Calga vs Mangrove Mountain

In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mangrove Mountain: a median of $2.02 million, against $1.5 million in Calga, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Calga tends to suit share households and 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

Mangrove Mountain

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 85%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 62%)

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

First-home buyers

Calga

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,500,000 vs $2,025,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 33%)

Weighs house 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

Calga

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (56 min vs 77 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (64.5 km vs 87.3 km)
  • But Mangrove Mountain is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Calga has more units and townhouses to downsize into (15% vs 1%)
  • Mangrove Mountain is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Mangrove Mountain

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (2.9% vs -5.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Calga Mangrove Mountain
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.

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Walkability 0 / 8
Calga — Walkability: 0/100 Mangrove Mountain — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 13 / 16
Calga — Safety: 13/100 Mangrove Mountain — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 11 / 13
Calga — Low fire risk: 11/100 Mangrove Mountain — Low fire risk: 13/100

Demographics

Mangrove Mountain has more residents (736 vs 134); Calga has higher household incomes ($110,448 vs $94,432).

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Population 134 736
+449% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.6% +2.9%
Median age 43
same for both
Median household income $110,448/yr
+15% vs other
 $94,432/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk $369/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Calga Mangrove Mountain
0-4 2.2% / 4.9%
Calga — 0-4: 2.2% Mangrove Mountain — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 17.9% / 11.8%
Calga — 5-14: 17.9% Mangrove Mountain — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 5.2% / 6.9%
Calga — 15-19: 5.2% Mangrove Mountain — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 4.5% / 6.8%
Calga — 20-24: 4.5% Mangrove Mountain — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 4.5% / 11.1%
Calga — 25-34: 4.5% Mangrove Mountain — 25-34: 11.1%
35-44 21.6% / 10.3%
Calga — 35-44: 21.6% Mangrove Mountain — 35-44: 10.3%
45-54 15.7% / 14.1%
Calga — 45-54: 15.7% Mangrove Mountain — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 14.9% / 16.8%
Calga — 55-64: 14.9% Mangrove Mountain — 55-64: 16.8%
65-74 11.2% / 9.5%
Calga — 65-74: 11.2% Mangrove Mountain — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 4.5% / 6.1%
Calga — 75-84: 4.5% Mangrove Mountain — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.2% / 1.5%
Calga — 85+: 2.2% Mangrove Mountain — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Calga 48.3% couple families
Calga — Couple Families: 48.3% Calga — Lone Person: 20.7% Calga — One Parent Families: 13.8% Calga — Group Household: 17.2%
Mangrove Mountain 50.3% couple families
Mangrove Mountain — Couple Families: 50.3% Mangrove Mountain — Lone Person: 23.3% Mangrove Mountain — One Parent Families: 20.2% Mangrove Mountain — Group Household: 6.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Calga 32.6% renting
Calga — Owned Outright: 28.3% Calga — Mortgage: 39.1% Calga — Renting: 32.6%
Mangrove Mountain 28.4% renting
Mangrove Mountain — Owned Outright: 37.5% Mangrove Mountain — Mortgage: 34.1% Mangrove Mountain — Renting: 28.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 17.0%
Calga — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Mangrove Mountain — Certificate III & IV: 17.0%
Bachelor Degree 14.2% / 9.0%
Calga — Bachelor Degree: 14.2% Mangrove Mountain — Bachelor Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.9% / 6.4%
Calga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.9% Mangrove Mountain — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 2.7%
Calga — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Mangrove Mountain — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.0%
Calga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Mangrove Mountain — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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.

Calga Mangrove Mountain
England 2.2% / 3.0%
Calga — England: 2.2% Mangrove Mountain — England: 3.0%
South Africa 2.2% / 0.8%
Calga — South Africa: 2.2% Mangrove Mountain — South Africa: 0.8%
China — / 1.8%
Calga — China: not among its largest Mangrove Mountain — China: 1.8%
New Zealand — / 1.2%
Calga — New Zealand: not among its largest Mangrove Mountain — New Zealand: 1.2%
Greece — / 1.2%
Calga — Greece: not among its largest Mangrove Mountain — Greece: 1.2%
Italy — / 1.1%
Calga — Italy: not among its largest Mangrove Mountain — Italy: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Calga 85.1% houses
Calga — Houses: 85.1% Calga — Flats / Apartments: 14.9%
Mangrove Mountain 98.7% houses
Mangrove Mountain — Houses: 98.7% Mangrove Mountain — Flats / Apartments: 1.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Median house price $1,500,000 $2,025,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Mangrove Mountain has more rural and farming land (62% vs 31%); Calga has more land zoned for conservation (61% vs 32%).

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Rural and farming 31% 62%
Environmental 61% 32%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 2%
Parks and recreation 1% 4%
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

Calga Mangrove Mountain
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Calga Mangrove Mountain
House price Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Income Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW

Liveability

Mangrove Mountain is more walkable (8 vs 0).

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Grade — D
Score — 28/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Bushfire High
89/100
 High
87/100
Crime High
87/100
 High
84/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Calga Mangrove Mountain
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

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Waterways 3 43

Mobility

Mangrove Mountain sits further from the CBD (87.3 km vs 64.5 km).

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Walkability score 0/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 64.5 km 87.3 km
+35% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 77 min
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2250
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2250
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.

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Car (driver) 55.3% / 48.2%
Calga — Car (driver): 55.3% Mangrove Mountain — Car (driver): 48.2%
Worked from Home 21.3% / 43.3%
Calga — Worked from Home: 21.3% Mangrove Mountain — Worked from Home: 43.3%
Walked Only 17.0% / 6.4%
Calga — Walked Only: 17.0% Mangrove Mountain — Walked Only: 6.4%
Train 6.4% / —
Calga — Train: 6.4% Mangrove Mountain — Train: not among its largest
Car (passenger) — / 2.1%
Calga — Car (passenger): not among its largest Mangrove Mountain — Car (passenger): 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.3%).

Setting

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Elevation 214 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 263 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.1 km 25.6 km

NBN connectivity

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Connectivity score 25/100 29/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
16 premises
 0%
277 premises

Climate

Calga Mangrove Mountain
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)

Calga Mangrove Mountain
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

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Calga Mangrove Mountain
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Calga

Rural

Mangrove Mountain

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Calga

Calga vs Somersby Calga vs Peats Ridge Calga vs Mount White

Other comparisons with Mangrove Mountain

Mangrove Mountain vs Kulnura Mangrove Mountain vs Peats Ridge Mangrove Mountain vs Central Mangrove Mangrove Mountain vs Mangrove Creek
Full data on Calga Full data on Mangrove Mountain
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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