Boolaroo vs Cardiff

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Boolaroo: a median of $1.03 million, against $875,000 in Cardiff, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Cardiff 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

Cardiff

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Cardiff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($875,000 vs $1,032,500)

Weighs house prices, unit 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

They split

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

  • Boolaroo sits closer to the CBD (144.7 km vs 150.8 km)
  • Cardiff is more walkable (88/100 vs 58/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cardiff

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 58/100)

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

Investors

Boolaroo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (57.5% vs 8.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Boolaroo Cardiff
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.

Boolaroo Cardiff
Walkability 58 / 88
Boolaroo — Walkability: 58/100 Cardiff — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 7 / 13
Boolaroo — Safety: 7/100 Cardiff — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 63 / 100
Boolaroo — Low fire risk: 63/100 Cardiff — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cardiff has more residents (6,318 vs 1,636).

Boolaroo Cardiff
Population 1,636 6,318
+286% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +57.5% +8.4%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $78,208/yr $78,624/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+6% vs other
 $375/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Boolaroo Cardiff
0-4 6.0% / 6.3%
Boolaroo — 0-4: 6.0% Cardiff — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 11.4% / 11.4%
Boolaroo — 5-14: 11.4% Cardiff — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 4.8% / 5.4%
Boolaroo — 15-19: 4.8% Cardiff — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 6.1% / 6.5%
Boolaroo — 20-24: 6.1% Cardiff — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 15.0% / 15.3%
Boolaroo — 25-34: 15.0% Cardiff — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 12.8% / 14.2%
Boolaroo — 35-44: 12.8% Cardiff — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 11.3% / 11.9%
Boolaroo — 45-54: 11.3% Cardiff — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 12.8% / 10.5%
Boolaroo — 55-64: 12.8% Cardiff — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 10.3% / 9.5%
Boolaroo — 65-74: 10.3% Cardiff — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 7.5% / 6.9%
Boolaroo — 75-84: 7.5% Cardiff — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ 1.7% / 2.2%
Boolaroo — 85+: 1.7% Cardiff — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Boolaroo 37.9% lone person
Boolaroo — Lone Person: 37.9% Boolaroo — Couple Families: 34.0% Boolaroo — One Parent Families: 20.4% Boolaroo — Group Household: 5.7% Boolaroo — Other Families: 1.9%
Cardiff 39.1% lone person
Cardiff — Lone Person: 39.1% Cardiff — Couple Families: 34.8% Cardiff — One Parent Families: 19.4% Cardiff — Group Household: 5.0% Cardiff — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Boolaroo 30.7% renting
Boolaroo — Owned Outright: 32.2% Boolaroo — Mortgage: 37.1% Boolaroo — Renting: 30.7%
Cardiff 31.7% renting
Cardiff — Owned Outright: 30.7% Cardiff — Mortgage: 37.6% Cardiff — Renting: 31.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Boolaroo Cardiff
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 19.1%
Boolaroo — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Cardiff — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Bachelor Degree 9.0% / 10.7%
Boolaroo — Bachelor Degree: 9.0% Cardiff — Bachelor Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 7.1%
Boolaroo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Cardiff — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 2.7%
Boolaroo — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Cardiff — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.6%
Boolaroo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Cardiff — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Boolaroo Cardiff
England 2.4% / 2.1%
Boolaroo — England: 2.4% Cardiff — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.1%
Boolaroo — New Zealand: 1.3% Cardiff — New Zealand: 1.1%
India 0.6% / 0.8%
Boolaroo — India: 0.6% Cardiff — India: 0.8%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.6%
Boolaroo — Philippines: 0.3% Cardiff — Philippines: 0.6%
South Africa 0.7% / —
Boolaroo — South Africa: 0.7% Cardiff — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.4% / 0.3%
Boolaroo — Scotland: 0.4% Cardiff — Scotland: 0.3%
Germany — / 0.6%
Boolaroo — Germany: not among its largest Cardiff — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Boolaroo 89.3% houses
Boolaroo — Houses: 89.3% Boolaroo — Townhouses: 6.3% Boolaroo — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Cardiff 82.7% houses
Cardiff — Houses: 82.7% Cardiff — Townhouses: 11.0% Cardiff — Flats / Apartments: 6.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Boolaroo Cardiff
Median house price $1,032,500 $875,000
Median unit price $697,500 $757,500
Median land price $600,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 25 sales
 27 days
from 43 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.

