Cams Wharf vs Catherine Hill Bay

Catherine Hill Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 56 in Cams Wharf. In both, the large majority of households own their home. In Cams Wharf, about half of households are people living alone. In Catherine Hill Bay, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Catherine Hill Bay: a median of $1.65 million, against $745,000 in Cams Wharf. On these figures, Cams Wharf tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Catherine Hill Bay suits families with children and 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

Catherine Hill Bay

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 34%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 51%)

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

First-home buyers

Cams Wharf

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($745,000 vs $1,650,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Catherine Hill Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 31%)

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

  • Cams Wharf has a shorter drive in (97 min vs 104 min)
  • Catherine Hill Bay is more walkable (26/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Catherine Hill Bay

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (26/100 vs 14/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 82/100)
  • But Cams Wharf has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 11%)

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

Investors

Catherine Hill Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (482.1% vs 31.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
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.

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Walkability 14 / 26
Cams Wharf — Walkability: 14/100 Catherine Hill Bay — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 18 / 45
Cams Wharf — Safety: 18/100 Catherine Hill Bay — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 10 / 23
Cams Wharf — Low fire risk: 10/100 Catherine Hill Bay — Low fire risk: 23/100

Demographics

Catherine Hill Bay has more residents (943 vs 182); Catherine Hill Bay has higher household incomes ($136,656 vs $72,020).

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Population 182 943
+418% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +31.9% +482.1%
Median age 56 37
Median household income $72,020/yr $136,656/yr
+90% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+2% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
0-4 2.7% / 8.7%
Cams Wharf — 0-4: 2.7% Catherine Hill Bay — 0-4: 8.7%
5-14 14.3% / 15.7%
Cams Wharf — 5-14: 14.3% Catherine Hill Bay — 5-14: 15.7%
15-19 6.0% / 4.8%
Cams Wharf — 15-19: 6.0% Catherine Hill Bay — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 2.2% / 5.3%
Cams Wharf — 20-24: 2.2% Catherine Hill Bay — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 — / 10.2%
Cams Wharf — 25-34: not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 13.2% / 15.2%
Cams Wharf — 35-44: 13.2% Catherine Hill Bay — 35-44: 15.2%
45-54 15.9% / 13.7%
Cams Wharf — 45-54: 15.9% Catherine Hill Bay — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 18.7% / 15.4%
Cams Wharf — 55-64: 18.7% Catherine Hill Bay — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 19.8% / 8.2%
Cams Wharf — 65-74: 19.8% Catherine Hill Bay — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 12.1% / 2.5%
Cams Wharf — 75-84: 12.1% Catherine Hill Bay — 75-84: 2.5%
85+ — / 0.4%
Cams Wharf — 85+: not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cams Wharf 22.4% couple families
Cams Wharf — Couple Families: 22.4% Cams Wharf — Lone Person: 49.0% Cams Wharf — One Parent Families: 28.6% Cams Wharf — Group Household: 0.0% Cams Wharf — Other Families: 0.0%
Catherine Hill Bay 69.0% couple families
Catherine Hill Bay — Couple Families: 69.0% Catherine Hill Bay — Lone Person: 19.0% Catherine Hill Bay — One Parent Families: 9.3% Catherine Hill Bay — Group Household: 1.4% Catherine Hill Bay — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cams Wharf 16.7% renting
Cams Wharf — Owned Outright: 60.3% Cams Wharf — Mortgage: 23.1% Cams Wharf — Renting: 16.7%
Catherine Hill Bay 15.7% renting
Catherine Hill Bay — Owned Outright: 31.0% Catherine Hill Bay — Mortgage: 53.3% Catherine Hill Bay — Renting: 15.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Certificate III & IV 18.7% / 17.3%
Cams Wharf — Certificate III & IV: 18.7% Catherine Hill Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.3%
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 12.3%
Cams Wharf — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Catherine Hill Bay — Bachelor Degree: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 12.1% / 9.5%
Cams Wharf — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.1% Catherine Hill Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 4.1%
Cams Wharf — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Catherine Hill Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 1.6%
Cams Wharf — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Catherine Hill Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

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.

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
England 3.8% / 2.8%
Cams Wharf — England: 3.8% Catherine Hill Bay — England: 2.8%
Philippines 4.4% / —
Cams Wharf — Philippines: 4.4% Catherine Hill Bay — Philippines: not among its largest
Canada 2.7% / 0.4%
Cams Wharf — Canada: 2.7% Catherine Hill Bay — Canada: 0.4%
New Zealand — / 2.1%
Cams Wharf — New Zealand: not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — New Zealand: 2.1%
Italy — / 0.6%
Cams Wharf — Italy: not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — Italy: 0.6%
Germany — / 0.5%
Cams Wharf — Germany: not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — Germany: 0.5%
Singapore — / 0.5%
Cams Wharf — Singapore: not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — Singapore: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cams Wharf 34.5% houses
Cams Wharf — Houses: 34.5% Cams Wharf — Townhouses: 63.1% Cams Wharf — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Catherine Hill Bay 100.0% houses
Catherine Hill Bay — Houses: 100.0% Catherine Hill Bay — Townhouses: 0.0% Catherine Hill Bay — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Median house price $745,000 $1,650,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $965,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 65 days
from 3 sales
 116 days
from 6 sales

Zoning mix

Catherine Hill Bay has more land zoned for conservation (71% vs 48%); Cams Wharf has more rural and farming land (23% vs 0%).

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Environmental 48% 71%
Infrastructure and transport 23% 3%
Rural and farming 23% 0%
Other and special use 0% 20%
Parks and recreation 6% 1%
Residential 0% 5%
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

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
House price Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW

Liveability

Catherine Hill Bay is more walkable (26 vs 14).

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Grade — C
Score — 44/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Cams Wharf carries more crime risk (82 vs 55); Cams Wharf carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 77).

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
77/100
Crime High
82/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
33/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
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

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Parks & reserves 0 3
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Walkability score 14/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 123.4 km 122.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 97 min 104 min
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2281
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 2281
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.

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Car (driver) 69.1% / 59.4%
Cams Wharf — Car (driver): 69.1% Catherine Hill Bay — Car (driver): 59.4%
Worked from Home 30.9% / 38.1%
Cams Wharf — Worked from Home: 30.9% Catherine Hill Bay — Worked from Home: 38.1%
Car (passenger) — / 1.8%
Cams Wharf — Car (passenger): not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — Car (passenger): 1.8%
Walked Only — / 0.8%
Cams Wharf — Walked Only: not among its largest Catherine Hill Bay — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.1%).

Setting

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 724 m
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Connectivity score 45/100 93/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
215 premises
 87%
638 premises

Climate

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
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)

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.27 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cams Wharf Catherine Hill Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cams Wharf

Coastal Retirees Townhouses

Catherine Hill Bay

Acreage Coastal Family River Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cams Wharf

Cams Wharf vs Nords Wharf Cams Wharf vs Murrays Beach

Other comparisons with Catherine Hill Bay

Catherine Hill Bay vs Nords Wharf Catherine Hill Bay vs Murrays Beach
Full data on Cams Wharf Full data on Catherine Hill Bay
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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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