Daleys Point vs Empire Bay

Empire Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 59 in Daleys Point. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Daleys Point, about half of households are people living alone. In Empire Bay, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Daleys Point: a median of $1.42 million, against $1.17 million in Empire Bay, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Daleys Point tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Empire Bay suits families with children, couples, 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

Empire Bay

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 40/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 46%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 73%)

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

First-home buyers

Empire Bay

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 46%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,167,500 vs $1,420,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Empire Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 41%)
  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Daleys Point

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (87.8 km vs 91 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Daleys Point

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (27% vs 7%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (42% vs 20%)
  • But Empire Bay carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 40/100)

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

Investors

Empire Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (6.0% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Daleys Point and Empire 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.

Daleys Point Empire 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.

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Walkability 47 / 51
Daleys Point — Walkability: 47/100 Empire Bay — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 60 / 82
Daleys Point — Safety: 60/100 Empire Bay — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 27 / 36
Daleys Point — Low fire risk: 27/100 Empire Bay — Low fire risk: 36/100

Demographics

Empire Bay has more residents (2,522 vs 705); Empire Bay has higher household incomes ($97,968 vs $63,804).

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Population 705 2,522
+258% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.5% +5.1%
Median age 59 42
Median household income $63,804/yr $97,968/yr
+54% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+18% vs other
 $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Daleys Point Empire Bay
0-4 3.8% / 5.9%
Daleys Point — 0-4: 3.8% Empire Bay — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 5.8% / 14.0%
Daleys Point — 5-14: 5.8% Empire Bay — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 3.5% / 6.8%
Daleys Point — 15-19: 3.5% Empire Bay — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 3.5% / 5.0%
Daleys Point — 20-24: 3.5% Empire Bay — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 7.5% / 8.7%
Daleys Point — 25-34: 7.5% Empire Bay — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 9.4% / 12.6%
Daleys Point — 35-44: 9.4% Empire Bay — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 10.2% / 14.2%
Daleys Point — 45-54: 10.2% Empire Bay — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 15.3% / 13.3%
Daleys Point — 55-64: 15.3% Empire Bay — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 18.0% / 12.2%
Daleys Point — 65-74: 18.0% Empire Bay — 65-74: 12.2%
75-84 17.3% / 5.8%
Daleys Point — 75-84: 17.3% Empire Bay — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 6.4% / 1.5%
Daleys Point — 85+: 6.4% Empire Bay — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Daleys Point 35.0% couple families
Daleys Point — Couple Families: 35.0% Daleys Point — Lone Person: 53.9% Daleys Point — One Parent Families: 11.1% Daleys Point — Group Household: 0.0% Daleys Point — Other Families: 0.0%
Empire Bay 52.1% couple families
Empire Bay — Couple Families: 52.1% Empire Bay — Lone Person: 26.4% Empire Bay — One Parent Families: 17.7% Empire Bay — Group Household: 2.5% Empire Bay — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Daleys Point 14.2% renting
Daleys Point — Owned Outright: 50.8% Daleys Point — Mortgage: 35.0% Daleys Point — Renting: 14.2%
Empire Bay 17.8% renting
Empire Bay — Owned Outright: 39.2% Empire Bay — Mortgage: 43.0% Empire Bay — Renting: 17.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 19.5%
Daleys Point — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% Empire Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.5%
Bachelor Degree 14.8% / 9.4%
Daleys Point — Bachelor Degree: 14.8% Empire Bay — Bachelor Degree: 9.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.4%
Daleys Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Empire Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 3.1%
Daleys Point — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Empire Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.2%
Daleys Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Empire Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

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.

Daleys Point Empire Bay
England 7.9% / 4.6%
Daleys Point — England: 7.9% Empire Bay — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.3%
Daleys Point — New Zealand: 1.8% Empire Bay — New Zealand: 1.3%
China 2.0% / 0.4%
Daleys Point — China: 2.0% Empire Bay — China: 0.4%
Italy 0.9% / 0.4%
Daleys Point — Italy: 0.9% Empire Bay — Italy: 0.4%
Germany 0.7% / —
Daleys Point — Germany: 0.7% Empire Bay — Germany: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.5%
Daleys Point — South Africa: not among its largest Empire Bay — South Africa: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Daleys Point 73.2% houses
Daleys Point — Houses: 73.2% Daleys Point — Flats / Apartments: 18.5% Daleys Point — Townhouses: 8.4%
Empire Bay 93.3% houses
Empire Bay — Houses: 93.3% Empire Bay — Flats / Apartments: 2.8% Empire Bay — Townhouses: 3.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Median house price $1,420,000 $1,167,500
Median unit price — $817,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 92 days
from 7 sales
 43 days
from 19 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.

Daleys Point Empire Bay
3 bed $1.51M / $1.1M
Daleys Point — 3 bed: $1.51M (6 sales) Empire Bay — 3 bed: $1.1M (19 sales)

6 vs 19 sales

4 bed $1.34M / $1.27M
Daleys Point — 4 bed: $1.34M (10 sales) Empire Bay — 4 bed: $1.27M (15 sales)

10 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Environmental 71% 77%
Residential 22% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Parks and recreation 3% 4%
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

Daleys Point Empire Bay
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.

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Houses 4.5%
$1,100/wk on $1.26M
 6.0%
$1,000/wk on $872K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Daleys Point Empire Bay
House price Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 76% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW

Liveability

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Daleys Point carries more crime risk (40 vs 18).

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Bushfire High
73/100
 Moderate
64/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Low
18/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
23/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Daleys Point Empire Bay
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 Daleys Point

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

Schools in Empire Bay

  • Empire Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 2 1
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Empire Bay sits further from the CBD (91 km vs 87.8 km).

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Walkability score 47/100 51/100
Distance to Sydney 87.8 km 91 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 84 min 87 min
Public transport score 59/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 18.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 94.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2257
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2257
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.

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Car (driver) 45.1% / 58.7%
Daleys Point — Car (driver): 45.1% Empire Bay — Car (driver): 58.7%
Worked from Home 50.5% / 34.3%
Daleys Point — Worked from Home: 50.5% Empire Bay — Worked from Home: 34.3%
Car (passenger) 1.9% / 3.5%
Daleys Point — Car (passenger): 1.9% Empire Bay — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Train 2.4% / 1.6%
Daleys Point — Train: 2.4% Empire Bay — Train: 1.6%
Walked Only — / 1.4%
Daleys Point — Walked Only: not among its largest Empire Bay — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.7%).

Setting

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Elevation 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 -2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 235 m
3.0 km to a named beach
 1.5 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Connectivity score 45/100 63/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
461 premises
 32%
978 premises

Climate

Daleys Point Empire Bay
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)

Daleys Point Empire Bay
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

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Daleys Point Empire Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Daleys Point

Coastal Outer Quiet Retirees

Empire Bay

Coastal Large Blocks Outer Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Daleys Point

Daleys Point vs Blackwall Daleys Point vs Booker Bay Daleys Point vs St Huberts Island Daleys Point vs Killcare

Other comparisons with Empire Bay

Empire Bay vs Davistown Empire Bay vs Bensville Empire Bay vs St Huberts Island Empire Bay vs Killcare Heights Empire Bay vs Kincumber South Empire Bay vs Killcare
Full data on Daleys Point Full data on Empire 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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