Avoca Beach vs Terrigal

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Avoca Beach, most households are couple families. In Terrigal, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Avoca Beach tends to suit couples, while Terrigal suits people living alone.

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

Terrigal

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 6)
  • But Avoca Beach has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 71%)

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

First-home buyers

Terrigal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,220,000 vs $1,590,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Terrigal

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (79 min vs 88 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (85.1 km vs 92.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Terrigal

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 13%)

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

Investors

Terrigal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.2% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Avoca Beach Terrigal
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.

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Walkability 55 / 59
Avoca Beach — Walkability: 55/100 Terrigal — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 53 / 45
Avoca Beach — Safety: 53/100 Terrigal — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 80 / 83
Avoca Beach — Low fire risk: 80/100 Terrigal — Low fire risk: 83/100

Demographics

Terrigal has more residents (12,730 vs 4,708); Avoca Beach has higher household incomes ($122,616 vs $106,912).

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Population 4,708 12,730
+170% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +12.2%
Median age 43
same for both
Median household income $122,616/yr
+13% vs other
 $106,912/yr
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+2% vs other
 $520/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Avoca Beach Terrigal
0-4 5.4% / 4.9%
Avoca Beach — 0-4: 5.4% Terrigal — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 15.3% / 13.0%
Avoca Beach — 5-14: 15.3% Terrigal — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 7.5% / 6.3%
Avoca Beach — 15-19: 7.5% Terrigal — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 5.0% / 5.1%
Avoca Beach — 20-24: 5.0% Terrigal — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 6.7% / 9.9%
Avoca Beach — 25-34: 6.7% Terrigal — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 12.2% / 12.3%
Avoca Beach — 35-44: 12.2% Terrigal — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 15.8% / 14.0%
Avoca Beach — 45-54: 15.8% Terrigal — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 14.0% / 13.0%
Avoca Beach — 55-64: 14.0% Terrigal — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 11.5% / 12.7%
Avoca Beach — 65-74: 11.5% Terrigal — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 5.5% / 7.1%
Avoca Beach — 75-84: 5.5% Terrigal — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 1.1% / 1.8%
Avoca Beach — 85+: 1.1% Terrigal — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Avoca Beach 57.9% couple families
Avoca Beach — Couple Families: 57.9% Avoca Beach — Lone Person: 23.1% Avoca Beach — One Parent Families: 16.8% Avoca Beach — Group Household: 1.6% Avoca Beach — Other Families: 0.7%
Terrigal 47.1% couple families
Terrigal — Couple Families: 47.1% Terrigal — Lone Person: 31.9% Terrigal — One Parent Families: 15.7% Terrigal — Group Household: 4.6% Terrigal — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Avoca Beach 17.1% renting
Avoca Beach — Owned Outright: 38.9% Avoca Beach — Mortgage: 44.0% Avoca Beach — Renting: 17.1%
Terrigal 24.5% renting
Terrigal — Owned Outright: 39.9% Terrigal — Mortgage: 35.6% Terrigal — Renting: 24.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Bachelor Degree 17.6% / 16.6%
Avoca Beach — Bachelor Degree: 17.6% Terrigal — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 13.4% / 13.5%
Avoca Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.4% Terrigal — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 10.0%
Avoca Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Terrigal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.9% / 5.0%
Avoca Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9% Terrigal — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.0%
Avoca Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Terrigal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Avoca Beach Terrigal
England 8.2% / 7.0%
Avoca Beach — England: 8.2% Terrigal — England: 7.0%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.9%
Avoca Beach — New Zealand: 1.6% Terrigal — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 1.3% / 1.5%
Avoca Beach — South Africa: 1.3% Terrigal — South Africa: 1.5%
Ireland 0.9% / 0.5%
Avoca Beach — Ireland: 0.9% Terrigal — Ireland: 0.5%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.8%
Avoca Beach — Scotland: 0.6% Terrigal — Scotland: 0.8%
Canada 0.7% / —
Avoca Beach — Canada: 0.7% Terrigal — Canada: not among its largest
China — / 0.7%
Avoca Beach — China: not among its largest Terrigal — China: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Avoca Beach 86.7% houses
Avoca Beach — Houses: 86.7% Avoca Beach — Flats / Apartments: 7.5% Avoca Beach — Townhouses: 5.7%
Terrigal 71.0% houses
Terrigal — Houses: 71.0% Terrigal — Flats / Apartments: 21.7% Terrigal — Townhouses: 7.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Median house price $1,715,000 $1,600,000
Median unit price $1,590,000 $1,220,000
Median land price — $2,000,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 49 sales
 33 days
from 167 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Avoca Beach Terrigal
3 bed $1.68M / $1.33M
Avoca Beach — 3 bed: $1.68M (13 sales) Terrigal — 3 bed: $1.33M (58 sales)

