Diamond Beach vs Red Head

Diamond Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 58 in Red Head. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Diamond Beach: a median of $978,000, against $880,000 in Red Head. On these figures, Red Head tends to suit older residents.

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

Red Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 46/100)

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

First-home buyers

Red Head

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($720,000 vs $1,440,000)
  • has cheaper land ($500,000 vs $664,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($880,000 vs $977,500)
  • But Diamond Beach leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 35%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

Red Head

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (29/100 vs 15/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (213 min vs 222 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (302.5 km vs 305.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Red Head

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (29/100 vs 15/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 46/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (34% vs 25%)

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

Investors

Red Head

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (55.3% vs 14.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Diamond Beach Red Head
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.

Diamond Beach Red Head
Walkability 15 / 29
Diamond Beach — Walkability: 15/100 Red Head — Walkability: 29/100
Safety 54 / 69
Diamond Beach — Safety: 54/100 Red Head — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 11 / 100
Diamond Beach — Low fire risk: 11/100 Red Head — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Diamond Beach has more residents (1,012 vs 798); Red Head skews older (58 vs 50).

Diamond Beach Red Head
Population 1,012
+21% vs other
 798
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.2% +55.3%
Median age 50 58
Median household income $69,212/yr
+8% vs other
 $63,856/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Diamond Beach Red Head
0-4 4.6% / 4.1%
Diamond Beach — 0-4: 4.6% Red Head — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 13.1% / 9.5%
Diamond Beach — 5-14: 13.1% Red Head — 5-14: 9.5%
15-19 5.0% / 6.0%
Diamond Beach — 15-19: 5.0% Red Head — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 2.2% / 1.4%
Diamond Beach — 20-24: 2.2% Red Head — 20-24: 1.4%
25-34 8.8% / 5.9%
Diamond Beach — 25-34: 8.8% Red Head — 25-34: 5.9%
35-44 9.4% / 8.9%
Diamond Beach — 35-44: 9.4% Red Head — 35-44: 8.9%
45-54 11.9% / 10.9%
Diamond Beach — 45-54: 11.9% Red Head — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 19.8% / 21.1%
Diamond Beach — 55-64: 19.8% Red Head — 55-64: 21.1%
65-74 18.3% / 22.9%
Diamond Beach — 65-74: 18.3% Red Head — 65-74: 22.9%
75-84 5.3% / 9.6%
Diamond Beach — 75-84: 5.3% Red Head — 75-84: 9.6%
85+ 1.2% / 1.8%
Diamond Beach — 85+: 1.2% Red Head — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Diamond Beach 39.1% lone person
Diamond Beach — Lone Person: 39.1% Diamond Beach — Couple Families: 36.5% Diamond Beach — One Parent Families: 19.7% Diamond Beach — Group Household: 3.4% Diamond Beach — Other Families: 1.3%
Red Head 41.4% lone person
Red Head — Lone Person: 41.4% Red Head — Couple Families: 40.8% Red Head — One Parent Families: 14.1% Red Head — Group Household: 3.7% Red Head — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Diamond Beach 22.9% renting
Diamond Beach — Owned Outright: 48.4% Diamond Beach — Mortgage: 28.7% Diamond Beach — Renting: 22.9%
Red Head 14.8% renting
Red Head — Owned Outright: 57.9% Red Head — Mortgage: 27.4% Red Head — Renting: 14.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Diamond Beach Red Head
Certificate III & IV 19.4% / 18.9%
Diamond Beach — Certificate III & IV: 19.4% Red Head — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 13.0%
Diamond Beach — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Red Head — Bachelor Degree: 13.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 8.4%
Diamond Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Red Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 4.9%
Diamond Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Red Head — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.5%
Diamond Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Red Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

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.

