Batemans Bay vs Catalina

In Batemans Bay, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In Catalina, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Batemans Bay tends to suit renters and people living alone.

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

Catalina

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 40%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (50% vs 25%)
  • carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 98/100)
  • But Batemans Bay has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Catalina

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($265,000 vs $737,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (32% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Batemans Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($285/wk vs $355/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Catalina

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (37/100 vs 4/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (234 min vs 239 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (282 km vs 285.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Batemans Bay has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • Catalina is more walkable (37/100 vs 4/100)

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

Investors

Catalina

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.1% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Batemans Bay Catalina
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.

Batemans Bay Catalina
Walkability 4 / 37
Batemans Bay — Walkability: 4/100 Catalina — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 2 / 31
Batemans Bay — Safety: 2/100 Catalina — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 22 / 10
Batemans Bay — Low fire risk: 22/100 Catalina — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Catalina has more residents (2,522 vs 1,573); Catalina has higher household incomes ($58,760 vs $41,132).

Batemans Bay Catalina
Population 1,573 2,522
+60% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +8.1%
Median age 53
same for both
Median household income $41,132/yr $58,760/yr
+43% vs other
Median weekly rent $285/wk $355/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Batemans Bay Catalina
0-4 4.6% / 4.4%
Batemans Bay — 0-4: 4.6% Catalina — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 7.1% / 11.8%
Batemans Bay — 5-14: 7.1% Catalina — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 2.9% / 5.4%
Batemans Bay — 15-19: 2.9% Catalina — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 4.3% / 3.4%
Batemans Bay — 20-24: 4.3% Catalina — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 11.1% / 7.8%
Batemans Bay — 25-34: 11.1% Catalina — 25-34: 7.8%
35-44 8.5% / 9.0%
Batemans Bay — 35-44: 8.5% Catalina — 35-44: 9.0%
45-54 13.0% / 10.1%
Batemans Bay — 45-54: 13.0% Catalina — 45-54: 10.1%
55-64 14.9% / 14.2%
Batemans Bay — 55-64: 14.9% Catalina — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 16.2% / 16.8%
Batemans Bay — 65-74: 16.2% Catalina — 65-74: 16.8%
75-84 13.0% / 10.8%
Batemans Bay — 75-84: 13.0% Catalina — 75-84: 10.8%
85+ 4.5% / 6.4%
Batemans Bay — 85+: 4.5% Catalina — 85+: 6.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Batemans Bay 67.1% lone person
Batemans Bay — Lone Person: 67.1% Batemans Bay — Couple Families: 11.1% Batemans Bay — One Parent Families: 13.5% Batemans Bay — Group Household: 6.7% Batemans Bay — Other Families: 1.7%
Catalina 44.8% lone person
Catalina — Lone Person: 44.8% Catalina — Couple Families: 30.3% Catalina — One Parent Families: 20.0% Catalina — Group Household: 3.9% Catalina — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Batemans Bay 57.5% renting
Batemans Bay — Owned Outright: 33.0% Batemans Bay — Mortgage: 9.4% Batemans Bay — Renting: 57.5%
Catalina 25.1% renting
Catalina — Owned Outright: 50.7% Catalina — Mortgage: 24.1% Catalina — Renting: 25.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Batemans Bay Catalina
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 17.8%
Batemans Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Catalina — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 6.1%
Batemans Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Catalina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Bachelor Degree 5.3% / 5.2%
Batemans Bay — Bachelor Degree: 5.3% Catalina — Bachelor Degree: 5.2%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 2.0%
Batemans Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Catalina — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.5%
Batemans Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Catalina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Batemans Bay Catalina
England 4.8% / 4.8%
Batemans Bay — England: 4.8% Catalina — England: 4.8%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.3%
Batemans Bay — New Zealand: 1.7% Catalina — New Zealand: 1.3%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.7%
Batemans Bay — Scotland: 0.6% Catalina — Scotland: 0.7%
Nepal 1.1% / —
Batemans Bay — Nepal: 1.1% Catalina — Nepal: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.4% / 0.6%
Batemans Bay — Netherlands: 0.4% Catalina — Netherlands: 0.6%
India 0.9% / —
Batemans Bay — India: 0.9% Catalina — India: not among its largest
South Africa 0.6% / 0.3%
Batemans Bay — South Africa: 0.6% Catalina — South Africa: 0.3%
Germany — / 0.6%
Batemans Bay — Germany: not among its largest Catalina — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Batemans Bay 39.9% houses
Batemans Bay — Houses: 39.9% Batemans Bay — Flats / Apartments: 44.8% Batemans Bay — Townhouses: 15.4%
Catalina 86.9% houses
Catalina — Houses: 86.9% Catalina — Flats / Apartments: 2.8% Catalina — Townhouses: 10.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Batemans Bay Catalina
Median house price $755,000 $717,500
Median unit price $510,000 —
Median land price $737,500 $265,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 66 days
from 26 sales
 56 days
from 42 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.

