Sawtell, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Sawtell NSW is 3,788 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Sawtell is $750 per week ($39,000 per year). Median rent in Sawtell is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Sawtell has a median age of 47 years, older than the national median of 38. Sawtell has a population density of 1,021 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Sawtell is England. The most common religion is No religion (45.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Japanese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sawtell is $1,733.

There were 56 recorded offences in Sawtell in 2025-26, a rate of 15 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (22 offences).

Population
3,788
Census 2021
Median income
$750/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$380/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
47years
Census 2021

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

Sawtell vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Sawtell is $750 a week, 2% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,158th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $380 a week, $5 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 27.0% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 47, 4 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.
MeasureSawtellTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$750/wk$765/wk −2%$766/wk
Household income$1,405/wk$1,704/wk −18%$1,637/wk
Rent$380/wk$385/wk −1%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$1,965/mo −12%$1,733/mo
Median age4743 +4 yrs42
Rent share of household income27.0%22.6% +4.5 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 Sawtell, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Sawtell Population

3,788 residents at the 2021 Census.

Sawtell Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$750/wk
$39,000 per year
Ranked 4,521 of 14,663
Median Rent
$380/wk
$1,647 per month
Ranked 2,445 of 14,663
Median Age
47years
9 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

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

Sawtell Rent Prices & Affordability

27% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,405/wk
Median rent $380/wk
Rent to income 27.0%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Sawtell against your income

About $6,088 a month
Median rent $380/wk
Left after rent $1,025/wk
Rent share 27.0%

Sawtell Schools

7
schools nearby
5
government
942
avg ICSEA score
1,915
total students
Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 490 students
1052
ICSEA
Coffs Harbour Bible Church School Independent
Combined · K-10 · 37 students
1021
ICSEA
Sawtell Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 293 students
1003
ICSEA
Toormina High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 739 students
941
ICSEA
Toormina Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 174 students
922
ICSEA
Coffs Harbour Learning Centre Government
Secondary · U · 23 students
841
ICSEA
William Bayldon Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 159 students
812
ICSEA

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

All schools near Sawtell, with a map

Sawtell Map

Sawtell, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Sawtell, New South Wales: 30.3665°S, 153.0921°E

Sawtell Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (7)

People in Sawtell

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.6% (1,842) Female 51.4% (1,946)

Population Density

1,021
people per km²
3,788 people · 3.7 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$1,866
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
3.6%
New Zealand
1.5%
South Africa
0.7%
Scotland
0.4%
Netherlands
0.3%
Thailand
0.3%
Canada
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

Japanese
0.4%
Spanish
0.3%
Thai
0.3%
French
0.3%
Afrikaans
0.2%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.2%
Tagalog
0.1%

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

Ancestry

English
47.5%
Australian
38.2%
Irish
15.2%
Scottish
13.0%
German
5.0%
Australian Aboriginal
3.5%
Italian
2.8%
Dutch
1.6%
French
1.0%
Polish
0.7%
Chinese
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
45.3%
Catholic
18.2%
Anglican
15.5%
Not stated
7.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
3.1%
Uniting Church
2.3%
Christian (other)
2.0%
Pentecostal
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

3.7%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
46.9% 1,486
Separated
3.5% 112
Divorced
12.1% 382
Widowed
6.1% 193
Never married
31.4% 994

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
36.1%
Couple: no children
34.1%
Couple: no children under 15
14.1%
One parent: children under 15
8.6%
One parent: no children under 15
7.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
31.8%
2 persons
36.6%
3 persons
13.3%
4 persons
11.9%
5 persons
4.9%
6+ persons
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Sawtell

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,559 occupied private dwellings in Sawtell at the 2021 Census, 32.5% were rented, 42.1% owned outright and 23.0% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.3% 20 dwellings
Owned outright
42.1% 656 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
23.0% 358 dwellings
Rented
32.5% 506 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.2% 18 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
84.6%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
10.4%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
6.0%
2 bedrooms
23.3%
3 bedrooms
40.3%
4 bedrooms
25.0%
5 bedrooms
4.5%
6+ bedrooms
0.9%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.5%
$300-$449/mo
2.2%
$450-$599/mo
2.5%
$600-$799/mo
4.0%
$800-$999/mo
4.0%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
13.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
20.9%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
13.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
9.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.3%
1 vehicle
39.5%
2 vehicles
39.6%
3 vehicles
11.4%
4+ vehicles
4.3%

