Catherine Hill Bay vs Murrays Beach

Catherine Hill Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 44 in Murrays Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home, 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 $1.23 million in Murrays Beach, though rent is higher in Murrays Beach. On these figures, Murrays Beach tends to suit older residents 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

Murrays Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 55/100)

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

First-home buyers

Murrays Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($565,000 vs $965,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,230,000 vs $1,650,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Catherine Hill Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $579/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Catherine Hill Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (26/100 vs 10/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (122.5 km vs 124.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Murrays Beach

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 55/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 11%)
  • But Catherine Hill Bay is more walkable (26/100 vs 10/100)

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 38.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
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.

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Walkability 26 / 10
Catherine Hill Bay — Walkability: 26/100 Murrays Beach — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 45 / 78
Catherine Hill Bay — Safety: 45/100 Murrays Beach — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 23 / 19
Catherine Hill Bay — Low fire risk: 23/100 Murrays Beach — Low fire risk: 19/100

Demographics

Murrays Beach rents higher ($579/wk vs $420/wk); Murrays Beach skews older (44 vs 37).

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Population 943
+6% vs other
 882
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +482.1% +38.5%
Median age 37 44
Median household income $136,656/yr
+12% vs other
 $119,756/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk $579/wk
+38% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
0-4 8.7% / 4.3%
Catherine Hill Bay — 0-4: 8.7% Murrays Beach — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 15.7% / 19.0%
Catherine Hill Bay — 5-14: 15.7% Murrays Beach — 5-14: 19.0%
15-19 4.8% / 4.0%
Catherine Hill Bay — 15-19: 4.8% Murrays Beach — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 5.3% / 1.2%
Catherine Hill Bay — 20-24: 5.3% Murrays Beach — 20-24: 1.2%
25-34 10.2% / 5.4%
Catherine Hill Bay — 25-34: 10.2% Murrays Beach — 25-34: 5.4%
35-44 15.2% / 16.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — 35-44: 15.2% Murrays Beach — 35-44: 16.6%
45-54 13.7% / 13.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — 45-54: 13.7% Murrays Beach — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 15.4% / 13.8%
Catherine Hill Bay — 55-64: 15.4% Murrays Beach — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 8.2% / 16.9%
Catherine Hill Bay — 65-74: 8.2% Murrays Beach — 65-74: 16.9%
75-84 2.5% / 4.5%
Catherine Hill Bay — 75-84: 2.5% Murrays Beach — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 0.4% / 0.3%
Catherine Hill Bay — 85+: 0.4% Murrays Beach — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Murrays Beach 73.9% couple families
Murrays Beach — Couple Families: 73.9% Murrays Beach — Lone Person: 16.4% Murrays Beach — One Parent Families: 9.7% Murrays Beach — Group Household: 0.0% Murrays Beach — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

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%
Murrays Beach 9.1% renting
Murrays Beach — Owned Outright: 40.6% Murrays Beach — Mortgage: 50.3% Murrays Beach — Renting: 9.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Certificate III & IV 17.3% / 13.4%
Catherine Hill Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.3% Murrays Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 17.3%
Catherine Hill Bay — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Murrays Beach — Bachelor Degree: 17.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 11.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Murrays Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 6.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Murrays Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Murrays Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

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.

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
England 2.8% / 5.2%
Catherine Hill Bay — England: 2.8% Murrays Beach — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 2.1% / 1.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — New Zealand: 2.1% Murrays Beach — New Zealand: 1.6%
South Africa 0.4% / 1.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — South Africa: 0.4% Murrays Beach — South Africa: 1.7%
India 0.4% / 0.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — India: 0.4% Murrays Beach — India: 0.7%
Singapore 0.5% / 0.3%
Catherine Hill Bay — Singapore: 0.5% Murrays Beach — Singapore: 0.3%
Philippines — / 0.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — Philippines: not among its largest Murrays Beach — Philippines: 0.7%
Italy 0.6% / —
Catherine Hill Bay — Italy: 0.6% Murrays Beach — Italy: not among its largest
Germany 0.5% / —
Catherine Hill Bay — Germany: 0.5% Murrays Beach — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Catherine Hill Bay 100.0% houses
Catherine Hill Bay — Houses: 100.0%
Murrays Beach 101.9% houses
Murrays Beach — Houses: 101.9%
Houses

Property market

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Median house price $1,650,000 $1,230,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $965,000 $565,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 116 days
from 6 sales
 42 days
from 20 sales

Zoning mix

Catherine Hill Bay has more land zoned for conservation (71% vs 36%).

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Environmental 71% 36%
Residential 5% 55%
Other and special use 20% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 6%
Parks and recreation 1% 3%
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

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
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.

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Houses — 4.8%
$1,075/wk on $1.16M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 95% of NSW

Liveability

Catherine Hill Bay is more walkable (26 vs 10); Murrays Beach scores higher overall (49 vs 44).

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Grade C B
Score 44/100 49/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Catherine Hill Bay carries more crime risk (55 vs 22).

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Bushfire High
77/100
 High
81/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Low
22/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
33/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
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

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 3 1
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Murrays Beach sits further from the CBD (124.5 km vs 122.5 km).

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Walkability score 26/100 10/100
Distance to Sydney 122.5 km 124.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 104 min 100 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 20/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 8.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Car (driver) 59.4% / 49.0%
Catherine Hill Bay — Car (driver): 59.4% Murrays Beach — Car (driver): 49.0%
Worked from Home 38.1% / 48.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — Worked from Home: 38.1% Murrays Beach — Worked from Home: 48.7%
Car (passenger) 1.8% / 2.4%
Catherine Hill Bay — Car (passenger): 1.8% Murrays Beach — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Walked Only 0.8% / —
Catherine Hill Bay — Walked Only: 0.8% Murrays Beach — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.4%).

Setting

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 59 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 724 m
3.2 km to a named beach
 2.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Connectivity score 93/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 87%
638 premises
 80%
511 premises

Climate

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
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)

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
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

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

Federal electorate

Catherine Hill Bay Murrays Beach
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Catherine Hill Bay

Acreage Coastal Family River Young Families

Murrays Beach

Acreage Coastal Family Quiet

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Full data on Catherine Hill Bay Full data on Murrays Beach
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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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