Norah Head vs Noraville

Noraville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 51 in Norah Head. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Norah Head, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Norah Head: a median of $1.55 million, against $920,000 in Noraville, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Noraville tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Noraville

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 71/100)
  • But Norah Head has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Noraville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($920,500 vs $1,550,000)
  • has cheaper units ($745,000 vs $1,030,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Noraville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Noraville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 26/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (110.7 km vs 119.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Noraville

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (77/100 vs 26/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 71/100)
  • But Norah Head has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 21%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Norah Head Noraville
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.

Norah Head Noraville
Walkability 26 / 77
Norah Head — Walkability: 26/100 Noraville — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 29 / 43
Norah Head — Safety: 29/100 Noraville — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 35 / 33
Norah Head — Low fire risk: 35/100 Noraville — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

Noraville has more residents (3,001 vs 1,149); Norah Head skews older (51 vs 42).

Norah Head Noraville
Population 1,149 3,001
+161% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +2.8%
Median age 51 42
Median household income $88,972/yr
+14% vs other
 $76,960/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+8% vs other
 $370/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Norah Head Noraville
0-4 3.7% / 6.2%
Norah Head — 0-4: 3.7% Noraville — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 11.9% / 12.3%
Norah Head — 5-14: 11.9% Noraville — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.0% / 5.4%
Norah Head — 15-19: 5.0% Noraville — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 4.2% / 5.4%
Norah Head — 20-24: 4.2% Noraville — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 5.8% / 12.4%
Norah Head — 25-34: 5.8% Noraville — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 11.1% / 11.7%
Norah Head — 35-44: 11.1% Noraville — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 12.6% / 12.3%
Norah Head — 45-54: 12.6% Noraville — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 16.9% / 13.9%
Norah Head — 55-64: 16.9% Noraville — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 14.8% / 11.0%
Norah Head — 65-74: 14.8% Noraville — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 8.6% / 6.3%
Norah Head — 75-84: 8.6% Noraville — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 5.0% / 3.3%
Norah Head — 85+: 5.0% Noraville — 85+: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Norah Head 45.8% couple families
Norah Head — Couple Families: 45.8% Norah Head — Lone Person: 34.8% Norah Head — One Parent Families: 15.0% Norah Head — Group Household: 3.3% Norah Head — Other Families: 1.1%
Noraville 38.1% couple families
Noraville — Couple Families: 38.1% Noraville — Lone Person: 36.3% Noraville — One Parent Families: 19.5% Noraville — Group Household: 4.4% Noraville — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Norah Head 18.7% renting
Norah Head — Owned Outright: 48.4% Norah Head — Mortgage: 32.8% Norah Head — Renting: 18.7%
Noraville 28.9% renting
Noraville — Owned Outright: 36.2% Noraville — Mortgage: 34.9% Noraville — Renting: 28.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Norah Head Noraville
Certificate III & IV 21.0% / 20.1%
Norah Head — Certificate III & IV: 21.0% Noraville — Certificate III & IV: 20.1%
Bachelor Degree 11.2% / 9.1%
Norah Head — Bachelor Degree: 11.2% Noraville — Bachelor Degree: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 7.6%
Norah Head — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Noraville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 1.5%
Norah Head — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Noraville — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 1.5%
Norah Head — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Noraville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

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.

Norah Head Noraville
England 2.8% / 3.6%
Norah Head — England: 2.8% Noraville — England: 3.6%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.9%
Norah Head — New Zealand: 0.8% Noraville — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.4%
Norah Head — Scotland: 1.0% Noraville — Scotland: 0.4%
Italy 0.6% / 0.3%
Norah Head — Italy: 0.6% Noraville — Italy: 0.3%
Ireland 0.3% / 0.4%
Norah Head — Ireland: 0.3% Noraville — Ireland: 0.4%
China 0.4% / —
Norah Head — China: 0.4% Noraville — China: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 0.3%
Norah Head — Vietnam: not among its largest Noraville — Vietnam: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Norah Head 88.8% houses
Norah Head — Houses: 88.8% Norah Head — Townhouses: 5.7% Norah Head — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Noraville 92.2% houses
Noraville — Houses: 92.2% Noraville — Townhouses: 4.1% Noraville — Flats / Apartments: 3.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Norah Head Noraville
Median house price $1,550,000 $920,500
Median unit price $1,030,000 $745,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 11 sales
 30 days
from 23 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.

Norah Head Noraville
3 bed $1.28M / $888K
Norah Head — 3 bed: $1.28M (5 sales) Noraville — 3 bed: $888K (44 sales)

5 vs 44 sales

4 bed $1.55M / $1.12M
Norah Head — 4 bed: $1.55M (7 sales) Noraville — 4 bed: $1.12M (25 sales)

7 vs 25 sales

5 bed $1.56M / $1.56M
Norah Head — 5 bed: $1.56M (13 sales) Noraville — 5 bed: $1.56M (7 sales)

13 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Norah Head has more land zoned for conservation (69% vs 7%).

Norah Head Noraville
Environmental 69% 7%
Residential 12% 63%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 20%
Parks and recreation 17% 10%
Planning zones cover 99% of Norah Head and 100% of Noraville. 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

Norah Head Noraville
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.

Norah Head Noraville
Houses — 4.0%
$695/wk on $912K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Norah Head Noraville
House price Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Income Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 71% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 48% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 71% of NSW

Liveability

Noraville is more walkable (77 vs 26); Noraville scores higher overall (47 vs 33).

Norah Head Noraville
Grade C
same for both
Score 33/100 47/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Norah Head carries more crime risk (71 vs 57).

Norah Head Noraville
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime High
71/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
55/100
 Low
20/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Norah Head Noraville
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Norah Head

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

Schools in Noraville

  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Toukley Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Aspect Central Coast School, Noraville Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Norah Head Noraville
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 1

Mobility

Norah Head sits further from the CBD (119.2 km vs 110.7 km).

Norah Head Noraville
Walkability score 26/100 77/100
Distance to Sydney 119.2 km
+7% vs other
 110.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 98 min 94 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 48.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 58.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2263
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2263
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.

Norah Head Noraville
Car (driver) 64.8% / 67.3%
Norah Head — Car (driver): 64.8% Noraville — Car (driver): 67.3%
Worked from Home 29.8% / 25.2%
Norah Head — Worked from Home: 29.8% Noraville — Worked from Home: 25.2%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 4.7%
Norah Head — Car (passenger): 4.2% Noraville — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.2%
Norah Head — Walked Only: 1.2% Noraville — Walked Only: 1.2%
Bus — / 1.3%
Norah Head — Bus: not among its largest Noraville — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.3%).

Setting

Norah Head Noraville
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 717 m
1.5 km to a named beach
 713 m
723 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Norah Head Noraville
Connectivity score 64/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
569 premises
 40%
1,381 premises

Climate

Norah Head Noraville
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)

Norah Head Noraville
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Norah Head

Acreage Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees

Noraville

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Quiet

More comparisons

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Norah Head vs Magenta

Other comparisons with Noraville

Noraville vs Toukley Noraville vs Budgewoi Noraville vs Canton Beach Noraville vs Magenta
Full data on Norah Head Full data on Noraville
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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