Erina vs Terrigal

Terrigal is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 61 in Erina. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Erina, most households are people living alone. In Terrigal, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Terrigal: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.32 million in Erina, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Erina tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Terrigal 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

Terrigal

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 5)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 38%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Erina has cheaper units ($530,000 vs $1,220,000)
  • Terrigal leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 49%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Erina has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $520/wk)
  • Terrigal leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 38%)

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

Commuting to the city

Erina

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 59/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (81.8 km vs 85.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Erina

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 3)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (46% vs 22%)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 59/100)
  • But Terrigal carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Erina

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.5% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Erina 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.

Erina 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.

Erina Terrigal
Walkability 91 / 59
Erina — Walkability: 91/100 Terrigal — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 10 / 45
Erina — Safety: 10/100 Terrigal — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 83
Erina — Low fire risk: 100/100 Terrigal — Low fire risk: 83/100

Demographics

Terrigal has more residents (12,730 vs 5,205); Terrigal has higher household incomes ($106,912 vs $52,520).

Erina Terrigal
Population 5,205 12,730
+145% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.0% +12.2%
Median age 61 43
Median household income $52,520/yr $106,912/yr
+104% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $520/wk
+37% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Erina Terrigal
0-4 3.7% / 4.9%
Erina — 0-4: 3.7% Terrigal — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 8.6% / 13.0%
Erina — 5-14: 8.6% Terrigal — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 4.1% / 6.3%
Erina — 15-19: 4.1% Terrigal — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 3.8% / 5.1%
Erina — 20-24: 3.8% Terrigal — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 6.8% / 9.9%
Erina — 25-34: 6.8% Terrigal — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 8.7% / 12.3%
Erina — 35-44: 8.7% Terrigal — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 8.3% / 14.0%
Erina — 45-54: 8.3% Terrigal — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 9.6% / 13.0%
Erina — 55-64: 9.6% Terrigal — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 13.7% / 12.7%
Erina — 65-74: 13.7% Terrigal — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 18.9% / 7.1%
Erina — 75-84: 18.9% Terrigal — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 13.9% / 1.8%
Erina — 85+: 13.9% Terrigal — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Erina 58.2% lone person
Erina — Lone Person: 58.2% Erina — Couple Families: 27.3% Erina — One Parent Families: 10.9% Erina — Group Household: 2.5% Erina — Other Families: 1.0%
Terrigal 31.9% lone person
Terrigal — Lone Person: 31.9% Terrigal — Couple Families: 47.1% Terrigal — One Parent Families: 15.7% Terrigal — Group Household: 4.6% Terrigal — Other Families: 0.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Erina 21.2% renting
Erina — Owned Outright: 54.7% Erina — Mortgage: 24.1% Erina — Renting: 21.2%
Terrigal 24.5% renting
Terrigal — Owned Outright: 39.9% Terrigal — Mortgage: 35.6% Terrigal — Renting: 24.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Erina Terrigal
England 7.6% / 7.0%
Erina — England: 7.6% Terrigal — England: 7.0%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.9%
Erina — New Zealand: 1.7% Terrigal — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.5%
Erina — South Africa: 1.2% Terrigal — South Africa: 1.5%
China 1.4% / 0.7%
Erina — China: 1.4% Terrigal — China: 0.7%
Scotland 1.1% / 0.8%
Erina — Scotland: 1.1% Terrigal — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

Qualifications

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

Erina Terrigal
Bachelor Degree 10.6% / 16.6%
Erina — Bachelor Degree: 10.6% Terrigal — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 13.5%
Erina — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Terrigal — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 10.0%
Erina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Terrigal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 5.0%
Erina — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% Terrigal — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 2.0%
Erina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Terrigal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Erina 75.4% houses
Erina — Houses: 75.4% Erina — Townhouses: 20.2% Erina — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Terrigal 71.0% houses
Terrigal — Houses: 71.0% Terrigal — Townhouses: 7.3% Terrigal — Flats / Apartments: 21.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Erina Terrigal
Median house price $1,320,000 $1,600,000
Median unit price $530,000 $1,220,000
Median land price $2,650,000 $2,000,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 52 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.

Erina Terrigal
2 bed $780K / $1.31M
Erina — 2 bed: $780K (11 sales) Terrigal — 2 bed: $1.31M (15 sales)

11 vs 15 sales

3 bed $1.08M / $1.33M
Erina — 3 bed: $1.08M (17 sales) Terrigal — 3 bed: $1.33M (58 sales)

17 vs 58 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $1.62M
Erina — 4 bed: $1.36M (28 sales) Terrigal — 4 bed: $1.62M (109 sales)

28 vs 109 sales

5 bed $1.6M / $1.77M
Erina — 5 bed: $1.6M (8 sales) Terrigal — 5 bed: $1.77M (40 sales)

8 vs 40 sales

6 bed $1.66M / $1.83M
Erina — 6 bed: $1.66M (5 sales) Terrigal — 6 bed: $1.83M (16 sales)

5 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Erina Terrigal
Environmental 44% 39%
Residential 27% 43%
Parks and recreation 6% 13%
Industrial 9% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 4%
Commercial 7% 1%
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

Erina 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.

Erina Terrigal
Houses 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K
 3.5%
$950/wk on $1.42M
Units — 2.9%
$765/wk on $1.39M

Ranking within NSW

Erina Terrigal
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Income Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 2% of NSW

Liveability

Erina is more walkable (91 vs 59).

Erina Terrigal
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Terrigal carries more bushfire risk (17 vs 0); Erina carries more crime risk (90 vs 55).

Erina Terrigal
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
17/100
Crime High
90/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
29/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Erina Terrigal
Inside the suburb 3 5
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2

Schools in Erina

  • Woodport Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Erina High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Central Coast Adventist School Independent · Combined 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

Erina Terrigal
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 8 30
Parks & reserves 5 10
Childcare 6 9
GPs 10 3
Pharmacies 5 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 10 1
Fuel stations 4 1
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Terrigal sits further from the CBD (85.1 km vs 81.8 km).

Erina Terrigal
Walkability score 91/100 59/100
Distance to Sydney 81.8 km 85.1 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 76 min 79 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 264.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 137.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2250
 1.4%
postcode 2260
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2250
 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.

Erina Terrigal
Car (driver) 58.5% / 53.7%
Erina — Car (driver): 58.5% Terrigal — Car (driver): 53.7%
Worked from Home 33.4% / 40.4%
Erina — Worked from Home: 33.4% Terrigal — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.0%
Erina — Car (passenger): 3.0% Terrigal — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only 2.9% / 1.6%
Erina — Walked Only: 2.9% Terrigal — Walked Only: 1.6%
Train 1.2% / 0.7%
Erina — Train: 1.2% Terrigal — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.5%).

Setting

Erina Terrigal
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km
4.8 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Erina Terrigal
Connectivity score 57/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
3,516 premises
 31%
6,257 premises

Climate

Erina 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)

Erina 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Erina

Parks Retirees Townhouses

Terrigal

Coastal Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Erina

Erina vs Green Point Erina vs East Gosford Erina vs Springfield Erina vs Holgate Erina vs Erina Heights

Other comparisons with Terrigal

Terrigal vs Wamberal Terrigal vs Green Point Terrigal vs Avoca Beach Terrigal vs North Avoca Terrigal vs Erina Heights Terrigal vs Picketts Valley
Full data on Erina Full data on Terrigal
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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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