Alison vs Mardi

Mardi is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 47 in Alison. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Alison, the large majority of households are couple families. In Mardi, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mardi: a median of $1.02 million, against $340,000 in Alison, though rent is higher in Alison. On these figures, Alison tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget, while Mardi suits families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Mardi

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Alison has cheaper houses ($340,000 vs $1,022,778)
  • Mardi leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 36%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mardi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $600/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Mardi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (32/100 vs 18/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (91.4 km vs 94 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Alison has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 15%)
  • Mardi is more walkable (32/100 vs 18/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Mardi

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-2.3% vs -10.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Alison and Mardi drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Alison Mardi
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Alison Mardi
Walkability 18 / 32
Alison — Walkability: 18/100 Mardi — Walkability: 32/100
Low fire risk 80 / 68
Alison — Low fire risk: 80/100 Mardi — Low fire risk: 68/100

Demographics

Mardi has more residents (3,598 vs 85); Alison rents higher ($600/wk vs $440/wk).

Alison Mardi
Population 85 3,598
+4133% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -10.5% -2.3%
Median age 47 37
Median household income $116,948/yr
+13% vs other
 $101,660/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+27% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alison Mardi
0-4 — / 5.6%
Alison — 0-4: not among its largest Mardi — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 12.9% / 15.3%
Alison — 5-14: 12.9% Mardi — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 9.4% / 7.8%
Alison — 15-19: 9.4% Mardi — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 8.2% / 6.6%
Alison — 20-24: 8.2% Mardi — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 8.2% / 11.9%
Alison — 25-34: 8.2% Mardi — 25-34: 11.9%
35-44 16.5% / 12.8%
Alison — 35-44: 16.5% Mardi — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 9.4% / 14.8%
Alison — 45-54: 9.4% Mardi — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 17.6% / 10.6%
Alison — 55-64: 17.6% Mardi — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 15.3% / 7.9%
Alison — 65-74: 15.3% Mardi — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 5.9% / 5.1%
Alison — 75-84: 5.9% Mardi — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ — / 1.6%
Alison — 85+: not among its largest Mardi — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alison 78.6% couple families
Alison — Couple Families: 78.6% Alison — Lone Person: 21.4% Alison — One Parent Families: 0.0% Alison — Group Household: 0.0% Alison — Other Families: 0.0%
Mardi 49.8% couple families
Mardi — Couple Families: 49.8% Mardi — Lone Person: 23.5% Mardi — One Parent Families: 22.4% Mardi — Group Household: 3.2% Mardi — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Alison 10.0% renting
Alison — Owned Outright: 50.0% Alison — Mortgage: 40.0% Alison — Renting: 10.0%
Mardi 30.1% renting
Mardi — Owned Outright: 29.2% Mardi — Mortgage: 40.7% Mardi — Renting: 30.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alison 81.2% houses
Alison — Houses: 81.2% Alison — Flats / Apartments: 18.8% Alison — Townhouses: 0.0%
Mardi 78.1% houses
Mardi — Houses: 78.1% Mardi — Flats / Apartments: 1.8% Mardi — Townhouses: 20.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Alison Mardi
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 16.1%
Alison — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Mardi — Certificate III & IV: 16.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 12.9% / 8.8%
Alison — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.9% Mardi — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Bachelor Degree 3.5% / 11.4%
Alison — Bachelor Degree: 3.5% Mardi — Bachelor Degree: 11.4%
Postgraduate Degree — / 2.6%
Alison — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Mardi — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.4%
Alison — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Mardi — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Property market

Alison Mardi
Median house price $340,000 $1,022,778
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 24 days
from 19 sales

Zoning mix

Alison has more rural and farming land (94% vs 21%); Mardi has more land zoned for conservation (31% vs 1%).

Alison Mardi
Rural and farming 94% 21%
Environmental 1% 31%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 27%
Residential 2% 18%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Alison Mardi
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Alison Mardi
Houses — 4.7%
$808/wk on $899K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Alison Mardi
House price Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 93% of NSW

Liveability

Mardi is more walkable (32 vs 18).

Alison Mardi
Grade — C
Score — 48/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Mardi carries more bushfire risk (32 vs 20).

Alison Mardi
Bushfire Low
20/100
 Low
32/100
Crime — Moderate
53/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Alison Mardi
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 8.0 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 6.6 km

Schools in Alison

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Mardi

  • St Peter's Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Alison Mardi
Parks & reserves 0 7
Childcare 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 0 11

Mobility

Alison sits further from the CBD (94 km vs 91.4 km).

Alison Mardi
Walkability score 18/100 32/100
Distance to Sydney 94 km
+3% vs other
 91.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min 78 min
Public transport score 22/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 62.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2259
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2259
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Alison Mardi
Car (driver) 73.3% / 61.3%
Alison — Car (driver): 73.3% Mardi — Car (driver): 61.3%
Worked from Home 26.7% / 29.2%
Alison — Worked from Home: 26.7% Mardi — Worked from Home: 29.2%
Car (passenger) — / 3.9%
Alison — Car (passenger): not among its largest Mardi — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Train — / 2.7%
Alison — Train: not among its largest Mardi — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only — / 2.0%
Alison — Walked Only: not among its largest Mardi — Walked Only: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.3%).

Setting

Alison Mardi
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.2 km 10.3 km

NBN connectivity

Alison Mardi
Connectivity score 30/100 67/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
28 premises
 42%
1,349 premises

Climate

Alison Mardi
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Alison Mardi
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Alison Mardi
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Alison Mardi
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Alison Mardi
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Alison

Affordable Professionals

Mardi

Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Alison

Alison vs Wyong Alison vs Jilliby Alison vs Warnervale Alison vs Wyong Creek

Other comparisons with Mardi

Mardi vs Wyong Mardi vs Ourimbah Mardi vs Tuggerah Mardi vs Wyong Creek Mardi vs Kangy Angy
Full data on Alison Full data on Mardi
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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