Catherine Hill Bay vs Nords Wharf

Catherine Hill Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 44 in Nords Wharf. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Catherine Hill Bay, most households are couple families. In Nords Wharf, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Catherine Hill Bay: a median of $1.65 million, against $1.15 million in Nords Wharf. On these figures, Catherine Hill Bay tends to suit families with children and couples, while Nords Wharf suits people living alone 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Catherine Hill Bay is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 64%)
  • Nords Wharf carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 55/100)

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

First-home buyers

Nords Wharf

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($571,250 vs $965,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,150,000 vs $1,650,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Catherine Hill Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Nords Wharf

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (96 min vs 104 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nords Wharf

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 11%)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 55/100)

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 1.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Catherine Hill Bay 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.

Catherine Hill Bay 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.

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Walkability 26 / 32
Catherine Hill Bay — Walkability: 26/100 Nords Wharf — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 45 / 59
Catherine Hill Bay — Safety: 45/100 Nords Wharf — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 23 / 19
Catherine Hill Bay — Low fire risk: 23/100 Nords Wharf — Low fire risk: 19/100

Demographics

Catherine Hill Bay has higher household incomes ($136,656 vs $87,308); Nords Wharf skews older (44 vs 37).

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Population 943
+5% vs other
 895
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +482.1% +1.0%
Median age 37 44
Median household income $136,656/yr
+36% vs other
 $87,308/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+5% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
0-4 8.7% / 5.1%
Catherine Hill Bay — 0-4: 8.7% Nords Wharf — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 15.7% / 15.2%
Catherine Hill Bay — 5-14: 15.7% Nords Wharf — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 4.8% / 5.9%
Catherine Hill Bay — 15-19: 4.8% Nords Wharf — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.3% / 2.9%
Catherine Hill Bay — 20-24: 5.3% Nords Wharf — 20-24: 2.9%
25-34 10.2% / 7.4%
Catherine Hill Bay — 25-34: 10.2% Nords Wharf — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 15.2% / 14.0%
Catherine Hill Bay — 35-44: 15.2% Nords Wharf — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 13.7% / 11.3%
Catherine Hill Bay — 45-54: 13.7% Nords Wharf — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 15.4% / 18.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — 55-64: 15.4% Nords Wharf — 55-64: 18.7%
65-74 8.2% / 11.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — 65-74: 8.2% Nords Wharf — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 2.5% / 5.3%
Catherine Hill Bay — 75-84: 2.5% Nords Wharf — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 0.4% / 2.2%
Catherine Hill Bay — 85+: 0.4% Nords Wharf — 85+: 2.2%

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

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%
Nords Wharf 45.4% couple families
Nords Wharf — Couple Families: 45.4% Nords Wharf — Lone Person: 32.2% Nords Wharf — One Parent Families: 18.5% Nords Wharf — Group Household: 2.6% Nords Wharf — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
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.

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Certificate III & IV 17.3% / 21.0%
Catherine Hill Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.3% Nords Wharf — Certificate III & IV: 21.0%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 10.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Nords Wharf — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 9.7%
Catherine Hill Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Nords Wharf — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 3.0%
Catherine Hill Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Nords Wharf — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.2%
Catherine Hill Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% 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.

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
England 2.8% / 3.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — England: 2.8% Nords Wharf — England: 3.6%
New Zealand 2.1% / 1.0%
Catherine Hill Bay — New Zealand: 2.1% Nords Wharf — New Zealand: 1.0%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Catherine Hill Bay — Germany: 0.5% Nords Wharf — Germany: 0.6%
Italy 0.6% / —
Catherine Hill Bay — Italy: 0.6% Nords Wharf — Italy: not among its largest
Singapore 0.5% / —
Catherine Hill Bay — Singapore: 0.5% Nords Wharf — Singapore: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.4%
Catherine Hill Bay — Malaysia: not among its largest Nords Wharf — Malaysia: 0.4%
Scotland — / 0.3%
Catherine Hill Bay — Scotland: not among its largest Nords Wharf — Scotland: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Catherine Hill Bay 100.0% houses
Catherine Hill Bay — Houses: 100.0% Catherine Hill Bay — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Catherine Hill Bay — Townhouses: 0.0%
Nords Wharf 97.1% houses
Nords Wharf — Houses: 97.1% Nords Wharf — Flats / Apartments: 1.5% Nords Wharf — Townhouses: 1.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Median house price $1,650,000 $1,150,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $965,000 $571,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 116 days
from 6 sales
 48 days
from 9 sales

Zoning mix

Catherine Hill Bay has more land zoned for conservation (71% vs 46%).

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Environmental 71% 46%
Other and special use 20% 28%
Residential 5% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 5%
Parks and recreation 1% 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

Catherine Hill Bay 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

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW

Liveability

Catherine Hill Bay scores higher overall (44 vs 38).

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Grade C
same for both
Score 44/100 38/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Catherine Hill Bay carries more crime risk (55 vs 41).

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Bushfire High
77/100
 High
81/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
41/100
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 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 Catherine Hill Bay

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

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 0 2
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Walkability score 26/100 32/100
Distance to Sydney 122.5 km 121.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 104 min 96 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 8.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.5
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 Nords Wharf
Car (driver) 59.4% / 65.2%
Catherine Hill Bay — Car (driver): 59.4% Nords Wharf — Car (driver): 65.2%
Worked from Home 38.1% / 30.4%
Catherine Hill Bay — Worked from Home: 38.1% Nords Wharf — Worked from Home: 30.4%
Car (passenger) 1.8% / 4.4%
Catherine Hill Bay — Car (passenger): 1.8% Nords Wharf — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 0.8% / —
Catherine Hill Bay — Walked Only: 0.8% Nords Wharf — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.2%).

Setting

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

NBN connectivity

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
Connectivity score 93/100 92/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 87%
638 premises
 77%
528 premises

Climate

Catherine Hill Bay 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)

Catherine Hill Bay 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

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

Federal electorate

Catherine Hill Bay Nords Wharf
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 Nords Wharf
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

Nords Wharf

Acreage Coastal

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Other comparisons with Nords Wharf

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Full data on Catherine Hill Bay 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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