Bateau Bay vs Killarney Vale

Killarney Vale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Bateau Bay. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Bateau Bay: a median of $1.23 million, against $954,000 in Killarney Vale. On these figures, Killarney Vale tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Killarney Vale

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 80%)
  • But Bateau Bay has more parks and reserves (12 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Killarney Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($953,500 vs $1,228,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Killarney Vale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 64/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (94.4 km vs 97 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bateau Bay has more units and townhouses to downsize into (20% vs 8%)
  • Killarney Vale is more walkable (81/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
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.

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Walkability 64 / 81
Bateau Bay — Walkability: 64/100 Killarney Vale — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 28 / 33
Bateau Bay — Safety: 28/100 Killarney Vale — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 30 / 67
Bateau Bay — Low fire risk: 30/100 Killarney Vale — Low fire risk: 67/100

Demographics

Bateau Bay has more residents (12,516 vs 7,491); Bateau Bay skews older (42 vs 39).

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Population 12,516
+40% vs other
 7,491
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +3.8%
Median age 42 39
Median household income $76,700/yr $79,248/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
0-4 5.9% / 7.0%
Bateau Bay — 0-4: 5.9% Killarney Vale — 0-4: 7.0%
5-14 13.3% / 13.6%
Bateau Bay — 5-14: 13.3% Killarney Vale — 5-14: 13.6%
15-19 5.3% / 5.3%
Bateau Bay — 15-19: 5.3% Killarney Vale — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.4% / 5.4%
Bateau Bay — 20-24: 4.4% Killarney Vale — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 10.8% / 13.5%
Bateau Bay — 25-34: 10.8% Killarney Vale — 25-34: 13.5%
35-44 12.5% / 12.3%
Bateau Bay — 35-44: 12.5% Killarney Vale — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 11.0% / 11.5%
Bateau Bay — 45-54: 11.0% Killarney Vale — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 12.2% / 11.5%
Bateau Bay — 55-64: 12.2% Killarney Vale — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 11.8% / 11.0%
Bateau Bay — 65-74: 11.8% Killarney Vale — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 7.9% / 5.7%
Bateau Bay — 75-84: 7.9% Killarney Vale — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 4.9% / 3.2%
Bateau Bay — 85+: 4.9% Killarney Vale — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bateau Bay 40.6% couple families
Bateau Bay — Couple Families: 40.6% Bateau Bay — Lone Person: 36.8% Bateau Bay — One Parent Families: 18.9% Bateau Bay — Group Household: 2.6% Bateau Bay — Other Families: 1.1%
Killarney Vale 39.3% couple families
Killarney Vale — Couple Families: 39.3% Killarney Vale — Lone Person: 30.6% Killarney Vale — One Parent Families: 23.9% Killarney Vale — Group Household: 4.3% Killarney Vale — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bateau Bay 25.2% renting
Bateau Bay — Owned Outright: 37.7% Bateau Bay — Mortgage: 37.1% Bateau Bay — Renting: 25.2%
Killarney Vale 27.2% renting
Killarney Vale — Owned Outright: 32.1% Killarney Vale — Mortgage: 40.7% Killarney Vale — Renting: 27.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 19.2%
Bateau Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Killarney Vale — Certificate III & IV: 19.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.3% / 7.3%
Bateau Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.3% Killarney Vale — Bachelor Degree: 7.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 6.8%
Bateau Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Killarney Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 1.3%
Bateau Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Killarney Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.1%
Bateau Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Killarney Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
England 4.0% / 2.8%
Bateau Bay — England: 4.0% Killarney Vale — England: 2.8%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.1%
Bateau Bay — New Zealand: 1.5% Killarney Vale — New Zealand: 1.1%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.4%
Bateau Bay — Scotland: 0.5% Killarney Vale — Scotland: 0.4%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.5%
Bateau Bay — Philippines: 0.4% Killarney Vale — Philippines: 0.5%
South Africa 0.4% / —
Bateau Bay — South Africa: 0.4% Killarney Vale — South Africa: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.4%
Bateau Bay — Malaysia: not among its largest Killarney Vale — Malaysia: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bateau Bay 79.5% houses
Bateau Bay — Houses: 79.5% Bateau Bay — Townhouses: 11.0% Bateau Bay — Flats / Apartments: 9.5%
Killarney Vale 91.5% houses
Killarney Vale — Houses: 91.5% Killarney Vale — Townhouses: 8.0% Killarney Vale — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Median house price $1,228,000 $953,500
Median unit price $625,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 132 sales
 27 days
from 83 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
2 bed $1.17M / $830K
Bateau Bay — 2 bed: $1.17M (16 sales) Killarney Vale — 2 bed: $830K (9 sales)

