Central Coast, NSW
lively · beachy · polished · social
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Drive to the coast
2 min
By road
Nearest major hospital
20 min
By road
Airport access
1h 38m
By road
Schools access
Excellent
Average daytime temp
22.4°C
Rainfall
Wet
Terrigal is coastal living with very little pretence that you are escaping urban life altogether. The beach is central, but so are restaurants, bars, shops and a busy social scene, which gives the town more energy than many Central Coast suburbs.
Around 12,700 people live here and the population has risen by roughly 12% since 2016, so demand is visible in both the pace of development and the housing market. A median house price near $1.64 million and three-bedroom rents around $825 a week make it a premium move rather than an affordability play.
Day to day, families and professionals have strong school and shopping access, while the hospital is about 20 minutes away. The Skillion and the beach give locals easy outdoor options, but there is little rural space and not much sense of seclusion. Tourism adds another layer of activity, especially when the weather is good.
Sydney is around 1 hour 35 minutes by road and the airport a similar distance, close enough to keep metropolitan ties alive but far enough that frequent commuting can become tiring. Terrigal suits someone who wants a polished, sociable beach town and is comfortable with traffic, visitors and high housing costs as part of that choice.
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If coastal life needs to feel social and convenient rather than secluded, Terrigal has the right ingredients. Professionals, couples and families can have the beach, restaurants, shops and a walkable centre all close together. Anyone mainly chasing deep quiet or plenty of rural space will probably find the town too busy and built-up for what they have in mind.
Quiet is not a strength here, and tourism adds another layer of activity. Rural space is minimal, so this is not a move for acreage or seclusion. Sydney is relatively accessible by regional standards, but at around 1 hour 30 minutes by road it is still a significant daily commute.
Swim or surf at Terrigal Beach
Climb the Skillion for views
Enjoy the town's restaurants boutiques and rooftop bars
More from Londoner in Sydney
Looking for things to do in Terrigal in Central Coast, New South Wales? As a popular holiday destination, we’re lucky to have a local named Amy Butters to bring you this Central Coast guide.
Read the guideMedian house price
$1,640,000
48% above the NSW median
Median attached price (townhouse/apartment)
$1,260,000
Median weekly rent (3-bed house)
$825
≈ $3,575/month
Houses here typically sell from $1,400,000 to $1,965,000 (25th–75th percentile).
Attached properties typically sell from $1,062,000 to $1,459,000.
Sourced from NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January - March 2026 quarter
Healthcare access
Good
Shopping & everyday services
Excellent
10+ shopping centres within 20km — a real retail hub
Internet connection
Fixed line
Plus 82 more within 20km — showing the 8 closest.
Job market by industry
Healthcare — 13%
Largest share of local jobs
Employment figures cover this town's wider statistical region, not the town alone — you'll see the same figures for Avoca Beach and Long Jetty.
Terrigal (SAL 13820) · 2021 Census
The age profile is close to the national one, with 21.6% aged 65 or over against 17.2% and 17.9% children against 18.2%. Among households, home ownership is high at 74% of dwellings against 65.9% nationally.
Population
12,730
Population growth
+12.1%
Terrigal - North Avoca (SA2 102011039)
Median age
43 years
Labour force participation
60%
Growth is measured across the wider area named under the figure, which can be a different size to the town.
Share of total population in each band — rounding means these won't land on exactly 100%.
Couples are a share of total families; lone-person households are a share of total households — different bases, not one breakdown.
Median personal income
$906
Per week · ≈ $47,112/year
Median family income
$2,445
Per week
Median household income
$2,056
Per week
Personal is one person's income; family and household cover everyone living together — a single-income household will show a lower household figure than its highest earner's personal one. Personal income also covers every resident aged 15 and over, retirees included, so it reads low in a town with an older population even where household income is solid.
Owner-occupied
74%
Rented
24%
Born in Australia
74.4%
Born overseas
21.2%
Doesn't sum to 100% — people who didn't state a birthplace are excluded rather than redistributed.