Nambucca Heads vs Valla Beach

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Nambucca Heads, most households are people living alone. In Valla Beach, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Valla Beach: a median of $825,000, against $730,000 in Nambucca Heads, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nambucca Heads tends to suit 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

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 6)
  • But Valla Beach carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 85/100)

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

First-home buyers

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($265,000 vs $570,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($730,000 vs $825,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 38/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (485.2 km vs 488.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 7%)
  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 38/100)
  • But Valla Beach carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

Valla Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.8% vs 5.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
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.

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Walkability 71 / 38
Nambucca Heads — Walkability: 71/100 Valla Beach — Walkability: 38/100
Safety 15 / 64
Nambucca Heads — Safety: 15/100 Valla Beach — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 49 / 46
Nambucca Heads — Low fire risk: 49/100 Valla Beach — Low fire risk: 46/100

Demographics

Nambucca Heads has more residents (6,675 vs 1,455); Valla Beach rents higher ($400/wk vs $280/wk).

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Population 6,675
+78% vs other
 1,455
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.5% +10.8%
Median age 57 55
Median household income $43,628/yr $56,368/yr
+29% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $400/wk
+43% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
0-4 4.3% / 5.2%
Nambucca Heads — 0-4: 4.3% Valla Beach — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 9.3% / 9.1%
Nambucca Heads — 5-14: 9.3% Valla Beach — 5-14: 9.1%
15-19 4.5% / 4.2%
Nambucca Heads — 15-19: 4.5% Valla Beach — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 3.3% / 2.5%
Nambucca Heads — 20-24: 3.3% Valla Beach — 20-24: 2.5%
25-34 7.4% / 9.1%
Nambucca Heads — 25-34: 7.4% Valla Beach — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 8.1% / 9.3%
Nambucca Heads — 35-44: 8.1% Valla Beach — 35-44: 9.3%
45-54 9.9% / 10.7%
Nambucca Heads — 45-54: 9.9% Valla Beach — 45-54: 10.7%
55-64 15.6% / 16.6%
Nambucca Heads — 55-64: 15.6% Valla Beach — 55-64: 16.6%
65-74 18.5% / 21.1%
Nambucca Heads — 65-74: 18.5% Valla Beach — 65-74: 21.1%
75-84 13.2% / 11.3%
Nambucca Heads — 75-84: 13.2% Valla Beach — 75-84: 11.3%
85+ 5.6% / 1.8%
Nambucca Heads — 85+: 5.6% Valla Beach — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nambucca Heads 58.3% lone person
Nambucca Heads — Lone Person: 58.3% Nambucca Heads — Couple Families: 18.8% Nambucca Heads — One Parent Families: 17.0% Nambucca Heads — Group Household: 4.2% Nambucca Heads — Other Families: 1.6%
Valla Beach 49.9% lone person
Valla Beach — Lone Person: 49.9% Valla Beach — Couple Families: 29.2% Valla Beach — One Parent Families: 14.4% Valla Beach — Group Household: 4.9% Valla Beach — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nambucca Heads 34.9% renting
Nambucca Heads — Owned Outright: 48.1% Nambucca Heads — Mortgage: 16.9% Nambucca Heads — Renting: 34.9%
Valla Beach 17.1% renting
Valla Beach — Owned Outright: 57.7% Valla Beach — Mortgage: 25.2% Valla Beach — Renting: 17.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Certificate III & IV 17.2% / 15.8%
Nambucca Heads — Certificate III & IV: 17.2% Valla Beach — Certificate III & IV: 15.8%
Bachelor Degree 6.2% / 14.8%
Nambucca Heads — Bachelor Degree: 6.2% Valla Beach — Bachelor Degree: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 8.7%
Nambucca Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Valla Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 3.8%
Nambucca Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Valla Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 2.7%
Nambucca Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Valla Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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.

