Chain Valley Bay vs Kingfisher Shores

Kingfisher Shores is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 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 Kingfisher Shores, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Kingfisher Shores: a median of $1.08 million, against $820,000 in Chain Valley Bay. On these figures, Chain Valley Bay 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

Chain Valley Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Chain Valley Bay has cheaper houses ($820,000 vs $1,080,500)
  • Kingfisher Shores leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 44%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kingfisher Shores

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 43%)

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

Commuting to the city

Kingfisher Shores

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (32/100 vs 21/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (113.1 km vs 116.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Chain Valley Bay has more residents already 65 and over (47% vs 23%)
  • Kingfisher Shores is more walkable (32/100 vs 21/100)

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

Investors

Chain Valley Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.8% vs -1.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Chain Valley Bay and Kingfisher Shores 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 Kingfisher Shores
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 Kingfisher Shores
Walkability 21 / 32
Chain Valley Bay — Walkability: 21/100 Kingfisher Shores — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 76 / 75
Chain Valley Bay — Safety: 76/100 Kingfisher Shores — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 21 / 7
Chain Valley Bay — Low fire risk: 21/100 Kingfisher Shores — Low fire risk: 7/100

Demographics

Chain Valley Bay has more residents (2,773 vs 160); Kingfisher Shores has higher household incomes ($79,612 vs $45,032).

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Population 2,773
+94% vs other
 160
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.8% -1.8%
Median age 63 41
Median household income $45,032/yr $79,612/yr
+77% 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 Kingfisher Shores
0-4 3.4% / 5.6%
Chain Valley Bay — 0-4: 3.4% Kingfisher Shores — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 7.3% / 8.8%
Chain Valley Bay — 5-14: 7.3% Kingfisher Shores — 5-14: 8.8%
15-19 4.0% / 5.0%
Chain Valley Bay — 15-19: 4.0% Kingfisher Shores — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 3.2% / 5.0%
Chain Valley Bay — 20-24: 3.2% Kingfisher Shores — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 6.5% / 15.0%
Chain Valley Bay — 25-34: 6.5% Kingfisher Shores — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 7.3% / 8.8%
Chain Valley Bay — 35-44: 7.3% Kingfisher Shores — 35-44: 8.8%
45-54 7.8% / 10.6%
Chain Valley Bay — 45-54: 7.8% Kingfisher Shores — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 13.2% / 13.8%
Chain Valley Bay — 55-64: 13.2% Kingfisher Shores — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 22.2% / 14.4%
Chain Valley Bay — 65-74: 22.2% Kingfisher Shores — 65-74: 14.4%
75-84 19.8% / 4.4%
Chain Valley Bay — 75-84: 19.8% Kingfisher Shores — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 5.0% / 3.8%
Chain Valley Bay — 85+: 5.0% Kingfisher Shores — 85+: 3.8%

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%
Kingfisher Shores 51.2% lone person
Kingfisher Shores — Lone Person: 51.2% Kingfisher Shores — Couple Families: 30.2% Kingfisher Shores — One Parent Families: 9.3% Kingfisher Shores — Group Household: 9.3% Kingfisher Shores — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Kingfisher Shores 15.9% renting
Kingfisher Shores — Owned Outright: 37.7% Kingfisher Shores — Mortgage: 46.4% Kingfisher Shores — Renting: 15.9%
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.

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
England 5.8% / 6.2%
Chain Valley Bay — England: 5.8% Kingfisher Shores — England: 6.2%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.9%
Chain Valley Bay — New Zealand: 1.7% Kingfisher Shores — New Zealand: 1.9%
Scotland 1.2% / —
Chain Valley Bay — Scotland: 1.2% Kingfisher Shores — Scotland: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.9% / —
Chain Valley Bay — Netherlands: 0.9% Kingfisher Shores — Netherlands: not among its largest
Germany 0.5% / —
Chain Valley Bay — Germany: 0.5% Kingfisher Shores — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

Qualifications

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

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Certificate III & IV 20.7% / 23.8%
Chain Valley Bay — Certificate III & IV: 20.7% Kingfisher Shores — Certificate III & IV: 23.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 10.0%
Chain Valley Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Kingfisher Shores — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0%
Bachelor Degree 3.9% / 9.4%
Chain Valley Bay — Bachelor Degree: 3.9% Kingfisher Shores — Bachelor Degree: 9.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 2.5%
Chain Valley Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Kingfisher Shores — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 1.9%
Chain Valley Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Kingfisher Shores — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.8%).

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%
Kingfisher Shores 100.0% houses
Kingfisher Shores — Houses: 100.0% Kingfisher Shores — Townhouses: 0.0% Kingfisher Shores — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Median house price $820,000 $1,080,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 17 days
from 21 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Chain Valley Bay has more land zoned for conservation (82% vs 13%); Kingfisher Shores has more rural and farming land (53% vs 0%).

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Environmental 82% 13%
Rural and farming 0% 53%
Parks and recreation 7% 18%
Residential 11% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 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 Kingfisher Shores
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
House price Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Income Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 66% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW

Liveability

Kingfisher Shores is more walkable (32 vs 21).

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Grade D —
Score 27/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Kingfisher Shores carries more bushfire risk (93 vs 79).

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Bushfire High
79/100
 High
93/100
Crime Low
24/100
 Low
25/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
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

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Parks & reserves 4 1
Childcare 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Chain Valley Bay sits further from the CBD (116.4 km vs 113.1 km).

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Walkability score 21/100 32/100
Distance to Sydney 116.4 km
+3% vs other
 113.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 92 min 89 min
Public transport score 70/100
Bus
 30/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 30.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 9.0
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 Kingfisher Shores
Car (driver) 71.9% / 67.2%
Chain Valley Bay — Car (driver): 71.9% Kingfisher Shores — Car (driver): 67.2%
Worked from Home 22.6% / 18.8%
Chain Valley Bay — Worked from Home: 22.6% Kingfisher Shores — Worked from Home: 18.8%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 14.1%
Chain Valley Bay — Car (passenger): 3.1% Kingfisher Shores — Car (passenger): 14.1%
Train 1.5% / —
Chain Valley Bay — Train: 1.5% Kingfisher Shores — Train: not among its largest
Walked Only 1.0% / —
Chain Valley Bay — Walked Only: 1.0% Kingfisher Shores — Walked Only: not among its largest

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

Setting

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.1 km 6.0 km

NBN connectivity

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
Connectivity score 62/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
960 premises
 40%
77 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Chain Valley Bay Kingfisher Shores
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 Kingfisher Shores
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

Kingfisher Shores

—

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Full data on Chain Valley Bay Full data on Kingfisher Shores
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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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