Canton Beach, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Canton Beach NSW is 1,202 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Canton Beach is $526 per week ($27,352 per year). Median rent in Canton Beach is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Canton Beach has a median age of 61 years, older than the national median of 38. Canton Beach has a population density of 1,445 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Canton Beach is England. The most common religion is No religion (32.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Polish. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Canton Beach is $1,781.

There were 25 recorded offences in Canton Beach in 2025-26, a rate of 21 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (8 offences).

Population
1,202
Census 2021
Median income
$526/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$300/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
61years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Canton Beach vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Canton Beach is $526 a week, 31% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,973rd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $300 a week, $85 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 42.3% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 61, 18 years older than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureCanton BeachTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$526/wk$765/wk −31%$766/wk
Household income$710/wk$1,704/wk −58%$1,637/wk
Rent$300/wk$385/wk −22%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,781/mo$1,965/mo −9%$1,733/mo
Median age6143 +18 yrs42
Rent share of household income42.3%22.6% +19.7 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Canton Beach, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Canton Beach Population

1,202 residents at the 2021 Census.

Canton Beach Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$526/wk
$27,352 per year
Ranked 7,962 of 14,663
Median Rent
$300/wk
$1,300 per month
Ranked 4,529 of 14,663
Median Age
61years
23 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,781/mo
Avg household size: 1.8 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Canton Beach Rent Prices & Affordability

42% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: stressed.

Household income $710/wk
Median rent $300/wk
Rent to income 42.3%

Rent is more than 35% of household income, a level often described as housing stress.

Median rent in Canton Beach against your income

About $3,077 a month
Median rent $300/wk
Left after rent $410/wk
Rent share 42.3%

Canton Beach Schools

3
schools nearby
1
government
962
avg ICSEA score
1,039
total students
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 545 students
1034
ICSEA
Toukley Public School Government
Primary · P-6 · 494 students
889
ICSEA
Aspect Central Coast School, Noraville Independent
Primary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Canton Beach, with a map

Canton Beach Map

Canton Beach, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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Canton Beach, New South Wales: 33.2754°S, 151.5458°E

Canton Beach Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (3)

People in Canton Beach

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.3% (581) Female 51.7% (621)

Population Density

1,445
people per km²
1,202 people · 0.8 km²

Households

1.8
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,199
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
6.2%
New Zealand
0.9%
Philippines
0.7%
Scotland
0.6%
Italy
0.5%
Netherlands
0.4%
United States of America
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Polish
0.6%
Nepali
0.4%
Spanish
0.2%
Thai
0.2%
Afrikaans
0.0%
Arabic
0.0%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.0%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
47.3%
Australian
35.4%
Irish
14.6%
Scottish
10.0%
Australian Aboriginal
4.8%
Italian
2.5%
German
2.3%
Dutch
1.2%
Polish
1.1%
Welsh
0.9%
Greek
0.8%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
32.0%
Catholic
21.9%
Anglican
21.6%
Not stated
10.0%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.2%
Uniting Church
2.7%
Baptist
2.0%
Christian (other)
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

5.6%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
32.1% 340
Separated
6.6% 70
Divorced
20.5% 217
Widowed
14.7% 155
Never married
26.1% 276

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
40.6%
Couple: children under 15
28.4%
Couple: no children under 15
12.7%
One parent: no children under 15
9.6%
One parent: children under 15
8.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
54.0%
2 persons
29.3%
3 persons
6.8%
4 persons
6.6%
5 persons
1.7%
6+ persons
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Canton Beach

Housing Tenure

Of the 629 occupied private dwellings in Canton Beach at the 2021 Census, 30.0% were rented, 50.1% owned outright and 10.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
5.1% 32 dwellings
Owned outright
50.1% 315 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
10.5% 66 dwellings
Rented
30.0% 189 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.9% 18 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
82.8%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
16.6%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
9.1%
2 bedrooms
56.9%
3 bedrooms
26.7%
4 bedrooms
5.2%
5 bedrooms
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$600-$799/mo
13.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
14.8%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
14.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
46.3%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
13.7%
1 vehicle
61.9%
2 vehicles
18.9%
3 vehicles
4.5%
4+ vehicles
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Canton Beach

