NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Saratoga, 2251
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
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Saratoga is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Central Coast (NSW) with everyday amenities close at hand. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and housing affordability. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 3,982
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $1,989
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 76 of 1,516
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 62.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 97 / 38 / 30
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)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $850
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $778
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 142
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)
- 111
- Against the person
- 35
- Against property
- 51
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 27.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 114 residents
- State safety percentile
- 5.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -3.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault79
- Fraud74
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment114
- Malicious Damage To Property110
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
- 1,014
- Brisbania 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
49 public transport stops in this suburb
- Davistown Rd At Warilda St
- Jirramba Av At Morrison St
- Mimosa Av After Jirramba Av
- Saratoga Shopping Centre, Village Rd
- Steyne Rd Before Boona Lane
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).
244 planning-related records
2026· 19 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure7 IRWAN STREET SARATOGA 2251Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation48 PATRICK CRESCENT SARATOGA 2251Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 BROADWATER DRIVE SARATOGA 2251Determined
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 HENDERSON ROAD SARATOGA 2251Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation8 BROADWATER DRIVE SARATOGA 2251Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision40 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia6 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation25 THE CORSO SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 MOONAH AVENUE SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Stairway51 BROADWATER DRIVE SARATOGA 2251Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 SHAW STREET SARATOGA 2251Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure168 HENDERSON ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 BOONA LANE SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 MIMOSA AVENUE SARATOGA 2251Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers; Privacy screens; Supporting Development74 HENDERSON ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool94 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 BROADWATER DRIVE SARATOGA 2251Determined
2025· 21 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 ANWEN CLOSE SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool66 BROADWATER DRIVE SARATOGA 2251Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 FREDERICK GODDARD CLOSE SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure57 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 KYEEMA AVENUE SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 THE CORSO SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 MOONAH AVENUE SARATOGA 2251Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure104A HENDERSON ROAD SARATOGA 2251Withdrawn
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 ANWEN CLOSE SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures; Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool21 IRWAN STREET SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 LLEWELLYN STREET SARATOGA 2251Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Function centre10 WILLAROO ROAD SARATOGA 2251Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure97 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Subdivision40 STEYNE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision10 HIGH STREET SARATOGA 2251Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation18 IRWAN STREET SARATOGA 2251Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14-16 MORRISON STREET SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport16 SHAW STREET SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation25 VILLAGE ROAD SARATOGA 2251Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9A BROADWATER DRIVE SARATOGA 2251Determined
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
37 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- 218 Steyne RdBus stop
- Brisbania Public School, High StreetBus stop
- Davistown Rd at Malumba AvBus stop
- Davistown Rd at Moonah AveBus stop
- Davistown Rd at Warilda StBus stop
- Davistown Rd opp High StBus stop
- Davistown Rd opp Patrick CresBus stop
- Henderson Rd before Brooklyn RdBus stop
- Henderson Rd before Fernview AvBus 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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Buyuma ParkPark
- Jirramba ReservePark
- Weston Street BushlandNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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
- Rosemount36 Village Road East SaratogaSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · 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)
- 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
- 50.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 29% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1882nd in Australia
- State rank
- 607th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #216 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #418 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
- 218 Steyne Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Brisbania Public School, High Streetamenitiesbus_stop
- Davistown Rd at Malumba Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Davistown Rd at Moonah Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Davistown Rd at Warilda Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Davistown Rd opp High Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Davistown Rd opp Patrick Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Henderson Rd before Brooklyn Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Henderson Rd before Fernview Avamenitiesbus_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.