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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Emerald Beach is $1.04m, with units at $1.02m. House values have moved 5.4% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Emerald Beach has an estimated 2,739 residents, up from 2,677 at the 2021 Census — a change of 62 people, or 2.3%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years, slower than 78% of areas nationally. That puts 182 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Drawing upon ABS regional population data and AreaSearch address validations since the Census, the suburb of Emerald Beach is estimated to have a population of approximately 2,739 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 62 people (2.3%) compared to the 2,677 people recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment stems from an estimated resident population of 2,710 derived from the June 2025 ABS ERP figures alongside 4 validated new addresses added after the Census date. With a resultant density of 182 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample space per occupant and opportunities for future expansion.
Over the prior ten years, the suburb of Emerald Beach maintained steady momentum with a compound annual growth rate of 1.8%, exceeding the wider SA3 area. Net overseas migration was the leading contributor, generating roughly 41.0% of recent population gains, while interstate migration and natural increase also delivered positive contributions. SA2 projections published by ABS and Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as a base year) are incorporated by AreaSearch, supplemented where necessary by NSW State Government SA2 figures released in 2022 (benchmarked to 2021). Age-cohort growth trends from these series are extended across all areas for the 2032 to 2041 period. Looking ahead, the suburb of Emerald Beach is projected to experience strong demographic growth placing it in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan regions, with aggregated SA2 modeling pointing to an influx of 953 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative rise of 33.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in Emerald Beach are running at a modest pace of 2 new dwellings per year, totaling 10 approvals across a five-year timeframe. Subdued building activity of this nature is typical for non-urban settings where demand for new construction is restrained and constrained by local infrastructure thresholds. Because of the limited volume of approvals, single projects can create notable fluctuations in annual comparisons and growth percentages. Dwelling construction volumes in Emerald Beach remain substantially lower than figures recorded across Rest of NSW, as well as falling short of national benchmarks.
All approved residential builds have consisted solely of separate houses, matching regional market demand for spaciousness and privacy. This quiet building environment is highlighted by a ratio of 1354 people per approved dwelling in the locality. According to current AreaSearch quarterly estimates, future demographic expansion is projected to add 924 residents to Emerald Beach through to 2041. If residential building activity stays at its current subdued volume, housing additions could fall behind population intake, potentially intensifying buyer demand and putting upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Emerald Beach
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Emerald Beach, worth an estimated $13 million. A further 36 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.77 billion. 12 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Community outcomes and growth trajectories are heavily shaped by civil works, major developments, and local planning frameworks. AreaSearch has pinpointed 4 notable projects underway or proposed that may influence the district. Prominent developments include the 15-17 Pine Crescent & Ti-Tree Road Residential Subdivision, Seacrest Estate, the PP-2023-1583 - Sandy Beach Community Hub Re-zoning, and the Sandy Beach Reserve Community Hub and Active Youth Space Project.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Ti-Tree Road / Pine Crescent Residential Subdivision
Proposed 113 lot low density residential subdivision on approximately 49.6 ha between Ti-Tree Road and 15-17 Pine Crescent at Sandy Beach, including new internal roads and drainage and bushfire access. The development application by Elite Constructions NSW Pty Ltd seeks to create 113 residential lots plus a residue lot on land partly zoned residential and partly environmental conservation. In April 2025 the Northern Regional Planning Panel unanimously refused the 113 lot DA on flooding, environmental and infrastructure impact grounds, so the project currently has no development approval and would require a new or amended application to proceed.
PP-2023-1583 - Sandy Beach Community Hub Re-zoning
A planning proposal to rezone the site from R2 Low Density Residential to E1 Local Centre and amend the minimum lot size, formalising a current development operating under existing use rights.
15-17 Pine Crescent & Ti-Tree Road Residential Subdivision
Development application to subdivide land at Ti-Tree Road and Pine Crescent, Sandy Beach, to create 113 low-density residential lots, 1 biodiversity stewardship lot and associated roads, bulk earthworks and services. The Northern Regional Planning Panel refused the DA (0220/25DA; Panel Ref PPSNTH-367) on 29 April 2025, citing flood and stormwater risk, impacts on coastal wetlands and Hearnes Lake, and unresolved design and servicing issues. The applicant, Elite Constructions NSW, has since lodged a Class 1 appeal against the refusal in the NSW Land and Environment Court.An amended proposal was placed on public exhibition by Coffs Harbour City Council, drawing more than 800 objections and one submission in support.
