Crescent Head, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Crescent Head NSW is 1,633 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Crescent Head is $674 per week ($35,048 per year). Median rent in Crescent Head is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). Crescent Head has a median age of 50 years, older than the national median of 38. Crescent Head has a population density of 9.0 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Crescent Head is England. The most common religion is No religion (47.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Portuguese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Crescent Head is $1,591.

There were 24 recorded offences in Crescent Head in 2025-26, a rate of 15 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (8 offences).

Population
1,633
Census 2021
Median income
$674/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$320/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
50years
Census 2021

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

Crescent Head vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Crescent Head is $674 a week, 12% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,464th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $320 a week, $65 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 24.3% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 50, 7 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.
MeasureCrescent HeadTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$674/wk$765/wk −12%$766/wk
Household income$1,317/wk$1,704/wk −23%$1,637/wk
Rent$320/wk$385/wk −17%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,591/mo$1,965/mo −19%$1,733/mo
Median age5043 +7 yrs42
Rent share of household income24.3%22.6% +1.7 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 Crescent Head, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Crescent Head Population

1,633 residents at the 2021 Census.

Crescent Head Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$674/wk
$35,048 per year
Ranked 5,918 of 14,663
Median Rent
$320/wk
$1,387 per month
Ranked 4,051 of 14,663
Median Age
50years
12 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,591/mo
Avg household size: 2.2 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Crescent Head Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,317/wk
Median rent $320/wk
Rent to income 24.3%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Crescent Head against your income

About $5,707 a month
Median rent $320/wk
Left after rent $997/wk
Rent share 24.3%

Crescent Head Map

Crescent Head, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Crescent Head

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.3% (821) Female 49.7% (812)

Population Density

9.0
people per km²
1,633 people · 181.9 km²

Households

2.2
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,546
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
3.3%
New Zealand
1.2%
United States of America
1.2%
Philippines
0.8%
Germany
0.7%
South Africa
0.6%
Brazil
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

Portuguese
0.6%
Italian
0.4%
Tagalog
0.4%
German
0.4%
Spanish
0.4%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.2%
French
0.2%

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

Ancestry

English
46.3%
Australian
40.1%
Irish
12.9%
Scottish
10.2%
Australian Aboriginal
7.8%
German
4.4%
Italian
1.8%
Dutch
1.3%
French
1.0%
New Zealander
1.0%
Maltese
0.9%

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
47.3%
Catholic
16.0%
Anglican
14.8%
Not stated
7.8%
Uniting Church
2.7%
Christian (other)
2.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.2%
Buddhism
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

7.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
43.6% 601
Separated
5.7% 79
Divorced
11.2% 154
Widowed
6.4% 88
Never married
33.1% 457

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
37.0%
Couple: children under 15
32.0%
Couple: no children under 15
14.8%
One parent: children under 15
8.1%
One parent: no children under 15
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
32.0%
2 persons
37.4%
3 persons
13.8%
4 persons
10.5%
5 persons
2.8%
6+ persons
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Crescent Head

Housing Tenure

Of the 649 occupied private dwellings in Crescent Head at the 2021 Census, 24.5% were rented, 51.2% owned outright and 22.7% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.8% 5 dwellings
Owned outright
51.2% 332 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
22.7% 147 dwellings
Rented
24.5% 159 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.7% 11 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
89.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
6.6%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
8.8%
2 bedrooms
23.2%
3 bedrooms
40.1%
4 bedrooms
23.2%
5 bedrooms
4.2%
6+ bedrooms
0.5%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
8.1%
$300-$449/mo
3.0%
$450-$599/mo
2.2%
$600-$799/mo
5.2%
$800-$999/mo
5.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
26.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
13.3%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.7%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
6.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.6%
1 vehicle
36.4%
2 vehicles
38.1%
3 vehicles
15.5%
4+ vehicles
6.5%

