Terrigal
Terrigal is a beachside suburb on the NSW Central Coast, about 50 kilometres from the Sydney CBD. It draws families, couples and retirees with its beach, its Esplanade of cafes, restaurants and bars, and a coastal lifestyle that is hard to match elsewhere on the Coast.
At a glance
- Population: 12,730
- Area size: 9.06 km²
- Median weekly household income: $2,293
- Median monthly mortgage repayments: $2,938
Living on the Central Coast
What it's like to live in Terrigal
Terrigal is home to 12,730 people across 9.06 square kilometres. Population has grown at every Census since 2001, from 9,413 to 12,730 in 2021, and with an average of 2.6 people per household it suits families, couples and downsizers alike.
Terrigal Population & Household Growth Over Time
| 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,413 | 9,746 | 10,614 | 11,349 | 12,730 |
| Median weekly household income | No data | $1,121 | $1,323 | $1,679 | $2,056 |
| Medial Monthly Mortgage Repayments | No Data | $1,733 | $2,167 | $2,167 | $2,492 |
| Percentage of Owner Occupier | 70% | 67% | 71% | 72% | 74% |
| Percentage of Renter | 30% | 33% | 30% | 28% | 26% |
| Total Dwellings | 4,599 | 4,796 | 5,016 | 5,232 | 5,743 |
| Average People per Household | No Data | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 |
Owner-occupiers make up 74% of households and renters 26%. About 71% of dwellings are separate houses, 22% are flats or apartments and 7% are townhouses. The leading occupations are Professionals (29%), Managers (17%) and Clerical and Administrative Workers (13%), and the top employing industries are Hospitals, Cafes and Restaurants, and Secondary Education.
Crime sits low here too. A score of 22 out of 100, where a higher number means more crime. Often one of the first things families check before deciding to move.
Housing options for owner-occupiers
Terrigal offers a mix of homes, from contemporary apartments with ocean views to spacious family houses, so buyers can choose between a low-maintenance coastal base and a home with room to grow. Both houses and units are in demand, which is reflected in the prices below.
Current property snapshot (October 2026)
| Metric | Houses | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Median Price | $1,600,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Median Rent (per week) | $900 | $750 |
| Typical time to sell | 40 | 50 |
| Gross rental yield | 2.93% | 3.25% |
How Prices Have Moved Over Time (Houses)
| Period | Change |
|---|---|
| 3 Months | -1.78% (-$29,000) |
| 12 Months | 1.36% ($21,500) |
| 3 Years | 6.67% ($100,000) |
| 5 Years | 18.96% ($255,000) |
| 5-year average annual growth | 3.53% |
| 10-year average annual growth | 6.01% |
| 20-year average annual growth | 5.48% |
| 30-year average annual growth | 7.76% |
Renting in Terrigal
Median rent for a house in Terrigal is $900 a week, up 5.88% over the past year and 12.50% over three years. Units rent for $750 a week, up 4.17% over the year and 14.50% over three years. The vacancy rate is 1.51%, well under the 3% generally considered a healthy balance between tenants and owners, so well-priced rentals tend to go quickly.
Schools and childcare
Terrigal is home to Terrigal Public School and Terrigal High School, and families in the area are typically zoned for these schools. Terrigal also has Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School (K-6), and Central Coast Grammar School (K-12) and Central Coast Adventist School (K-12) are both within easy reach.
For early learning and care, the suburb has nine child care centres, including Dinky Di Children's Learning Centre Terrigal Beach, Diocese of Broken Bay Early Learning Centre on Serpentine Road, Explore and Develop Terrigal on Terrigal Drive and Little Miracles Preschool & Long Day Care on Michaela Road, plus Terrigal School Care.
Health and everyday amenities
Terrigal's Esplanade is the suburb's everyday hub, with cafes, restaurants, bars and boutique shops along the beachfront. Hospitals are the top employing industry for residents (6.5%), followed by cafes and restaurants (2.9%), so health care and hospitality both shape local life.
An exclusive coastal suburb with high-income households
Terrigal's SEIFA advantage score (the ABS's measure of relative socio-economic advantage) has been between 8 and 10 out of 10 at every Census since 2001, reaching 10 in 2021, with education and occupation at 9 and economic resources at 8. Median weekly household income has risen from $1,121 in 2006 to $2,056 at the 2021 Census, with the current estimate now $2,293 a week, and median monthly mortgage repayments have climbed from $1,733 to $2,938 over the same period. Public and community housing is negligible at 0.42% of dwellings (24 dwellings), which keeps Terrigal's housing stock firmly owner-occupier and private-rental driven.
Getting around
Terrigal is a 20 minute drive from Gosford train station, on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line, and a 25 minute drive to the M1 motorway, which connects Sydney and Newcastle.
Our local favourite
For a meal out in Terrigal, we like Arc. Est, a restaurant and bar serving lunch and dinner, with a menu that runs from oysters to steak.
Ready to call Terrigal home? Let Sharp Property Buyers, your trusted Central Coast Buyers Agent, guide you in finding the right property in this suburb. Contact us today, and together, we'll make your move to Terrigal a reality.
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