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
England 3.9% / 6.0%
Nambucca Heads — England: 3.9% Valla Beach — England: 6.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.0%
Nambucca Heads — New Zealand: 1.3% Valla Beach — New Zealand: 1.0%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Nambucca Heads — Germany: 0.5% Valla Beach — Germany: 0.6%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.3%
Nambucca Heads — Scotland: 0.5% Valla Beach — Scotland: 0.3%
Philippines 0.5% / —
Nambucca Heads — Philippines: 0.5% Valla Beach — Philippines: not among its largest
Canada — / 0.5%
Nambucca Heads — Canada: not among its largest Valla Beach — Canada: 0.5%
Sri Lanka — / 0.4%
Nambucca Heads — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Valla Beach — Sri Lanka: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nambucca Heads 72.3% houses
Nambucca Heads — Houses: 72.3% Nambucca Heads — Townhouses: 12.9% Nambucca Heads — Flats / Apartments: 14.8%
Valla Beach 92.8% houses
Valla Beach — Houses: 92.8% Valla Beach — Townhouses: 5.8% Valla Beach — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Median house price $730,000 $825,000
Median unit price $530,500 —
Median land price $265,000 $570,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 50 sales
 44 days
from 9 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.

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
3 bed $702K / $765K
Nambucca Heads — 3 bed: $702K (58 sales) Valla Beach — 3 bed: $765K (14 sales)

58 vs 14 sales

4 bed $798K / $1.07M
Nambucca Heads — 4 bed: $798K (44 sales) Valla Beach — 4 bed: $1.07M (12 sales)

44 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Nambucca Heads has more rural and farming land (49% vs 2%); Valla Beach has more land zoned for conservation (52% vs 21%).

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Environmental 21% 52%
Rural and farming 49% 2%
Residential 19% 28%
Parks and recreation 6% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 0%
Industrial 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

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
New dwellings approved 109
across Nambucca Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -64%
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.

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Houses 4.0%
$650/wk on $849K
 —
Units 3.9%
$420/wk on $555K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
House price Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Income Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Schools Higher than 59% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 30% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 72% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 21% of NSW —

Liveability

Nambucca Heads is more walkable (71 vs 38); Valla Beach scores higher overall (38 vs 29).

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Grade D C
Score 29/100 38/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Nambucca Heads carries more crime risk (85 vs 36).

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Bushfire Moderate
51/100
 Moderate
54/100
Crime High
85/100
 Low
36/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
95/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Nambucca Heads

  • Nambucca Heads Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Frank Partridge VC Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Nambucca Valley Christian Community School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Nambucca Heads High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Valla Beach

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

Amenities in the suburb

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 18 2
Parks & reserves 14 6
Childcare 5 1
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 3 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 4 1
Waterways 25 1

Mobility

Valla Beach sits further from the CBD (488.9 km vs 485.2 km).

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Walkability score 71/100 38/100
Distance to Sydney 485.2 km 488.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 317 min 319 min
Public transport score 66/100
Bus
 29/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 27.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 5.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 4 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2448
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 2448
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.

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Car (driver) 79.6% / 72.0%
Nambucca Heads — Car (driver): 79.6% Valla Beach — Car (driver): 72.0%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 19.0%
Nambucca Heads — Worked from Home: 9.9% Valla Beach — Worked from Home: 19.0%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 6.2%
Nambucca Heads — Car (passenger): 6.3% Valla Beach — Car (passenger): 6.2%
Walked Only 4.0% / 1.4%
Nambucca Heads — Walked Only: 4.0% Valla Beach — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 0.2% / 0.6%
Nambucca Heads — Bus: 0.2% Valla Beach — Bus: 0.6%
Bicycle — / 0.8%
Nambucca Heads — Bicycle: not among its largest Valla Beach — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.6%).

Setting

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 476 m
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Connectivity score 67/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
4,315 premises
 47%
888 premises

Council rates

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Average residential rate $1,175/yr
same for both
Council Nambucca Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Nambucca Heads Valla Beach
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Nambucca Heads

Coastal Parks Retirees River

Valla Beach

Acreage Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nambucca Heads

Nambucca Heads vs Valla Nambucca Heads vs Scotts Head Nambucca Heads vs North Macksville Nambucca Heads vs Gumma Nambucca Heads vs Hyland Park Nambucca Heads vs Newee Creek

Other comparisons with Valla Beach

Valla Beach vs Valla Valla Beach vs Hyland Park
Full data on Nambucca Heads Full data on Valla Beach
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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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