Coffs Harbour vs Boambee East

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Coffs Harbour tends to suit people living alone.

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

  • Coffs Harbour has more childcare (23 vs 1)
  • Boambee East carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 93/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Coffs Harbour has cheaper units ($520,000 vs $580,000)
  • Boambee East leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Coffs Harbour

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($355/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Boambee East

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (335 min vs 342 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (519.7 km vs 525.9 km)
  • But Coffs Harbour is more walkable (88/100 vs 68/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Coffs Harbour

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 68/100)
  • But Boambee East carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Boambee East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Coffs Harbour and Boambee East drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
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.

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Walkability 88 / 68
Coffs Harbour — Walkability: 88/100 Boambee East — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 7 / 43
Coffs Harbour — Safety: 7/100 Boambee East — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 66 / 100
Coffs Harbour — Low fire risk: 66/100 Boambee East — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Coffs Harbour has more residents (27,089 vs 5,304); Boambee East rents higher ($410/wk vs $355/wk).

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Population 27,089
+80% vs other
 5,304
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.2% +1.2%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $64,012/yr $73,164/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $355/wk $410/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
0-4 5.0% / 5.7%
Coffs Harbour — 0-4: 5.0% Boambee East — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 11.8% / 14.0%
Coffs Harbour — 5-14: 11.8% Boambee East — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 6.0% / 6.5%
Coffs Harbour — 15-19: 6.0% Boambee East — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 5.5% / 4.2%
Coffs Harbour — 20-24: 5.5% Boambee East — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 11.9% / 11.5%
Coffs Harbour — 25-34: 11.9% Boambee East — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 11.9% / 11.4%
Coffs Harbour — 35-44: 11.9% Boambee East — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 11.8% / 12.6%
Coffs Harbour — 45-54: 11.8% Boambee East — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 12.7% / 12.9%
Coffs Harbour — 55-64: 12.7% Boambee East — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 12.1% / 12.4%
Coffs Harbour — 65-74: 12.1% Boambee East — 65-74: 12.4%
75-84 7.8% / 6.6%
Coffs Harbour — 75-84: 7.8% Boambee East — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 3.5% / 2.1%
Coffs Harbour — 85+: 3.5% Boambee East — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour 44.5% lone person
Coffs Harbour — Lone Person: 44.5% Coffs Harbour — Couple Families: 28.5% Coffs Harbour — One Parent Families: 19.9% Coffs Harbour — Group Household: 5.6% Coffs Harbour — Other Families: 1.4%
Boambee East 32.6% lone person
Boambee East — Lone Person: 32.6% Boambee East — Couple Families: 40.0% Boambee East — One Parent Families: 21.9% Boambee East — Group Household: 4.1% Boambee East — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour 40.9% renting
Coffs Harbour — Owned Outright: 34.1% Coffs Harbour — Mortgage: 25.1% Coffs Harbour — Renting: 40.9%
Boambee East 25.7% renting
Boambee East — Owned Outright: 36.1% Boambee East — Mortgage: 38.2% Boambee East — Renting: 25.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Certificate III & IV 16.4% / 18.6%
Coffs Harbour — Certificate III & IV: 16.4% Boambee East — Certificate III & IV: 18.6%
Bachelor Degree 9.4% / 9.4%
Coffs Harbour — Bachelor Degree: 9.4% Boambee East — Bachelor Degree: 9.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.7%
Coffs Harbour — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Boambee East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 1.7%
Coffs Harbour — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Boambee East — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.7%
Coffs Harbour — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Boambee East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
England 2.9% / 3.5%
Coffs Harbour — England: 2.9% Boambee East — England: 3.5%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.3%
Coffs Harbour — New Zealand: 1.3% Boambee East — New Zealand: 1.3%
Myanmar 1.5% / —
Coffs Harbour — Myanmar: 1.5% Boambee East — Myanmar: not among its largest
India 1.1% / 0.4%
Coffs Harbour — India: 1.1% Boambee East — India: 0.4%
Iraq 1.4% / —
Coffs Harbour — Iraq: 1.4% Boambee East — Iraq: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.4%
Coffs Harbour — Scotland: not among its largest Boambee East — Scotland: 0.4%
Germany — / 0.4%
Coffs Harbour — Germany: not among its largest Boambee East — Germany: 0.4%
Netherlands — / 0.4%
Coffs Harbour — Netherlands: not among its largest Boambee East — Netherlands: 0.4%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coffs Harbour 59.7% houses
Coffs Harbour — Houses: 59.7% Coffs Harbour — Townhouses: 17.5% Coffs Harbour — Flats / Apartments: 22.8%
Boambee East 86.7% houses
Boambee East — Houses: 86.7% Boambee East — Townhouses: 9.6% Boambee East — Flats / Apartments: 3.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Median house price $840,000 $825,000
Median unit price $520,000 $580,000
Median land price $1,082,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 182 sales
 34 days
from 44 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.