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

Work, income and education in Crescent Head

Employment

Employed full-time
25.0% 302 people
Employed part-time
25.5% 307 people
Unemployed
3.0% 36 people
Not in labour force
46.5% 561 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
32.8%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.0%
Managers
15.2%
Community & Personal Service
13.1%
Clerical & Administrative
10.6%
Labourers
6.7%
Sales Workers
2.9%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.7%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.8%
$1-$149/wk
1.3%
$150-$299/wk
2.0%
$300-$399/wk
4.5%
$400-$499/wk
7.6%
$500-$649/wk
5.9%
$650-$799/wk
7.2%
$800-$999/wk
8.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.9%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
2.9%
$4,000+/wk
6.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.3%
$1-$149/wk
5.4%
$150-$299/wk
7.3%
$300-$399/wk
7.0%
$400-$499/wk
7.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.9%
$650-$799/wk
10.3%
$800-$999/wk
10.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
0.9%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
74.7%
Did not go to work
13.0%
Walked only
6.6%
Car (passenger)
4.4%
Truck
1.2%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
54.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
32.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.3%
Year 9 or equivalent
6.4%

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
41.1%
Bachelor Degree
27.6%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.5%
Postgraduate Degree
5.9%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.0%
Certificate I/II
2.0%

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

Field of Study

Education
17.6%
Management & Commerce
15.4%
Engineering
14.8%
Health
12.7%
Architecture & Building
12.3%
Society & Culture
9.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.1%
Agriculture & Environment
4.5%
Creative Arts
3.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.7%
Information Technology
1.0%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.5%
Secondary: Government
14.9%
Vocational Education
13.3%
Pre-school
11.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
8.4%
Secondary: Catholic
8.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.6%
Primary: Catholic
1.6%

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
88.2%
Has need for assistance
4.8%
Need for assistance not stated
7.0%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
128
Arthritis
73
Asthma
54
Heart disease
50
Cancer
45
Lung condition
40
Diabetes
33
Stroke
23
Kidney disease
12
Dementia
3

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.8% 187
Did not provide
85.2% 1,080

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
18.9% 239
Not a volunteer
81.1% 1,026

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.0% 39
Never served
97.0% 1,241

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
27.9%
1 child
12.0%
2 children
34.2%
3 children
17.9%
4 children
8.0%

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

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
11
1961: 1970
31
1971: 1980
31
1981: 1990
34
1991: 2000
19
2001: 2010
14
2011: 2015
19
2016
11
2020
3

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

Population Mobility

14.9%
moved in the last year
37.7%
moved in the last 5 years
5.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
52.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,264
Moved from NSW
141
Moved: same area (SA2)
50
Moved from QLD
17
Moved from VIC
9
Moved from overseas
6
Moved from WA
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
20.5%
5: 14 hours
31.2%
15: 29 hours
15.8%
30+ hours
10.9%
Did not do domestic work
21.5%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
86.0%
Step family: no other children
5.1%
Other couple: children only
3.7%
Intact family: other children present
2.9%
Blended family: no other children
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Crescent Head Crime Statistics

24 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
8
Other Against Property
5
Assault
3
Property Damage
3
Other Against Person
2
Sexual Offences
1
Domestic Violence
1
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Crescent Head

The closest suburb to Crescent Head is South Kempsey, 13.2 km away.

South Kempsey
13.2 km away · income $527/wk · rent $270/wk
East Kempsey
16.5 km away · income $635/wk · rent $300/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Crescent Head

What is the population of Crescent Head NSW?

The population of Crescent Head NSW is 1,633 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 9.0 people per km². Crescent Head is ranked #3,288 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Crescent Head?

The median personal income in Crescent Head NSW is $674 per week, or $35,048 per year. The median household income is $1,317 per week. Family income is $1,546 per week. Crescent Head is ranked #5,918 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Crescent Head?

Median rent in Crescent Head NSW is $320 per week ($1,387 per month). Rent represents 24.3% of household income, which is considered affordable. Crescent Head ranks #4,051 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Crescent Head?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Crescent Head NSW is $1,591. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Crescent Head?

The median age in Crescent Head NSW is 50 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Crescent Head a good suburb to live in?

Crescent Head is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,633. The median income is $674/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (24.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 11115. All dollar figures in AUD.