Terrigal vs Wamberal

Wamberal is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Terrigal. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Terrigal, about half of households are couple families. In Wamberal, most households are couple families. On these figures, Terrigal tends to suit people living alone, while Wamberal 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

Wamberal

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 71%)
  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 55/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (73% vs 63%)
  • But Terrigal has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Terrigal has cheaper land ($2,000,000 vs $2,750,000)
  • Wamberal has cheaper units ($1,100,000 vs $1,220,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 49/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (79 min vs 84 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (85.1 km vs 88.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Terrigal

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 49/100)
  • But Wamberal carries lower crime risk (45/100 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 6.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Terrigal Wamberal
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.

Terrigal Wamberal
Walkability 59 / 49
Terrigal — Walkability: 59/100 Wamberal — Walkability: 49/100
Safety 45 / 55
Terrigal — Safety: 45/100 Wamberal — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 83 / 33
Terrigal — Low fire risk: 83/100 Wamberal — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

Terrigal has more residents (12,730 vs 6,991); Wamberal has higher household incomes ($125,164 vs $106,912).

Terrigal Wamberal
Population 12,730
+45% vs other
 6,991
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.2% +6.7%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $106,912/yr $125,164/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $520/wk
+4% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Terrigal Wamberal
0-4 4.9% / 5.7%
Terrigal — 0-4: 4.9% Wamberal — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 13.0% / 14.9%
Terrigal — 5-14: 13.0% Wamberal — 5-14: 14.9%
15-19 6.3% / 7.5%
Terrigal — 15-19: 6.3% Wamberal — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 5.1% / 5.1%
Terrigal — 20-24: 5.1% Wamberal — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 9.9% / 8.9%
Terrigal — 25-34: 9.9% Wamberal — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 12.3% / 13.1%
Terrigal — 35-44: 12.3% Wamberal — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 14.0% / 14.9%
Terrigal — 45-54: 14.0% Wamberal — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 13.0% / 12.9%
Terrigal — 55-64: 13.0% Wamberal — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 12.7% / 10.2%
Terrigal — 65-74: 12.7% Wamberal — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 7.1% / 5.1%
Terrigal — 75-84: 7.1% Wamberal — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 1.8% / 1.9%
Terrigal — 85+: 1.8% Wamberal — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Wamberal 58.4% couple families
Wamberal — Couple Families: 58.4% Wamberal — Lone Person: 22.9% Wamberal — One Parent Families: 14.2% Wamberal — Group Household: 4.0% Wamberal — Other Families: 0.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Terrigal 24.5% renting
Terrigal — Owned Outright: 39.9% Terrigal — Mortgage: 35.6% Terrigal — Renting: 24.5%
Wamberal 17.6% renting
Wamberal — Owned Outright: 37.9% Wamberal — Mortgage: 44.6% Wamberal — Renting: 17.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Terrigal Wamberal
Bachelor Degree 16.6% / 16.0%
Terrigal — Bachelor Degree: 16.6% Wamberal — Bachelor Degree: 16.0%
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 13.8%
Terrigal — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Wamberal — Certificate III & IV: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 9.4%
Terrigal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Wamberal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.0% / 4.5%
Terrigal — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0% Wamberal — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.1%
Terrigal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Wamberal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

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.

Terrigal Wamberal
England 7.0% / 5.1%
Terrigal — England: 7.0% Wamberal — England: 5.1%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.9%
Terrigal — New Zealand: 1.9% Wamberal — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 1.5% / 0.9%
Terrigal — South Africa: 1.5% Wamberal — South Africa: 0.9%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.5%
Terrigal — Scotland: 0.8% Wamberal — Scotland: 0.5%
India 0.5% / 0.5%
Terrigal — India: 0.5% Wamberal — India: 0.5%
China 0.7% / —
Terrigal — China: 0.7% Wamberal — China: 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.

