Corlette vs Nelson Bay

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Corlette, about half of households are couple families. In Nelson Bay, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Corlette: a median of $1.18 million, against $1.04 million in Nelson Bay, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Corlette tends to suit couples, while Nelson Bay suits 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

Corlette

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 79/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 46%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 59%)
  • But Nelson Bay has more childcare (7 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Nelson Bay

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($750,000 vs $1,175,000)
  • has cheaper units ($672,500 vs $772,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,042,500 vs $1,180,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nelson Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $445/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Corlette

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (46/100 vs 26/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Corlette carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 79/100)
  • Nelson Bay has more GPs (5 vs 0)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Corlette and Nelson 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.

Corlette Nelson 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.

Corlette Nelson Bay
Walkability 46 / 26
Corlette — Walkability: 46/100 Nelson Bay — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 70 / 21
Corlette — Safety: 70/100 Nelson Bay — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 42 / 25
Corlette — Low fire risk: 42/100 Nelson Bay — Low fire risk: 25/100

Demographics

Corlette has higher household incomes ($81,432 vs $67,860); Corlette rents higher ($445/wk vs $380/wk).

Corlette Nelson Bay
Population 5,699 6,141
+8% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.4% +5.5%
Median age 52 51
Median household income $81,432/yr
+17% vs other
 $67,860/yr
Median weekly rent $445/wk
+15% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Corlette Nelson Bay
0-4 3.5% / 3.7%
Corlette — 0-4: 3.5% Nelson Bay — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 11.0% / 9.6%
Corlette — 5-14: 11.0% Nelson Bay — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.7% / 5.3%
Corlette — 15-19: 5.7% Nelson Bay — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 3.7% / 4.3%
Corlette — 20-24: 3.7% Nelson Bay — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 6.3% / 8.8%
Corlette — 25-34: 6.3% Nelson Bay — 25-34: 8.8%
35-44 9.4% / 9.5%
Corlette — 35-44: 9.4% Nelson Bay — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 12.4% / 12.6%
Corlette — 45-54: 12.4% Nelson Bay — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 15.0% / 16.7%
Corlette — 55-64: 15.0% Nelson Bay — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 17.3% / 17.8%
Corlette — 65-74: 17.3% Nelson Bay — 65-74: 17.8%
75-84 11.8% / 9.1%
Corlette — 75-84: 11.8% Nelson Bay — 75-84: 9.1%
85+ 3.7% / 2.4%
Corlette — 85+: 3.7% Nelson Bay — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Corlette 34.0% lone person
Corlette — Lone Person: 34.0% Corlette — Couple Families: 45.0% Corlette — One Parent Families: 16.9% Corlette — Group Household: 3.3% Corlette — Other Families: 0.8%
Nelson Bay 48.1% lone person
Nelson Bay — Lone Person: 48.1% Nelson Bay — Couple Families: 28.9% Nelson Bay — One Parent Families: 16.9% Nelson Bay — Group Household: 5.1% Nelson Bay — Other Families: 1.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Corlette 21.0% renting
Corlette — Owned Outright: 51.0% Corlette — Mortgage: 28.0% Corlette — Renting: 21.0%
Nelson Bay 31.5% renting
Nelson Bay — Owned Outright: 43.7% Nelson Bay — Mortgage: 24.8% Nelson Bay — Renting: 31.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Corlette Nelson Bay
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 17.8%
Corlette — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Nelson Bay — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 10.5% / 10.7%
Corlette — Bachelor Degree: 10.5% Nelson Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.4% / 10.1%
Corlette — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.4% Nelson Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 3.3%
Corlette — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Nelson Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.8%
Corlette — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Nelson Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Corlette Nelson Bay
England 6.9% / 5.0%
Corlette — England: 6.9% Nelson Bay — England: 5.0%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.5%
Corlette — New Zealand: 2.0% Nelson Bay — New Zealand: 1.5%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.7%
Corlette — Scotland: 0.6% Nelson Bay — Scotland: 0.7%
South Africa 0.7% / 0.5%
Corlette — South Africa: 0.7% Nelson Bay — South Africa: 0.5%
Philippines — / 0.9%
Corlette — Philippines: not among its largest Nelson Bay — Philippines: 0.9%
Nepal — / 0.8%
Corlette — Nepal: not among its largest Nelson Bay — Nepal: 0.8%
Thailand 0.5% / —
Corlette — Thailand: 0.5% Nelson Bay — Thailand: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Corlette 74.2% houses
Corlette — Houses: 74.2% Corlette — Townhouses: 23.4% Corlette — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Nelson Bay 59.1% houses
Nelson Bay — Houses: 59.1% Nelson Bay — Townhouses: 20.8% Nelson Bay — Flats / Apartments: 20.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Corlette Nelson Bay
Median house price $1,180,000 $1,042,500
Median unit price $772,500 $672,500
Median land price $1,175,000 $750,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 95 sales
 36 days
from 98 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Corlette Nelson Bay
2 bed $738K / $648K
Corlette — 2 bed: $738K (6 sales) Nelson Bay — 2 bed: $648K (69 sales)