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

Work, income and education in Sawtell

Employment

Employed full-time
30.4% 875 people
Employed part-time
24.6% 709 people
Unemployed
2.8% 80 people
Not in labour force
42.2% 1,214 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
37.8%
Managers
14.3%
Community & Personal Service
14.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
11.7%
Clerical & Administrative
10.2%
Sales Workers
5.2%
Labourers
5.0%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.7%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.2%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
2.0%
$300-$399/wk
2.5%
$400-$499/wk
8.4%
$500-$649/wk
7.1%
$650-$799/wk
8.2%
$800-$999/wk
6.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.4%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.6%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.2%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.5%
$4,000+/wk
8.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.4%
$150-$299/wk
6.3%
$300-$399/wk
5.4%
$400-$499/wk
4.2%
$500-$649/wk
5.4%
$650-$799/wk
10.9%
$800-$999/wk
11.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.5%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.9%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
9.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.7%
$3,500+/wk
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
73.6%
Did not go to work
14.8%
Car (passenger)
5.3%
Walked only
3.4%
Bicycle
1.4%
Truck
0.6%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.5%
Other
0.3%
Bus
0.2%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
58.9%
Year 10 or equivalent
27.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
6.7%

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
31.3%
Bachelor Degree
31.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.9%
Postgraduate Degree
10.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.7%
Certificate I/II
2.7%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
19.1%
Health
17.3%
Society & Culture
14.0%
Education
12.3%
Engineering
9.9%
Architecture & Building
9.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.1%
Creative Arts
4.7%
Agriculture & Environment
4.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.6%
Information Technology
0.7%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
23.4%
Secondary: Government
18.0%
Vocational Education
11.8%
Pre-school
11.1%
Primary: Catholic
10.5%
Secondary: Catholic
9.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
8.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
7.2%

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
88.8%
Has need for assistance
5.4%
Need for assistance not stated
5.7%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
340
Arthritis
209
Heart disease
144
Asthma
140
Lung condition
101
Diabetes
80
Cancer
67
Stroke
41
Kidney disease
34
Dementia
14

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.4% 428
Did not provide
85.6% 2,548

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
21.7% 647
Not a volunteer
78.3% 2,337

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
3.5% 104
Never served
96.5% 2,886

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
26.1%
1 child
12.2%
2 children
32.5%
3 children
22.6%
4 children
5.1%
5+ children
1.4%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
6
1951: 1960
28
1961: 1970
53
1971: 1980
62
1981: 1990
56
1991: 2000
35
2001: 2010
78
2011: 2015
37
2016
14
2017
14
2018
7
2019
15
2020
10

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

Population Mobility

16.0%
moved in the last year
41.3%
moved in the last 5 years
4.6%
unemployment rate (Census)
56.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,953
Moved from NSW
285
Moved: same area (SA2)
191
Moved from QLD
26
Moved from VIC
16
Moved from NT
8
Moved from overseas
8
Moved from ACT
4

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.5%
5: 14 hours
32.5%
15: 29 hours
17.7%
30+ hours
8.0%
Did not do domestic work
20.4%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.6%
Step family: no other children
10.8%
Other couple: children only
1.4%
Blended family: no other children
1.1%
Intact family: other children present
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Sawtell Crime Statistics

56 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
22
Other Against Property
13
Property Damage
7
Assault
6
Other Against Person
5
Sexual Offences
2
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Hay (NSW)
Income: $669/wk Rent: $175/wk $205/wk less rent
Balranald
Income: $687/wk Rent: $200/wk $180/wk less rent
Gilgandra
Income: $606/wk Rent: $200/wk $180/wk less rent
Bombala
Income: $725/wk Rent: $215/wk $165/wk less rent
Tumbarumba
Income: $677/wk Rent: $220/wk $160/wk less rent
Deniliquin
Income: $695/wk Rent: $230/wk $150/wk less rent
Clemton Park
Income: $634/wk Rent: $264/wk $116/wk less rent
Oberon
Income: $709/wk Rent: $280/wk $100/wk less rent

Suburbs near Sawtell

The closest suburb to Sawtell is Toormina, 1.4 km away.

Toormina
1.4 km away · income $590/wk · rent $335/wk
Boambee East
2.7 km away · income $706/wk · rent $410/wk
Boambee
4.9 km away · income $809/wk · rent $315/wk
North Boambee Valley
6.4 km away · income $655/wk · rent $465/wk
Coffs Harbour
6.5 km away · income $652/wk · rent $355/wk
Bonville
7.1 km away · income $733/wk · rent $465/wk

Compare Sawtell

Frequently Asked Questions About Sawtell

What is the population of Sawtell NSW?

The population of Sawtell NSW is 3,788 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,021 people per km². Sawtell is ranked #2,010 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Sawtell?

The median personal income in Sawtell NSW is $750 per week, or $39,000 per year. The median household income is $1,405 per week. Family income is $1,866 per week. Sawtell is ranked #4,521 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Sawtell?

Median rent in Sawtell NSW is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Rent represents 27.0% of household income, which is considered moderate. Sawtell ranks #2,445 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Sawtell?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sawtell NSW is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Sawtell?

The median age in Sawtell NSW is 47 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Sawtell a good suburb to live in?

Sawtell is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,788. The median income is $750/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (27.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13513. All dollar figures in AUD.