New South Wales · Suburb Profile

Sawtell NSW — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Sawtell, New South Wales. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Sawtell NSW is 3,788 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Sawtell is $750 per week ($39,000 per year). Median rent in Sawtell is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Sawtell has a median age of 47 years, older than the national median of 38. Sawtell has a population density of 1020.7 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Sawtell is England. The most common religion is No Religion (48% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sawtell is $1,733.

There were 56 recorded offences in Sawtell in 2025-26, a rate of 15 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (22 offences).

Sawtell Map

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Sawtell Population

residents (Census 2021)

Sawtell Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$750/wk

$39,000 per year

#4521 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$380/wk

$1,647 per month

#2445 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

47years

9 years older than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$1,733/mo

Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.8 per bedroom

Sawtell Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.6% (1,842) Female 51.4% (1,946)

Population Density

1020.7

people per km²

3,788 people · 3.7 km²

Households

2.3

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$1,866

Family income/wk

Sawtell 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 & Locality (SAL)

Sawtell Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

64.7% 656 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

35.3% 358 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Sawtell Country of Birth

Australia

94.2%

England

4.1%

Canada

0.6%

Germany

0.4%

India

0.3%

Brazil

0.2%

Fiji

0.2%

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

Sawtell Religion

No Religion

47.7%

Catholic

19.2%

Anglican

16.3%

Not stated

7.5%

Christinty Prsbytrin Refrmd

3.2%

Uniting Church

2.4%

Christian (other)

2.1%

Pentecostal

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Sawtell Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

58.9%

Year 10 or equivalent

27.4%

Year 11 or equivalent

6.9%

Year 9 or equivalent

6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Sawtell Languages Spoken at Home

Other

28.3%

Japan

13.3%

Australian Indigenous

11.7%

Afrikaans

10.0%

French

10.0%

Malayalam

10.0%

Spanish

10.0%

IAL Punjabi

6.7%

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

Sawtell Employment

💼

Employed full-time

30.4% 875 people

⏰

Employed part-time

24.6% 709 people

🔍

Unemployed

2.8% 80 people

🏠

Not in labour force

42.2% 1,214 people

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

Sawtell Qualifications

Certificate III/IV

31.3%

Bachelor Degree

31.0%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

18.9%

Postgraduate Degree

10.3%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

5.7%

Certificate I/II

2.7%

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

Sawtell Occupation

Professionals

37.8%

Managers

14.3%

Community & Personal Service

14.1%

Technicians & Trade Workers

11.7%

Clerical & Administrative

10.2%

Sales Workers

5.2%

Labourers

5.0%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.7%

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

Sawtell Field of Study

Management & Commerce

19.1%

Health

17.3%

Society & Culture

14.0%

Education

12.3%

Engineering

9.9%

Architecture & Building

9.1%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

6.1%

Creative Arts

4.7%

Agriculture & Environment

4.3%

Natural & Physical Sciences

2.6%

Information Technology

0.7%

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

Sawtell Dwelling Types

Separate house

84.6%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

10.4%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Sawtell Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.2%

$1-$149/wk

0.6%

$150-$299/wk

2.0%

$300-$399/wk

2.5%

$400-$499/wk

8.4%

$500-$649/wk

7.1%

$650-$799/wk

8.2%

$800-$999/wk

6.0%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.7%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.1%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.4%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

10.6%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

6.7%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

5.2%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

3.5%

$4,000+/wk

8.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Sawtell Marital Status

💍

Married

46.9% 1,486

↔️

Separated

3.5% 112

📋

Divorced

12.1% 382

🕊️

Widowed

6.1% 193

👤

Never married

31.4% 994

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Sawtell Ancestry

English

35.2%

Australian

28.4%

Irish

11.3%

Scottish

9.6%

Other

4.3%

German

3.7%

Aboriginal Australianralian

2.6%

Italian

2.1%

Dutch

1.2%

French

0.7%

Polish

0.5%

Chinese

0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Sawtell School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

23.4%

Secondary — Government

18.0%

Vocational Education

11.8%

Pre-school

11.1%

Primary — Catholic

10.5%

Secondary — Catholic

9.6%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

8.3%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

7.2%

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

Sawtell Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

5.8% 413

✅

No need for assistance

94.2% 6,743

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

Sawtell Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

21.7% 647

—

Not a volunteer

78.3% 2,337

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Sawtell Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

6.5%

$300-$449/mo

2.2%

$450-$599/mo

2.5%

$600-$799/mo

4.0%

$800-$999/mo

4.0%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

13.7%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

20.9%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

23.1%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

13.7%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

9.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Sawtell How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

73.6%

Did not go to work

14.8%

Car (passenger)

5.3%

Walked only

3.4%

Bicycle

1.4%

Truck

0.6%

Motorbike/Scooter

0.5%

Other

0.3%

Bus

0.2%

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

Sawtell Car Ownership

0 vehicles

5.3%

1 vehicle

39.5%

2 vehicles

39.6%

3 vehicles

11.4%

4+ vehicles

4.3%

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

Sawtell Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

6.0%

2 bedrooms

23.3%

3 bedrooms

40.3%

4 bedrooms

25.0%

5 bedrooms

4.5%

6+ bedrooms

0.9%

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

Sawtell Population Mobility

16.0%

moved in the last year

41.3%

moved in the last 5 years

4.6%

unemployment rate (Census)

