Empire Bay vs Killcare Heights

Empire Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 50 in Killcare Heights. 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. Houses cost more in Killcare Heights: a median of $1.95 million, against $1.17 million in Empire Bay, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Empire Bay tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Killcare Heights suits older residents.

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

First-home buyers

Empire Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,167,500 vs $1,945,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Empire Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Empire Bay

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 25/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (91 km vs 93.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Empire Bay is more walkable (51/100 vs 25/100)
  • Killcare Heights has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 20%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Empire Bay and Killcare Heights drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
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.

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Walkability 51 / 25
Empire Bay — Walkability: 51/100 Killcare Heights — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 82 / 83
Empire Bay — Safety: 82/100 Killcare Heights — Safety: 83/100
Low fire risk 36 / 27
Empire Bay — Low fire risk: 36/100 Killcare Heights — Low fire risk: 27/100

Demographics

Empire Bay has more residents (2,522 vs 812); Killcare Heights rents higher ($550/wk vs $410/wk).

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Population 2,522
+68% vs other
 812
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.1% +9.0%
Median age 42 50
Median household income $97,968/yr $110,916/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk $550/wk
+34% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
0-4 5.9% / 4.1%
Empire Bay — 0-4: 5.9% Killcare Heights — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 14.0% / 14.3%
Empire Bay — 5-14: 14.0% Killcare Heights — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 6.8% / 4.8%
Empire Bay — 15-19: 6.8% Killcare Heights — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 5.0% / 3.4%
Empire Bay — 20-24: 5.0% Killcare Heights — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 8.7% / 5.0%
Empire Bay — 25-34: 8.7% Killcare Heights — 25-34: 5.0%
35-44 12.6% / 11.3%
Empire Bay — 35-44: 12.6% Killcare Heights — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 14.2% / 13.9%
Empire Bay — 45-54: 14.2% Killcare Heights — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 13.3% / 13.7%
Empire Bay — 55-64: 13.3% Killcare Heights — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 12.2% / 19.0%
Empire Bay — 65-74: 12.2% Killcare Heights — 65-74: 19.0%
75-84 5.8% / 9.4%
Empire Bay — 75-84: 5.8% Killcare Heights — 75-84: 9.4%
85+ 1.5% / 1.5%
Empire Bay — 85+: 1.5% Killcare Heights — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Killcare Heights 53.2% couple families
Killcare Heights — Couple Families: 53.2% Killcare Heights — Lone Person: 29.3% Killcare Heights — One Parent Families: 11.2% Killcare Heights — Group Household: 3.7% Killcare Heights — Other Families: 2.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Empire Bay 17.8% renting
Empire Bay — Owned Outright: 39.2% Empire Bay — Mortgage: 43.0% Empire Bay — Renting: 17.8%
Killcare Heights 9.6% renting
Killcare Heights — Owned Outright: 55.5% Killcare Heights — Mortgage: 34.9% Killcare Heights — Renting: 9.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Certificate III & IV 19.5% / 13.5%
Empire Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.5% Killcare Heights — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Bachelor Degree 9.4% / 18.7%
Empire Bay — Bachelor Degree: 9.4% Killcare Heights — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 9.6%
Empire Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Killcare Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 7.8%
Empire Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Killcare Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 4.1%
Empire Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Killcare Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

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.

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
England 4.6% / 7.5%
Empire Bay — England: 4.6% Killcare Heights — England: 7.5%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.7%
Empire Bay — New Zealand: 1.3% Killcare Heights — New Zealand: 1.7%
China 0.4% / 0.9%
Empire Bay — China: 0.4% Killcare Heights — China: 0.9%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.7%
Empire Bay — South Africa: 0.5% Killcare Heights — South Africa: 0.7%
Germany — / 1.0%
Empire Bay — Germany: not among its largest Killcare Heights — Germany: 1.0%
Italy 0.4% / —
Empire Bay — Italy: 0.4% Killcare Heights — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Empire Bay 93.3% houses
Empire Bay — Houses: 93.3% Empire Bay — Flats / Apartments: 2.8% Empire Bay — Townhouses: 3.9%
Killcare Heights 95.4% houses
Killcare Heights — Houses: 95.4% Killcare Heights — Flats / Apartments: 4.6% Killcare Heights — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Median house price $1,167,500 $1,945,000
Median unit price $817,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 43 days
from 19 sales
 83 days
from 15 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.

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
3 bed $1.1M / $2.02M
Empire Bay — 3 bed: $1.1M (19 sales) Killcare Heights — 3 bed: $2.02M (9 sales)

19 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.27M / $2M
Empire Bay — 4 bed: $1.27M (15 sales) Killcare Heights — 4 bed: $2M (15 sales)

15 vs 15 sales

5 bed $1.94M / $1.81M
Empire Bay — 5 bed: $1.94M (6 sales) Killcare Heights — 5 bed: $1.81M (8 sales)

6 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Environmental 77% 82%
Residential 16% 17%
Parks and recreation 4% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 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

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
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.

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Houses 6.0%
$1,000/wk on $872K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
House price Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Income Higher than 66% of NSW —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 54% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 99% of NSW —

Liveability

Empire Bay is more walkable (51 vs 25).

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 53/100 56/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Bushfire Moderate
64/100
 High
73/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Low
17/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
12/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
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 Empire Bay

  • Empire Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Killcare Heights

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

Amenities in the suburb

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Killcare Heights sits further from the CBD (93.5 km vs 91 km).

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Walkability score 51/100 25/100
Distance to Sydney 91 km 93.5 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 87 min 90 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus · Ferry
 28/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 94.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 2.5 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.

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Car (driver) 58.7% / 44.3%
Empire Bay — Car (driver): 58.7% Killcare Heights — Car (driver): 44.3%
Worked from Home 34.3% / 51.9%
Empire Bay — Worked from Home: 34.3% Killcare Heights — Worked from Home: 51.9%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 2.8%
Empire Bay — Car (passenger): 3.5% Killcare Heights — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Train 1.6% / 1.0%
Empire Bay — Train: 1.6% Killcare Heights — Train: 1.0%
Walked Only 1.4% / —
Empire Bay — Walked Only: 1.4% Killcare Heights — Walked Only: not among its largest

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

Setting

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Elevation -2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 123 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 689 m
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Connectivity score 63/100 60/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
978 premises
 27%
444 premises

Climate

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
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)

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
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

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

Federal electorate

Empire Bay Killcare Heights
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Empire Bay

Coastal Large Blocks Outer Quiet

Killcare Heights

Acreage Beach Coastal Outer Premium Professionals Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Empire Bay

Empire Bay vs Davistown Empire Bay vs Bensville Empire Bay vs St Huberts Island Empire Bay vs Kincumber South Empire Bay vs Daleys Point Empire Bay vs Killcare

Other comparisons with Killcare Heights

Killcare Heights vs Killcare
Full data on Empire Bay Full data on Killcare Heights
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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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