Berkeley Vale vs Chittaway Bay

Berkeley Vale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Chittaway Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Berkeley Vale, about half of households are couple families.

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

Berkeley Vale

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Chittaway Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Berkeley Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 62/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Berkeley Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Berkeley Vale is growing faster (7.1% vs -2.0%)
  • Chittaway Bay returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
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.

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Walkability 72 / 62
Berkeley Vale — Walkability: 72/100 Chittaway Bay — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 50 / 47
Berkeley Vale — Safety: 50/100 Chittaway Bay — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 47 / 100
Berkeley Vale — Low fire risk: 47/100 Chittaway Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Berkeley Vale has more residents (8,951 vs 1,987); Chittaway Bay skews older (41 vs 36).

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Population 8,951
+78% vs other
 1,987
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.1% -2.0%
Median age 36 41
Median household income $93,132/yr
+5% vs other
 $88,036/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+10% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
0-4 7.2% / 6.2%
Berkeley Vale — 0-4: 7.2% Chittaway Bay — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 14.0% / 12.4%
Berkeley Vale — 5-14: 14.0% Chittaway Bay — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 6.1% / 5.5%
Berkeley Vale — 15-19: 6.1% Chittaway Bay — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.1% / 5.7%
Berkeley Vale — 20-24: 6.1% Chittaway Bay — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 14.0% / 12.1%
Berkeley Vale — 25-34: 14.0% Chittaway Bay — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 13.0% / 11.8%
Berkeley Vale — 35-44: 13.0% Chittaway Bay — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 10.9% / 13.5%
Berkeley Vale — 45-54: 10.9% Chittaway Bay — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 12.2% / 14.7%
Berkeley Vale — 55-64: 12.2% Chittaway Bay — 55-64: 14.7%
65-74 9.2% / 12.0%
Berkeley Vale — 65-74: 9.2% Chittaway Bay — 65-74: 12.0%
75-84 5.1% / 4.8%
Berkeley Vale — 75-84: 5.1% Chittaway Bay — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.4% / 1.5%
Berkeley Vale — 85+: 2.4% Chittaway Bay — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Berkeley Vale 47.2% couple families
Berkeley Vale — Couple Families: 47.2% Berkeley Vale — Lone Person: 27.8% Berkeley Vale — One Parent Families: 20.1% Berkeley Vale — Group Household: 3.5% Berkeley Vale — Other Families: 1.4%
Chittaway Bay 44.3% couple families
Chittaway Bay — Couple Families: 44.3% Chittaway Bay — Lone Person: 26.7% Chittaway Bay — One Parent Families: 23.2% Chittaway Bay — Group Household: 4.5% Chittaway Bay — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Berkeley Vale 21.5% renting
Berkeley Vale — Owned Outright: 30.7% Berkeley Vale — Mortgage: 47.8% Berkeley Vale — Renting: 21.5%
Chittaway Bay 22.2% renting
Chittaway Bay — Owned Outright: 34.5% Chittaway Bay — Mortgage: 43.3% Chittaway Bay — Renting: 22.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 21.8%
Berkeley Vale — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Chittaway Bay — Certificate III & IV: 21.8%
Bachelor Degree 8.2% / 8.2%
Berkeley Vale — Bachelor Degree: 8.2% Chittaway Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 6.5%
Berkeley Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Chittaway Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 2.3%
Berkeley Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Chittaway Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.5%
Berkeley Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Chittaway Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

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.

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
England 3.6% / 4.1%
Berkeley Vale — England: 3.6% Chittaway Bay — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.5%
Berkeley Vale — New Zealand: 1.7% Chittaway Bay — New Zealand: 1.5%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.6%
Berkeley Vale — Scotland: 0.4% Chittaway Bay — Scotland: 0.6%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.5%
Berkeley Vale — Philippines: 0.4% Chittaway Bay — Philippines: 0.5%
India 0.3% / 0.6%
Berkeley Vale — India: 0.3% Chittaway Bay — India: 0.6%
Thailand — / 0.6%
Berkeley Vale — Thailand: not among its largest Chittaway Bay — Thailand: 0.6%
Germany 0.4% / —
Berkeley Vale — Germany: 0.4% Chittaway Bay — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Berkeley Vale 89.8% houses
Berkeley Vale — Houses: 89.8% Berkeley Vale — Flats / Apartments: 6.9% Berkeley Vale — Townhouses: 3.3%
Chittaway Bay 96.5% houses
Chittaway Bay — Houses: 96.5% Chittaway Bay — Flats / Apartments: 1.7% Chittaway Bay — Townhouses: 1.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Median house price $985,000 $920,000
Median unit price $440,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 110 sales
 20 days
from 18 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.

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
2 bed $810K / $725K
Berkeley Vale — 2 bed: $810K (18 sales) Chittaway Bay — 2 bed: $725K (7 sales)

18 vs 7 sales

3 bed $918K / $890K
Berkeley Vale — 3 bed: $918K (95 sales) Chittaway Bay — 3 bed: $890K (41 sales)

95 vs 41 sales

4 bed $1.1M / $1.05M
Berkeley Vale — 4 bed: $1.1M (85 sales) Chittaway Bay — 4 bed: $1.05M (17 sales)

85 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Berkeley Vale has more industrially zoned land (21% vs 0%).

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Residential 48% 59%
Industrial 21% 0%
Environmental 20% 19%
Parks and recreation 7% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 1%
Commercial 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 100% of Berkeley Vale and 99% of Chittaway Bay. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
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.

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Houses 3.7%
$700/wk on $990K
 4.3%
$750/wk on $900K
Units 5.2%
$570/wk on $568K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of NSW —

Liveability

Chittaway Bay scores higher overall (55 vs 46); Berkeley Vale is more walkable (72 vs 62).

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Grade C B
Score 46/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
same for both

Risk profile

Berkeley Vale carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0).

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.4 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 0.7%

Schools in Berkeley Vale

  • TLK Youth College Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Berkeley Vale Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Chittaway Bay

  • Chittaway Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 6 3
Childcare 4 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 2 1
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 7 0

Mobility

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Walkability score 72/100 62/100
Distance to Sydney 90.4 km 90.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 244.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 77.2
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.

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Car (driver) 68.8% / 65.8%
Berkeley Vale — Car (driver): 68.8% Chittaway Bay — Car (driver): 65.8%
Worked from Home 24.8% / 27.0%
Berkeley Vale — Worked from Home: 24.8% Chittaway Bay — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 4.6%
Berkeley Vale — Car (passenger): 4.0% Chittaway Bay — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.1%
Berkeley Vale — Walked Only: 0.9% Chittaway Bay — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bicycle 0.2% / 1.0%
Berkeley Vale — Bicycle: 0.2% Chittaway Bay — Bicycle: 1.0%
Train 0.8% / —
Berkeley Vale — Train: 0.8% Chittaway Bay — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.8%).

Setting

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 5.7 km

NBN connectivity

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
4,107 premises
 100%
831 premises

Climate

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
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)

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
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

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

Federal electorate

Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Berkeley Vale

Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre River

Chittaway Bay

Large Blocks Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Berkeley Vale

Berkeley Vale vs Killarney Vale Berkeley Vale vs Tumbi Umbi Berkeley Vale vs Glenning Valley Berkeley Vale vs Chittaway Point Berkeley Vale vs Tuggerah Berkeley Vale vs Fountaindale

Other comparisons with Chittaway Bay

Chittaway Bay vs Chittaway Point Chittaway Bay vs Tuggerah
Full data on Berkeley Vale Full data on Chittaway Bay
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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