North Avoca vs Terrigal

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In North Avoca, most households are couple families. In Terrigal, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, North Avoca tends to suit 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

Terrigal

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 4)
  • But North Avoca carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 55/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Terrigal

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 40/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (79 min vs 84 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (85.1 km vs 88.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Terrigal

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 8%)
  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 40/100)
  • But North Avoca carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 55/100)

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

Investors

Terrigal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.2% vs 5.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

North Avoca Terrigal
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.

North Avoca Terrigal
Walkability 40 / 59
North Avoca — Walkability: 40/100 Terrigal — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 71 / 45
North Avoca — Safety: 71/100 Terrigal — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 83
North Avoca — Low fire risk: 100/100 Terrigal — Low fire risk: 83/100

Demographics

Terrigal has more residents (12,730 vs 2,318); North Avoca has higher household incomes ($130,572 vs $106,912).

North Avoca Terrigal
Population 2,318 12,730
+449% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% +12.2%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $130,572/yr
+18% vs other
 $106,912/yr
Median weekly rent $545/wk
+5% vs other
 $520/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Avoca Terrigal
0-4 5.7% / 4.9%
North Avoca — 0-4: 5.7% Terrigal — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 15.1% / 13.0%
North Avoca — 5-14: 15.1% Terrigal — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 7.1% / 6.3%
North Avoca — 15-19: 7.1% Terrigal — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 5.1% / 5.1%
North Avoca — 20-24: 5.1% Terrigal — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 9.1% / 9.9%
North Avoca — 25-34: 9.1% Terrigal — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 13.6% / 12.3%
North Avoca — 35-44: 13.6% Terrigal — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 14.4% / 14.0%
North Avoca — 45-54: 14.4% Terrigal — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 15.0% / 13.0%
North Avoca — 55-64: 15.0% Terrigal — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 11.0% / 12.7%
North Avoca — 65-74: 11.0% Terrigal — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 2.8% / 7.1%
North Avoca — 75-84: 2.8% Terrigal — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 0.9% / 1.8%
North Avoca — 85+: 0.9% Terrigal — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Avoca 59.2% couple families
North Avoca — Couple Families: 59.2% North Avoca — Lone Person: 25.7% North Avoca — One Parent Families: 10.7% North Avoca — Group Household: 3.8% North Avoca — Other Families: 0.5%
Terrigal 47.1% couple families
Terrigal — Couple Families: 47.1% Terrigal — Lone Person: 31.9% Terrigal — One Parent Families: 15.7% Terrigal — Group Household: 4.6% Terrigal — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Avoca 14.8% renting
North Avoca — Owned Outright: 38.8% North Avoca — Mortgage: 46.4% North Avoca — Renting: 14.8%
Terrigal 24.5% renting
Terrigal — Owned Outright: 39.9% Terrigal — Mortgage: 35.6% Terrigal — Renting: 24.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Avoca Terrigal
Bachelor Degree 20.4% / 16.6%
North Avoca — Bachelor Degree: 20.4% Terrigal — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 13.5%
North Avoca — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Terrigal — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 10.0%
North Avoca — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Terrigal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 5.0%
North Avoca — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Terrigal — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 2.0%
North Avoca — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Terrigal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

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.

North Avoca Terrigal
England 5.3% / 7.0%
North Avoca — England: 5.3% Terrigal — England: 7.0%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.9%
North Avoca — New Zealand: 1.5% Terrigal — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.5%
North Avoca — South Africa: 1.4% Terrigal — South Africa: 1.5%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.8%
North Avoca — Scotland: 0.6% Terrigal — Scotland: 0.8%
China — / 0.7%
North Avoca — China: not among its largest Terrigal — China: 0.7%
Canada 0.6% / —
North Avoca — Canada: 0.6% Terrigal — Canada: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Avoca 92.0% houses
North Avoca — Houses: 92.0% North Avoca — Flats / Apartments: 4.7% North Avoca — Townhouses: 3.3%
Terrigal 71.0% houses
Terrigal — Houses: 71.0% Terrigal — Flats / Apartments: 21.7% Terrigal — Townhouses: 7.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Avoca Terrigal
Median house price $1,587,500 $1,600,000
Median unit price — $1,220,000
Median land price — $2,000,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 20 sales
 33 days
from 167 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.

