Fennell Bay vs Woodrising

Woodrising is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 45 in Fennell Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Woodrising, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Fennell Bay tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Woodrising suits families with children and couples.

Fennell Bay and Woodrising are similarly distant from the CBD and face no flood risk, but they differ notably in other ways. Woodrising has a higher median household income at $84,968 compared to Fennell Bay's $71,500, and a younger population with a median age of 36 versus 45. Fennell Bay is larger with 1,780 residents and offers a slightly lower median house price of $830,000 against Woodrising's $787,500, though Woodrising scores better on walkability (51 versus 43) and has lower crime risk (52 versus 64). Fennell Bay faces higher bushfire risk at 82 compared to Woodrising's 92, which may be a consideration depending on your priorities.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Woodrising

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 56%)

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

First-home buyers

Woodrising

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Woodrising

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 43/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Fennell Bay has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 13%)
  • Woodrising is more walkable (51/100 vs 43/100)

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

Investors

Fennell Bay

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.4% vs 0.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Fennell Bay and Woodrising 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 Woodrising
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 Woodrising
Walkability 43 / 51
Fennell Bay — Walkability: 43/100 Woodrising — Walkability: 51/100
Safety 41 / 50
Fennell Bay — Safety: 41/100 Woodrising — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 16 / 7
Fennell Bay — Low fire risk: 16/100 Woodrising — Low fire risk: 7/100

Demographics

Fennell Bay has more residents (1,780 vs 1,176); Fennell Bay skews older (45 vs 36).

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Population 1,780
+34% vs other
 1,176
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.4% +0.7%
Median age 45 36
Median household income $71,500/yr $84,968/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $368/wk $378/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fennell Bay Woodrising
0-4 4.9% / 7.5%
Fennell Bay — 0-4: 4.9% Woodrising — 0-4: 7.5%
5-14 9.7% / 12.9%
Fennell Bay — 5-14: 9.7% Woodrising — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 5.2% / 5.4%
Fennell Bay — 15-19: 5.2% Woodrising — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 7.1% / 7.6%
Fennell Bay — 20-24: 7.1% Woodrising — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 12.0% / 15.1%
Fennell Bay — 25-34: 12.0% Woodrising — 25-34: 15.1%
35-44 10.8% / 12.9%
Fennell Bay — 35-44: 10.8% Woodrising — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 12.1% / 11.7%
Fennell Bay — 45-54: 12.1% Woodrising — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 14.0% / 13.9%
Fennell Bay — 55-64: 14.0% Woodrising — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 13.3% / 9.9%
Fennell Bay — 65-74: 13.3% Woodrising — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 8.0% / 2.8%
Fennell Bay — 75-84: 8.0% Woodrising — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 2.6% / 0.3%
Fennell Bay — 85+: 2.6% Woodrising — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fennell Bay 37.0% couple families
Fennell Bay — Couple Families: 37.0% Fennell Bay — Lone Person: 39.9% Fennell Bay — One Parent Families: 18.8% Fennell Bay — Group Household: 3.5% Fennell Bay — Other Families: 0.8%
Woodrising 48.9% couple families
Woodrising — Couple Families: 48.9% Woodrising — Lone Person: 22.1% Woodrising — One Parent Families: 23.5% Woodrising — Group Household: 3.9% Woodrising — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Woodrising 17.0% renting
Woodrising — Owned Outright: 29.9% Woodrising — Mortgage: 53.1% Woodrising — Renting: 17.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 21.1%
Fennell Bay — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Woodrising — Certificate III & IV: 21.1%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 6.7%
Fennell Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Woodrising — Bachelor Degree: 6.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.7%
Fennell Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Woodrising — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 1.5%
Fennell Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Woodrising — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.0%
Fennell Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Woodrising — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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 Woodrising
England 2.1% / 1.9%
Fennell Bay — England: 2.1% Woodrising — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.6%
Fennell Bay — New Zealand: 1.3% Woodrising — New Zealand: 1.6%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.3%
Fennell Bay — Scotland: 0.9% Woodrising — Scotland: 0.3%
Germany 0.5% / 0.5%
Fennell Bay — Germany: 0.5% Woodrising — Germany: 0.5%
Malaysia 0.6% / —
Fennell Bay — Malaysia: 0.6% Woodrising — Malaysia: not among its largest
Thailand — / 0.4%
Fennell Bay — Thailand: not among its largest Woodrising — Thailand: 0.4%
Vietnam — / 0.3%
Fennell Bay — Vietnam: not among its largest Woodrising — Vietnam: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.1%).

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%
Woodrising 96.0% houses
Woodrising — Houses: 96.0% Woodrising — Townhouses: 3.3% Woodrising — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Median house price $844,500 $805,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $680,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 17 sales
 20 days
from 10 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 Woodrising
3 bed $849K / $788K
Fennell Bay — 3 bed: $849K (27 sales) Woodrising — 3 bed: $788K (28 sales)

27 vs 28 sales

4 bed $980K / $995K
Fennell Bay — 4 bed: $980K (13 sales) Woodrising — 4 bed: $995K (7 sales)

13 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Fennell Bay has more rural and farming land (66% vs 1%); Woodrising has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 1%).

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Residential 28% 67%
Rural and farming 66% 1%
Environmental 1% 17%
Parks and recreation 1% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 5%
Commercial 0% 2%
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 Woodrising
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 Woodrising
Houses 4.4%
$700/wk on $820K
 3.6%
$680/wk on $990K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fennell Bay Woodrising
House price Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Income Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW

Liveability

Woodrising is more walkable (51 vs 43).

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Grade D
same for both
Score 25/100 26/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Bushfire High
84/100
 High
93/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
50/100
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
same for both

Schools

Fennell Bay Woodrising
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 Fennell Bay

  • Fennell Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Woodrising

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

Amenities in the suburb

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Childcare 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1

Mobility

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Walkability score 43/100 51/100
Distance to Sydney 140.3 km 140.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 107 min 108 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 53/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 36.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 15.5
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 Woodrising
Car (driver) 75.7% / 75.3%
Fennell Bay — Car (driver): 75.7% Woodrising — Car (driver): 75.3%
Worked from Home 18.7% / 18.8%
Fennell Bay — Worked from Home: 18.7% Woodrising — Worked from Home: 18.8%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 3.4%
Fennell Bay — Car (passenger): 3.3% Woodrising — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.4%
Fennell Bay — Walked Only: 1.1% Woodrising — Walked Only: 1.4%
Train 1.1% / —
Fennell Bay — Train: 1.1% Woodrising — Train: not among its largest
Bus — / 1.1%
Fennell Bay — Bus: not among its largest Woodrising — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.7%).

Setting

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Elevation 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.0 km 9.2 km

NBN connectivity

Fennell Bay Woodrising
Connectivity score 57/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
791 premises
 43%
438 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Fennell Bay Woodrising
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

Woodrising

—

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fennell Bay

Fennell Bay vs Teralba Fennell Bay vs Bolton Point Fennell Bay vs Booragul Fennell Bay vs Fassifern

Other comparisons with Woodrising

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