Cams Wharf vs Nords Wharf

Nords Wharf is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 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 Nords Wharf, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nords Wharf: a median of $1.15 million, against $745,000 in Cams Wharf, though rent is higher in Cams Wharf. On these figures, Cams Wharf tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Nords Wharf suits 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

Nords Wharf

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 34%)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 82/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% 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 $1,150,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nords Wharf

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Nords Wharf

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (32/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Cams Wharf has more units and townhouses to downsize into (66% vs 3%)
  • Nords Wharf is more walkable (32/100 vs 14/100)

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

Investors

Cams Wharf

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (31.9% vs 1.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Cams Wharf and Nords Wharf 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 Nords Wharf
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 Nords Wharf
Walkability 14 / 32
Cams Wharf — Walkability: 14/100 Nords Wharf — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 18 / 59
Cams Wharf — Safety: 18/100 Nords Wharf — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 10 / 19
Cams Wharf — Low fire risk: 10/100 Nords Wharf — Low fire risk: 19/100

Demographics

Nords Wharf has more residents (895 vs 182); Cams Wharf skews older (56 vs 44).

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Population 182 895
+392% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +31.9% +1.0%
Median age 56 44
Median household income $72,020/yr $87,308/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+7% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
0-4 2.7% / 5.1%
Cams Wharf — 0-4: 2.7% Nords Wharf — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 14.3% / 15.2%
Cams Wharf — 5-14: 14.3% Nords Wharf — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 6.0% / 5.9%
Cams Wharf — 15-19: 6.0% Nords Wharf — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 2.2% / 2.9%
Cams Wharf — 20-24: 2.2% Nords Wharf — 20-24: 2.9%
25-34 — / 7.4%
Cams Wharf — 25-34: not among its largest Nords Wharf — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 13.2% / 14.0%
Cams Wharf — 35-44: 13.2% Nords Wharf — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 15.9% / 11.3%
Cams Wharf — 45-54: 15.9% Nords Wharf — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 18.7% / 18.7%
Cams Wharf — 55-64: 18.7% Nords Wharf — 55-64: 18.7%
65-74 19.8% / 11.7%
Cams Wharf — 65-74: 19.8% Nords Wharf — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 12.1% / 5.3%
Cams Wharf — 75-84: 12.1% Nords Wharf — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ — / 2.2%
Cams Wharf — 85+: not among its largest Nords Wharf — 85+: 2.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cams Wharf 49.0% lone person
Cams Wharf — Lone Person: 49.0% Cams Wharf — Couple Families: 22.4% Cams Wharf — One Parent Families: 28.6% Cams Wharf — Group Household: 0.0% Cams Wharf — Other Families: 0.0%
Nords Wharf 32.2% lone person
Nords Wharf — Lone Person: 32.2% Nords Wharf — Couple Families: 45.4% Nords Wharf — One Parent Families: 18.5% Nords Wharf — Group Household: 2.6% Nords Wharf — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Nords Wharf 16.5% renting
Nords Wharf — Owned Outright: 41.9% Nords Wharf — Mortgage: 41.6% Nords Wharf — Renting: 16.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Certificate III & IV 18.7% / 21.0%
Cams Wharf — Certificate III & IV: 18.7% Nords Wharf — Certificate III & IV: 21.0%
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 10.6%
Cams Wharf — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Nords Wharf — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 12.1% / 9.7%
Cams Wharf — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.1% Nords Wharf — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 3.0%
Cams Wharf — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Nords Wharf — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 1.2%
Cams Wharf — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Nords Wharf — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

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.

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
England 3.8% / 3.6%
Cams Wharf — England: 3.8% Nords Wharf — England: 3.6%
Philippines 4.4% / —
Cams Wharf — Philippines: 4.4% Nords Wharf — Philippines: not among its largest
Canada 2.7% / —
Cams Wharf — Canada: 2.7% Nords Wharf — Canada: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.0%
Cams Wharf — New Zealand: not among its largest Nords Wharf — New Zealand: 1.0%
Germany — / 0.6%
Cams Wharf — Germany: not among its largest Nords Wharf — Germany: 0.6%
Malaysia — / 0.4%
Cams Wharf — Malaysia: not among its largest Nords Wharf — Malaysia: 0.4%
Scotland — / 0.3%
Cams Wharf — Scotland: not among its largest Nords Wharf — Scotland: 0.3%

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%
Nords Wharf 97.1% houses
Nords Wharf — Houses: 97.1% Nords Wharf — Townhouses: 1.5% Nords Wharf — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Median house price $745,000 $1,150,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $571,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 65 days
from 3 sales
 48 days
from 9 sales

Zoning mix

Cams Wharf has more rural and farming land (23% vs 0%).

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Environmental 48% 46%
Other and special use 0% 28%
Infrastructure and transport 23% 5%
Rural and farming 23% 0%
Residential 0% 20%
Parks and recreation 6% 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

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
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 Nords Wharf
House price Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW

Liveability

Nords Wharf is more walkable (32 vs 14).

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Grade — C
Score — 38/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Cams Wharf carries more crime risk (82 vs 41).

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
81/100
Crime High
82/100
 Moderate
41/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Cams Wharf

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Nords Wharf

  • Nords Wharf Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Parks & reserves 0 2
Childcare 0 2

Mobility

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Walkability score 14/100 32/100
Distance to Sydney 123.4 km
+2% vs other
 121.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 97 min 96 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 Nords Wharf
Car (driver) 69.1% / 65.2%
Cams Wharf — Car (driver): 69.1% Nords Wharf — Car (driver): 65.2%
Worked from Home 30.9% / 30.4%
Cams Wharf — Worked from Home: 30.9% Nords Wharf — Worked from Home: 30.4%
Car (passenger) — / 4.4%
Cams Wharf — Car (passenger): not among its largest Nords Wharf — Car (passenger): 4.4%

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

Setting

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 2.3 km
4.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Connectivity score 45/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
215 premises
 77%
528 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cams Wharf Nords Wharf
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

Nords Wharf

Acreage Coastal

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cams Wharf

Cams Wharf vs Catherine Hill Bay Cams Wharf vs Murrays Beach

Other comparisons with Nords Wharf

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