Booker Bay vs Wagstaffe

Booker Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 54 against 60 in Wagstaffe. In both, most households own their home. In Booker Bay, about half of households are people living alone. In Wagstaffe, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Wagstaffe: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.61 million in Booker Bay. On these figures, Booker Bay 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

Wagstaffe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 52%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Booker Bay has cheaper houses ($1,610,000 vs $2,013,000)
  • Wagstaffe leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 41%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Booker Bay has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 13%)
  • Wagstaffe leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Booker Bay

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 51/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (80 min vs 97 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (86.1 km vs 97 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Booker Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (65/100 vs 51/100)

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 Wagstaffe 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 Wagstaffe
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 Wagstaffe
Walkability 65 / 51
Booker Bay — Walkability: 65/100 Wagstaffe — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 54 / 62
Booker Bay — Safety: 54/100 Wagstaffe — Safety: 62/100
Low fire risk 100 / 32
Booker Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wagstaffe — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Booker Bay has more residents (1,442 vs 240); Wagstaffe has higher household incomes ($98,384 vs $63,336).

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Population 1,442
+83% vs other
 240
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.7% +8.1%
Median age 54 60
Median household income $63,336/yr $98,384/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $410/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
0-4 5.5% / 1.2%
Booker Bay — 0-4: 5.5% Wagstaffe — 0-4: 1.2%
5-14 8.6% / 10.0%
Booker Bay — 5-14: 8.6% Wagstaffe — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 3.2% / 5.0%
Booker Bay — 15-19: 3.2% Wagstaffe — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 2.5% / 1.2%
Booker Bay — 20-24: 2.5% Wagstaffe — 20-24: 1.2%
25-34 7.4% / 4.6%
Booker Bay — 25-34: 7.4% Wagstaffe — 25-34: 4.6%
35-44 13.5% / 7.1%
Booker Bay — 35-44: 13.5% Wagstaffe — 35-44: 7.1%
45-54 9.8% / 10.4%
Booker Bay — 45-54: 9.8% Wagstaffe — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 13.6% / 25.0%
Booker Bay — 55-64: 13.6% Wagstaffe — 55-64: 25.0%
65-74 18.4% / 21.7%
Booker Bay — 65-74: 18.4% Wagstaffe — 65-74: 21.7%
75-84 15.0% / 12.9%
Booker Bay — 75-84: 15.0% Wagstaffe — 75-84: 12.9%
85+ 3.1% / 1.2%
Booker Bay — 85+: 3.1% Wagstaffe — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.0%).

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%
Wagstaffe 57.1% lone person
Wagstaffe — Lone Person: 57.1% Wagstaffe — Couple Families: 34.7% Wagstaffe — One Parent Families: 8.2% Wagstaffe — Group Household: 0.0% Wagstaffe — 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%
Wagstaffe 13.2% renting
Wagstaffe — Owned Outright: 61.3% Wagstaffe — Mortgage: 25.5% Wagstaffe — Renting: 13.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 25.4%
Booker Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Wagstaffe — Bachelor Degree: 25.4%
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 7.5%
Booker Bay — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Wagstaffe — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.2%
Booker Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Wagstaffe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 13.8%
Booker Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Wagstaffe — Postgraduate Degree: 13.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 4.6%
Booker Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Wagstaffe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.4%).

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 Wagstaffe
England 5.3% / 4.6%
Booker Bay — England: 5.3% Wagstaffe — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 2.4% / 1.2%
Booker Bay — New Zealand: 2.4% Wagstaffe — New Zealand: 1.2%
Malaysia — / 2.5%
Booker Bay — Malaysia: not among its largest Wagstaffe — Malaysia: 2.5%
Philippines — / 1.7%
Booker Bay — Philippines: not among its largest Wagstaffe — Philippines: 1.7%
Germany 0.3% / 1.2%
Booker Bay — Germany: 0.3% Wagstaffe — Germany: 1.2%
South Africa 0.8% / —
Booker Bay — South Africa: 0.8% Wagstaffe — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.5% / —
Booker Bay — Scotland: 0.5% Wagstaffe — Scotland: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Booker Bay — Netherlands: 0.5% Wagstaffe — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

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%
Wagstaffe 98.1% houses
Wagstaffe — Houses: 98.1% Wagstaffe — Townhouses: 2.8% Wagstaffe — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Median house price $1,610,000 $2,013,000
Median unit price $1,195,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 118 days
from 10 sales
 120 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Wagstaffe has more land zoned for conservation (50% vs 9%).

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Residential 89% 49%
Environmental 9% 50%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Booker Bay and 100% of Wagstaffe. 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 Wagstaffe
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 Wagstaffe
Houses 4.3%
$850/wk on $1.02M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
House price Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 74% 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 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of NSW —

Liveability

Booker Bay is more walkable (65 vs 51).

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Grade B —
Score 62/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Wagstaffe carries more bushfire risk (68 vs 0).

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
38/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
61/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
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 Wagstaffe
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Childcare 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

Wagstaffe sits further from the CBD (97 km vs 86.1 km).

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Walkability score 65/100 51/100
Distance to Sydney 86.1 km 97 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 80 min 97 min
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 Wagstaffe
Worked from Home 40.7% / 65.1%
Booker Bay — Worked from Home: 40.7% Wagstaffe — Worked from Home: 65.1%
Car (driver) 52.5% / 27.9%
Booker Bay — Car (driver): 52.5% Wagstaffe — Car (driver): 27.9%
Walked Only 1.3% / 7.0%
Booker Bay — Walked Only: 1.3% Wagstaffe — Walked Only: 7.0%
Train 2.9% / —
Booker Bay — Train: 2.9% Wagstaffe — Train: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 1.8% / —
Booker Bay — Car (passenger): 1.8% Wagstaffe — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.1%).

Setting

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 274 m
1.9 km to a named beach
 187 m
910 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
Connectivity score 63/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
828 premises
 0%
193 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Booker Bay Wagstaffe
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

Wagstaffe

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Outer Professionals Quiet 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 Killcare Booker Bay vs Pretty Beach

Other comparisons with Wagstaffe

Wagstaffe vs Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe vs Pretty Beach
Full data on Booker Bay Full data on Wagstaffe
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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