6 vs 69 sales

3 bed $770K / $855K
Corlette — 3 bed: $770K (7 sales) Nelson Bay — 3 bed: $855K (27 sales)

7 vs 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.

Corlette Nelson Bay
3 bed $950K / $992K
Corlette — 3 bed: $950K (65 sales) Nelson Bay — 3 bed: $992K (64 sales)

65 vs 64 sales

4 bed $1.28M / $1.18M
Corlette — 4 bed: $1.28M (72 sales) Nelson Bay — 4 bed: $1.18M (52 sales)

72 vs 52 sales

5 bed $1.65M / $1.34M
Corlette — 5 bed: $1.65M (17 sales) Nelson Bay — 5 bed: $1.34M (10 sales)

17 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Nelson Bay has more land zoned for conservation (59% vs 17%).

Corlette Nelson Bay
Residential 72% 19%
Environmental 17% 59%
Parks and recreation 11% 18%
Rural and farming 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 1%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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

Corlette Nelson Bay
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
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.

Corlette Nelson Bay
Houses 3.5%
$800/wk on $1.2M
 3.2%
$735/wk on $1.19M
Units — 4.6%
$550/wk on $620K

Ranking within NSW

Corlette Nelson Bay
House price Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Income Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 50% of NSW

Liveability

Corlette scores higher overall (47 vs 24); Corlette is more walkable (46 vs 26).

Corlette Nelson Bay
Grade C D
Score 47/100 24/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Nelson Bay carries more crime risk (79 vs 30); Nelson Bay carries more bushfire risk (75 vs 58).

Corlette Nelson Bay
Bushfire Moderate
58/100
 High
75/100
Crime Low
30/100
 High
79/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
54/100
 Low
35/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Corlette Nelson Bay
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Corlette

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

Schools in Nelson Bay

  • St Michael's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Alesco Secondary College - Tomaree Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Corlette Nelson Bay
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 22
Parks & reserves 10 8
Childcare 0 7
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 1 0

Mobility

Corlette Nelson Bay
Walkability score 46/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 207.8 km 207.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 160 min 164 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 64.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 87.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2315
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2315
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.

Corlette Nelson Bay
Car (driver) 63.5% / 65.9%
Corlette — Car (driver): 63.5% Nelson Bay — Car (driver): 65.9%
Worked from Home 28.9% / 21.7%
Corlette — Worked from Home: 28.9% Nelson Bay — Worked from Home: 21.7%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 5.2%
Corlette — Car (passenger): 5.1% Nelson Bay — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 1.6% / 5.8%
Corlette — Walked Only: 1.6% Nelson Bay — Walked Only: 5.8%
Bus 0.6% / 1.0%
Corlette — Bus: 0.6% Nelson Bay — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.9%).

Setting

Corlette Nelson Bay
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 757 m
982 m to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Corlette Nelson Bay
Connectivity score 73/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
2,747 premises
 31%
4,940 premises

Climate

Corlette Nelson Bay
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Corlette Nelson Bay
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Corlette Nelson Bay
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Corlette Nelson Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Corlette

Beach Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees Townhouses

Nelson Bay

Coastal Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Corlette

Corlette vs Salamander Bay

Other comparisons with Nelson Bay

Nelson Bay vs Salamander Bay Nelson Bay vs Anna Bay Nelson Bay vs Shoal Bay Nelson Bay vs Fingal Bay Nelson Bay vs One Mile
Full data on Corlette Full data on Nelson Bay
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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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