56.0%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Sawtell Indigenous Population

3.9%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

282

Indigenous residents

6,860

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Sawtell Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

340

Arthritis

209

Heart disease

144

Asthma

140

Lung condition

101

Diabetes

Cancer

Stroke

Kidney disease

Dementia

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

Sawtell Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

6.5%

$1-$149/wk

4.4%

$150-$299/wk

6.3%

$300-$399/wk

5.4%

$400-$499/wk

4.2%

$500-$649/wk

5.4%

$650-$799/wk

10.9%

$800-$999/wk

11.1%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

11.4%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

7.5%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.9%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.9%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

9.0%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

1.7%

$3,500+/wk

3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Sawtell Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

36.1%

Couple — no children

34.1%

Couple — no children under 15

14.1%

One parent — children under 15

8.6%

One parent — no children under 15

7.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Sawtell Military Service

🏅

Previously served

3.5% 104

👤

Never served

96.5% 2,886

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Sawtell Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

14.4% 428

—

Did not provide

85.6% 2,548

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Sawtell Children Ever Born

No children

26.1%

1 child

12.2%

2 children

32.5%

3 children

22.6%

4 children

5.1%

5+ children

1.4%

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

Sawtell When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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

Sawtell Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

21.5%

5–14 hours

32.5%

15–29 hours

17.7%

30+ hours

8.0%

Did not do domestic work

20.4%

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

Sawtell Household Size

1 person

31.8%

2 persons

36.6%

3 persons

13.3%

4 persons

11.9%

5 persons

4.9%

6+ persons

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Sawtell Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,953

Moved from NSW

285

Moved — same area (SA2)

191

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved from NT

Moved from overseas

Moved from ACT

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

Sawtell Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

85.6%

Step family — no other children

10.8%

Other couple — children only

1.4%

Blended family — no other children

1.1%

Intact family — other children present

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Sawtell Crime Statistics

Reported offences in 2025-26 — 56 total

Theft

Other Against Property

Property Damage

Assault

Other Against Person

Sexual Offences

Weapons

Offence trend by year:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR — bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Sawtell Schools

schools nearby

government

942

avg ICSEA score

1,915

total students

Mary Help of Christians Primary School Sawtell Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 490 students

1052

ICSEA

Coffs Harbour Bible Church School Independent

Combined · K-10 · 37 students

1021

ICSEA

Sawtell Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 293 students

1003

ICSEA

Toormina High School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 739 students

941

ICSEA

Toormina Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 174 students

922

ICSEA

Coffs Harbour Learning Centre Government

Secondary · U · 23 students

841

ICSEA

William Bayldon Public School Government

Primary · K-6 · 159 students

812

ICSEA

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

View all schools in Sawtell with map →

Sawtell Rent Prices & Affordability

27%

of income

Moderate

Household Income $1,405/wk

Median Rent $380/wk

Rent-to-Income 27.0%

Rent is between 25–35% of household income — moderate housing costs.

If you earn X in Sawtell

Your weekly income

≈ $6,088/month

Median rent $380/wk

Left after rent $1,025/wk

Rent share 27.0%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Hay (NSW)

Income: $669/wk Rent: $175/wk Save: $205/wk

Balranald

Income: $687/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $180/wk

Gilgandra

Income: $606/wk Rent: $200/wk Save: $180/wk

Bombala

Income: $725/wk Rent: $215/wk Save: $165/wk

Tumbarumba

Income: $677/wk Rent: $220/wk Save: $160/wk

Deniliquin

Income: $695/wk Rent: $230/wk Save: $150/wk

Clemton Park

Income: $634/wk Rent: $264/wk Save: $116/wk

Oberon

Income: $709/wk Rent: $280/wk Save: $100/wk

Sawtell vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in NSW

Balmain East

Pop: 1,900 Income: $1,550/wk Rent: $617/wk

Harden

Pop: 1,900 Income: $550/wk Rent: $220/wk

Mays Hill

Pop: 1,902 Income: $971/wk Rent: $435/wk

Brunswick Heads

Pop: 1,905 Income: $732/wk Rent: $440/wk

Jamberoo

Pop: 1,910 Income: $838/wk Rent: $498/wk

Batehaven

Pop: 1,911 Income: $595/wk Rent: $320/wk

Compare Sawtell

Sawtell vs Balmain East →Sawtell vs Harden →Sawtell vs Mays Hill →Sawtell vs Brunswick Heads →

Frequently Asked Questions About Sawtell

What is the population of Sawtell NSW?

The population of Sawtell NSW is 3,788 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 1020.7 people per km².Sawtell is ranked #2,010 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Sawtell?

The median personal income in Sawtell NSW is $750 per week, or $39,000 per year.The median household income is $1,405 per week.Family income is $1,866 per week.Sawtell is ranked #4,521 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Sawtell?

Median rent in Sawtell NSW is $380 per week ($1,647 per month).Rent represents 27.0% of household income, which is considered moderate.Sawtell ranks #2,445 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Sawtell?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Sawtell NSW is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Sawtell?

The median age in Sawtell NSW is 47 years.This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Sawtell a good suburb to live in?

Sawtell is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,788.The median income is $750/wk, which is below the NSW average of $781/wk.Rent affordability is rated as moderate (27.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Looking for schools, childcare centres, and playgrounds in this area? See kid.com.au for family facilities data.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13513. All dollar figures in AUD.