Ettalong Beach vs Wagstaffe

Ettalong Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 54 against 60 in Wagstaffe. In both, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. In Wagstaffe, the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Wagstaffe: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.32 million in Ettalong Beach. On these figures, Ettalong Beach tends to suit 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

Wagstaffe

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 52%)
  • carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 68/100)
  • But Ettalong Beach has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Ettalong Beach has cheaper houses ($1,318,000 vs $2,013,000)
  • Wagstaffe leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 42%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Ettalong Beach has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 13%)
  • Wagstaffe leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Ettalong Beach

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 51/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (79 min vs 97 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (85.1 km vs 97 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Ettalong Beach

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 51/100)
  • But Wagstaffe carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 68/100)

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

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

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
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.

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Walkability 72 / 51
Ettalong Beach — Walkability: 72/100 Wagstaffe — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 32 / 62
Ettalong Beach — Safety: 32/100 Wagstaffe — Safety: 62/100
Low fire risk 100 / 32
Ettalong Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wagstaffe — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Ettalong Beach has more residents (5,161 vs 240); Wagstaffe has higher household incomes ($98,384 vs $56,004).

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Population 5,161
+95% vs other
 240
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.7% +8.1%
Median age 54 60
Median household income $56,004/yr $98,384/yr
+76% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $410/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
0-4 4.9% / 1.2%
Ettalong Beach — 0-4: 4.9% Wagstaffe — 0-4: 1.2%
5-14 8.0% / 10.0%
Ettalong Beach — 5-14: 8.0% Wagstaffe — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 3.1% / 5.0%
Ettalong Beach — 15-19: 3.1% Wagstaffe — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 4.7% / 1.2%
Ettalong Beach — 20-24: 4.7% Wagstaffe — 20-24: 1.2%
25-34 9.3% / 4.6%
Ettalong Beach — 25-34: 9.3% Wagstaffe — 25-34: 4.6%
35-44 10.0% / 7.1%
Ettalong Beach — 35-44: 10.0% Wagstaffe — 35-44: 7.1%
45-54 11.0% / 10.4%
Ettalong Beach — 45-54: 11.0% Wagstaffe — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 15.0% / 25.0%
Ettalong Beach — 55-64: 15.0% Wagstaffe — 55-64: 25.0%
65-74 18.1% / 21.7%
Ettalong Beach — 65-74: 18.1% Wagstaffe — 65-74: 21.7%
75-84 11.6% / 12.9%
Ettalong Beach — 75-84: 11.6% Wagstaffe — 75-84: 12.9%
85+ 4.4% / 1.2%
Ettalong Beach — 85+: 4.4% Wagstaffe — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ettalong Beach 57.1% lone person
Ettalong Beach — Lone Person: 57.1% Ettalong Beach — Couple Families: 19.2% Ettalong Beach — One Parent Families: 16.7% Ettalong Beach — Group Household: 5.7% Ettalong Beach — Other Families: 1.3%
Wagstaffe 57.1% lone person
Wagstaffe — Lone Person: 57.1% Wagstaffe — Couple Families: 34.7% Wagstaffe — One Parent Families: 8.2% Wagstaffe — Group Household: 0.0% Wagstaffe — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ettalong Beach 38.7% renting
Ettalong Beach — Owned Outright: 44.7% Ettalong Beach — Mortgage: 16.7% Ettalong Beach — Renting: 38.7%
Wagstaffe 13.2% renting
Wagstaffe — Owned Outright: 61.3% Wagstaffe — Mortgage: 25.5% Wagstaffe — Renting: 13.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Bachelor Degree 10.0% / 25.4%
Ettalong Beach — Bachelor Degree: 10.0% Wagstaffe — Bachelor Degree: 25.4%
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 7.5%
Ettalong Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Wagstaffe — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 9.2%
Ettalong Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Wagstaffe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 13.8%
Ettalong Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Wagstaffe — Postgraduate Degree: 13.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 4.6%
Ettalong Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Wagstaffe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.4%).

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.

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
England 5.1% / 4.6%
Ettalong Beach — England: 5.1% Wagstaffe — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.2%
Ettalong Beach — New Zealand: 2.2% Wagstaffe — New Zealand: 1.2%
Malaysia — / 2.5%
Ettalong Beach — Malaysia: not among its largest Wagstaffe — Malaysia: 2.5%
Philippines 0.5% / 1.7%
Ettalong Beach — Philippines: 0.5% Wagstaffe — Philippines: 1.7%
Germany 0.5% / 1.2%
Ettalong Beach — Germany: 0.5% Wagstaffe — Germany: 1.2%
Thailand 0.6% / —
Ettalong Beach — Thailand: 0.6% Wagstaffe — Thailand: not among its largest
South Africa 0.6% / —
Ettalong Beach — South Africa: 0.6% Wagstaffe — South Africa: not among its largest
India 0.6% / —
Ettalong Beach — India: 0.6% Wagstaffe — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ettalong Beach 51.5% houses
Ettalong Beach — Houses: 51.5% Ettalong Beach — Townhouses: 35.3% Ettalong Beach — Flats / Apartments: 13.2%
Wagstaffe 98.1% houses
Wagstaffe — Houses: 98.1% Wagstaffe — Townhouses: 2.8% Wagstaffe — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Median house price $1,318,000 $2,013,000
Median unit price $845,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 44 sales
 120 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Wagstaffe has more land zoned for conservation (50% vs 1%).

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Residential 80% 49%
Environmental 1% 50%
Parks and recreation 10% 1%
Commercial 5% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 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

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
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.

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Houses 3.0%
$700/wk on $1.23M
 —
Units 4.1%
$700/wk on $885K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Income Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 76% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 21% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 27% of NSW —

Liveability

Ettalong Beach is more walkable (72 vs 51).

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Grade B —
Score 52/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Wagstaffe carries more bushfire risk (68 vs 0); Ettalong Beach carries more crime risk (68 vs 38).

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Low
38/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
85/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Ettalong Beach

  • Ettalong Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Wagstaffe

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

Amenities in the suburb

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 10 1
Parks & reserves 4 0
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1

Mobility

Wagstaffe sits further from the CBD (97 km vs 85.1 km).

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Walkability score 72/100 51/100
Distance to Sydney 85.1 km 97 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 79 min 97 min
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.

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Worked from Home 36.6% / 65.1%
Ettalong Beach — Worked from Home: 36.6% Wagstaffe — Worked from Home: 65.1%
Car (driver) 51.6% / 27.9%
Ettalong Beach — Car (driver): 51.6% Wagstaffe — Car (driver): 27.9%
Walked Only 1.8% / 7.0%
Ettalong Beach — Walked Only: 1.8% Wagstaffe — Walked Only: 7.0%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / —
Ettalong Beach — Car (passenger): 4.6% Wagstaffe — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Train 3.7% / —
Ettalong Beach — Train: 3.7% Wagstaffe — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.1%).

Setting

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 172 m
1.8 km to a named beach
 187 m
910 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Connectivity score 62/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
3,448 premises
 0%
193 premises

Climate

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
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)

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
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

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

Federal electorate

Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ettalong Beach

Coastal Outer Parks Retirees Townhouses Village Feel

Wagstaffe

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Outer Professionals Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ettalong Beach

Ettalong Beach vs Umina Beach Ettalong Beach vs Blackwall Ettalong Beach vs Booker Bay

Other comparisons with Wagstaffe

Wagstaffe vs Booker Bay Wagstaffe vs Pretty Beach
Full data on Ettalong Beach Full data on Wagstaffe
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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