Magenta vs Norah Head

Norah Head is the younger of the two, with a median age of 51 against 60 in Magenta. In both, most households own their home. In Magenta, about half of households are people living alone. In Norah Head, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Magenta: a median of $1.75 million, against $1.55 million in Norah Head, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Magenta tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Norah Head 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

Norah Head

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 51%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 48%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Magenta has cheaper units ($818,000 vs $1,030,000)
  • Norah Head has cheaper houses ($1,550,000 vs $1,755,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Norah Head

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $550/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 30%)

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

  • Magenta sits closer to the CBD (106.1 km vs 119.2 km)
  • Norah Head is more walkable (26/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Magenta

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (49% vs 11%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (41% vs 28%)
  • But Norah Head is more walkable (26/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Magenta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (62.0% vs 1.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Magenta and Norah 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.

Magenta Norah 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.

Magenta Norah Head
Walkability 0 / 26
Magenta — Walkability: 0/100 Norah Head — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 22 / 29
Magenta — Safety: 22/100 Norah Head — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 32 / 35
Magenta — Low fire risk: 32/100 Norah Head — Low fire risk: 35/100

Demographics

Norah Head has more residents (1,149 vs 332); Magenta rents higher ($550/wk vs $400/wk).

Magenta Norah Head
Population 332 1,149
+246% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +62.0% +1.8%
Median age 60 51
Median household income $95,836/yr
+7% vs other
 $88,972/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+27% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Magenta Norah Head
0-4 — / 3.7%
Magenta — 0-4: not among its largest Norah Head — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 6.3% / 11.9%
Magenta — 5-14: 6.3% Norah Head — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 3.3% / 5.0%
Magenta — 15-19: 3.3% Norah Head — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 5.4% / 4.2%
Magenta — 20-24: 5.4% Norah Head — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 6.6% / 5.8%
Magenta — 25-34: 6.6% Norah Head — 25-34: 5.8%
35-44 6.3% / 11.1%
Magenta — 35-44: 6.3% Norah Head — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 9.6% / 12.6%
Magenta — 45-54: 9.6% Norah Head — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 22.0% / 16.9%
Magenta — 55-64: 22.0% Norah Head — 55-64: 16.9%
65-74 31.6% / 14.8%
Magenta — 65-74: 31.6% Norah Head — 65-74: 14.8%
75-84 8.1% / 8.6%
Magenta — 75-84: 8.1% Norah Head — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 1.5% / 5.0%
Magenta — 85+: 1.5% Norah Head — 85+: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Magenta 52.2% lone person
Magenta — Lone Person: 52.2% Magenta — Couple Families: 34.8% Magenta — One Parent Families: 13.0% Magenta — Group Household: 0.0% Magenta — Other Families: 0.0%
Norah Head 34.8% lone person
Norah Head — Lone Person: 34.8% Norah Head — Couple Families: 45.8% Norah Head — One Parent Families: 15.0% Norah Head — Group Household: 3.3% Norah Head — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Magenta 25.2% renting
Magenta — Owned Outright: 53.2% Magenta — Mortgage: 21.6% Magenta — Renting: 25.2%
Norah Head 18.7% renting
Norah Head — Owned Outright: 48.4% Norah Head — Mortgage: 32.8% Norah Head — Renting: 18.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Magenta Norah Head
Certificate III & IV 12.7% / 21.0%
Magenta — Certificate III & IV: 12.7% Norah Head — Certificate III & IV: 21.0%
Bachelor Degree 19.6% / 11.2%
Magenta — Bachelor Degree: 19.6% Norah Head — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.9% / 9.0%
Magenta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.9% Norah Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 3.6%
Magenta — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Norah Head — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 2.9%
Magenta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Norah Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

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.

Magenta Norah Head
England 7.2% / 2.8%
Magenta — England: 7.2% Norah Head — England: 2.8%
Scotland 0.9% / 1.0%
Magenta — Scotland: 0.9% Norah Head — Scotland: 1.0%
South Africa 1.8% / —
Magenta — South Africa: 1.8% Norah Head — South Africa: not among its largest
India 1.2% / 0.3%
Magenta — India: 1.2% Norah Head — India: 0.3%
Malaysia 1.2% / —
Magenta — Malaysia: 1.2% Norah Head — Malaysia: not among its largest
Canada 1.2% / —
Magenta — Canada: 1.2% Norah Head — Canada: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.8%
Magenta — New Zealand: not among its largest Norah Head — New Zealand: 0.8%
Italy — / 0.6%
Magenta — Italy: not among its largest Norah Head — Italy: 0.6%
China — / 0.4%
Magenta — China: not among its largest Norah Head — China: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Magenta 51.4% houses
Magenta — Houses: 51.4% Magenta — Townhouses: 47.9% Magenta — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Norah Head 88.8% houses
Norah Head — Houses: 88.8% Norah Head — Townhouses: 5.7% Norah Head — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Magenta Norah Head
Median house price $1,755,000 $1,550,000
Median unit price $818,000 $1,030,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 258 days
from 3 sales
 58 days
from 11 sales

Zoning mix

Magenta Norah Head
Environmental 76% 69%
Parks and recreation 11% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 1%
Residential 0% 12%
Planning zones cover 100% of Magenta and 99% of Norah Head. 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

Magenta Norah Head
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Magenta Norah Head
House price Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW

Liveability

Norah Head is more walkable (26 vs 0).

Magenta Norah Head
Grade — C
Score — 33/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Magenta Norah Head
Bushfire Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
65/100
Crime High
78/100
 High
71/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
55/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Magenta Norah Head
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Magenta Norah Head
Cafes & restaurants 1 5
Parks & reserves 1 5

Mobility

Norah Head sits further from the CBD (119.2 km vs 106.1 km).

Magenta Norah Head
Walkability score 0/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 106.1 km 119.2 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 97 min 98 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 48.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 42 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2261
 0.5%
postcode 2263
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2261
 36
postcode 2263

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.

Magenta Norah Head
Car (driver) 49.6% / 64.8%
Magenta — Car (driver): 49.6% Norah Head — Car (driver): 64.8%
Worked from Home 40.2% / 29.8%
Magenta — Worked from Home: 40.2% Norah Head — Worked from Home: 29.8%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.2%
Magenta — Car (passenger): 5.1% Norah Head — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 2.6% / 1.2%
Magenta — Walked Only: 2.6% Norah Head — Walked Only: 1.2%
Train 2.6% / —
Magenta — Train: 2.6% Norah Head — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Magenta Norah Head
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 705 m
1.7 km to a named beach
 717 m
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Magenta Norah Head
Connectivity score 100/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
370 premises
 34%
569 premises

Climate

Magenta Norah Head
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)

Magenta Norah Head
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

Magenta Norah Head
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Magenta Norah Head
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Magenta Norah Head
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Magenta

Coastal Retirees Rural Townhouses

Norah Head

Acreage Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Norah Head

Norah Head vs Noraville
Full data on Magenta Full data on Norah Head
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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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