Narara vs West Gosford

Narara is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 44 in West Gosford. In Narara, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In West Gosford, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in West Gosford: a median of $1.15 million, against $1.02 million in Narara, though rent is higher in Narara. On these figures, Narara tends to suit families with children and couples, while West Gosford suits renters, people living alone, and 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

Narara

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 22%)
  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Narara

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,020,000 vs $1,152,500)
  • But West Gosford has cheaper land ($448,210 vs $1,167,500)

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

Renters

West Gosford

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $420/wk)
  • But Narara leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

West Gosford

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (66 min vs 72 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (74.3 km vs 78.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

West Gosford

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (78% vs 13%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 15%)
  • But Narara carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

West Gosford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.0% vs 6.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Narara and West Gosford drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Narara West Gosford
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.

Narara West Gosford
Walkability 63 / 63
Narara — Walkability: 63/100 West Gosford — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 51 / 2
Narara — Safety: 51/100 West Gosford — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 44 / 6
Narara — Low fire risk: 44/100 West Gosford — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Narara has more residents (8,471 vs 1,602); Narara has higher household incomes ($98,592 vs $60,788).

Narara West Gosford
Population 8,471
+81% vs other
 1,602
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% +20.0%
Median age 38 44
Median household income $98,592/yr
+38% vs other
 $60,788/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+10% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Narara West Gosford
0-4 6.5% / 4.4%
Narara — 0-4: 6.5% West Gosford — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 14.4% / 8.2%
Narara — 5-14: 14.4% West Gosford — 5-14: 8.2%
15-19 6.1% / 4.3%
Narara — 15-19: 6.1% West Gosford — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 5.1% / 6.4%
Narara — 20-24: 5.1% West Gosford — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 12.4% / 15.0%
Narara — 25-34: 12.4% West Gosford — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 14.2% / 11.7%
Narara — 35-44: 14.2% West Gosford — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 13.6% / 11.2%
Narara — 45-54: 13.6% West Gosford — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 12.6% / 10.1%
Narara — 55-64: 12.6% West Gosford — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 9.9% / 9.3%
Narara — 65-74: 9.9% West Gosford — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 4.1% / 9.2%
Narara — 75-84: 4.1% West Gosford — 75-84: 9.2%
85+ 1.1% / 10.7%
Narara — 85+: 1.1% West Gosford — 85+: 10.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Narara 26.0% lone person
Narara — Lone Person: 26.0% Narara — Couple Families: 50.2% Narara — One Parent Families: 19.5% Narara — Group Household: 3.4% Narara — Other Families: 0.9%
West Gosford 59.0% lone person
West Gosford — Lone Person: 59.0% West Gosford — Couple Families: 16.6% West Gosford — One Parent Families: 15.6% West Gosford — Group Household: 7.7% West Gosford — 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.

Narara 20.5% renting
Narara — Owned Outright: 31.8% Narara — Mortgage: 47.7% Narara — Renting: 20.5%
West Gosford 54.5% renting
West Gosford — Owned Outright: 23.0% West Gosford — Mortgage: 22.4% West Gosford — Renting: 54.5%
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.

Narara West Gosford
England 4.8% / 4.8%
Narara — England: 4.8% West Gosford — England: 4.8%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.1%
Narara — New Zealand: 1.6% West Gosford — New Zealand: 2.1%
India 1.7% / 1.9%
Narara — India: 1.7% West Gosford — India: 1.9%
China 1.1% / 1.7%
Narara — China: 1.1% West Gosford — China: 1.7%
Philippines 1.0% / 1.4%
Narara — Philippines: 1.0% West Gosford — Philippines: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

Qualifications

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

Narara West Gosford
Certificate III & IV 17.0% / 13.4%
Narara — Certificate III & IV: 17.0% West Gosford — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.7% / 12.2%
Narara — Bachelor Degree: 12.7% West Gosford — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.1%
Narara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% West Gosford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 4.3%
Narara — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% West Gosford — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.4%
Narara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% West Gosford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Narara 87.4% houses
Narara — Houses: 87.4% Narara — Townhouses: 11.8% Narara — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
West Gosford 22.3% houses
West Gosford — Houses: 22.3% West Gosford — Townhouses: 41.1% West Gosford — Flats / Apartments: 36.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Narara West Gosford
Median house price $1,020,000 $1,152,500
Median unit price $635,000 $625,000
Median land price $1,167,500 $448,210
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 74 sales
 37 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

West Gosford has more industrially zoned land (37% vs 0%); Narara has more land zoned for conservation (45% vs 24%).

Narara West Gosford
Environmental 45% 24%
Industrial 0% 37%
Residential 36% 7%
Parks and recreation 7% 22%
Rural and farming 6% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 6%
same for both
Commercial 0% 5%
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

Narara West Gosford
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.

Narara West Gosford
Houses 3.6%
$700/wk on $1M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Narara West Gosford
House price Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 67% of NSW —
Schools Higher than 54% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 61% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 52% of NSW —

Liveability

Narara scores higher overall (49 vs 30).

Narara West Gosford
Grade B D
Score 49/100 30/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

West Gosford carries more crime risk (98 vs 49); West Gosford carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 56).

Narara West Gosford
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 High
94/100
Crime Moderate
49/100
 High
98/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Narara West Gosford
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.2 km
 None

Schools in Narara

  • Narara Valley High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Philip's Christian College - Gosford Independent · Combined below peers
  • Glenvale School Government · Combined · Special school
  • St Philip's Christian College Dynamic Learning - Gosford Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in West Gosford

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

Amenities in the suburb

Narara West Gosford
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 17 5
Childcare 5 6
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 5
Waterways 11 3

Mobility

Narara sits further from the CBD (78.8 km vs 74.3 km).

Narara West Gosford
Walkability score 63/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 78.8 km
+6% vs other
 74.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 72 min 66 min
Public transport score 87/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 162.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 71.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2250
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2250
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.

Narara West Gosford
Car (driver) 59.5% / 55.0%
Narara — Car (driver): 59.5% West Gosford — Car (driver): 55.0%
Worked from Home 32.0% / 30.3%
Narara — Worked from Home: 32.0% West Gosford — Worked from Home: 30.3%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.1%
Narara — Car (passenger): 4.5% West Gosford — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Train 2.2% / 5.1%
Narara — Train: 2.2% West Gosford — Train: 5.1%
Walked Only 0.6% / 3.9%
Narara — Walked Only: 0.6% West Gosford — Walked Only: 3.9%
Bus 0.8% / 1.6%
Narara — Bus: 0.8% West Gosford — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.5%).

Setting

Narara West Gosford
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.0 km 9.6 km

NBN connectivity

Narara West Gosford
Connectivity score 79/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 61%
3,312 premises
 96%
2,319 premises

Climate

Narara West Gosford
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)

Narara West Gosford
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

Narara West Gosford
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Narara West Gosford
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Narara West Gosford
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Narara

Large Blocks Parks Quiet Regional Centre River Transport Hub

West Gosford

Affordable Apartments Retirees River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Narara

Narara vs Wyoming Narara vs Gosford Narara vs Niagara Park Narara vs Somersby

Other comparisons with West Gosford

West Gosford vs Kariong West Gosford vs Gosford West Gosford vs Point Clare West Gosford vs Somersby
Full data on Narara Full data on West Gosford
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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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