North Avoca Terrigal
3 bed $1.25M / $1.33M
North Avoca — 3 bed: $1.25M (9 sales) Terrigal — 3 bed: $1.33M (58 sales)

9 vs 58 sales

4 bed $1.56M / $1.62M
North Avoca — 4 bed: $1.56M (19 sales) Terrigal — 4 bed: $1.62M (109 sales)

19 vs 109 sales

5 bed $1.85M / $1.77M
North Avoca — 5 bed: $1.85M (8 sales) Terrigal — 5 bed: $1.77M (40 sales)

8 vs 40 sales

Zoning mix

Terrigal has more land zoned for conservation (39% vs 14%).

North Avoca Terrigal
Residential 63% 43%
Environmental 14% 39%
Parks and recreation 21% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
Other and special use 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

North Avoca Terrigal
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.

North Avoca Terrigal
Houses — 3.5%
$950/wk on $1.42M
Units — 2.9%
$765/wk on $1.39M

Ranking within NSW

North Avoca Terrigal
House price Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 47% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 44% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 2% of NSW

Liveability

Terrigal is more walkable (59 vs 40); North Avoca scores higher overall (75 vs 60).

North Avoca Terrigal
Grade A B
Score 75/100 60/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Terrigal carries more bushfire risk (17 vs 0); Terrigal carries more crime risk (55 vs 29).

North Avoca Terrigal
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
17/100
Crime Low
29/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
34/100
 Low
29/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

North Avoca Terrigal
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in North Avoca

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

Schools in Terrigal

  • Our Lady Star of The Sea Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Terrigal High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Terrigal Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Aspect Central Coast School Independent · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Aspect Central Coast School Senior College Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

North Avoca Terrigal
Cafes & restaurants 1 30
Parks & reserves 4 10
Childcare 0 9
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 1
same for both
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

North Avoca sits further from the CBD (88.2 km vs 85.1 km).

North Avoca Terrigal
Walkability score 40/100 59/100
Distance to Sydney 88.2 km
+4% vs other
 85.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 84 min 79 min
Public transport score 73/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 38.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 137.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2260
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 2260
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.

North Avoca Terrigal
Car (driver) 51.3% / 53.7%
North Avoca — Car (driver): 51.3% Terrigal — Car (driver): 53.7%
Worked from Home 44.0% / 40.4%
North Avoca — Worked from Home: 44.0% Terrigal — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.0%
North Avoca — Car (passenger): 2.8% Terrigal — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.6%
North Avoca — Walked Only: 1.3% Terrigal — Walked Only: 1.6%
Train 0.3% / 0.7%
North Avoca — Train: 0.3% Terrigal — Train: 0.7%
Bus 0.4% / 0.5%
North Avoca — Bus: 0.4% Terrigal — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.7%).

Setting

North Avoca Terrigal
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 366 m
463 m to a named beach
 1.6 km
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Avoca Terrigal
Connectivity score 66/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
1,065 premises
 31%
6,257 premises

Climate

North Avoca Terrigal
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)

North Avoca Terrigal
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

North Avoca Terrigal
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

North Avoca Terrigal
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Avoca Terrigal
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Avoca

Beach Beachfront Coastal Large Blocks Parks Professionals Quiet River

Terrigal

Coastal Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Avoca

North Avoca vs Avoca Beach

Other comparisons with Terrigal

Terrigal vs Wamberal Terrigal vs Green Point Terrigal vs Erina Terrigal vs Avoca Beach Terrigal vs Erina Heights Terrigal vs Picketts Valley
Full data on North Avoca Full data on Terrigal
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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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