Diamond Beach Red Head
England 3.5% / 5.6%
Diamond Beach — England: 3.5% Red Head — England: 5.6%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.3%
Diamond Beach — New Zealand: 1.5% Red Head — New Zealand: 1.3%
Netherlands 0.9% / 0.4%
Diamond Beach — Netherlands: 0.9% Red Head — Netherlands: 0.4%
South Africa — / 1.0%
Diamond Beach — South Africa: not among its largest Red Head — South Africa: 1.0%
Brazil 0.9% / —
Diamond Beach — Brazil: 0.9% Red Head — Brazil: not among its largest
Sri Lanka 0.5% / —
Diamond Beach — Sri Lanka: 0.5% Red Head — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.5%
Diamond Beach — Scotland: not among its largest Red Head — Scotland: 0.5%
Germany — / 0.5%
Diamond Beach — Germany: not among its largest Red Head — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Diamond Beach 87.9% houses
Diamond Beach — Houses: 87.9% Diamond Beach — Townhouses: 9.8% Diamond Beach — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Red Head 89.2% houses
Red Head — Houses: 89.2% Red Head — Townhouses: 5.1% Red Head — Flats / Apartments: 5.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Diamond Beach Red Head
Median house price $977,500 $880,000
Median unit price $1,440,000 $720,000
Median land price $664,000 $500,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 51 days
from 14 sales
 92 days
from 4 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.

Diamond Beach Red Head
3 bed $970K / $880K
Diamond Beach — 3 bed: $970K (7 sales) Red Head — 3 bed: $880K (5 sales)

7 vs 5 sales

4 bed $1.24M / $880K
Diamond Beach — 4 bed: $1.24M (17 sales) Red Head — 4 bed: $880K (7 sales)

17 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Diamond Beach has more land zoned for conservation (60% vs 21%); Red Head has more rural and farming land (45% vs 11%).

Diamond Beach Red Head
Environmental 60% 21%
Rural and farming 11% 45%
Residential 26% 28%
Parks and recreation 1% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

Diamond Beach Red Head
New dwellings approved 743
across Mid-Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +327%
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.

Diamond Beach Red Head
Houses 3.8%
$695/wk on $940K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Diamond Beach Red Head
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Income Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 36% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 65% of NSW —

Liveability

Red Head scores higher overall (57 vs 27); Red Head is more walkable (29 vs 15).

Diamond Beach Red Head
Grade D B
Score 27/100 57/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Diamond Beach carries more bushfire risk (89 vs 0); Diamond Beach carries more crime risk (46 vs 31).

Diamond Beach Red Head
Bushfire High
89/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
80/100
 Low
29/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Diamond Beach Red Head
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Diamond Beach

  • Hallidays Point Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Red Head

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

Amenities in the suburb

Diamond Beach Red Head
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 2 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 10 3

Mobility

Diamond Beach sits further from the CBD (305.4 km vs 302.5 km).

Diamond Beach Red Head
Walkability score 15/100 29/100
Distance to Sydney 305.4 km 302.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 222 min 213 min
Public transport score 22/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 5.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2430
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2430
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.

Diamond Beach Red Head
Car (driver) 73.4% / 75.7%
Diamond Beach — Car (driver): 73.4% Red Head — Car (driver): 75.7%
Worked from Home 15.7% / 17.8%
Diamond Beach — Worked from Home: 15.7% Red Head — Worked from Home: 17.8%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 5.3%
Diamond Beach — Car (passenger): 4.0% Red Head — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 6.0% / 1.2%
Diamond Beach — Walked Only: 6.0% Red Head — Walked Only: 1.2%
Bus 0.9% / —
Diamond Beach — Bus: 0.9% Red Head — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.7%).

Setting

Diamond Beach Red Head
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 990 m
3.2 km to a named beach
 894 m
994 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Diamond Beach Red Head
Connectivity score 70/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
733 premises
 43%
575 premises

Climate

Diamond Beach Red Head
Annual rainfall 1,331 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Diamond Beach Red Head
Average residential rate $1,560/yr
same for both
Council Mid-Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Diamond Beach Red Head
Division Lyne
same for both
Member Alison Penfold
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Diamond Beach Red Head
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Diamond Beach

Acreage Coastal River

Red Head

Acreage Beach Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Diamond Beach

Diamond Beach vs Tallwoods Village Diamond Beach vs Rainbow Flat Diamond Beach vs Koorainghat

Other comparisons with Red Head

Red Head vs Tallwoods Village Red Head vs Black Head Red Head vs Hallidays Point
Full data on Diamond Beach Full data on Red Head
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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