Boolaroo vs Teralba

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Teralba, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Teralba tends to suit 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

Teralba

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 54%)
  • carries lower crime risk (79/100 vs 93/100)

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

First-home buyers

Teralba

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($244,000 vs $697,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Teralba

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($363/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Boolaroo

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 17/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (114 min vs 119 min)
  • But Teralba sits closer to the CBD (140.4 km vs 144.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Boolaroo is more walkable (58/100 vs 17/100)
  • Teralba carries lower crime risk (79/100 vs 93/100)

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

  • Boolaroo returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.5%)
  • Teralba is growing faster (67.1% vs 57.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Boolaroo and Teralba 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 Teralba
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 Teralba
Walkability 58 / 17
Boolaroo — Walkability: 58/100 Teralba — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 7 / 21
Boolaroo — Safety: 7/100 Teralba — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 63 / 30
Boolaroo — Low fire risk: 63/100 Teralba — Low fire risk: 30/100

Demographics

Teralba has more residents (2,654 vs 1,636); Teralba has higher household incomes ($107,120 vs $78,208).

Boolaroo Teralba
Population 1,636 2,654
+62% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +57.5% +67.1%
Median age 39 37
Median household income $78,208/yr $107,120/yr
+37% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+9% vs other
 $363/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Boolaroo Teralba
0-4 6.0% / 8.1%
Boolaroo — 0-4: 6.0% Teralba — 0-4: 8.1%
5-14 11.4% / 12.1%
Boolaroo — 5-14: 11.4% Teralba — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 4.8% / 5.2%
Boolaroo — 15-19: 4.8% Teralba — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 6.1% / 4.8%
Boolaroo — 20-24: 6.1% Teralba — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 15.0% / 16.0%
Boolaroo — 25-34: 15.0% Teralba — 25-34: 16.0%
35-44 12.8% / 14.1%
Boolaroo — 35-44: 12.8% Teralba — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 11.3% / 10.8%
Boolaroo — 45-54: 11.3% Teralba — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 12.8% / 11.7%
Boolaroo — 55-64: 12.8% Teralba — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 10.3% / 8.5%
Boolaroo — 65-74: 10.3% Teralba — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 7.5% / 5.6%
Boolaroo — 75-84: 7.5% Teralba — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 1.7% / 3.8%
Boolaroo — 85+: 1.7% Teralba — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Boolaroo 34.0% couple families
Boolaroo — Couple Families: 34.0% Boolaroo — Lone Person: 37.9% Boolaroo — One Parent Families: 20.4% Boolaroo — Group Household: 5.7% Boolaroo — Other Families: 1.9%
Teralba 48.9% couple families
Teralba — Couple Families: 48.9% Teralba — Lone Person: 30.1% Teralba — One Parent Families: 16.1% Teralba — Group Household: 3.3% Teralba — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Teralba 22.7% renting
Teralba — Owned Outright: 27.8% Teralba — Mortgage: 49.5% Teralba — Renting: 22.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Boolaroo Teralba
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 20.5%
Boolaroo — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Teralba — Certificate III & IV: 20.5%
Bachelor Degree 9.0% / 9.3%
Boolaroo — Bachelor Degree: 9.0% Teralba — Bachelor Degree: 9.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 7.8%
Boolaroo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Teralba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 2.4%
Boolaroo — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Teralba — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.8%
Boolaroo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Teralba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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 Teralba
England 2.4% / 2.7%
Boolaroo — England: 2.4% Teralba — England: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.1%
Boolaroo — New Zealand: 1.3% Teralba — New Zealand: 1.1%
India 0.6% / 0.7%
Boolaroo — India: 0.6% Teralba — India: 0.7%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.4%
Boolaroo — South Africa: 0.7% Teralba — South Africa: 0.4%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.2%
Boolaroo — Scotland: 0.4% Teralba — Scotland: 0.2%
Germany — / 0.5%
Boolaroo — Germany: not among its largest Teralba — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

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%
Teralba 86.7% houses
Teralba — Houses: 86.7% Teralba — Townhouses: 7.1% Teralba — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Boolaroo Teralba
Median house price $1,032,500 $1,050,000
Median unit price $697,500 $244,000
Median land price $600,000 $550,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 25 sales
 23 days
from 24 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 Teralba
3 bed $965K / $875K
Boolaroo — 3 bed: $965K (18 sales) Teralba — 3 bed: $875K (18 sales)

18 vs 18 sales

4 bed $1.2M / $1.1M
Boolaroo — 4 bed: $1.2M (23 sales) Teralba — 4 bed: $1.1M (24 sales)

23 vs 24 sales

Zoning mix

Teralba has more land zoned for conservation (57% vs 13%); Boolaroo has more industrially zoned land (15% vs 3%).

Boolaroo Teralba
Environmental 13% 57%
Residential 54% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 22%
Industrial 15% 3%
Parks and recreation 4%
same for both
Commercial 2% 0%
Rural and farming 0% 2%
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 Teralba
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 Teralba
Houses 4.1%
$750/wk on $949K
 3.5%
$710/wk on $1.05M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Boolaroo Teralba
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 79% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW

Liveability

Boolaroo is more walkable (58 vs 17); Boolaroo scores higher overall (33 vs 28).

Boolaroo Teralba
Grade C D
Score 33/100 28/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Teralba carries more bushfire risk (70 vs 37); Boolaroo carries more crime risk (93 vs 79).

Boolaroo Teralba
Bushfire Low
37/100
 High
70/100
Crime High
93/100
 High
79/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Boolaroo Teralba
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 9.4 km
 None

Schools in Boolaroo

  • Boolaroo Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Teralba

  • Teralba Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Boolaroo Teralba
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 2 6

Mobility

Boolaroo sits further from the CBD (144.7 km vs 140.4 km).

Boolaroo Teralba
Walkability score 58/100 17/100
Distance to Sydney 144.7 km
+3% vs other
 140.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 114 min 119 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 66/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 22.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2284
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 2284
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.

Boolaroo Teralba
Car (driver) 70.5% / 70.8%
Boolaroo — Car (driver): 70.5% Teralba — Car (driver): 70.8%
Worked from Home 22.0% / 24.1%
Boolaroo — Worked from Home: 22.0% Teralba — Worked from Home: 24.1%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 3.5%
Boolaroo — Car (passenger): 4.5% Teralba — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.8% / 0.5%
Boolaroo — Walked Only: 1.8% Teralba — Walked Only: 0.5%
Bus 1.2% / 0.6%
Boolaroo — Bus: 1.2% Teralba — Bus: 0.6%
Train — / 0.6%
Boolaroo — Train: not among its largest Teralba — Train: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.8%).

Setting

Boolaroo Teralba
Elevation 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 61 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.8 km 12.3 km

NBN connectivity

Boolaroo Teralba
Connectivity score 65/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
921 premises
 56%
1,305 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Boolaroo Teralba
Division Shortland Hunter
Member Pat Conroy Dan Repacholi
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Boolaroo Teralba
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

Teralba

Acreage Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Boolaroo

Boolaroo vs Cardiff Boolaroo vs Macquarie Hills Boolaroo vs Speers Point Boolaroo vs Argenton

Other comparisons with Teralba

Teralba vs Edgeworth Teralba vs Speers Point Teralba vs Fennell Bay Teralba vs Barnsley Teralba vs Booragul Teralba vs Argenton
Full data on Boolaroo Full data on Teralba
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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