NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Wadalba, 2259
Current weather
16.2°CClear sky
56% humidity · 12.3 km/h wind · 21.9° / 13.2° today · 4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Central Coast (NSW), Wadalba is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. A younger crowd gives the area energy, with family life visible on every street.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. 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 local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and parks and green space. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 4,204
- Median age
- 32
- Median household income / week
- $1,942
- Dwelling vacancy
- 4.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 61 of 1,410
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 62.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 146 / 74 / 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)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $680
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 472
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)
- 462
- Against the person
- 116
- Against property
- 152
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 109.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 36 residents
- State safety percentile
- 77.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions789
- Domestic Violence Related Assault437
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment636
- Malicious Damage To Property530
- Transport Regulatory Offences1055
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
- 941
- Wadalba Community SchoolCombined
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
44 public transport stops in this suburb
- Mascord Park, Louisiana Rd
- Orchid Way After Figtree Bvd
- Pacific Hwy Before Figtree Bvd
- Pacific Hwy Before Johns Rd
- Pacific Hwy Opp London 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).
148 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Subdivision130 JENSEN ROAD WADALBA 2259Under Assessment
May 2026
- Subdivision539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision539 Pacific Highway, WadalbaDetermined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
March 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure33 GLENELG AVENUE WADALBA 2259Determined
2025· 19 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition110 JENSEN ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision61-63 CLYDESDALE STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision13 CRESWELL STREET WADALBA 2259Under Assessment
October 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling74 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
August 2025
- Subdivision17 CRESWELL STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool190A JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support196 JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care1 JADE PLACE WADALBA 2259Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure64 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 NINOX CLOSE WADALBA 2259Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 CHILDERS CIRCUIT WADALBA 2259Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure65 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Subdivision130 JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 DURIAN STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia9 HOMESTEAD ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support55 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
January 2025
- Subdivision40 JENSEN ROAD WADALBA 2259Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 CHILDERS CIRCUIT WADALBA 2259Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure539 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation9 HOMESTEAD ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 CHILDERS CIRCUIT WADALBA 2259Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility155 LOUISIANA ROAD WADALBA 2259Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure59 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 MAROUBRA CLOSE WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 CRESWELL STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
September 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care2 ORCHID WAY WADALBA 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure62 VOYAGER STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Caravan park195 JOHNS ROAD WADALBA 2259Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 DURIAN STREET WADALBA 2259Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 THE RIDGE WADALBA 2259Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 FRANK AVENUE WADALBA 2259Determined
April 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 GLENELG AVENUE WADALBA 2259Determined
March 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 TYTO CLOSE WADALBA 2259Determined
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
53 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (4)
- 110 Johns RdBus stop
- 115 Johns RdBus stop
- 190 Johns RdBus stop
- 195 Johns RdBus stop
- 585 Pacific HwyBus stop
- Johns Rd after Melbourne RdBus stop
- Johns Rd after Orchid WayBus stop
- Johns Rd opp Lexington AvBus stop
- Johns Rd opp Melbourne RdBus 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
- Mascord ParkPark
- Owl ParkPark
- Settlement Drive ReservePark
- Voyager Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Kanwal Wadalba Medical Practicedoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · 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)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 40.7/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3358th in Australia
- State rank
- 1064th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #249 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #620 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 110 Johns Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 115 Johns Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 190 Johns Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 195 Johns Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 585 Pacific Hwyamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
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.