED HEAD 2430Determined
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport44 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support1 AIRLIE CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; 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 Australia18 SEASCAPE DRIVE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- SubdivisionNOOSA CRESCENT RED HEAD 2430Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Swimming pool129 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation34 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 AIRLIE CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision73 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space45 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure37 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure40 SCARBOROUGH CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool137 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 RED HEAD ROAD RED HEAD 2430Determined
2023· 3 proposals
September 2023
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees3 MASLIN CLOSE RED HEAD 2430Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing35 COTTESLOE CIRCUIT RED HEAD 2430Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development37 COROMONT DRIVE RED HEAD 2430Determined
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
- 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)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 31.9/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4867th in Australia
- State rank
- 1557th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #79 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #149 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
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime246
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime547
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime317
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime396
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime367
- 8 Hope Sttransport
- Cottesloe Cct At Torquay Ccttransport
- Cottesloe Cct Before Airlie Cltransport
- Diamond Beach Rd At Belgraiv Cltransport
- Red Head Rd Opp Coromont Drtransport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Mid-Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.