Nambucca Heads vs Valla

Valla is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 57 in Nambucca Heads. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Nambucca Heads, most households are people living alone. In Valla, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Valla: a median of $1.34 million, against $730,000 in Nambucca Heads, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Nambucca Heads tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Valla 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

  • Nambucca Heads has more parks and reserves (14 vs 1)
  • Valla is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 36%)

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 $732,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($730,000 vs $1,340,000)
  • But Valla leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 36%)

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 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $310/wk)
  • But Valla leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 8/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (317 min vs 323 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (485.2 km vs 493.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nambucca Heads

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 8/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (37% vs 20%)
  • But Valla carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

Valla

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.4% vs 5.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Nambucca Heads and Valla 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
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
Walkability 71 / 8
Nambucca Heads — Walkability: 71/100 Valla — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 15 / 30
Nambucca Heads — Safety: 15/100 Valla — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 49 / 55
Nambucca Heads — Low fire risk: 49/100 Valla — Low fire risk: 55/100

Demographics

Nambucca Heads has more residents (6,675 vs 1,052); Valla has higher household incomes ($84,084 vs $43,628).

Nambucca Heads Valla
Population 6,675
+84% vs other
 1,052
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.5% +12.4%
Median age 57 48
Median household income $43,628/yr $84,084/yr
+93% vs other
Median weekly rent $280/wk $310/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nambucca Heads Valla
0-4 4.3% / 5.6%
Nambucca Heads — 0-4: 4.3% Valla — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 9.3% / 11.6%
Nambucca Heads — 5-14: 9.3% Valla — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 4.5% / 6.6%
Nambucca Heads — 15-19: 4.5% Valla — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 3.3% / 3.5%
Nambucca Heads — 20-24: 3.3% Valla — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 7.4% / 7.4%
Nambucca Heads — 25-34: 7.4% Valla — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 8.1% / 10.3%
Nambucca Heads — 35-44: 8.1% Valla — 35-44: 10.3%
45-54 9.9% / 14.2%
Nambucca Heads — 45-54: 9.9% Valla — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 15.6% / 21.2%
Nambucca Heads — 55-64: 15.6% Valla — 55-64: 21.2%
65-74 18.5% / 14.0%
Nambucca Heads — 65-74: 18.5% Valla — 65-74: 14.0%
75-84 13.2% / 5.2%
Nambucca Heads — 75-84: 13.2% Valla — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 5.6% / 1.0%
Nambucca Heads — 85+: 5.6% Valla — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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 28.7% lone person
Valla — Lone Person: 28.7% Valla — Couple Families: 51.9% Valla — One Parent Families: 10.5% Valla — Group Household: 7.6% Valla — Other Families: 1.3%
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 10.1% renting
Valla — Owned Outright: 45.0% Valla — Mortgage: 45.0% Valla — Renting: 10.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Nambucca Heads Valla
Certificate III & IV 17.2% / 21.4%
Nambucca Heads — Certificate III & IV: 17.2% Valla — Certificate III & IV: 21.4%
Bachelor Degree 6.2% / 10.6%
Nambucca Heads — Bachelor Degree: 6.2% Valla — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 8.3%
Nambucca Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Valla — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 2.9%
Nambucca Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Valla — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.4%
Nambucca Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Valla — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

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.

Nambucca Heads Valla
England 3.9% / 4.0%
Nambucca Heads — England: 3.9% Valla — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.7%
Nambucca Heads — New Zealand: 1.3% Valla — New Zealand: 0.7%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Nambucca Heads — Germany: 0.5% Valla — Germany: 0.6%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.8%
Nambucca Heads — South Africa: 0.3% Valla — South Africa: 0.8%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Nambucca Heads — Scotland: 0.5% Valla — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Nambucca Heads — Philippines: 0.5% Valla — Philippines: not among its largest
Sri Lanka — / 0.5%
Nambucca Heads — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Valla — Sri Lanka: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nambucca Heads 72.3% houses
Nambucca Heads — Houses: 72.3% Nambucca Heads — Flats / Apartments: 14.8% Nambucca Heads — Townhouses: 12.9%
Valla 100.5% houses
Valla — Houses: 100.5% Valla — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Valla — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Nambucca Heads Valla
Median house price $730,000 $1,340,000
Median unit price $530,500 —
Median land price $265,000 $732,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 50 sales
 53 days
from 8 sales

Zoning mix

Valla has more rural and farming land (84% vs 49%); Nambucca Heads has more land zoned for conservation (21% vs 8%).

Nambucca Heads Valla
Rural and farming 49% 84%
Environmental 21% 8%
Residential 19% 6%
Parks and recreation 6% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 1%
Industrial 1%
same for both
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
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
Houses 4.0%
$650/wk on $849K
 —
Units 3.9%
$420/wk on $555K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Nambucca Heads Valla
House price Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools Higher than 59% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 30% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 49% 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 8).

Nambucca Heads Valla
Grade D
same for both
Score 29/100
same for both
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Nambucca Heads carries more crime risk (85 vs 70).

Nambucca Heads Valla
Bushfire Moderate
51/100
 Moderate
45/100
Crime High
85/100
 High
70/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
95/100
 Low
39/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Nambucca Heads Valla
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

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

Amenities in the suburb

Nambucca Heads Valla
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 18 0
Parks & reserves 14 1
Childcare 5 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 4 0
Waterways 25 40

Mobility

Valla sits further from the CBD (493.1 km vs 485.2 km).

Nambucca Heads Valla
Walkability score 71/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 485.2 km 493.1 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 317 min 323 min
Public transport score 66/100
Bus
 25/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 27.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 4.5 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
Car (driver) 79.6% / 70.3%
Nambucca Heads — Car (driver): 79.6% Valla — Car (driver): 70.3%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 21.7%
Nambucca Heads — Worked from Home: 9.9% Valla — Worked from Home: 21.7%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 5.3%
Nambucca Heads — Car (passenger): 6.3% Valla — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 4.0% / 2.7%
Nambucca Heads — Walked Only: 4.0% Valla — Walked Only: 2.7%
Bus 0.2% / —
Nambucca Heads — Bus: 0.2% Valla — Bus: not among its largest

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

Setting

Nambucca Heads Valla
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 5.7 km

NBN connectivity

Nambucca Heads Valla
Connectivity score 67/100 29/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
4,315 premises
 0%
399 premises

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Nambucca Heads Valla
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

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nambucca Heads

Nambucca Heads vs Valla Beach 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

Valla vs Urunga Valla vs Valla Beach Valla vs Hyland Park Valla vs Newee Creek Valla vs Brierfield Valla vs Missabotti
Full data on Nambucca Heads Full data on Valla
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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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