Poverty and living standards in Central Coast, Australia: official figures
The median weekly rent paid by households in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) was $400 at the 2021 Census (rents on census night, 10 August 2021), joint 9th highest of 31 areas; the national median was $375. Boundary: the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
What is the average mortgage repayment in Central Coast?
The median monthly mortgage repayment in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) was $2,000 at the 2021 Census (the national median was $1,863), joint 9th highest of 31 areas.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Central Coast have no income?
7.6% of residents of the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) had nil or negative personal income at the 2021 Census, 15th highest of 31 areas, below the national figure (8.7%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many renters in Central Coast are in rental stress?
42.0% of renting households in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) paid more than 30% of their income in rent at the 2021 Census (a common measure of rental stress), 3rd highest of 26 areas, above the national figure (32.2%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Central Coast are in mortgage stress?
14.7% of households with a mortgage in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) paid more than 30% of their income in repayments at the 2021 Census (mortgage stress), above the national figure (14.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Central Coast are on a low income?
26.0% of residents of the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) had a personal income of $1 to $499 a week at the 2021 Census, above the national figure (23.3%); 18.1% of households had an equivalised income of $1 to $499 a week, above the national figure (15.9%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Central Coast?
An estimated 802 people were homeless on census night 2021 in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales), which is 23 per 10,000 residents (the lowest of 26 areas; Australia 48 per 10,000).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Central Coast are overcrowded?
2.3% of occupied homes in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) needed at least one more bedroom for the people living there at the 2021 Census (Australia 3.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyIs Central Coast a disadvantaged area?
On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage (2021), the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) is in decile 7 of Australia, where decile 1 is the most disadvantaged tenth of areas and decile 10 the least.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many households in Central Coast are disadvantaged?
29.5% of households in the Central Coast Council (New South Wales) were in the most disadvantaged quarter of Australian households on the ABS Index of Household Advantage and Disadvantage (2021 Census).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Central Coast compares with other cities in Australia
Median weekly rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Central Coast ranks 9 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 | Median weekly rent, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Canberra | $450 |
| 7 | Sunshine Coast | $440 |
| 8 | Brisbane | $408 |
| 9 | Central Coast | $400 |
| 10 | Greater Wollongong | $400 |
| 11 | Newcastle | $400 |
| 12 | Perth | $400 |
Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Central Coast ranks 3 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 | Renting households paying over 30% of income in rent, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 42.6% |
| 2 | Gold Coast | 42.1% |
| 3 | Central Coast | 42.0% |
| 4 | Sunshine Coast | 39.1% |
| 5 | Wollongong | 37.1% |
| 6 | Melbourne | 36.0% |
| 7 | Greater Hobart | 35.4% |
Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Central Coast ranks 15 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 | Residents with nil or negative income, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Greater Wollongong | 7.9% |
| 13 | Wollongong | 7.9% |
| 14 | Gold Coast-Tweed Heads | 7.8% |
| 15 | Central Coast | 7.6% |
| 16 | Sydney | 7.4% |
| 17 | Cairns | 7.4% |
| 18 | Darwin | 7.4% |
More on Central Coast: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · 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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