Arrawarra Headland vs Woolgoolga

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Arrawarra Headland, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Arrawarra Headland: a median of $1.25 million, against $920,000 in Woolgoolga. On these figures, Arrawarra Headland tends to suit couples, while Woolgoolga suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Arrawarra Headland carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 81/100)
  • Woolgoolga has more childcare (4 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Arrawarra Headland leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 34%)
  • Woolgoolga has cheaper houses ($920,000 vs $1,250,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Arrawarra Headland leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 30%)
  • Woolgoolga has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 16%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Arrawarra Headland is more walkable (35/100 vs 8/100)
  • Woolgoolga sits closer to the CBD (554.9 km vs 561.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Arrawarra Headland is more walkable (35/100 vs 8/100)
  • Woolgoolga has more GPs (4 vs 0)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Woolgoolga

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.3% vs 10.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Arrawarra Headland and Woolgoolga drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Walkability 35 / 8
Arrawarra Headland — Walkability: 35/100 Woolgoolga — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 77 / 19
Arrawarra Headland — Safety: 77/100 Woolgoolga — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 55
Arrawarra Headland — Low fire risk: 100/100 Woolgoolga — Low fire risk: 55/100

Demographics

Woolgoolga has more residents (6,151 vs 615); Arrawarra Headland has higher household incomes ($83,460 vs $61,880).

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Population 615 6,151
+900% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.4% +16.3%
Median age 47 45
Median household income $83,460/yr
+26% vs other
 $61,880/yr
Median weekly rent $373/wk
+3% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
0-4 2.3% / 5.3%
Arrawarra Headland — 0-4: 2.3% Woolgoolga — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 14.6% / 10.5%
Arrawarra Headland — 5-14: 14.6% Woolgoolga — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 4.9% / 4.6%
Arrawarra Headland — 15-19: 4.9% Woolgoolga — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 4.7% / 4.1%
Arrawarra Headland — 20-24: 4.7% Woolgoolga — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 7.6% / 13.6%
Arrawarra Headland — 25-34: 7.6% Woolgoolga — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 12.7% / 11.4%
Arrawarra Headland — 35-44: 12.7% Woolgoolga — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 14.6% / 10.6%
Arrawarra Headland — 45-54: 14.6% Woolgoolga — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 15.1% / 13.2%
Arrawarra Headland — 55-64: 15.1% Woolgoolga — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 17.4% / 15.3%
Arrawarra Headland — 65-74: 17.4% Woolgoolga — 65-74: 15.3%
75-84 5.0% / 7.9%
Arrawarra Headland — 75-84: 5.0% Woolgoolga — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 2.1% / 3.6%
Arrawarra Headland — 85+: 2.1% Woolgoolga — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland 45.8% couple families
Arrawarra Headland — Couple Families: 45.8% Arrawarra Headland — Lone Person: 22.2% Arrawarra Headland — One Parent Families: 18.1% Arrawarra Headland — Group Household: 7.6% Arrawarra Headland — Other Families: 6.2%
Woolgoolga 34.6% couple families
Woolgoolga — Couple Families: 34.6% Woolgoolga — Lone Person: 41.0% Woolgoolga — One Parent Families: 16.4% Woolgoolga — Group Household: 6.8% Woolgoolga — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland 16.5% renting
Arrawarra Headland — Owned Outright: 50.0% Arrawarra Headland — Mortgage: 33.5% Arrawarra Headland — Renting: 16.5%
Woolgoolga 30.5% renting
Woolgoolga — Owned Outright: 45.8% Woolgoolga — Mortgage: 23.6% Woolgoolga — Renting: 30.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 14.9%
Arrawarra Headland — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% Woolgoolga — Certificate III & IV: 14.9%
Bachelor Degree 16.6% / 10.0%
Arrawarra Headland — Bachelor Degree: 16.6% Woolgoolga — Bachelor Degree: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Woolgoolga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 2.4%
Arrawarra Headland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Woolgoolga — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 1.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Woolgoolga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
India 1.5% / 10.7%
Arrawarra Headland — India: 1.5% Woolgoolga — India: 10.7%
England 2.4% / 3.5%
Arrawarra Headland — England: 2.4% Woolgoolga — England: 3.5%
Malaysia 2.6% / 1.0%
Arrawarra Headland — Malaysia: 2.6% Woolgoolga — Malaysia: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.0%
Arrawarra Headland — New Zealand: 1.3% Woolgoolga — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 2.0% / —
Arrawarra Headland — Philippines: 2.0% Woolgoolga — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 0.8% / 0.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Germany: 0.8% Woolgoolga — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Arrawarra Headland 96.3% houses
Arrawarra Headland — Houses: 96.3% Arrawarra Headland — Townhouses: 1.9% Arrawarra Headland — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Woolgoolga 82.2% houses
Woolgoolga — Houses: 82.2% Woolgoolga — Townhouses: 13.2% Woolgoolga — Flats / Apartments: 4.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Median house price $1,250,000 $920,000
Median unit price — $640,000
Median land price — $450,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 32 days
from 56 sales

