Fastest growing Coffs Harbour suburbs (2016-2021)
Sapphire Beach grew fastest in percentage terms, at +28%. The suburb of Coffs Harbour added the most residents, 1,336. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available.
This ranking shows which Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour'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.
Coffs Harbour 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.
Sapphire Beach
NSW 2450 · 2,660 residents576 residents added · +28% · 2,660 residents in 2021
Sandy Beach
NSW 2456 · 2,913 residents625 residents added · +27% · 2,913 residents in 2021
Emerald Beach
NSW 2456 · 2,677 residents443 residents added · +20% · 2,677 residents in 2021
Safety Beach
NSW 2456 · 1,103 residents172 residents added · +19% · 1,103 residents in 2021
Woolgoolga
NSW 2456 · 6,151 residents861 residents added · +16% · 6,151 residents in 2021
North Boambee Valley
NSW 2450 · 2,318 residents315 residents added · +16% · 2,318 residents in 2021
Bonville
NSW 2450 · 2,939 residents384 residents added · +15% · 2,939 residents in 2021
Arrawarra
NSW 2456 · 591 residents67 residents added · +13% · 591 residents in 2021
Moonee Beach
NSW 2450 · 2,176 residents242 residents added · +13% · 2,176 residents in 2021
Arrawarra Headland
NSW 2456 · 615 residents57 residents added · +10% · 615 residents in 2021
Korora
NSW 2450 · 2,740 residents252 residents added · +10% · 2,740 residents in 2021
Mullaway
NSW 2456 · 607 residents39 residents added · +7% · 607 residents in 2021
Corindi Beach
NSW 2456 · 1,802 residents115 residents added · +7% · 1,802 residents in 2021
Boambee
NSW 2450 · 1,770 residents102 residents added · +6% · 1,770 residents in 2021
Coffs Harbour
NSW 2450 · 27,089 residents1,336 residents added · +5% · 27,089 residents in 2021
Ranked from 18 qualifying suburbs.
Coffs Harbour 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.
Coffs Harbour
NSW 2450 · 27,089 residents1,336 residents added · +5% · 27,089 residents in 2021
Woolgoolga
NSW 2456 · 6,151 residents861 residents added · +16% · 6,151 residents in 2021
Sandy Beach
NSW 2456 · 2,913 residents625 residents added · +27% · 2,913 residents in 2021
Sapphire Beach
NSW 2450 · 2,660 residents576 residents added · +28% · 2,660 residents in 2021
Emerald Beach
NSW 2456 · 2,677 residents443 residents added · +20% · 2,677 residents in 2021
Bonville
NSW 2450 · 2,939 residents384 residents added · +15% · 2,939 residents in 2021
North Boambee Valley
NSW 2450 · 2,318 residents315 residents added · +16% · 2,318 residents in 2021
Korora
NSW 2450 · 2,740 residents252 residents added · +10% · 2,740 residents in 2021
Moonee Beach
NSW 2450 · 2,176 residents242 residents added · +13% · 2,176 residents in 2021
Safety Beach
NSW 2456 · 1,103 residents172 residents added · +19% · 1,103 residents in 2021
Corindi Beach
NSW 2456 · 1,802 residents115 residents added · +7% · 1,802 residents in 2021
Sawtell
NSW 2452 · 3,788 residents106 residents added · +3% · 3,788 residents in 2021
Boambee
NSW 2450 · 1,770 residents102 residents added · +6% · 1,770 residents in 2021
Arrawarra
NSW 2456 · 591 residents67 residents added · +13% · 591 residents in 2021
Boambee East
NSW 2452 · 5,304 residents60 residents added · +1% · 5,304 residents in 2021
Ranked from 18 qualifying suburbs.
100% population growth, ranked within Coffs Harbour'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 Coffs Harbour suburbs (2016-2021)?
Sapphire Beach grew fastest in percentage terms, at +28%. The suburb of Coffs Harbour added the most residents, 1,336. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available.
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 Coffs Harbour 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 Central Coast 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 Alice Springs suburbs (2016-2021)
- Fastest growing Mount Isa suburbs (2016-2021)
Related
Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.
Was the information on this page useful to you?
Thanks! Anything we could improve?
We hate spam as much as you do — we'll never use your email for marketing, and we might not be able to reply to everyone.
Thanks for your feedback! 🙏