Economy, jobs and prices in Central Coast, Australia: official figures
The median total income of residents of the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) who had income was $55,035 a year in 2022-23 (before tax, excluding government pensions and allowances), 6th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $58,216. Boundary: the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the median wage in Central Coast?
The median employee income in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) was $59,399 for the year 2022-23, 10th lowest of 26 areas; the Australian median was $61,966.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median household income in Central Coast?
The median equivalised household income in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) was $947 a week at the 2021 Census (household income adjusted for household size), 4th lowest of 26 areas; for Australia it was $1,070.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Central Coast?
The unemployment rate in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) was 4.7% at the 2021 Census (census night, 10 August 2021), joint 9th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (5.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the labour force participation rate in Central Coast?
55.7% of residents of the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) aged 15 and over were in the labour force (working or looking for work) at the 2021 Census, the lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (61.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Central Coast?
Of the 150,834 employed residents of the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) at the 2021 Census, the largest industries were health care and social assistance (17.8%; 14.5% nationally), construction (11.5%) and retail trade (10.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Central Coast?
27,066 businesses were registered in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) at 30 June 2025, which is 76 for every 1,000 residents (4th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 99); 55% of them had no employees.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many new homes were approved in Central Coast in 2024-25?
Building approvals in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) in 2024-25 covered 1,225 new dwellings (3.4 per 1,000 residents; Australia 6.8) and building work worth $1,056 million in total.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyWhat is the median house price in Central Coast?
The median price of an established house sold in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) in 2023-24 was $949,500, 12th highest of 26 areas (Australia $780,000); the median price of an attached dwelling (such as a unit or townhouse) was $680,000.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people rent in Central Coast?
8.7% of occupied homes in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) were flats or apartments at the 2021 Census (Australia 14.2%), and 27.5% of homes were rented (Australia 30.6%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Central Coast do not own a car?
6.5% of households in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) had no motor vehicle at the 2021 Census, 13th lowest of 26 areas (Australia 7.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many solar panels were installed in Central Coast in 2024?
4,491 small-scale solar panel systems were installed in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) in 2024, 12.6 per 1,000 residents (Australia 11.7).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Central Coast compares with other cities in Australia
Unemployment rate, 2021 Census (2021 Census (10 August 2021))
Central Coast ranks 21 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Wollongong | 4.9% |
| 19 | Newcastle | 4.9% |
| 20 | Newcastle-Maitland | 4.8% |
| 21 | Central Coast | 4.7% |
| 22 | Greater Wollongong | 4.7% |
| 23 | Ballarat | 4.7% |
| 24 | Albury-Wodonga | 4.6% |
Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 (2022-23)
Central Coast ranks 21 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Median total income of income earners, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Ballarat | $55,825 |
| 19 | Toowoomba | $55,551 |
| 20 | Cairns | $55,547 |
| 21 | Central Coast | $55,035 |
| 22 | Bendigo | $55,007 |
| 23 | Gold Coast | $53,824 |
| 24 | Sunshine Coast | $52,638 |
Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 (30 June 2025)
Central Coast ranks 23 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Businesses per 1,000 residents, 30 June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Greater Darwin | 79 |
| 21 | Canberra | 76 |
| 22 | Greater Hobart | 76 |
| 23 | Central Coast | 76 |
| 24 | Wollongong | 73 |
| 25 | Bendigo | 72 |
| 26 | Townsville | 64 |
More on Central Coast: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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