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
3 bed $788K / $762K
Coffs Harbour — 3 bed: $788K (152 sales) Boambee East — 3 bed: $762K (80 sales)

152 vs 80 sales

4 bed $900K / $872K
Coffs Harbour — 4 bed: $900K (107 sales) Boambee East — 4 bed: $872K (58 sales)

107 vs 58 sales

5 bed $1.02M / $1.12M
Coffs Harbour — 5 bed: $1.02M (23 sales) Boambee East — 5 bed: $1.12M (14 sales)

23 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Coffs Harbour has more rural and farming land (20% vs 0%).

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Residential 25% 63%
Parks and recreation 20% 14%
Rural and farming 20% 0%
Environmental 16% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 2%
Industrial 3% 8%
Commercial 1% 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

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
New dwellings approved 356
across Coffs Harbour
same for both
Approvals change year on year +61%
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.

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Houses 3.9%
$650/wk on $864K
 4.9%
$790/wk on $833K
Units 4.5%
$500/wk on $580K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
House price Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Schools Higher than 37% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 43% of NSW —

Liveability

Boambee East scores higher overall (48 vs 33); Coffs Harbour is more walkable (88 vs 68).

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Grade C
same for both
Score 33/100 48/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Coffs Harbour carries more bushfire risk (34 vs 0); Coffs Harbour carries more crime risk (93 vs 57).

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Bushfire Low
34/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
57/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Inside the suburb 14 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 5 0
Rated below peers 3 0

Schools in Coffs Harbour

  • Casuarina Steiner School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Lismore Diocese Online Education Centre Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Coffs Harbour High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Narranga Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Augustine's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Tyalla Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Boambee East

  • Coffs Harbour Learning Centre Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Supermarkets 8 1
Cafes & restaurants 67 0
Parks & reserves 64 3
Childcare 23 1
GPs 11 1
Pharmacies 14 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 13 0
Fuel stations 8 0
EV chargers 3 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 54 5

Mobility

Coffs Harbour sits further from the CBD (525.9 km vs 519.7 km).

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Walkability score 88/100 68/100
Distance to Sydney 525.9 km
+1% vs other
 519.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 342 min 335 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 75/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 387.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 48.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2450
 0.4%
postcode 2452
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2450
 49
postcode 2452

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.

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Car (driver) 76.7% / 82.5%
Coffs Harbour — Car (driver): 76.7% Boambee East — Car (driver): 82.5%
Worked from Home 10.7% / 9.2%
Coffs Harbour — Worked from Home: 10.7% Boambee East — Worked from Home: 9.2%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 6.7%
Coffs Harbour — Car (passenger): 7.1% Boambee East — Car (passenger): 6.7%
Walked Only 3.3% / 0.7%
Coffs Harbour — Walked Only: 3.3% Boambee East — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bicycle 1.2% / 0.3%
Coffs Harbour — Bicycle: 1.2% Boambee East — Bicycle: 0.3%
Bus 1.1% / 0.4%
Coffs Harbour — Bus: 1.1% Boambee East — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.5%).

Setting

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
3.2 km to a named beach
 2.9 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Connectivity score 99/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
15,989 premises
 100%
2,198 premises

Climate

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Annual rainfall 1,827 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.22 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Average residential rate $1,437/yr
same for both
Council Coffs Harbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Division Cowper
same for both
Member Pat Conaghan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coffs Harbour Boambee East
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coffs Harbour

Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Regional Centre

Boambee East

Coastal Large Blocks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour vs Toormina Coffs Harbour vs Sawtell Coffs Harbour vs Korora Coffs Harbour vs North Boambee Valley Coffs Harbour vs Boambee Coffs Harbour vs Upper Orara

Other comparisons with Boambee East

Boambee East vs Toormina Boambee East vs Bonville Boambee East vs Boambee
Full data on Coffs Harbour Full data on Boambee East
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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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