Boolaroo Cardiff
2 bed $866K / $772K
Boolaroo — 2 bed: $866K (6 sales) Cardiff — 2 bed: $772K (22 sales)

6 vs 22 sales

3 bed $965K / $880K
Boolaroo — 3 bed: $965K (18 sales) Cardiff — 3 bed: $880K (61 sales)

18 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1.2M / $898K
Boolaroo — 4 bed: $1.2M (23 sales) Cardiff — 4 bed: $898K (21 sales)

23 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Cardiff has more industrially zoned land (28% vs 15%); Boolaroo has more land zoned for conservation (13% vs 1%).

Boolaroo Cardiff
Residential 54% 55%
Industrial 15% 28%
Environmental 13% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 5%
Parks and recreation 4% 10%
Commercial 2% 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

Boolaroo Cardiff
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Boolaroo Cardiff
Houses 4.1%
$750/wk on $949K
 4.3%
$700/wk on $837K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Boolaroo Cardiff
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW
same for both
Schools — Higher than 58% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW

Liveability

Cardiff scores higher overall (51 vs 33); Cardiff is more walkable (88 vs 58).

Boolaroo Cardiff
Grade C B
Score 33/100 51/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
same for both

Risk profile

Boolaroo carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0).

Boolaroo Cardiff
Bushfire Low
37/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
93/100
 High
87/100
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 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Boolaroo Cardiff
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 9.4 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.9% 1.4%

Schools in Boolaroo

  • Boolaroo Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Cardiff

  • St Kevin's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Cardiff High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Cardiff North Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Cardiff Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Boolaroo Cardiff
Supermarkets 1 2
Parks & reserves 1 4
Childcare 1 8
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 2 3
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

Cardiff sits further from the CBD (150.8 km vs 144.7 km).

Boolaroo Cardiff
Walkability score 58/100 88/100
Distance to Sydney 144.7 km 150.8 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 114 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 262.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2284
 0.7%
postcode 2285
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 2284
 50
postcode 2285

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.

Boolaroo Cardiff
Car (driver) 70.5% / 70.4%
Boolaroo — Car (driver): 70.5% Cardiff — Car (driver): 70.4%
Worked from Home 22.0% / 21.9%
Boolaroo — Worked from Home: 22.0% Cardiff — Worked from Home: 21.9%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.2%
Boolaroo — Car (passenger): 4.5% Cardiff — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.2%
Boolaroo — Walked Only: 1.8% Cardiff — Walked Only: 1.2%
Bus 1.2% / 1.3%
Boolaroo — Bus: 1.2% Cardiff — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.5%).

Setting

Boolaroo Cardiff
Elevation 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.8 km 7.6 km

NBN connectivity

Boolaroo Cardiff
Connectivity score 65/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
921 premises
 39%
3,699 premises

Climate

Boolaroo Cardiff
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Boolaroo Cardiff
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Boolaroo Cardiff
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Boolaroo Cardiff
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Boolaroo Cardiff
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Boolaroo

Large Blocks Quiet

Cardiff

Parks River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Boolaroo

Boolaroo vs Macquarie Hills Boolaroo vs Speers Point Boolaroo vs Teralba Boolaroo vs Argenton

Other comparisons with Cardiff

Cardiff vs Macquarie Hills Cardiff vs Glendale Cardiff vs Cardiff South Cardiff vs Garden Suburb Cardiff vs Cardiff Heights Cardiff vs Argenton
Full data on Boolaroo Full data on Cardiff
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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