Booker Bay vs Killcare

In both, most households own their home. In Booker Bay, about half of households are people living alone. In Killcare, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Killcare: a median of $1.9 million, against $1.61 million in Booker Bay, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Booker Bay tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Killcare suits couples.

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

Killcare

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 52%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (60% vs 43%)

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

First-home buyers

Killcare

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 41%)
  • has cheaper units ($823,250 vs $1,195,000)
  • But Booker Bay has cheaper houses ($1,610,000 vs $1,900,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Booker Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $445/wk)
  • But Killcare leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Booker Bay

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 44/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (80 min vs 93 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (86.1 km vs 94.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Booker Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 7%)
  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 44/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (36% vs 28%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Booker Bay Killcare
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.

Booker Bay Killcare
Walkability 65 / 44
Booker Bay — Walkability: 65/100 Killcare — Walkability: 44/100
Safety 54 / 63
Booker Bay — Safety: 54/100 Killcare — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 100 / 27
Booker Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Killcare — Low fire risk: 27/100

Demographics

Booker Bay has more residents (1,442 vs 517); Killcare has higher household incomes ($98,280 vs $63,336).

Booker Bay Killcare
Population 1,442
+64% vs other
 517
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.7% +9.3%
Median age 54 53
Median household income $63,336/yr $98,280/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $445/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Booker Bay Killcare
0-4 5.5% / 4.4%
Booker Bay — 0-4: 5.5% Killcare — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 8.6% / 12.6%
Booker Bay — 5-14: 8.6% Killcare — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 3.2% / 3.3%
Booker Bay — 15-19: 3.2% Killcare — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 2.5% / 3.9%
Booker Bay — 20-24: 2.5% Killcare — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 7.4% / 5.0%
Booker Bay — 25-34: 7.4% Killcare — 25-34: 5.0%
35-44 13.5% / 11.0%
Booker Bay — 35-44: 13.5% Killcare — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 9.8% / 12.0%
Booker Bay — 45-54: 9.8% Killcare — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 13.6% / 19.5%
Booker Bay — 55-64: 13.6% Killcare — 55-64: 19.5%
65-74 18.4% / 19.0%
Booker Bay — 65-74: 18.4% Killcare — 65-74: 19.0%
75-84 15.0% / 9.1%
Booker Bay — 75-84: 15.0% Killcare — 75-84: 9.1%
85+ 3.1% / —
Booker Bay — 85+: 3.1% Killcare — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Booker Bay 51.2% lone person
Booker Bay — Lone Person: 51.2% Booker Bay — Couple Families: 26.8% Booker Bay — One Parent Families: 15.8% Booker Bay — Group Household: 4.5% Booker Bay — Other Families: 1.7%
Killcare 36.4% lone person
Killcare — Lone Person: 36.4% Killcare — Couple Families: 45.0% Killcare — One Parent Families: 15.5% Killcare — Group Household: 3.1% Killcare — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Booker Bay 33.4% renting
Booker Bay — Owned Outright: 45.4% Booker Bay — Mortgage: 21.1% Booker Bay — Renting: 33.4%
Killcare 13.7% renting
Killcare — Owned Outright: 53.2% Killcare — Mortgage: 33.2% Killcare — Renting: 13.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Booker Bay Killcare
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 20.7%
Booker Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Killcare — Bachelor Degree: 20.7%
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 10.8%
Booker Bay — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Killcare — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 10.8%
Booker Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Killcare — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 7.5%
Booker Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Killcare — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 3.7%
Booker Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Killcare — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

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.

