Coffs Harbour vs Upper Orara

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Upper Orara, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Upper Orara: a median of $1.4 million, against $840,000 in Coffs Harbour. On these figures, Coffs Harbour tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Upper Orara suits couples.

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

  • Coffs Harbour has more parks and reserves (64 vs 1)
  • Upper Orara carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 93/100)

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

  • Coffs Harbour has cheaper houses ($840,000 vs $1,400,000)
  • Upper Orara leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Coffs Harbour has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 20%)
  • Upper Orara leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Coffs Harbour

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (342 min vs 367 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (525.9 km vs 541 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Coffs Harbour

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (11 vs 0)
  • But Upper Orara carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Coffs Harbour and Upper Orara drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
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.

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Walkability 88 / 0
Coffs Harbour — Walkability: 88/100 Upper Orara — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 7 / 50
Coffs Harbour — Safety: 7/100 Upper Orara — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 66 / 64
Coffs Harbour — Low fire risk: 66/100 Upper Orara — Low fire risk: 64/100

Demographics

Coffs Harbour has more residents (27,089 vs 863); Upper Orara has higher household incomes ($90,428 vs $64,012).

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Population 27,089
+97% vs other
 863
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.2% +6.0%
Median age 43 45
Median household income $64,012/yr $90,428/yr
+41% vs other
Median weekly rent $355/wk
+1% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
0-4 5.0% / 4.6%
Coffs Harbour — 0-4: 5.0% Upper Orara — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 11.8% / 15.2%
Coffs Harbour — 5-14: 11.8% Upper Orara — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 6.0% / 5.7%
Coffs Harbour — 15-19: 6.0% Upper Orara — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 5.5% / 4.1%
Coffs Harbour — 20-24: 5.5% Upper Orara — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 11.9% / 9.3%
Coffs Harbour — 25-34: 11.9% Upper Orara — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 11.9% / 10.9%
Coffs Harbour — 35-44: 11.9% Upper Orara — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 11.8% / 13.6%
Coffs Harbour — 45-54: 11.8% Upper Orara — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 12.7% / 16.7%
Coffs Harbour — 55-64: 12.7% Upper Orara — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 12.1% / 14.1%
Coffs Harbour — 65-74: 12.1% Upper Orara — 65-74: 14.1%
75-84 7.8% / 5.6%
Coffs Harbour — 75-84: 7.8% Upper Orara — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 3.5% / 0.3%
Coffs Harbour — 85+: 3.5% Upper Orara — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour 28.5% couple families
Coffs Harbour — Couple Families: 28.5% Coffs Harbour — Lone Person: 44.5% Coffs Harbour — One Parent Families: 19.9% Coffs Harbour — Group Household: 5.6% Coffs Harbour — Other Families: 1.4%
Upper Orara 58.9% couple families
Upper Orara — Couple Families: 58.9% Upper Orara — Lone Person: 18.9% Upper Orara — One Parent Families: 14.4% Upper Orara — Group Household: 6.1% Upper Orara — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour 40.9% renting
Coffs Harbour — Owned Outright: 34.1% Coffs Harbour — Mortgage: 25.1% Coffs Harbour — Renting: 40.9%
Upper Orara 20.0% renting
Upper Orara — Owned Outright: 38.5% Upper Orara — Mortgage: 41.5% Upper Orara — Renting: 20.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 20.9%
Coffs Harbour — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Upper Orara — Certificate III & IV: 20.9%
Bachelor Degree 9.4% / 10.5%
Coffs Harbour — Bachelor Degree: 9.4% Upper Orara — Bachelor Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 9.2%
Coffs Harbour — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Upper Orara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 3.5%
Coffs Harbour — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Upper Orara — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.4%
Coffs Harbour — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Upper Orara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.9%).

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.

