Central Tilba vs Mystery Bay

Central Tilba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 57 against 63 in Mystery Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Central Tilba, about half of households are people living alone. In Mystery Bay, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Mystery Bay tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

  • Central Tilba is already more of a family suburb (46% vs 37%)
  • Mystery Bay carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 41/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mystery Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 35%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Central Tilba

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($295/wk vs $360/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mystery Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (360.2 km vs 363.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mystery Bay

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 41/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (44% vs 31%)

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

Investors

Central Tilba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (18.8% vs 4.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Central Tilba and Mystery 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.

Central Tilba Mystery 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.

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Walkability 17 / 12
Central Tilba — Walkability: 17/100 Mystery Bay — Walkability: 12/100
Safety 59 / 80
Central Tilba — Safety: 59/100 Mystery Bay — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 28 / 100
Central Tilba — Low fire risk: 28/100 Mystery Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Central Tilba has more residents (342 vs 199); Mystery Bay rents higher ($360/wk vs $295/wk).

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Population 342
+42% vs other
 199
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +18.8% +4.2%
Median age 57 63
Median household income $60,112/yr
+3% vs other
 $58,500/yr
Median weekly rent $295/wk $360/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
0-4 4.1% / 4.0%
Central Tilba — 0-4: 4.1% Mystery Bay — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 10.8% / 4.5%
Central Tilba — 5-14: 10.8% Mystery Bay — 5-14: 4.5%
15-19 5.0% / 2.5%
Central Tilba — 15-19: 5.0% Mystery Bay — 15-19: 2.5%
20-24 2.9% / —
Central Tilba — 20-24: 2.9% Mystery Bay — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 7.0% / 3.0%
Central Tilba — 25-34: 7.0% Mystery Bay — 25-34: 3.0%
35-44 11.4% / 4.0%
Central Tilba — 35-44: 11.4% Mystery Bay — 35-44: 4.0%
45-54 10.2% / 12.6%
Central Tilba — 45-54: 10.2% Mystery Bay — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 22.8% / 21.6%
Central Tilba — 55-64: 22.8% Mystery Bay — 55-64: 21.6%
65-74 21.6% / 27.1%
Central Tilba — 65-74: 21.6% Mystery Bay — 65-74: 27.1%
75-84 8.2% / 14.6%
Central Tilba — 75-84: 8.2% Mystery Bay — 75-84: 14.6%
85+ 1.2% / 2.5%
Central Tilba — 85+: 1.2% Mystery Bay — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Central Tilba 50.6% lone person
Central Tilba — Lone Person: 50.6% Central Tilba — Couple Families: 28.4% Central Tilba — One Parent Families: 17.3% Central Tilba — Group Household: 3.7%
Mystery Bay 62.8% lone person
Mystery Bay — Lone Person: 62.8% Mystery Bay — Couple Families: 23.3% Mystery Bay — One Parent Families: 14.0% Mystery Bay — Group Household: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Central Tilba 16.8% renting
Central Tilba — Owned Outright: 56.5% Central Tilba — Mortgage: 26.7% Central Tilba — Renting: 16.8%
Mystery Bay 7.6% renting
Mystery Bay — Owned Outright: 71.7% Mystery Bay — Mortgage: 20.7% Mystery Bay — Renting: 7.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 17.6%
Central Tilba — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Mystery Bay — Bachelor Degree: 17.6%
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 16.1%
Central Tilba — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Mystery Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.2% / 12.6%
Central Tilba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.2% Mystery Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 5.0%
Central Tilba — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Mystery Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 3.5%
Central Tilba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Mystery Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
England 6.7% / 4.0%
Central Tilba — England: 6.7% Mystery Bay — England: 4.0%
Germany 2.9% / 1.5%
Central Tilba — Germany: 2.9% Mystery Bay — Germany: 1.5%
Netherlands 1.5% / 2.5%
Central Tilba — Netherlands: 1.5% Mystery Bay — Netherlands: 2.5%
Scotland 0.9% / 2.5%
Central Tilba — Scotland: 0.9% Mystery Bay — Scotland: 2.5%
Philippines — / 3.0%
Central Tilba — Philippines: not among its largest Mystery Bay — Philippines: 3.0%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.5%
Central Tilba — New Zealand: 0.9% Mystery Bay — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Central Tilba — South Africa: 0.9% Mystery Bay — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Central Tilba 93.8% houses
Central Tilba — Houses: 93.8% Central Tilba — Flats / Apartments: 4.2% Central Tilba — Townhouses: 2.1%
Mystery Bay 100.0% houses
Mystery Bay — Houses: 100.0% Mystery Bay — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Mystery Bay — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Median house price $1,050,000 $989,950
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $520,000 —

Zoning mix

Central Tilba has more rural and farming land (67% vs 35%); Mystery Bay has more land zoned for conservation (44% vs 31%).

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Rural and farming 67% 35%
Environmental 31% 44%
Residential 0% 15%
Parks and recreation 0% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
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

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
New dwellings approved 211
across Eurobodalla
same for both
Approvals change year on year -9%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
House price Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Income Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 42% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW

Liveability

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Central Tilba carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 0); Central Tilba carries more crime risk (41 vs 20).

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Bushfire High
72/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Low
20/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
36/100
 Moderate
54/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Central Tilba

  • Central Tilba Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mystery Bay

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

Amenities in the suburb

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 12 0

Mobility

Central Tilba sits further from the CBD (363.6 km vs 360.2 km).

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Walkability score 17/100 12/100
Distance to Sydney 363.6 km 360.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 306 min 304 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2546
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2546
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.

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Car (driver) 51.3% / 82.1%
Central Tilba — Car (driver): 51.3% Mystery Bay — Car (driver): 82.1%
Worked from Home 31.9% / 17.9%
Central Tilba — Worked from Home: 31.9% Mystery Bay — Worked from Home: 17.9%
Walked Only 10.1% / —
Central Tilba — Walked Only: 10.1% Mystery Bay — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 6.7% / —
Central Tilba — Car (passenger): 6.7% Mystery Bay — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.1%).

Setting

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Elevation 76 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.2 km
4.5 km to a named beach
 603 m
632 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Connectivity score 29/100 28/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
193 premises
 0%
153 premises

Climate

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Annual rainfall 948 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Council rates

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Average residential rate $1,246/yr
same for both
Council Eurobodalla
same for both

Federal electorate

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Division Eden-monaro
same for both
Member Kristy Mcbain
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Central Tilba Mystery Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Central Tilba

Quiet Retirees Rural

Mystery Bay

Beach Coastal Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Central Tilba

Central Tilba vs Narooma Central Tilba vs Akolele Central Tilba vs Tilba Tilba Central Tilba vs Corunna

Other comparisons with Mystery Bay

Mystery Bay vs Corunna
Full data on Central Tilba Full data on Mystery Bay
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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