NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Spencer, 2775
Current weather
16.4°CClear sky
51% humidity · 15.5 km/h wind · 21.4° / 13° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Spencer is a quieter smaller community in Central Coast (NSW), where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker growth momentum and housing affordability relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 288
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $913
- Dwelling vacancy
- 30.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 57 of 185
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,395
- Employment rate
- 44%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 0 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 25
- Against the person
- 9
- Against property
- 10
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 86.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 32 residents
- State safety percentile
- 60.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +39.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault8
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment21
- Liquor Offences8
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault11
- Other Theft30
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
14 public transport stops in this suburb
- 4352 Wisemans Ferry Rd
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Opp 4352
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Opp 4352
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Wisemans Ferry Rd
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Wisemans Ferry Rd
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).
17 planning-related records
2025· 1 proposal
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4966 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
2024· 1 proposal
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4830 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
2023· 5 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 MOOGA AVENUE SPENCER 2775Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4498 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
August 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development5301 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
May 2023
- Dwelling4775 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
February 2023
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces4684 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
2022· 4 proposals
December 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing14 MOOGA AVENUE SPENCER 2775Determined
October 2022
- Other5281 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces4830 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling4966 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
2021· 3 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling11 MOOGA AVENUE SPENCER 2775Determined
July 2021
- Dwelling; Stormwater management systems4628 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
April 2021
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing4486 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
2020· 3 proposals
November 2020
- Change of use4811 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
- Dwelling; Garages, carports and car parking spaces11 MOOGA AVENUE SPENCER 2775Determined
August 2020
- Restaurant or cafe4670 WISEMANS FERRY ROAD SPENCER 2775Determined
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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
- 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)
- 4
- 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
- 13.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6885th in Australia
- State rank
- 2129th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #586 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #1042 among Country & regional 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
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime8
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime21
- Liquor Offencescrime8
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime11
- Other Theftcrime30
- 4352 Wisemans Ferry Rdtransport
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Opp 4352transport
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Opp 4352transport
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Wisemans Ferry Rdtransport
- Wisemans Ferry Rd Wisemans Ferry Rdtransport
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 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.