Picketts Valley vs Terrigal

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Picketts Valley, the large majority of households are couple families. In Terrigal, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Picketts Valley: a median of $3.1 million, against $1.6 million in Terrigal, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Picketts Valley tends to suit families with children and couples, while Terrigal suits people living alone and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Picketts Valley carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 55/100)
  • Terrigal has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Picketts Valley leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 28%)
  • Terrigal has cheaper houses ($1,600,000 vs $3,100,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Terrigal

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($520/wk vs $1,025/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 34%)

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

Commuting to the city

Terrigal

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 8/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (79 min vs 86 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (85.1 km vs 89.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Terrigal

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 8/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 15%)
  • But Picketts Valley carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 55/100)

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

Investors

Terrigal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.2% vs 1.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Picketts Valley 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.

Picketts Valley 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.

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Walkability 8 / 59
Picketts Valley — Walkability: 8/100 Terrigal — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 84 / 45
Picketts Valley — Safety: 84/100 Terrigal — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 83
Picketts Valley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Terrigal — Low fire risk: 83/100

Demographics

Terrigal has more residents (12,730 vs 221); Picketts Valley rents higher ($1,025/wk vs $520/wk).

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Population 221 12,730
+5660% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +12.2%
Median age 42 43
Median household income $154,492/yr
+31% vs other
 $106,912/yr
Median weekly rent $1,025/wk
+49% vs other
 $520/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Picketts Valley Terrigal
0-4 8.1% / 4.9%
Picketts Valley — 0-4: 8.1% Terrigal — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 17.2% / 13.0%
Picketts Valley — 5-14: 17.2% Terrigal — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 6.3% / 6.3%
Picketts Valley — 15-19: 6.3% Terrigal — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 3.6% / 5.1%
Picketts Valley — 20-24: 3.6% Terrigal — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 7.2% / 9.9%
Picketts Valley — 25-34: 7.2% Terrigal — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 10.9% / 12.3%
Picketts Valley — 35-44: 10.9% Terrigal — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 14.9% / 14.0%
Picketts Valley — 45-54: 14.9% Terrigal — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 14.0% / 13.0%
Picketts Valley — 55-64: 14.0% Terrigal — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 10.0% / 12.7%
Picketts Valley — 65-74: 10.0% Terrigal — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 5.0% / 7.1%
Picketts Valley — 75-84: 5.0% Terrigal — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ — / 1.8%
Picketts Valley — 85+: not among its largest Terrigal — 85+: 1.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Picketts Valley 80.8% couple families
Picketts Valley — Couple Families: 80.8% Picketts Valley — Lone Person: 11.5% Picketts Valley — One Parent Families: 7.7% Picketts Valley — Group Household: 0.0% Picketts Valley — Other Families: 0.0%
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.

Picketts Valley 7.5% renting
Picketts Valley — Owned Outright: 41.5% Picketts Valley — Mortgage: 50.9% Picketts Valley — Renting: 7.5%
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.

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Bachelor Degree 15.8% / 16.6%
Picketts Valley — Bachelor Degree: 15.8% Terrigal — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 13.6% / 13.5%
Picketts Valley — Certificate III & IV: 13.6% Terrigal — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 10.0%
Picketts Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Terrigal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 5.0%
Picketts Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Terrigal — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 2.0%
Picketts Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Terrigal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Picketts Valley Terrigal
England 6.8% / 7.0%
Picketts Valley — England: 6.8% Terrigal — England: 7.0%
New Zealand — / 1.9%
Picketts Valley — New Zealand: not among its largest Terrigal — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa — / 1.5%
Picketts Valley — South Africa: not among its largest Terrigal — South Africa: 1.5%
Germany 1.4% / —
Picketts Valley — Germany: 1.4% Terrigal — Germany: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.8%
Picketts Valley — Scotland: not among its largest Terrigal — Scotland: 0.8%
China — / 0.7%
Picketts Valley — China: not among its largest Terrigal — China: 0.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Picketts Valley 100.0% houses
Picketts Valley — Houses: 100.0% Picketts Valley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Picketts Valley — Townhouses: 0.0%
Terrigal 71.0% houses
Terrigal — Houses: 71.0% Terrigal — Flats / Apartments: 21.7% Terrigal — Townhouses: 7.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Median house price $3,100,000 $1,600,000
Median unit price — $1,220,000
Median land price — $2,000,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 33 days
from 167 sales

Zoning mix

Picketts Valley has more land zoned for conservation (94% vs 39%).

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Environmental 94% 39%
Residential 0% 43%
Parks and recreation 5% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 4%
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

Picketts Valley 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Picketts Valley Terrigal
House price Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 47% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% 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 8).

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Grade — B
Score — 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 16).

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
17/100
Crime Low
16/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
29/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Picketts Valley

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

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Cafes & restaurants 0 30
Parks & reserves 0 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 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Picketts Valley sits further from the CBD (89.5 km vs 85.1 km).

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Walkability score 8/100 59/100
Distance to Sydney 89.5 km
+5% vs other
 85.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 79 min
Public transport score 25/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 137.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 29 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2251
 1.4%
postcode 2260
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2251
 37
postcode 2260

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.

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Car (driver) 54.5% / 53.7%
Picketts Valley — Car (driver): 54.5% Terrigal — Car (driver): 53.7%
Worked from Home 37.5% / 40.4%
Picketts Valley — Worked from Home: 37.5% Terrigal — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Car (passenger) 8.0% / 3.0%
Picketts Valley — Car (passenger): 8.0% Terrigal — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only — / 1.6%
Picketts Valley — Walked Only: not among its largest Terrigal — Walked Only: 1.6%
Train — / 0.7%
Picketts Valley — Train: not among its largest Terrigal — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.5%).

Setting

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
2.8 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Connectivity score 45/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
80 premises
 31%
6,257 premises

Climate

Picketts Valley 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)

Picketts Valley 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

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

Federal electorate

Picketts Valley Terrigal
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Picketts Valley

Coastal Family Outer

Terrigal

Coastal Parks Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Picketts Valley

Picketts Valley vs Kincumber Picketts Valley vs Green Point Picketts Valley vs Avoca Beach

Other comparisons with Terrigal

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