Norah Head, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Norah Head NSW is 1,149 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Norah Head is $811 per week ($42,172 per year). Median rent in Norah Head is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Norah Head has a median age of 51 years, older than the national median of 38. Norah Head has a population density of 270 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Norah Head is England. The most common religion is No religion (35.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Greek. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Norah Head is $2,167.

There were 14 recorded offences in Norah Head in 2025-26, a rate of 12 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (5 offences).

Population
1,149
Census 2021
Median income
$811/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$400/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
51years
Census 2021

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

Norah Head vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Norah Head is $811 a week, 6% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 899th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $400 a week, $15 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 23.4% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 51, 8 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.
MeasureNorah HeadTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$811/wk$765/wk +6%$766/wk
Household income$1,711/wk$1,704/wk +0%$1,637/wk
Rent$400/wk$385/wk +4%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,167/mo$1,965/mo +10%$1,733/mo
Median age5143 +8 yrs42
Rent share of household income23.4%22.6% +0.8 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 Norah Head, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Norah Head Population

1,149 residents at the 2021 Census.

Norah Head Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$811/wk
$42,172 per year
Ranked 3,416 of 14,663
Median Rent
$400/wk
$1,733 per month
Ranked 1,854 of 14,663
Median Age
51years
13 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,167/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Norah Head Rent Prices & Affordability

23% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,711/wk
Median rent $400/wk
Rent to income 23.4%

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

Median rent in Norah Head against your income

About $7,414 a month
Median rent $400/wk
Left after rent $1,311/wk
Rent share 23.4%

Norah Head 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 Norah Head, with a map

Norah Head Map

Norah Head, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
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People in Norah Head

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (565) Female 50.9% (585)

Population Density

270
people per km²
1,149 people · 4.2 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$2,103
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
2.8%
Scotland
1.0%
New Zealand
0.8%
Italy
0.6%
China
0.4%
United States of America
0.4%
Greece
0.3%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Greek
0.7%
Spanish
0.6%
Italian
0.5%
Malayalam
0.3%
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

Australian
45.7%
English
43.2%
Irish
13.2%
Scottish
11.3%
Australian Aboriginal
5.0%
Italian
3.5%
German
3.4%
Maltese
1.7%
Russian
1.1%
Greek
0.8%
Indian
0.6%

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
35.2%
Catholic
26.7%
Anglican
18.1%
Not stated
7.0%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.3%
Christian (other)
2.0%
Uniting Church
1.6%
Baptist
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

5.1%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
53.2% 519
Separated
3.2% 31
Divorced
9.7% 95
Widowed
9.9% 97
Never married
23.9% 233

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
34.3%
Couple: children under 15
31.8%
Couple: no children under 15
20.6%
One parent: children under 15
7.4%
One parent: no children under 15
5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
22.9%
2 persons
36.7%
3 persons
15.9%
4 persons
16.7%
5 persons
5.6%
6+ persons
2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Norah Head

Housing Tenure

Of the 420 occupied private dwellings in Norah Head at the 2021 Census, 18.3% were rented, 47.4% owned outright and 32.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.4% 6 dwellings
Owned outright
47.4% 199 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
32.1% 135 dwellings
Rented
18.3% 77 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
94.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.2%
2 bedrooms
10.5%
3 bedrooms
35.4%
4 bedrooms
39.3%
5 bedrooms
11.7%
6+ bedrooms
1.0%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
10.4%
$800-$999/mo
6.6%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
13.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
17.0%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
22.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
15.1%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
15.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
3.1%
1 vehicle
31.1%
2 vehicles
39.2%
3 vehicles
17.0%
4+ vehicles
9.6%

