Norah Head, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Norah Head NSW is 1,149 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Norah Head is $811 per week ($42,172 per year). Median rent in Norah Head is $400 per week ($1,733 per month). Norah Head has a median age of 51 years, older than the national median of 38. Norah Head has a population density of 270 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Norah Head is England. The most common religion is No religion (35.2% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Malayalam. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Norah Head is $2,167.

There were 14 recorded offences in Norah Head in 2025-26, a rate of 12 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (5 offences).

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

Norah Head Map

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Norah Head Population

1,149 residents at the 2021 Census.

Norah Head Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$811/wk

$42,172 per year

Ranked 3,416 of 14,663

Median Rent

$400/wk

$1,733 per month

Ranked 1,854 of 14,663

Median Age

51years

13 years older than the national median

Mortgage

$2,167/mo

Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.7 per bedroom

Norah Head Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (565) Female 50.9% (585)

Population Density

270

people per km²

1,149 people · 4.2 km²

Households

2.5

Avg household size

0.7

Persons per bedroom

$2,103

Family income/wk

Norah Head 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)

Norah Head Home Ownership

Of owner-occupied homes in Norah Head, 59.6% are owned outright and 40.4% have a mortgage.

Owned outright

59.6%

Owned with mortgage

40.4%

Rented homes are not included in this breakdown.

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

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
India

Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Norah Head Religion

No religion

35.2%

Catholic

26.7%

Anglican

18.1%

Not stated

7.0%

Presbyterian and Reformed

2.3%

Christian (other)

2.0%

Uniting Church

1.6%

Baptist

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Norah Head Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

45.4%

Year 10 or equivalent

40.8%

Year 9 or equivalent

8.2%

Year 11 or equivalent

5.7%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Malayalam
Greek
Italian
Spanish

Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Norah Head Employment

Employed full-time

29.8% 257 people

Employed part-time

19.7% 170 people

Unemployed

2.0% 17 people

Not in labour force

48.6% 419 people

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

Norah Head Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

43.2%

Bachelor Degree

23.0%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

18.3%

Postgraduate Degree

7.2%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

6.1%

Certificate I/II

2.2%

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

Norah Head Occupation

Professionals

28.0%

Technicians & Trade Workers

19.9%

Managers

15.3%

Clerical & Administrative

13.0%

Community & Personal Service

11.8%

Sales Workers

5.8%

Labourers

3.5%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

2.9%

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

Norah Head Field of Study

Engineering

20.6%

Management & Commerce

16.3%

Health

15.0%

Education

13.8%

Architecture & Building

13.4%

Society & Culture

9.7%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

3.8%

Creative Arts

3.1%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.5%

Agriculture & Environment

0.9%

Information Technology

0.9%

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

Norah Head Dwelling Types

Separate house

94.2%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

3.5%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Norah Head Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.0%

$300-$399/wk

1.8%

$400-$499/wk

5.0%

$500-$649/wk

4.7%

$650-$799/wk

5.5%

$800-$999/wk

7.9%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

9.4%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

11.3%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

3.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

3.9%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

9.4%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

9.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

7.9%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

3.4%

$4,000+/wk

15.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Norah Head Marital Status

Married

53.2% 519

Separated

3.2% 31

Divorced

9.7% 95

Widowed

9.9% 97

Never married

23.9% 233

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Norah Head Ancestry

Australian

45.7%

English

43.2%

Irish

13.2%

Scottish

11.3%

Australian Aboriginal

5.0%

Italian

3.5%

German

3.4%

Maltese

1.7%

Russian

1.1%

Greek

0.8%

Indian

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

Norah Head School & University Attendance

Primary — Catholic

25.7%

Secondary — Catholic

16.6%

Primary — Government

16.0%

Vocational Education

11.2%

Secondary — Government

11.2%

Pre-school

9.6%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

5.9%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Norah Head Need for Assistance

Needs assistance

9.3%

No need for assistance

90.7%

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

Norah Head Volunteering

Volunteer

15.4% 144

Not a volunteer

84.6% 792

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Norah Head Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

10.4%

$800-$999/mo

6.6%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

13.2%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

17.0%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

22.6%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

15.1%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

15.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Norah Head How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

68.7%

Did not go to work

22.8%

Car (passenger)

4.4%

Truck

1.8%

Walked only

1.3%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.0%

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

Norah Head Car Ownership

0 vehicles

3.1%

1 vehicle

31.1%

2 vehicles

39.2%

3 vehicles

17.0%

4+ vehicles

9.6%

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

Norah Head Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

2.2%

2 bedrooms

10.5%

3 bedrooms

35.4%

4 bedrooms

39.3%

5 bedrooms

11.7%

6+ bedrooms

1.0%

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

Norah Head Population Mobility

16.4%

moved in the last year

33.0%

moved in the last 5 years

2.9%

unemployment rate (Census)

