Copacabana vs Macmasters Beach

Copacabana is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 49 in Macmasters Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families.

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

Macmasters Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 48/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

  • Copacabana is more walkable (56/100 vs 21/100)
  • Macmasters Beach sits closer to the CBD (90.5 km vs 92.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Macmasters Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 48/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 16%)
  • But Copacabana is more walkable (56/100 vs 21/100)

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

Investors

Macmasters Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.1% vs 2.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
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.

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Walkability 56 / 21
Copacabana — Walkability: 56/100 Macmasters Beach — Walkability: 21/100
Safety 52 / 71
Copacabana — Safety: 52/100 Macmasters Beach — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 75 / 28
Copacabana — Low fire risk: 75/100 Macmasters Beach — Low fire risk: 28/100

Demographics

Copacabana has more residents (2,809 vs 1,399); Macmasters Beach skews older (49 vs 43).

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Population 2,809
+50% vs other
 1,399
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +8.1%
Median age 43 49
Median household income $111,436/yr $113,880/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $510/wk
+2% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
0-4 5.3% / 4.4%
Copacabana — 0-4: 5.3% Macmasters Beach — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 14.4% / 11.5%
Copacabana — 5-14: 14.4% Macmasters Beach — 5-14: 11.5%
15-19 7.0% / 6.2%
Copacabana — 15-19: 7.0% Macmasters Beach — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 5.3% / 4.4%
Copacabana — 20-24: 5.3% Macmasters Beach — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 6.9% / 6.1%
Copacabana — 25-34: 6.9% Macmasters Beach — 25-34: 6.1%
35-44 12.8% / 10.4%
Copacabana — 35-44: 12.8% Macmasters Beach — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 15.6% / 14.9%
Copacabana — 45-54: 15.6% Macmasters Beach — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 15.7% / 18.6%
Copacabana — 55-64: 15.7% Macmasters Beach — 55-64: 18.6%
65-74 11.4% / 14.8%
Copacabana — 65-74: 11.4% Macmasters Beach — 65-74: 14.8%
75-84 4.1% / 5.9%
Copacabana — 75-84: 4.1% Macmasters Beach — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 0.9% / 1.9%
Copacabana — 85+: 0.9% Macmasters Beach — 85+: 1.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Copacabana 52.0% couple families
Copacabana — Couple Families: 52.0% Copacabana — Lone Person: 23.3% Copacabana — One Parent Families: 19.0% Copacabana — Group Household: 4.7% Copacabana — Other Families: 1.0%
Macmasters Beach 54.3% couple families
Macmasters Beach — Couple Families: 54.3% Macmasters Beach — Lone Person: 28.4% Macmasters Beach — One Parent Families: 15.1% Macmasters Beach — Group Household: 2.2% Macmasters Beach — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Copacabana 22.8% renting
Copacabana — Owned Outright: 35.1% Copacabana — Mortgage: 42.2% Copacabana — Renting: 22.8%
Macmasters Beach 14.7% renting
Macmasters Beach — Owned Outright: 49.4% Macmasters Beach — Mortgage: 35.9% Macmasters Beach — Renting: 14.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Bachelor Degree 16.8% / 20.9%
Copacabana — Bachelor Degree: 16.8% Macmasters Beach — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Certificate III & IV 15.6% / 13.5%
Copacabana — Certificate III & IV: 15.6% Macmasters Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 10.9%
Copacabana — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Macmasters Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 6.2%
Copacabana — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Macmasters Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.5%
Copacabana — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Macmasters Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.9%).

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.

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
England 6.9% / 5.5%
Copacabana — England: 6.9% Macmasters Beach — England: 5.5%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.0%
Copacabana — New Zealand: 1.7% Macmasters Beach — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.6%
Copacabana — South Africa: 0.8% Macmasters Beach — South Africa: 1.6%
Germany 0.9% / 0.3%
Copacabana — Germany: 0.9% Macmasters Beach — Germany: 0.3%
Ireland 0.9% / —
Copacabana — Ireland: 0.9% Macmasters Beach — Ireland: not among its largest
Scotland 0.4% / 0.5%
Copacabana — Scotland: 0.4% Macmasters Beach — Scotland: 0.5%
China — / 0.4%
Copacabana — China: not among its largest Macmasters Beach — China: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Copacabana 94.6% houses
Copacabana — Houses: 94.6% Copacabana — Flats / Apartments: 3.0% Copacabana — Townhouses: 2.4%
Macmasters Beach 97.6% houses
Macmasters Beach — Houses: 97.6% Macmasters Beach — Flats / Apartments: 2.4% Macmasters Beach — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Median house price $1,670,000 $1,800,000
Median unit price — $1,400,000
Median land price — $1,272,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 52 sales
 30 days
from 27 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.

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
3 bed $1.41M / $1.54M
Copacabana — 3 bed: $1.41M (23 sales) Macmasters Beach — 3 bed: $1.54M (20 sales)

23 vs 20 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.86M
Copacabana — 4 bed: $1.75M (37 sales) Macmasters Beach — 4 bed: $1.86M (21 sales)

37 vs 21 sales

5 bed $2.35M / $2.03M
Copacabana — 5 bed: $2.35M (16 sales) Macmasters Beach — 5 bed: $2.03M (8 sales)

16 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Macmasters Beach has more land zoned for conservation (82% vs 23%).

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Environmental 23% 82%
Residential 61% 12%
Parks and recreation 15% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
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

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
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.

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Houses — 2.5%
$950/wk on $1.95M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
House price Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 7% of NSW

Liveability

Copacabana is more walkable (56 vs 21); Copacabana scores higher overall (63 vs 52).

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 52/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Macmasters Beach carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 25); Copacabana carries more crime risk (48 vs 29).

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Bushfire Low
25/100
 High
72/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 Low
29/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
29/100
 Low
22/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
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 Copacabana

  • Copacabana Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Macmasters Beach

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

Amenities in the suburb

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Beaches 1
same for both
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Copacabana sits further from the CBD (92.8 km vs 90.5 km).

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Walkability score 56/100 21/100
Distance to Sydney 92.8 km
+2% vs other
 90.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 86 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 38/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 39.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2251
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2251
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.

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Car (driver) 53.0% / 51.8%
Copacabana — Car (driver): 53.0% Macmasters Beach — Car (driver): 51.8%
Worked from Home 41.0% / 44.8%
Copacabana — Worked from Home: 41.0% Macmasters Beach — Worked from Home: 44.8%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 2.7%
Copacabana — Car (passenger): 3.4% Macmasters Beach — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Train 1.3% / 0.7%
Copacabana — Train: 1.3% Macmasters Beach — Train: 0.7%
Walked Only 0.8% / —
Copacabana — Walked Only: 0.8% Macmasters Beach — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.0%).

Setting

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 474 m
517 m to a named beach
 1.3 km
1.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Connectivity score 45/100 46/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
1,534 premises
 1%
895 premises

Climate

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
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)

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Copacabana Macmasters Beach
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Copacabana

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Outer

Macmasters Beach

Acreage Beach Coastal Outer Premium Professionals

More comparisons

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Copacabana vs Kincumber Copacabana vs Avoca Beach

Other comparisons with Macmasters Beach

Macmasters Beach vs Kincumber Macmasters Beach vs Bensville
Full data on Copacabana Full data on Macmasters Beach
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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