Seacrest Estate
A residential estate offering land and house & land packages, designed for a relaxed coastal lifestyle. Stage 3 is completed and nearly sold out, with Stage 4 now released due to high demand.
Sandy Beach Reserve Community Hub and Active Youth Space Project
Building a new playground, pathways, picnic facilities, skate park, and multi-purpose court at Sandy Beach Reserve, based on the 2017 Masterplan. The project aims to provide better play opportunities and community facilities.
Plantations by Ingenia Lifestyle Extension
Expansion of the existing Plantations by Ingenia Lifestyle land lease community in Woolgoolga delivering approximately 178-180 new homes for over 55s together with a second clubhouse, wellness facilities, community spaces and associated road infrastructure. Construction officially commenced in February 2026 following development approval.
Woolgoolga Town Centre Masterplan
A vision and strategic planning framework adopted by Coffs Harbour City Council in February 2018 to guide growth and change in Woolgoolga's town centre to 2036. Comprising three parts - a Town Centre Framework, Precincts and Implementation Plan, and Supporting Information - the Masterplan outlines over 24 actions spanning immediate to long-term timeframes. New local planning controls stemming from the Masterplan came into effect in February 2024, alongside an approved Woolgoolga Movement and Place Plan addressing transport, streetscape improvements and road networks around the beachside town centre.
34 Trafalgar Street Residential Flat Building
Demolition of existing dwelling, construction of a 5-storey residential flat building containing 10 luxury apartments, and strata subdivision.
1,270 residents of Emerald Beach are employed, from a labour force of 1,298. Unemployment sits at 2.2%, with participation at 60.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,230, about 81% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour pool in Emerald Beach features strong educational credentials and notable representation in core service industries, maintaining a low jobless rate of 2.2% based on aggregated statistical area metrics from AreaSearch. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,270, with the unemployment rate tracking 1.9% under the Regional NSW benchmark of 4.1%, while the participation rate matched the regional figure of 60.6%. Census findings showed 16.5% of working locals operating from home, an observation that should be viewed in the context of pandemic restrictions. Leading fields of work among local residents comprise health care & social assistance, education & training, alongside retail trade.
Specialisation is especially pronounced in health care & social assistance, where local employment concentration is 1.3 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 2.6% of local jobs compared to 5.3% regionally. Comparing Census counts of local workplace positions against resident workers suggests a limited volume of jobs situated directly within the community. According to AreaSearch evaluations that combine SALM and ABS figures from larger statistical regions, the workforce in the period leading up to March 2026 saw a 1.6% reduction, while employment dropped by 1.4%, which caused the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment and a 0.4% reduction in the labour force, accompanied by a 0.5 percentage point increase in unemployment. Insights from Jobs and Skills Australia regarding national employment trends, beginning from Mar-26, can help clarify anticipated future demand in Emerald Beach. These forecasts, which span both five and ten-year horizons, have been aligned with the local employment structure to estimate potential growth trajectories. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion varies considerably across different industry sectors. When these sector-specific estimates are applied to Emerald Beach’s employment composition, local employment is expected to rise by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years (this calculation reflects a basic weighted extrapolation intended for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Emerald Beach is $1,813 a week (about $94,000 a year), with median personal income at $811 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $43,518 a year against an average of $54,956. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO postcode data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates Emerald Beach had a median taxpayer income of $43,518 and an average of $54,956. These levels trail national figures as well as Regional NSW averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). Factoring in Wage Price Index expansion of 10.32% since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 stand at $48,009 for median income and $60,627 for average income. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual earnings across Emerald Beach aligned near the 52nd percentile nationwide. A cohort of 969 individuals (35.4% of the community) reported incomes between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the regional proportion of 29.9%.
Accommodation costs account for 15.7% of earnings, while solid overall remuneration places disposable income in the 55th percentile and positions the locality in the 6th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Emerald Beach had 934 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 2% apartments. 41% are owned with a mortgage, 22% rented and 37% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $463 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,950 a month. Rent absorbs 25.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the residential landscape in Emerald Beach consisted of 93.9% standalone houses and 6.2% alternative housing types (including semi-detached units, apartments, and other dwellings), presenting a higher house concentration than the 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings seen across Regional NSW. Outright home ownership reached 37.4%, slightly trailing regional levels, while remaining residences were either being purchased under a mortgage (40.9%) or occupied by tenants (21.7%). Median monthly mortgage costs sat at $1,950, comfortably above the Regional NSW figure of $1,733, and median weekly rent stood at $463 compared to $330 regionally.