53.6%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Norah Head Indigenous Population

5.2%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Norah Head Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

104

Asthma

Arthritis

Heart disease

Diabetes

Lung condition

Cancer

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

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

Norah Head Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

6.5%

$1-$149/wk

4.8%

$150-$299/wk

5.3%

$300-$399/wk

6.1%

$400-$499/wk

3.8%

$500-$649/wk

4.6%

$650-$799/wk

8.6%

$800-$999/wk

14.2%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.7%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.8%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

3.4%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

9.9%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

2.4%

$3,500+/wk

4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

Norah Head Family Structure

Couple — no children

34.3%

Couple — children under 15

31.8%

Couple — no children under 15

20.6%

One parent — children under 15

7.4%

One parent — no children under 15

5.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Norah Head Military Service

Previously served

2.5% 23

Never served

97.5% 898

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Norah Head Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance

12.4% 115

Did not provide

87.6% 815

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Norah Head Children Ever Born

No children

21.9%

1 child

5.7%

2 children

41.2%

3 children

20.0%

4 children

9.5%

5+ children

1.7%

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

Norah Head When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2018

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

Norah Head Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

18.5%

5–14 hours

27.6%

15–29 hours

17.1%

30+ hours

11.0%

Did not do domestic work

25.9%

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

Norah Head Household Size

1 person

22.9%

2 persons

36.7%

3 persons

15.9%

4 persons

16.7%

5 persons

5.6%

6+ persons

2.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Norah Head Where Residents Moved From

Same address

925

Moved from NSW

119

Moved — same area (SA2)

Moved from VIC

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

Norah Head Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

85.4%

Step family — no other children

14.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Norah Head Crime Statistics

14 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft

Other Against Property

Assault

Other Against Person

Property Damage

Total offences by year

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

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

Norah Head Schools

schools nearby

government

962

avg ICSEA score

1,039

total students

St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 545 students

1034

ICSEA

Toukley Public School Government

Primary · P-6 · 494 students

889

ICSEA

Aspect Central Coast School, Noraville Independent

Primary

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

All schools near Norah Head, with a map

Norah Head Rent Prices & Affordability

23% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,711/wk

Median rent $400/wk

Rent to income 23.4%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Norah Head against your income

Your weekly income

About $7,414 a month

Median rent $400/wk

Left after rent $1,311/wk

Rent share 23.4%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Moruya Heads

Income: $714/wk Rent: $350/wk $50/wk less rent

Dora Creek

Income: $726/wk Rent: $380/wk $20/wk less rent

Moonbi

Income: $660/wk Rent: $220/wk $180/wk less rent

Boorowa

Income: $685/wk Rent: $245/wk $155/wk less rent

Crescent Head

Income: $674/wk Rent: $320/wk $80/wk less rent

Braidwood

Income: $776/wk Rent: $345/wk $55/wk less rent

Blue Bay

Income: $731/wk Rent: $380/wk $20/wk less rent

Broulee

Income: $751/wk Rent: $380/wk $20/wk less rent

Norah Head vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Norah Head is $811 a week, 6% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 899th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $400 a week, $15 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 23.4% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 51, 8 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.
Measure	Norah Head	Typical NSW	Typical Australia
Personal income	$811/wk	$765/wk	$766/wk
Household income	$1,711/wk	$1,704/wk	$1,637/wk
Rent	$400/wk	$385/wk	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$2,167/mo	$1,965/mo	$1,733/mo
Median age	51	43	42
Rent share of household income	23.4%	22.6%	20.3%

Suburbs near Norah Head

The closest suburb to Norah Head is Noraville, 1.6 km away.

Noraville

1.6 km away · income $729/wk · rent $370/wk

Canton Beach

1.9 km away · income $526/wk · rent $300/wk

Toukley

3.7 km away · income $606/wk · rent $340/wk

Budgewoi

4.6 km away · income $663/wk · rent $350/wk

Gorokan

6.4 km away · income $613/wk · rent $350/wk

Buff Point

6.7 km away · income $657/wk · rent $380/wk

Compare Norah Head

Frequently Asked Questions About Norah Head

What is the population of Norah Head NSW?

The population of Norah Head NSW is 1,149 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 270 people per km².Norah Head is ranked #3,773 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Norah Head?

The median personal income in Norah Head NSW is $811 per week, or $42,172 per year.The median household income is $1,711 per week.Family income is $2,103 per week.Norah Head is ranked #3,416 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Norah Head?

Median rent in Norah Head NSW is $400 per week ($1,733 per month).Rent represents 23.4% of household income, which is considered affordable.Norah Head ranks #1,854 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Norah Head?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Norah Head NSW is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Norah Head?

The median age in Norah Head NSW is 51 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Norah Head a good suburb to live in?

Norah Head is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,149.The median income is $811/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk).Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.4% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12983. All dollar figures in AUD.