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

Work, income and education in Norah Head

Employment

Employed full-time
29.8% 257 people
Employed part-time
19.7% 170 people
Unemployed
2.0% 17 people
Not in labour force
48.6% 419 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
28.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
19.9%
Managers
15.3%
Clerical & Administrative
13.0%
Community & Personal Service
11.8%
Sales Workers
5.8%
Labourers
3.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.9%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.0%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
5.0%
$500-$649/wk
4.7%
$650-$799/wk
5.5%
$800-$999/wk
7.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
11.3%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
3.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.9%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
9.4%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
9.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.4%
$4,000+/wk
15.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.8%
$150-$299/wk
5.3%
$300-$399/wk
6.1%
$400-$499/wk
3.8%
$500-$649/wk
4.6%
$650-$799/wk
8.6%
$800-$999/wk
14.2%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
3.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
9.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.4%
$3,500+/wk
4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
68.7%
Did not go to work
22.8%
Car (passenger)
4.4%
Truck
1.8%
Walked only
1.3%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.0%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
45.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
40.8%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.7%

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
43.2%
Bachelor Degree
23.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.3%
Postgraduate Degree
7.2%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.1%
Certificate I/II
2.2%

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

Field of Study

Engineering
20.6%
Management & Commerce
16.3%
Health
15.0%
Education
13.8%
Architecture & Building
13.4%
Society & Culture
9.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
3.8%
Creative Arts
3.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.5%
Agriculture & Environment
0.9%
Information Technology
0.9%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Catholic
25.7%
Secondary: Catholic
16.6%
Primary: Government
16.0%
Vocational Education
11.2%
Secondary: Government
11.2%
Pre-school
9.6%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.7%

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
86.8%
Has need for assistance
9.1%
Need for assistance not stated
3.7%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
104
Asthma
51
Arthritis
39
Heart disease
39
Diabetes
37
Lung condition
31
Cancer
26
Kidney disease
20
Stroke
16
Dementia
10

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
12.4% 115
Did not provide
87.6% 815

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
15.4% 144
Not a volunteer
84.6% 792

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.5% 23
Never served
97.5% 898

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
21.9%
1 child
5.7%
2 children
41.2%
3 children
20.0%
4 children
9.5%
5+ children
1.7%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
4
1951: 1960
8
1961: 1970
41
1971: 1980
17
1981: 1990
9
1991: 2000
10
2001: 2010
3
2011: 2015
3
2018
6

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

Population Mobility

16.4%
moved in the last year
33.0%
moved in the last 5 years
2.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
53.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
925
Moved from NSW
119
Moved: same area (SA2)
41
Moved from VIC
5

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.5%
5: 14 hours
27.6%
15: 29 hours
17.1%
30+ hours
11.0%
Did not do domestic work
25.9%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.4%
Step family: no other children
14.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Norah Head Crime Statistics

14 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
5
Other Against Property
5
Assault
2
Other Against Person
1
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

Suburbs near Norah Head

The closest suburb to Norah Head is Noraville, 1.6 km away.

Noraville
1.6 km away · income $729/wk · rent $370/wk
Canton Beach
1.9 km away · income $526/wk · rent $300/wk
Toukley
3.7 km away · income $606/wk · rent $340/wk
Budgewoi
4.6 km away · income $663/wk · rent $350/wk
Gorokan
6.4 km away · income $613/wk · rent $350/wk
Buff Point
6.7 km away · income $657/wk · rent $380/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Norah Head

What is the population of Norah Head NSW?

The population of Norah Head NSW is 1,149 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 270 people per km². Norah Head is ranked #3,773 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Norah Head?

The median personal income in Norah Head NSW is $811 per week, or $42,172 per year. The median household income is $1,711 per week. Family income is $2,103 per week. Norah Head is ranked #3,416 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Norah Head?

Median rent in Norah Head NSW is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Rent represents 23.4% of household income, which is considered affordable. Norah Head ranks #1,854 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Norah Head?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Norah Head NSW is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Norah Head?

The median age in Norah Head NSW is 51 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Norah Head a good suburb to live in?

Norah Head is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,149. The median income is $811/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.4% 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: 12983. All dollar figures in AUD.