Relative to national figures, local mortgage repayments outpace the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents noticeably exceed the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Emerald Beach counted 934 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 34% are couples with children, against 33% couples without children. 16% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 81.8%, divided into couples with children (34.0%), couples without children (33.4%), and single parent households (14.0%). Non-family living situations account for the remaining 18.2%, primarily made up of single-person households (16.0%) alongside group households (2.1%). With an average of 2.7 people per dwelling, household sizes in the community exceed the Regional NSW norm of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
29.3% of adults in Emerald Beach hold a university qualification, including 21.3% with a bachelor degree and 5.3% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 99% of areas nationally. A further 28.3% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment among Emerald Beach residents is particularly high by regional comparisons, with 29.3% of those aged 15+ possessing a tertiary degree compared to 19.8% across the SA4 region and 21.3% in Rest of NSW. Bachelor degrees form the largest category at 21.3%, followed by postgraduate awards (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Technical and vocational pathways are also well established, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, comprising certificates (28.3%) and advanced diplomas (12.3%). Formal study engagement is substantial across the locality, with 30.9% of residents actively undertaking education.
By sector, this encompasses 11.6% attending primary school, 8.9% in secondary school, and 3.2% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Emerald Beach reaches 34 stops on 19 routes, timetabled for about 150 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit in Emerald Beach is facilitated by 34 active stops offering local bus connections across 19 separate routes, delivering a combined 151 weekly passenger services. Stop proximity is very favorable, with households located an average of 171 meters from their nearest pick-up point. As an outlying residential suburb, outbound travel is standard, with private motor vehicles used for 95% of trips. Households maintain an average of 1.8 vehicles, above the regional average, while 16.5% of working residents worked from home during the 2021 Census amidst pandemic conditions. Transit route frequency averages 21 trips daily across the entire network, translating to roughly 4 departures per stop each week.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.5% of residents in Emerald Beach report no long-term health condition. 4.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Emerald Beach compare favorably with broader benchmarks based on AreaSearch mortality and chronic disease data, showing reduced rates of illness across both younger and older cohorts, even while private health insurance adoption is modest at roughly 49% of residents (~1,334 people). In comparison, private coverage reaches 51.9% across Regional NSW and 55.7% across Australia. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 8.8 and 8.5% of the population respectively, whereas 69.5% of locals reported no long-term health ailments, exceeding the 63.3% figure for Regional NSW.
Working-age wellness metrics align closely with standard levels. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 20.7% of the population (566 people), below the Regional NSW proportion of 23.3%, and display particularly favorable health standings relative to national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Emerald Beach is largely Australian-born, at 85.3% of residents, with 4.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.0%) and Australian (26.7%). 3.5% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural background measures show Emerald Beach to be relatively homogeneous, with 85.3% of residents born in Australia, 90.6% holding citizenship, and 95.8% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, encompassing 42.2% of residents. A small comparative deviation is seen in Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of locals compared to 0.1% across Regional NSW. The primary reported ancestral backgrounds among residents are English (32.0%), Australian (26.7%), and Scottish (9.5%). Additionally, certain smaller demographic lineages show higher local concentrations than regional baselines: French ancestry stands at 0.9% (compared to 0.4% regionally), New Zealand ancestry accounts for 0.8% (versus 0.4%), and Hungarian ancestry represents 0.3% (against 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Emerald Beach is 41. 18.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution of Emerald Beach mirrors Regional NSW closely, with the greatest variance across the four broad life stages being just 2.6 percentage points. The estimated median age in August 2026 is 41 years, matching the 2021 Census level and sitting 2 years lower than the Regional NSW median of 43 at that time. The most notable shift since the Census has occurred in the retirement cohort (65+), which grew from 17.1% to an estimated 20.7% of the population. Looking forward to 2041, residents aged 25 - 44 are projected to drive demographic expansion, growing by 244 people (40%) to a total of 860.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Emerald Beach
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 1 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 4 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,677 at the 2021 Census → 2,739 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL11414). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.