Chain Valley Bay vs Gwandalan

Gwandalan is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 63 in Chain Valley Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Chain Valley Bay, most households are people living alone. In Gwandalan, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Chain Valley Bay tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Gwandalan suits families with children and 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

They split

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

  • Chain Valley Bay carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 51/100)
  • Gwandalan is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 40%)

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

First-home buyers

Gwandalan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 44%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Gwandalan

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (20% vs 10%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 43%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Chain Valley Bay sits closer to the CBD (116.4 km vs 120.6 km)
  • Gwandalan is more walkable (54/100 vs 21/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Chain Valley Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (47% vs 21%)
  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 51/100)
  • But Gwandalan is more walkable (54/100 vs 21/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Chain Valley Bay and Gwandalan drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
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.

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Walkability 21 / 54
Chain Valley Bay — Walkability: 21/100 Gwandalan — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 76 / 49
Chain Valley Bay — Safety: 76/100 Gwandalan — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 21 / 53
Chain Valley Bay — Low fire risk: 21/100 Gwandalan — Low fire risk: 53/100

Demographics

Gwandalan has higher household incomes ($77,636 vs $45,032); Chain Valley Bay skews older (63 vs 42).

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Population 2,773 3,785
+36% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.8% +15.6%
Median age 63 42
Median household income $45,032/yr $77,636/yr
+72% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk $385/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
0-4 3.4% / 6.0%
Chain Valley Bay — 0-4: 3.4% Gwandalan — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 7.3% / 12.2%
Chain Valley Bay — 5-14: 7.3% Gwandalan — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 4.0% / 5.6%
Chain Valley Bay — 15-19: 4.0% Gwandalan — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 3.2% / 5.3%
Chain Valley Bay — 20-24: 3.2% Gwandalan — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 6.5% / 11.1%
Chain Valley Bay — 25-34: 6.5% Gwandalan — 25-34: 11.1%
35-44 7.3% / 11.7%
Chain Valley Bay — 35-44: 7.3% Gwandalan — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 7.8% / 13.4%
Chain Valley Bay — 45-54: 7.8% Gwandalan — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 13.2% / 13.5%
Chain Valley Bay — 55-64: 13.2% Gwandalan — 55-64: 13.5%
65-74 22.2% / 12.8%
Chain Valley Bay — 65-74: 22.2% Gwandalan — 65-74: 12.8%
75-84 19.8% / 6.8%
Chain Valley Bay — 75-84: 19.8% Gwandalan — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 5.0% / 1.8%
Chain Valley Bay — 85+: 5.0% Gwandalan — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chain Valley Bay 56.0% lone person
Chain Valley Bay — Lone Person: 56.0% Chain Valley Bay — Couple Families: 26.1% Chain Valley Bay — One Parent Families: 13.7% Chain Valley Bay — Group Household: 2.8% Chain Valley Bay — Other Families: 1.4%
Gwandalan 32.6% lone person
Gwandalan — Lone Person: 32.6% Gwandalan — Couple Families: 45.7% Gwandalan — One Parent Families: 17.1% Gwandalan — Group Household: 3.1% Gwandalan — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chain Valley Bay 9.8% renting
Chain Valley Bay — Owned Outright: 66.7% Chain Valley Bay — Mortgage: 23.6% Chain Valley Bay — Renting: 9.8%
Gwandalan 19.8% renting
Gwandalan — Owned Outright: 36.7% Gwandalan — Mortgage: 43.5% Gwandalan — Renting: 19.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Certificate III & IV 20.7% / 23.9%
Chain Valley Bay — Certificate III & IV: 20.7% Gwandalan — Certificate III & IV: 23.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 6.7%
Chain Valley Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Gwandalan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Bachelor Degree 3.9% / 6.1%
Chain Valley Bay — Bachelor Degree: 3.9% Gwandalan — Bachelor Degree: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 1.1%
Chain Valley Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Gwandalan — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.2%
Chain Valley Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Gwandalan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.9%).

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.

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
England 5.8% / 3.0%
Chain Valley Bay — England: 5.8% Gwandalan — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.4%
Chain Valley Bay — New Zealand: 1.7% Gwandalan — New Zealand: 1.4%
Scotland 1.2% / 0.2%
Chain Valley Bay — Scotland: 1.2% Gwandalan — Scotland: 0.2%
Netherlands 0.9% / —
Chain Valley Bay — Netherlands: 0.9% Gwandalan — Netherlands: not among its largest
Germany 0.5% / 0.3%
Chain Valley Bay — Germany: 0.5% Gwandalan — Germany: 0.3%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.4%
Chain Valley Bay — Philippines: 0.3% Gwandalan — Philippines: 0.4%
Ireland 0.4% / 0.2%
Chain Valley Bay — Ireland: 0.4% Gwandalan — Ireland: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chain Valley Bay 90.1% houses
Chain Valley Bay — Houses: 90.1% Chain Valley Bay — Townhouses: 9.0% Chain Valley Bay — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Gwandalan 96.9% houses
Gwandalan — Houses: 96.9% Gwandalan — Townhouses: 1.9% Gwandalan — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Median house price $820,000 $880,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,000,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 21 sales
 26 days
from 39 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.

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
3 bed $800K / $850K
Chain Valley Bay — 3 bed: $800K (24 sales) Gwandalan — 3 bed: $850K (27 sales)

24 vs 27 sales

4 bed $909K / $930K
Chain Valley Bay — 4 bed: $909K (10 sales) Gwandalan — 4 bed: $930K (18 sales)

10 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Chain Valley Bay has more land zoned for conservation (82% vs 26%).

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Environmental 82% 26%
Residential 11% 50%
Parks and recreation 7% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 11%
Commercial 0% 1%
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

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Houses — 3.8%
$695/wk on $956K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
House price Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Income Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 66% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 61% of NSW

Liveability

Gwandalan is more walkable (54 vs 21); Gwandalan scores higher overall (39 vs 27).

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Grade D C
Score 27/100 39/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Gwandalan carries more crime risk (51 vs 24); Chain Valley Bay carries more bushfire risk (79 vs 47).

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Bushfire High
79/100
 Moderate
47/100
Crime Low
24/100
 Moderate
51/100
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 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Chain Valley Bay

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

Schools in Gwandalan

  • Gwandalan Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Parks & reserves 4
same for both
Childcare 1 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Gwandalan sits further from the CBD (120.6 km vs 116.4 km).

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Walkability score 21/100 54/100
Distance to Sydney 116.4 km 120.6 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 92 min 96 min
Public transport score 70/100
Bus
 62/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 30.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 19.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2259
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2259
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.

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Car (driver) 71.9% / 71.8%
Chain Valley Bay — Car (driver): 71.9% Gwandalan — Car (driver): 71.8%
Worked from Home 22.6% / 23.9%
Chain Valley Bay — Worked from Home: 22.6% Gwandalan — Worked from Home: 23.9%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 3.2%
Chain Valley Bay — Car (passenger): 3.1% Gwandalan — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Train 1.5% / 0.3%
Chain Valley Bay — Train: 1.5% Gwandalan — Train: 0.3%
Walked Only 1.0% / 0.8%
Chain Valley Bay — Walked Only: 1.0% Gwandalan — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.9%).

Setting

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.1 km 4.7 km

NBN connectivity

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Connectivity score 62/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
960 premises
 68%
1,784 premises

Climate

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
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)

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
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

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Chain Valley Bay Gwandalan
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Chain Valley Bay

Acreage Retirees River

Gwandalan

Large Blocks

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Other comparisons with Gwandalan

Gwandalan vs Summerland Point
Full data on Chain Valley Bay Full data on Gwandalan
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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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