Terrigal 71.0% houses
Terrigal — Houses: 71.0% Terrigal — Flats / Apartments: 21.7% Terrigal — Townhouses: 7.3%
Wamberal 87.1% houses
Wamberal — Houses: 87.1% Wamberal — Flats / Apartments: 8.1% Wamberal — Townhouses: 4.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Terrigal Wamberal
Median house price $1,600,000 $1,550,000
Median unit price $1,220,000 $1,100,000
Median land price $2,000,000 $2,750,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 167 sales
 40 days
from 97 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.

Terrigal Wamberal
3 bed $1.33M / $1.22M
Terrigal — 3 bed: $1.33M (58 sales) Wamberal — 3 bed: $1.22M (38 sales)

58 vs 38 sales

4 bed $1.62M / $1.68M
Terrigal — 4 bed: $1.62M (109 sales) Wamberal — 4 bed: $1.68M (65 sales)

109 vs 65 sales

5 bed $1.77M / $1.72M
Terrigal — 5 bed: $1.77M (40 sales) Wamberal — 5 bed: $1.72M (23 sales)

40 vs 23 sales

6 bed $1.83M / $2.45M
Terrigal — 6 bed: $1.83M (16 sales) Wamberal — 6 bed: $2.45M (6 sales)

16 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Wamberal has more land zoned for conservation (69% vs 39%).

Terrigal Wamberal
Environmental 39% 69%
Residential 43% 21%
Parks and recreation 13% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 4%
same for both
Planning zones cover 100% of Terrigal and 99% of Wamberal. 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

Terrigal Wamberal
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.

Terrigal Wamberal
Houses 3.5%
$950/wk on $1.42M
 3.7%
$908/wk on $1.27M
Units 2.9%
$765/wk on $1.39M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Terrigal Wamberal
House price Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Schools Higher than 47% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 2% of NSW —

Liveability

Terrigal is more walkable (59 vs 49); Terrigal scores higher overall (60 vs 53).

Terrigal Wamberal
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Wamberal carries more bushfire risk (67 vs 17); Terrigal carries more crime risk (55 vs 45).

Terrigal Wamberal
Bushfire Low
17/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
29/100
 Moderate
52/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

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

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

Schools in Wamberal

  • Wamberal Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Terrigal Wamberal
Cafes & restaurants 30 2
Parks & reserves 10 5
Childcare 9 8
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 1 2
Waterways 2 3

Mobility

Wamberal sits further from the CBD (88.3 km vs 85.1 km).

Terrigal Wamberal
Walkability score 59/100 49/100
Distance to Sydney 85.1 km 88.3 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 79 min 84 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 137.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 185.0
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.

Terrigal Wamberal
Car (driver) 53.7% / 55.5%
Terrigal — Car (driver): 53.7% Wamberal — Car (driver): 55.5%
Worked from Home 40.4% / 38.9%
Terrigal — Worked from Home: 40.4% Wamberal — Worked from Home: 38.9%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.3%
Terrigal — Car (passenger): 3.0% Wamberal — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 1.6% / 0.9%
Terrigal — Walked Only: 1.6% Wamberal — Walked Only: 0.9%
Bus 0.5% / 0.8%
Terrigal — Bus: 0.5% Wamberal — Bus: 0.8%
Train 0.7% / 0.3%
Terrigal — Train: 0.7% Wamberal — Train: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.5%).

Setting

Terrigal Wamberal
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 70 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.6 km
1.6 km to a named beach
 1.3 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Terrigal Wamberal
Connectivity score 62/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
6,257 premises
 42%
2,829 premises

Climate

Terrigal Wamberal
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)

Terrigal Wamberal
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

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

Federal electorate

Terrigal Wamberal
Division Robertson Dobell
Member Gordon Reid Emma Mcbride
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Terrigal

Coastal Parks Regional Centre

Wamberal

Beach Coastal Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Terrigal

Terrigal vs Green Point Terrigal vs Erina Terrigal vs Avoca Beach Terrigal vs North Avoca Terrigal vs Erina Heights Terrigal vs Picketts Valley

Other comparisons with Wamberal

Wamberal vs Tumbi Umbi Wamberal vs Forresters Beach Wamberal vs Matcham Wamberal vs Erina Heights
Full data on Terrigal Full data on Wamberal
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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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