Booker Bay Killcare
England 5.3% / 9.7%
Booker Bay — England: 5.3% Killcare — England: 9.7%
New Zealand 2.4% / 3.5%
Booker Bay — New Zealand: 2.4% Killcare — New Zealand: 3.5%
Germany 0.3% / 1.0%
Booker Bay — Germany: 0.3% Killcare — Germany: 1.0%
South Africa 0.8% / —
Booker Bay — South Africa: 0.8% Killcare — South Africa: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.8%
Booker Bay — Italy: not among its largest Killcare — Italy: 0.8%
Greece — / 0.6%
Booker Bay — Greece: not among its largest Killcare — Greece: 0.6%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Booker Bay — Scotland: 0.5% Killcare — Scotland: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Booker Bay — Netherlands: 0.5% Killcare — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Booker Bay 51.5% houses
Booker Bay — Houses: 51.5% Booker Bay — Townhouses: 40.2% Booker Bay — Flats / Apartments: 8.3%
Killcare 92.8% houses
Killcare — Houses: 92.8% Killcare — Townhouses: 5.3% Killcare — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Booker Bay Killcare
Median house price $1,610,000 $1,900,000
Median unit price $1,195,000 $823,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 118 days
from 10 sales
 50 days
from 8 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.

Booker Bay Killcare
3 bed $1.4M / $1.5M
Booker Bay — 3 bed: $1.4M (14 sales) Killcare — 3 bed: $1.5M (7 sales)

14 vs 7 sales

4 bed $1.73M / $2.18M
Booker Bay — 4 bed: $1.73M (10 sales) Killcare — 4 bed: $2.18M (9 sales)

10 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Killcare has more land zoned for conservation (66% vs 9%).

Booker Bay Killcare
Residential 89% 29%
Environmental 9% 66%
Parks and recreation 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Booker Bay and 100% of Killcare. 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

Booker Bay Killcare
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.

Booker Bay Killcare
Houses 4.3%
$850/wk on $1.02M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Booker Bay Killcare
House price Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of NSW —

Liveability

Booker Bay is more walkable (65 vs 44); Booker Bay scores higher overall (62 vs 51).

Booker Bay Killcare
Grade B
same for both
Score 62/100 51/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Killcare carries more bushfire risk (73 vs 0).

Booker Bay Killcare
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
73/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
37/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
61/100
 Low
24/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Booker Bay Killcare
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

Booker Bay Killcare
Parks & reserves 0 1
Childcare 2 0

Mobility

Killcare sits further from the CBD (94.6 km vs 86.1 km).

Booker Bay Killcare
Walkability score 65/100 44/100
Distance to Sydney 86.1 km 94.6 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 80 min 93 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 24/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 42.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 7 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2257
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2257
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.

Booker Bay Killcare
Worked from Home 40.7% / 54.4%
Booker Bay — Worked from Home: 40.7% Killcare — Worked from Home: 54.4%
Car (driver) 52.5% / 38.7%
Booker Bay — Car (driver): 52.5% Killcare — Car (driver): 38.7%
Train 2.9% / 2.5%
Booker Bay — Train: 2.9% Killcare — Train: 2.5%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.9%
Booker Bay — Walked Only: 1.3% Killcare — Walked Only: 2.9%
Car (passenger) 1.8% / 1.5%
Booker Bay — Car (passenger): 1.8% Killcare — Car (passenger): 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.4%).

Setting

Booker Bay Killcare
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 274 m
1.9 km to a named beach
 2 m
2.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Booker Bay Killcare
Connectivity score 63/100 59/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
828 premises
 25%
444 premises

Climate

Booker Bay Killcare
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)

Booker Bay Killcare
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

Booker Bay Killcare
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Booker Bay Killcare
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Booker Bay

Coastal Outer Retirees Townhouses

Killcare

Acreage Coastal Outer Premium Professionals Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Booker Bay

Booker Bay vs Ettalong Beach Booker Bay vs Blackwall Booker Bay vs Daleys Point Booker Bay vs Pretty Beach Booker Bay vs Wagstaffe

Other comparisons with Killcare

Killcare vs Empire Bay Killcare vs Killcare Heights Killcare vs Daleys Point Killcare vs Pretty Beach Killcare vs Hardys Bay
Full data on Booker Bay Full data on Killcare
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or