Moving to Terrigal NSW 2260
What the official numbers say about living in Terrigal — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $520 a week, against a median household income of $2,056 a week.
About 75% of homes are owner-occupied and 24% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Terrigal grew 20% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (10,623 → 12,730 people).
Around 75% of households are families, averaging 2.6 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, South Africa; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Spanish, Italian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Terrigal sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (57% of workers), while 41% work from home.
Nearest train station: Gosford, 8.7 km west.
Nearest airport: Somersby Airfield, 15 km north-west.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 52 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 12 schools · 39 cafes & restaurants · 13 parks · 5 beaches — see them all on the Terrigal profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Terrigal High School 350 m · Terrigal Public School 550 m · Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School 1.9 km · Erina Heights Public School 2.4 km · Avoca Beach Public School 3.1 km · Wamberal Public School 3.7 km · Central Coast Grammar School 3.9 km · Central Coast Adventist School 4.1 km
Parks and reserves: Anniversary Avenue Reserve 300 m · Terrigal Rotary Park 500 m · Drummer Parry Park 700 m · Terrigal Lagoon Reserve 700 m · Benjamin Parker Reserve 1.7 km · Terrigal Haven 1.8 km · Rysdyk Parade Playground 1.8 km · Lett Park 2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Terrigal, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Laughing Kookaburra · Noisy Miner · Australian Magpie · Australian Pelican · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Terrigal, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrigal here | 12,730 | — | 10/10 | 37% |
| North Avoca | 2,318 | — | 10/10 | 45% |
| Wamberal | 6,991 | — | 10/10 | 39% |
| Avoca Beach | 4,708 | — | 10/10 | 47% |
| Matcham | 1,038 | — | 10/10 | 71% |
| Erina | 5,205 | — | 6/10 | 39% |
| Copacabana | 2,809 | — | 10/10 | 33% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Central Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Robertson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2260 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Terrigal profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $520 a week, and about 24% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 20% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 10,623 people to 12,730. It sits about 52 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Lisarow station is roughly 8.9 km away. Local government is Central Coast council, and the federal seat is Robertson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Terrigal vs Wamberal · Terrigal vs Avoca Beach.
Nearby guides: North Avoca · Wamberal · Avoca Beach · Matcham · Erina · Copacabana.
Keep an eye on Terrigal
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