13 vs 58 sales

4 bed $1.73M / $1.62M
Avoca Beach — 4 bed: $1.73M (29 sales) Terrigal — 4 bed: $1.62M (109 sales)

29 vs 109 sales

5 bed $2.4M / $1.77M
Avoca Beach — 5 bed: $2.4M (21 sales) Terrigal — 5 bed: $1.77M (40 sales)

21 vs 40 sales

Zoning mix

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Residential 47% 43%
Environmental 39%
same for both
Parks and recreation 11% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 4%
Other and special use 1%
same for both
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

Avoca Beach Terrigal
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Houses 3.1%
$898/wk on $1.53M
 3.5%
$950/wk on $1.42M
Units — 2.9%
$765/wk on $1.39M

Ranking within NSW

Avoca Beach Terrigal
House price Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 47% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 2% of NSW

Liveability

Avoca Beach scores higher overall (66 vs 60).

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Grade B
same for both
Score 66/100 60/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Bushfire Low
20/100
 Low
17/100
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
30/100
 Low
29/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 2

Schools in Avoca Beach

  • Avoca Beach Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Terrigal

  • Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Terrigal High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Terrigal Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Aspect Central Coast School Independent · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Aspect Central Coast School Senior College Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Cafes & restaurants 9 30
Parks & reserves 6 10
Childcare 2 9
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 1
same for both
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Avoca Beach sits further from the CBD (92.1 km vs 85.1 km).

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Walkability score 55/100 59/100
Distance to Sydney 92.1 km
+8% vs other
 85.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 88 min 79 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 98.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 137.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2251
 1.4%
postcode 2260
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2251
 37
postcode 2260

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.

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Car (driver) 50.4% / 53.7%
Avoca Beach — Car (driver): 50.4% Terrigal — Car (driver): 53.7%
Worked from Home 42.4% / 40.4%
Avoca Beach — Worked from Home: 42.4% Terrigal — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 3.0%
Avoca Beach — Car (passenger): 3.6% Terrigal — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.6%
Avoca Beach — Walked Only: 1.8% Terrigal — Walked Only: 1.6%
Train 1.3% / 0.7%
Avoca Beach — Train: 1.3% Terrigal — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.7%).

Setting

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 821 m
912 m to a named beach
 1.6 km
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Connectivity score 50/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
2,529 premises
 31%
6,257 premises

Climate

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Avoca Beach Terrigal
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Avoca Beach Terrigal
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Avoca Beach

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Outer Parks Professionals

Terrigal

Coastal Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Avoca Beach

Avoca Beach vs Kincumber Avoca Beach vs Copacabana Avoca Beach vs North Avoca Avoca Beach vs Picketts Valley

Other comparisons with Terrigal

Terrigal vs Wamberal Terrigal vs Green Point Terrigal vs Erina Terrigal vs North Avoca Terrigal vs Erina Heights Terrigal vs Picketts Valley
Full data on Avoca Beach Full data on Terrigal
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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