Employment

Employed full-time
16.7% 149 people
Employed part-time
11.8% 105 people
Unemployed
3.0% 27 people
Not in labour force
68.5% 612 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
25.9%
Professionals
17.1%
Community & Personal Service
16.1%
Labourers
14.0%
Clerical & Administrative
8.8%
Managers
7.3%
Sales Workers
5.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.9%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
2.8%
$300-$399/wk
5.4%
$400-$499/wk
16.1%
$500-$649/wk
18.9%
$650-$799/wk
11.5%
$800-$999/wk
7.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.4%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
3.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
1.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
0.5%
$4,000+/wk
2.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.2%
$1-$149/wk
4.6%
$150-$299/wk
7.3%
$300-$399/wk
11.5%
$400-$499/wk
9.2%
$500-$649/wk
9.8%
$650-$799/wk
11.9%
$800-$999/wk
8.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
2.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.6%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
68.3%
Did not go to work
21.8%
Car (passenger)
6.9%
Truck
1.9%
Walked only
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 10 or equivalent
45.0%
Year 12 or equivalent
31.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
15.3%
Year 11 or equivalent
8.6%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
59.6%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.5%
Bachelor Degree
12.5%
Certificate I/II
5.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.4%
Postgraduate Degree
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
19.2%
Architecture & Building
18.1%
Society & Culture
16.5%
Engineering
13.7%
Health
10.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
8.8%
Education
8.2%
Agriculture & Environment
2.7%
Creative Arts
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
28.3%
Secondary: Government
20.3%
Vocational Education
14.5%
Primary: Catholic
13.0%
Pre-school
10.9%
Secondary: Catholic
5.1%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
78.6%
Has need for assistance
12.5%
Need for assistance not stated
9.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
151
Arthritis
103
Lung condition
95
Diabetes
73
Heart disease
67
Asthma
54
Stroke
48
Kidney disease
39
Cancer
26
Dementia
10

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.2% 126
Did not provide
86.8% 831

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
10.7% 103
Not a volunteer
89.3% 857

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
6.3% 61
Never served
93.7% 911

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
22.2%
1 child
10.3%
2 children
29.9%
3 children
22.9%
4 children
10.7%
5+ children
4.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
11
1951: 1960
22
1961: 1970
40
1971: 1980
23
1981: 1990
16
1991: 2000
8
2001: 2010
13
2011: 2015
6
2016
5
2017
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

13.3%
moved in the last year
40.4%
moved in the last 5 years
7.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
32.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
925
Moved from NSW
118
Moved: same area (SA2)
16

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
16.0%
5: 14 hours
23.8%
15: 29 hours
10.4%
30+ hours
11.5%
Did not do domestic work
38.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
67.1%
Step family: no other children
20.0%
Other couple: children only
7.1%
Blended family: no other children
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Canton Beach Crime Statistics

25 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
8
Other Against Property
6
Assault
5
Other Against Person
3
Drug Offences
2
Property Damage
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Bingara
Income: $479/wk Rent: $200/wk $100/wk less rent
Chinderah
Income: $521/wk Rent: $245/wk $55/wk less rent
Grasmere
Income: $543/wk Rent: $116/wk $184/wk less rent
Barham
Income: $571/wk Rent: $185/wk $115/wk less rent
Barraba
Income: $470/wk Rent: $195/wk $105/wk less rent
Daceyville
Income: $450/wk Rent: $130/wk $170/wk less rent
Wentworth (NSW)
Income: $496/wk Rent: $200/wk $100/wk less rent
Berrigan
Income: $586/wk Rent: $173/wk $127/wk less rent

Suburbs near Canton Beach

The closest suburb to Canton Beach is Noraville, 1.1 km away.

Noraville
1.1 km away · income $729/wk · rent $370/wk
Norah Head
1.9 km away · income $811/wk · rent $400/wk
Toukley
2.1 km away · income $606/wk · rent $340/wk
Budgewoi
3.8 km away · income $663/wk · rent $350/wk
Gorokan
4.4 km away · income $613/wk · rent $350/wk
Lake Haven
5.2 km away · income $550/wk · rent $350/wk

Compare Canton Beach

Frequently Asked Questions About Canton Beach

What is the population of Canton Beach NSW?

The population of Canton Beach NSW is 1,202 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,445 people per km². Canton Beach is ranked #3,697 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Canton Beach?

The median personal income in Canton Beach NSW is $526 per week, or $27,352 per year. The median household income is $710 per week. Family income is $1,199 per week. Canton Beach is ranked #7,962 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Canton Beach?

Median rent in Canton Beach NSW is $300 per week ($1,300 per month). Rent represents 42.3% of household income, which is considered stressed. Canton Beach ranks #4,529 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Canton Beach?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Canton Beach NSW is $1,781. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Canton Beach?

The median age in Canton Beach NSW is 61 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Canton Beach a good suburb to live in?

Canton Beach is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,202. The median income is $526/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as stressed (42.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 10797. All dollar figures in AUD.