Zoning mix

Arrawarra Headland has more land zoned for conservation (73% vs 8%); Woolgoolga has more rural and farming land (77% vs 15%).

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Rural and farming 15% 77%
Environmental 73% 8%
Residential 10% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
Parks and recreation 1% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Arrawarra Headland and 100% of Woolgoolga. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
New dwellings approved 356
across Coffs Harbour
same for both
Approvals change year on year +61%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Houses — 3.7%
$700/wk on $987K
Units — 3.7%
$490/wk on $688K

Ranking within NSW

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
House price Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Income Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 11% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 52% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 56% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 15% of NSW

Liveability

Arrawarra Headland is more walkable (35 vs 8); Arrawarra Headland scores higher overall (56 vs 19).

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Grade B D
Score 56/100 19/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Woolgoolga carries more bushfire risk (45 vs 0); Woolgoolga carries more crime risk (81 vs 23).

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
45/100
Crime Low
23/100
 High
81/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
24/100
 Moderate
58/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Arrawarra Headland

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Woolgoolga

  • Woolgoolga Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Francis Xavier Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Woolgoolga High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 10
Parks & reserves 3 9
Childcare 0 4
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 2 28

Mobility

Arrawarra Headland sits further from the CBD (561.5 km vs 554.9 km).

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Walkability score 35/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 561.5 km
+1% vs other
 554.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 370 min
same for both
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 71/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 5.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 65.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2456
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 59
postcode 2456
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Car (driver) 74.9% / 76.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Car (driver): 74.9% Woolgoolga — Car (driver): 76.6%
Worked from Home 14.9% / 9.8%
Arrawarra Headland — Worked from Home: 14.9% Woolgoolga — Worked from Home: 9.8%
Car (passenger) 7.5% / 8.4%
Arrawarra Headland — Car (passenger): 7.5% Woolgoolga — Car (passenger): 8.4%
Walked Only 2.7% / 4.2%
Arrawarra Headland — Walked Only: 2.7% Woolgoolga — Walked Only: 4.2%
Bicycle — / 0.6%
Arrawarra Headland — Bicycle: not among its largest Woolgoolga — Bicycle: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 727 m 3.4 km
4.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Connectivity score 94/100 59/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 76%
267 premises
 22%
3,566 premises

Climate

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Annual rainfall 1,827 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.22 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Average residential rate $1,437/yr
same for both
Council Coffs Harbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Arrawarra Headland Woolgoolga
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Arrawarra Headland

Acreage Coastal

Woolgoolga

Retirees River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Arrawarra Headland

Arrawarra Headland vs Mullaway Arrawarra Headland vs Arrawarra

Other comparisons with Woolgoolga

Woolgoolga vs Sandy Beach Woolgoolga vs Emerald Beach Woolgoolga vs Corindi Beach Woolgoolga vs Safety Beach Woolgoolga vs Bucca Woolgoolga vs Mullaway
Full data on Arrawarra Headland Full data on Woolgoolga
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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