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
England 2.9% / 3.7%
Coffs Harbour — England: 2.9% Upper Orara — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.7%
Coffs Harbour — New Zealand: 1.3% Upper Orara — New Zealand: 1.7%
Myanmar 1.5% / 1.2%
Coffs Harbour — Myanmar: 1.5% Upper Orara — Myanmar: 1.2%
India 1.1% / 0.5%
Coffs Harbour — India: 1.1% Upper Orara — India: 0.5%
Iraq 1.4% / —
Coffs Harbour — Iraq: 1.4% Upper Orara — Iraq: not among its largest
South Africa 0.5% / 0.9%
Coffs Harbour — South Africa: 0.5% Upper Orara — South Africa: 0.9%
Germany — / 1.3%
Coffs Harbour — Germany: not among its largest Upper Orara — Germany: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour 59.7% houses
Coffs Harbour — Houses: 59.7% Coffs Harbour — Flats / Apartments: 22.8% Coffs Harbour — Townhouses: 17.5%
Upper Orara 97.8% houses
Upper Orara — Houses: 97.8% Upper Orara — Flats / Apartments: 1.1% Upper Orara — Townhouses: 1.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Median house price $840,000 $1,400,000
Median unit price $520,000 —
Median land price $1,082,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 182 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Upper Orara has more rural and farming land (86% vs 20%).

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Rural and farming 20% 86%
Residential 25% 0%
Parks and recreation 20% 0%
Environmental 16% 14%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 0%
Industrial 3% 0%
Commercial 1% 0%
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

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
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.

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Houses 3.9%
$650/wk on $864K
 —
Units 4.5%
$500/wk on $580K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
House price Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Schools Higher than 37% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 69% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 43% of NSW —

Liveability

Coffs Harbour is more walkable (88 vs 0).

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Grade C
same for both
Score 33/100 37/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Coffs Harbour carries more crime risk (93 vs 50).

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Bushfire Low
34/100
 Low
36/100
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
57/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Inside the suburb 14 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 5 1
Rated below peers 3 0

Schools in Coffs Harbour

  • Casuarina Steiner School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Lismore Diocese Online Education Centre Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Coffs Harbour High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Narranga Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Augustine's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Tyalla Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Upper Orara

  • Orara Upper Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Supermarkets 8 0
Cafes & restaurants 67 0
Parks & reserves 64 1
Childcare 23 1
GPs 11 0
Pharmacies 14 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 13 0
Fuel stations 8 0
EV chargers 3 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 54 33

Mobility

Upper Orara sits further from the CBD (541 km vs 525.9 km).

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Walkability score 88/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 525.9 km 541 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 342 min 367 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 387.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 13.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2450
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2450
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.

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Car (driver) 76.7% / 74.4%
Coffs Harbour — Car (driver): 76.7% Upper Orara — Car (driver): 74.4%
Worked from Home 10.7% / 18.0%
Coffs Harbour — Worked from Home: 10.7% Upper Orara — Worked from Home: 18.0%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 4.8%
Coffs Harbour — Car (passenger): 7.1% Upper Orara — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Walked Only 3.3% / 2.8%
Coffs Harbour — Walked Only: 3.3% Upper Orara — Walked Only: 2.8%
Bicycle 1.2% / —
Coffs Harbour — Bicycle: 1.2% Upper Orara — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.7%).

Setting

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 299 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
3.2 km to a named beach
 13.5 km

NBN connectivity

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Connectivity score 99/100 28/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
15,989 premises
 0%
324 premises

Climate

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Annual rainfall 1,827 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
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

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Average residential rate $1,437/yr
same for both
Council Coffs Harbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coffs Harbour Upper Orara
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coffs Harbour

Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Regional Centre

Upper Orara

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour vs Toormina Coffs Harbour vs Boambee East Coffs Harbour vs Sawtell Coffs Harbour vs Korora Coffs Harbour vs North Boambee Valley Coffs Harbour vs Boambee

Other comparisons with Upper Orara

Upper Orara vs Bonville Upper Orara vs North Boambee Valley Upper Orara vs Boambee Upper Orara vs Coramba Upper Orara vs Karangi Upper Orara vs Lowanna
Full data on Coffs Harbour Full data on Upper Orara
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or