16 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1.11M / $940K
Bateau Bay — 3 bed: $1.11M (102 sales) Killarney Vale — 3 bed: $940K (91 sales)

102 vs 91 sales

4 bed $1.31M / $1.06M
Bateau Bay — 4 bed: $1.31M (111 sales) Killarney Vale — 4 bed: $1.06M (43 sales)

111 vs 43 sales

5 bed $1.53M / $1.2M
Bateau Bay — 5 bed: $1.53M (20 sales) Killarney Vale — 5 bed: $1.2M (11 sales)

20 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Bateau Bay has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 7%).

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Residential 63% 78%
Environmental 17% 7%
Parks and recreation 13% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 3%
Commercial 2% 1%
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

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
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.

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Houses 3.3%
$720/wk on $1.15M
 3.4%
$675/wk on $1.02M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
House price Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 63% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Killarney Vale is more walkable (81 vs 64); Killarney Vale scores higher overall (45 vs 36).

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Grade C
same for both
Score 36/100 45/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Bateau Bay carries more bushfire risk (70 vs 33).

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Bushfire High
70/100
 Low
33/100
Crime High
72/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
39/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bateau Bay

  • Bateau Bay Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • The Central Coast Montessori Primary School Independent · Primary at peers

Schools in Killarney Vale

  • Brooke Avenue Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Killarney Vale Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 6 0
Parks & reserves 12 6
Childcare 3 4
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 4 2
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Bateau Bay sits further from the CBD (97 km vs 94.4 km).

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Walkability score 64/100 81/100
Distance to Sydney 97 km
+3% vs other
 94.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 82 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 315.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 160.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2261
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2261
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.

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Car (driver) 64.2% / 68.7%
Bateau Bay — Car (driver): 64.2% Killarney Vale — Car (driver): 68.7%
Worked from Home 29.6% / 23.8%
Bateau Bay — Worked from Home: 29.6% Killarney Vale — Worked from Home: 23.8%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.0%
Bateau Bay — Car (passenger): 3.9% Killarney Vale — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.4%
Bateau Bay — Walked Only: 1.0% Killarney Vale — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 0.5% / 1.1%
Bateau Bay — Bus: 0.5% Killarney Vale — Bus: 1.1%
Train 0.5% / 0.5%
Bateau Bay — Train: 0.5% Killarney Vale — Train: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.7%).

Setting

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.0 km
1.1 km to a named beach
 2.6 km
2.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Connectivity score 97/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 92%
5,768 premises
 99%
3,257 premises

Climate

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
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)

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
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

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bateau Bay Killarney Vale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bateau Bay

Beach Coastal Parks Regional Centre River

Killarney Vale

Coastal Parks

More comparisons

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Bateau Bay vs Long Jetty Bateau Bay vs Tumbi Umbi Bateau Bay vs Forresters Beach Bateau Bay vs Shelly Beach

Other comparisons with Killarney Vale

Killarney Vale vs Berkeley Vale Killarney Vale vs Long Jetty Killarney Vale vs Tumbi Umbi
Full data on Bateau Bay Full data on Killarney Vale
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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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