Fennell Bay vs Booragul

Fennell Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 51 in Booragul. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Booragul tends to suit 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Fennell Bay carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 84/100)
  • Booragul has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Booragul

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $368/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Booragul

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 43/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Booragul

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (35% vs 24%)
  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 43/100)
  • But Fennell Bay carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 84/100)

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

Investors

Booragul

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (26.7% vs 10.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fennell Bay Booragul
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.

Fennell Bay Booragul
Walkability 43 / 61
Fennell Bay — Walkability: 43/100 Booragul — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 41 / 16
Fennell Bay — Safety: 41/100 Booragul — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 16 / 100
Fennell Bay — Low fire risk: 16/100 Booragul — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fennell Bay has higher household incomes ($71,500 vs $57,928); Fennell Bay rents higher ($368/wk vs $320/wk).

Fennell Bay Booragul
Population 1,780
+9% vs other
 1,623
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.4% +26.7%
Median age 45 51
Median household income $71,500/yr
+19% vs other
 $57,928/yr
Median weekly rent $368/wk
+13% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fennell Bay Booragul
0-4 4.9% / 4.4%
Fennell Bay — 0-4: 4.9% Booragul — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 9.7% / 10.1%
Fennell Bay — 5-14: 9.7% Booragul — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 5.2% / 5.4%
Fennell Bay — 15-19: 5.2% Booragul — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 7.1% / 5.2%
Fennell Bay — 20-24: 7.1% Booragul — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 12.0% / 10.1%
Fennell Bay — 25-34: 12.0% Booragul — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 10.8% / 7.3%
Fennell Bay — 35-44: 10.8% Booragul — 35-44: 7.3%
45-54 12.1% / 11.4%
Fennell Bay — 45-54: 12.1% Booragul — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 14.0% / 11.2%
Fennell Bay — 55-64: 14.0% Booragul — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 13.3% / 12.5%
Fennell Bay — 65-74: 13.3% Booragul — 65-74: 12.5%
75-84 8.0% / 12.9%
Fennell Bay — 75-84: 8.0% Booragul — 75-84: 12.9%
85+ 2.6% / 9.2%
Fennell Bay — 85+: 2.6% Booragul — 85+: 9.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fennell Bay 39.9% lone person
Fennell Bay — Lone Person: 39.9% Fennell Bay — Couple Families: 37.0% Fennell Bay — One Parent Families: 18.8% Fennell Bay — Group Household: 3.5% Fennell Bay — Other Families: 0.8%
Booragul 41.8% lone person
Booragul — Lone Person: 41.8% Booragul — Couple Families: 27.9% Booragul — One Parent Families: 24.0% Booragul — Group Household: 4.5% Booragul — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fennell Bay 24.3% renting
Fennell Bay — Owned Outright: 40.6% Fennell Bay — Mortgage: 35.1% Fennell Bay — Renting: 24.3%
Booragul 40.5% renting
Booragul — Owned Outright: 31.3% Booragul — Mortgage: 28.1% Booragul — Renting: 40.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fennell Bay Booragul
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 16.3%
Fennell Bay — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Booragul — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 6.7%
Fennell Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Booragul — Bachelor Degree: 6.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 5.4%
Fennell Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Booragul — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 1.7%
Fennell Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Booragul — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.0%
Fennell Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Booragul — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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.

Fennell Bay Booragul
England 2.1% / 2.6%
Fennell Bay — England: 2.1% Booragul — England: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Fennell Bay — New Zealand: 1.3% Booragul — New Zealand: 1.5%
Germany 0.5% / 0.9%
Fennell Bay — Germany: 0.5% Booragul — Germany: 0.9%
Scotland 0.9% / —
Fennell Bay — Scotland: 0.9% Booragul — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / 0.4%
Fennell Bay — Philippines: 0.4% Booragul — Philippines: 0.4%
Malaysia 0.6% / —
Fennell Bay — Malaysia: 0.6% Booragul — Malaysia: not among its largest
India — / 0.3%
Fennell Bay — India: not among its largest Booragul — India: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fennell Bay 88.1% houses
Fennell Bay — Houses: 88.1% Fennell Bay — Townhouses: 6.0% Fennell Bay — Flats / Apartments: 5.9%
Booragul 84.9% houses
Booragul — Houses: 84.9% Booragul — Townhouses: 12.5% Booragul — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fennell Bay Booragul
Median house price $844,500 $870,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $680,000 $607,750
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 17 sales
 32 days
from 12 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.

Fennell Bay Booragul
3 bed $849K / $825K
Fennell Bay — 3 bed: $849K (27 sales) Booragul — 3 bed: $825K (27 sales)

27 vs 27 sales

4 bed $980K / $1.1M
Fennell Bay — 4 bed: $980K (13 sales) Booragul — 4 bed: $1.1M (9 sales)

13 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Fennell Bay has more rural and farming land (66% vs 0%).

Fennell Bay Booragul
Residential 28% 66%
Rural and farming 66% 0%
Parks and recreation 1% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 11%
Environmental 1% 6%
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

Fennell Bay Booragul
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Fennell Bay Booragul
Houses 4.4%
$700/wk on $820K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fennell Bay Booragul
House price Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Income Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 44% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of NSW —

Liveability

Booragul scores higher overall (41 vs 25); Booragul is more walkable (61 vs 43).

Fennell Bay Booragul
Grade D C
Score 25/100 41/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Fennell Bay carries more bushfire risk (84 vs 0); Booragul carries more crime risk (84 vs 59).

Fennell Bay Booragul
Bushfire High
84/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 High
84/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Fennell Bay Booragul
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Fennell Bay

  • Fennell Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Booragul

  • Booragul Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lake Macquarie High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • St Paul's Catholic College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Booragul Primary School Catholic · Primary
  • Five Islands School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Fennell Bay Booragul
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Childcare 0 1

Mobility

Fennell Bay Booragul
Walkability score 43/100 61/100
Distance to Sydney 140.3 km 141.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 107 min 109 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 36.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 59.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2283
 0.9%
postcode 2284
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 2283
 53
postcode 2284

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.

Fennell Bay Booragul
Car (driver) 75.7% / 76.4%
Fennell Bay — Car (driver): 75.7% Booragul — Car (driver): 76.4%
Worked from Home 18.7% / 15.6%
Fennell Bay — Worked from Home: 18.7% Booragul — Worked from Home: 15.6%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 5.4%
Fennell Bay — Car (passenger): 3.3% Booragul — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.2%
Fennell Bay — Walked Only: 1.1% Booragul — Walked Only: 1.2%
Train 1.1% / 0.7%
Fennell Bay — Train: 1.1% Booragul — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.4%).

Setting

Fennell Bay Booragul
Elevation 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.0 km 9.9 km

NBN connectivity

Fennell Bay Booragul
Connectivity score 57/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
791 premises
 47%
783 premises

Climate

Fennell Bay Booragul
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Fennell Bay Booragul
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Fennell Bay Booragul
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Fennell Bay Booragul
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fennell Bay

Large Blocks

Booragul

Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fennell Bay

Fennell Bay vs Teralba Fennell Bay vs Bolton Point Fennell Bay vs Woodrising Fennell Bay vs Fassifern

Other comparisons with Booragul

Booragul vs Teralba Booragul vs Woodrising Booragul vs Marmong Point
Full data on Fennell Bay Full data on Booragul
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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