Fastest growing Central Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
Wadalba grew fastest in percentage terms, at +48%. Hamlyn Terrace added the most residents, 2,692. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 90 eligible Central Coast suburbs.
This ranking shows which Central Coast suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.
Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Central Coast's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.
Central Coast suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021
Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.
Wadalba
NSW 2259 · 4,204 residents1,373 residents added · +48% · 4,204 residents in 2021
Hamlyn Terrace
NSW 2259 · 8,761 residents2,692 residents added · +44% · 8,761 residents in 2021
Gosford
NSW 2250 · 4,873 residents1,374 residents added · +39% · 4,873 residents in 2021
West Gosford
NSW 2250 · 1,602 residents267 residents added · +20% · 1,602 residents in 2021
Forresters Beach
NSW 2260 · 3,354 residents454 residents added · +16% · 3,354 residents in 2021
Gwandalan
NSW 2259 · 3,785 residents511 residents added · +16% · 3,785 residents in 2021
Woongarrah
NSW 2259 · 5,962 residents735 residents added · +14% · 5,962 residents in 2021
Chain Valley Bay
NSW 2259 · 2,773 residents314 residents added · +13% · 2,773 residents in 2021
Terrigal
NSW 2260 · 12,730 residents1,381 residents added · +12% · 12,730 residents in 2021
The Entrance North
NSW 2261 · 1,619 residents145 residents added · +10% · 1,619 residents in 2021
Warnervale
NSW 2259 · 701 residents59 residents added · +9% · 701 residents in 2021
Killcare
NSW 2257 · 517 residents43 residents added · +9% · 517 residents in 2021
Erina
NSW 2250 · 5,205 residents431 residents added · +9% · 5,205 residents in 2021
Killcare Heights
NSW 2257 · 812 residents66 residents added · +9% · 812 residents in 2021
Booker Bay
NSW 2257 · 1,442 residents116 residents added · +9% · 1,442 residents in 2021
Ranked from 90 qualifying suburbs.
Central Coast suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021
Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.
Hamlyn Terrace
NSW 2259 · 8,761 residents2,692 residents added · +44% · 8,761 residents in 2021
Terrigal
NSW 2260 · 12,730 residents1,381 residents added · +12% · 12,730 residents in 2021
Gosford
NSW 2250 · 4,873 residents1,374 residents added · +39% · 4,873 residents in 2021
Wadalba
NSW 2259 · 4,204 residents1,373 residents added · +48% · 4,204 residents in 2021
Woongarrah
NSW 2259 · 5,962 residents735 residents added · +14% · 5,962 residents in 2021
Umina Beach
NSW 2257 · 17,372 residents639 residents added · +4% · 17,372 residents in 2021
Berkeley Vale
NSW 2261 · 8,951 residents595 residents added · +7% · 8,951 residents in 2021
Narara
NSW 2250 · 8,471 residents537 residents added · +7% · 8,471 residents in 2021
Gwandalan
NSW 2259 · 3,785 residents511 residents added · +16% · 3,785 residents in 2021
Forresters Beach
NSW 2260 · 3,354 residents454 residents added · +16% · 3,354 residents in 2021
Wamberal
NSW 2260 · 6,991 residents440 residents added · +7% · 6,991 residents in 2021
Erina
NSW 2250 · 5,205 residents431 residents added · +9% · 5,205 residents in 2021
Woy Woy
NSW 2256 · 11,072 residents428 residents added · +4% · 11,072 residents in 2021
Green Point
NSW 2251 · 6,810 residents404 residents added · +6% · 6,810 residents in 2021
Bateau Bay
NSW 2261 · 12,516 residents370 residents added · +3% · 12,516 residents in 2021
Ranked from 90 qualifying suburbs.
100% population growth, ranked within Central Coast's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.
Common questions about this ranking
What are the fastest growing Central Coast suburbs (2016-2021)?
Wadalba grew fastest in percentage terms, at +48%. Hamlyn Terrace added the most residents, 2,692. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 90 eligible Central Coast suburbs.
What period does this cover?
The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.
Why are there two different lists?
Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.
Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?
This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.
Which suburbs are eligible?
Suburbs in Central Coast with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.
Same list in other cities
- Fastest growing Sydney suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Melbourne suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Brisbane suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Perth suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Adelaide suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Hobart suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Darwin suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Canberra suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Newcastle suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Sunshine Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Gold Coast suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Wollongong suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Geelong suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Townsville suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Toowoomba suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Busselton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Ballarat suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Cairns suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Albany suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Ballina suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Geraldton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Warragul suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Bundaberg suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Launceston suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Bendigo suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Rockhampton suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Mackay suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Albury – Wodonga suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Camden Haven suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Burnie suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Wagga Wagga suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Coffs Harbour suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Alice Springs suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Mount Isa suburbs (2016-2021)
Related
Rankings last computed 28 September 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.
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