Batemans Bay Catalina
2 bed $562K / $580K
Batemans Bay — 2 bed: $562K (14 sales) Catalina — 2 bed: $580K (7 sales)

14 vs 7 sales

3 bed $718K / $690K
Batemans Bay — 3 bed: $718K (20 sales) Catalina — 3 bed: $690K (48 sales)

20 vs 48 sales

4 bed $895K / $751K
Batemans Bay — 4 bed: $895K (12 sales) Catalina — 4 bed: $751K (38 sales)

12 vs 38 sales

Zoning mix

Batemans Bay has more rural and farming land (38% vs 0%); Batemans Bay has more land zoned for conservation (55% vs 22%).

Batemans Bay Catalina
Residential 3% 57%
Environmental 55% 22%
Rural and farming 38% 0%
Parks and recreation 1% 20%
Industrial 2% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 0%
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

Batemans Bay Catalina
New dwellings approved 211
across Eurobodalla
same for both
Approvals change year on year -9%
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.

Batemans Bay Catalina
Houses 3.3%
$535/wk on $850K
 3.3%
$550/wk on $855K
Units 2.6%
$450/wk on $890K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Batemans Bay Catalina
House price Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Income Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 62% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 1% of NSW —

Liveability

Catalina is more walkable (37 vs 4); Catalina scores higher overall (16 vs 7).

Batemans Bay Catalina
Grade D
same for both
Score 7/100 16/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Batemans Bay carries more crime risk (98 vs 69); Catalina carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 78).

Batemans Bay Catalina
Bushfire High
78/100
 High
90/100
Crime High
98/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
84/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Batemans Bay Catalina
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Batemans Bay Catalina
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 22 1
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 0 1
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 8 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 3 0
Waterways 6 5

Mobility

Batemans Bay sits further from the CBD (285.8 km vs 282 km).

Batemans Bay Catalina
Walkability score 4/100 37/100
Distance to Sydney 285.8 km
+1% vs other
 282 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 239 min 234 min
Public transport score 61/100
Bus
 55/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 24.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 19.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2536
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2536
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.

Batemans Bay Catalina
Car (driver) 70.3% / 79.2%
Batemans Bay — Car (driver): 70.3% Catalina — Car (driver): 79.2%
Car (passenger) 8.4% / 8.7%
Batemans Bay — Car (passenger): 8.4% Catalina — Car (passenger): 8.7%
Walked Only 13.8% / 1.3%
Batemans Bay — Walked Only: 13.8% Catalina — Walked Only: 1.3%
Worked from Home 6.3% / 8.8%
Batemans Bay — Worked from Home: 6.3% Catalina — Worked from Home: 8.8%
Bicycle 1.2% / 1.5%
Batemans Bay — Bicycle: 1.2% Catalina — Bicycle: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.2%).

Setting

Batemans Bay Catalina
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
4.1 km to a named beach
 1.3 km
1.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Batemans Bay Catalina
Connectivity score 60/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
2,023 premises
 42%
1,300 premises

Climate

Batemans Bay Catalina
Annual rainfall 914 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Batemans Bay Catalina
Average residential rate $1,246/yr
same for both
Council Eurobodalla
same for both

Federal electorate

Batemans Bay Catalina
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Batemans Bay Catalina
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Batemans Bay

Affordable Apartments Coastal Retirees Rural

Catalina

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Batemans Bay

Batemans Bay vs Batehaven Batemans Bay vs Long Beach Batemans Bay vs Surfside Batemans Bay vs North Batemans Bay Batemans Bay vs Nelligen Batemans Bay vs Mogo

Other comparisons with Catalina

Catalina vs Batehaven Catalina vs Mogo
Full data on Batemans Bay Full data on Catalina
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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