Caves Beach vs Swansea

Caves Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 49 against 53 in Swansea. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Caves Beach, about half of households are couple families. In Swansea, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Caves Beach: a median of $1.45 million, against $1.15 million in Swansea, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Caves Beach tends to suit couples, while Swansea 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

Caves Beach

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 45%)
  • carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 76/100)
  • But Swansea has more parks and reserves (8 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Swansea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($780,000 vs $1,150,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,150,000 vs $1,450,000)
  • But Caves Beach leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 42%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Swansea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $420/wk)
  • But Caves Beach leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Swansea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 59/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Swansea

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 59/100)
  • But Caves Beach carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Swansea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Caves Beach Swansea
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.

Caves Beach Swansea
Walkability 59 / 81
Caves Beach — Walkability: 59/100 Swansea — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 41 / 24
Caves Beach — Safety: 41/100 Swansea — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 80
Caves Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Swansea — Low fire risk: 80/100

Demographics

Caves Beach has higher household incomes ($84,656 vs $53,924); Caves Beach rents higher ($420/wk vs $330/wk).

Caves Beach Swansea
Population 4,016 5,044
+26% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.9% -0.3%
Median age 49 53
Median household income $84,656/yr
+36% vs other
 $53,924/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+21% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Caves Beach Swansea
0-4 3.7% / 4.2%
Caves Beach — 0-4: 3.7% Swansea — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 12.6% / 9.3%
Caves Beach — 5-14: 12.6% Swansea — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 5.7% / 4.6%
Caves Beach — 15-19: 5.7% Swansea — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 5.8% / 4.1%
Caves Beach — 20-24: 5.8% Swansea — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 7.0% / 8.5%
Caves Beach — 25-34: 7.0% Swansea — 25-34: 8.5%
35-44 10.3% / 8.6%
Caves Beach — 35-44: 10.3% Swansea — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 12.8% / 13.4%
Caves Beach — 45-54: 12.8% Swansea — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 14.9% / 15.2%
Caves Beach — 55-64: 14.9% Swansea — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 15.5% / 15.4%
Caves Beach — 65-74: 15.5% Swansea — 65-74: 15.4%
75-84 8.5% / 11.9%
Caves Beach — 75-84: 8.5% Swansea — 75-84: 11.9%
85+ 3.4% / 4.7%
Caves Beach — 85+: 3.4% Swansea — 85+: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Caves Beach 31.5% lone person
Caves Beach — Lone Person: 31.5% Caves Beach — Couple Families: 45.8% Caves Beach — One Parent Families: 19.2% Caves Beach — Group Household: 2.7% Caves Beach — Other Families: 0.7%
Swansea 49.7% lone person
Swansea — Lone Person: 49.7% Swansea — Couple Families: 25.9% Swansea — One Parent Families: 19.1% Swansea — Group Household: 3.2% Swansea — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Caves Beach 18.4% renting
Caves Beach — Owned Outright: 50.5% Caves Beach — Mortgage: 31.1% Caves Beach — Renting: 18.4%
Swansea 29.5% renting
Swansea — Owned Outright: 44.5% Swansea — Mortgage: 26.0% Swansea — Renting: 29.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Caves Beach Swansea
England 3.5% / 3.2%
Caves Beach — England: 3.5% Swansea — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.1%
Caves Beach — New Zealand: 1.2% Swansea — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.6%
Caves Beach — Philippines: 0.4% Swansea — Philippines: 0.6%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.3%
Caves Beach — Scotland: 0.5% Swansea — Scotland: 0.3%
Germany 0.4% / 0.3%
Caves Beach — Germany: 0.4% Swansea — Germany: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

Qualifications

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

Caves Beach Swansea
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 21.5%
Caves Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Swansea — Certificate III & IV: 21.5%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 5.9%
Caves Beach — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Swansea — Bachelor Degree: 5.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 6.1%
Caves Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Swansea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.0% / 0.9%
Caves Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0% Swansea — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 0.9%
Caves Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Swansea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Caves Beach 85.5% houses
Caves Beach — Houses: 85.5% Caves Beach — Flats / Apartments: 4.1% Caves Beach — Townhouses: 10.4%
Swansea 68.0% houses
Swansea — Houses: 68.0% Swansea — Flats / Apartments: 23.1% Swansea — Townhouses: 8.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Caves Beach Swansea
Median house price $1,450,000 $1,150,000
Median unit price $1,150,000 $780,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 51 days
from 57 sales
 38 days
from 61 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Caves Beach Swansea
2 bed $825K / $870K
Caves Beach — 2 bed: $825K (7 sales) Swansea — 2 bed: $870K (17 sales)

7 vs 17 sales

3 bed $1.18M / $1.09M
Caves Beach — 3 bed: $1.18M (27 sales) Swansea — 3 bed: $1.09M (54 sales)

27 vs 54 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.3M
Caves Beach — 4 bed: $1.5M (29 sales) Swansea — 4 bed: $1.3M (38 sales)

29 vs 38 sales

5 bed $1.81M / $1.18M
Caves Beach — 5 bed: $1.81M (22 sales) Swansea — 5 bed: $1.18M (7 sales)

22 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Swansea has more land zoned for conservation (38% vs 19%).

Caves Beach Swansea
Residential 69% 46%
Environmental 19% 38%
Parks and recreation 8% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
Industrial 2% 0%
Commercial 0% 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

Caves Beach Swansea
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.

Caves Beach Swansea
Houses 2.8%
$900/wk on $1.67M
 3.8%
$750/wk on $1.02M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Caves Beach Swansea
House price Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
Income Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW

Liveability

Caves Beach scores higher overall (59 vs 40); Swansea is more walkable (81 vs 59).

Caves Beach Swansea
Grade B C
Score 59/100 40/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Swansea carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); Swansea carries more crime risk (76 vs 59).

Caves Beach Swansea
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
20/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
45/100
 Moderate
68/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Caves Beach Swansea
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Caves Beach

  • Caves Beach Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Swansea High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Swansea

  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Swansea Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Caves Beach Swansea
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 0 8
Childcare 3 2
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 2 0

Mobility

Caves Beach Swansea
Walkability score 59/100 81/100
Distance to Sydney 130.1 km 128.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min 101 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 58.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Caves Beach Swansea
Car (driver) 63.9% / 72.6%
Caves Beach — Car (driver): 63.9% Swansea — Car (driver): 72.6%
Worked from Home 30.2% / 19.9%
Caves Beach — Worked from Home: 30.2% Swansea — Worked from Home: 19.9%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.6%
Caves Beach — Car (passenger): 2.8% Swansea — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 2.3% / 2.3%
Caves Beach — Walked Only: 2.3% Swansea — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus 0.6% / 1.1%
Caves Beach — Bus: 0.6% Swansea — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.6%).

Setting

Caves Beach Swansea
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 501 m
552 m to a named beach
 656 m
2.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Caves Beach Swansea
Connectivity score 78/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
1,984 premises
 39%
2,849 premises

Climate

Caves Beach Swansea
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)

Caves Beach Swansea
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

Caves Beach Swansea
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Caves Beach Swansea
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Caves Beach Swansea
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Caves Beach

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Retirees

Swansea

Coastal Parks Retirees

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Full data on Caves Beach Full data on Swansea
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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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