Fern Bay vs Fullerton Cove

Fern Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 69 in Fullerton Cove. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Fullerton Cove, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Fullerton Cove: a median of $1.21 million, against $1.01 million in Fern Bay, though rent is higher in Fern Bay. On these figures, Fern Bay tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget, while Fullerton Cove suits people living alone and 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

Fern Bay

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 72%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 39%)

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

First-home buyers

Fern Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,010,000 vs $1,208,750)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fullerton Cove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $510/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 36%)
  • But Fern Bay has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 1%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fern Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (30/100 vs 12/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (169.6 km vs 178.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Fern Bay is more walkable (30/100 vs 12/100)
  • Fullerton Cove has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 2%)

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

Investors

Fern Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (46.4% vs 29.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
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.

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Walkability 30 / 12
Fern Bay — Walkability: 30/100 Fullerton Cove — Walkability: 12/100
Safety 61 / 49
Fern Bay — Safety: 61/100 Fullerton Cove — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 45 / 50
Fern Bay — Low fire risk: 45/100 Fullerton Cove — Low fire risk: 50/100

Demographics

Fern Bay has more residents (4,046 vs 735); Fern Bay rents higher ($510/wk vs $300/wk).

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Population 4,046
+82% vs other
 735
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +46.4% +29.9%
Median age 43 69
Median household income $74,620/yr
+26% vs other
 $55,224/yr
Median weekly rent $510/wk
+41% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
0-4 6.7% / 1.1%
Fern Bay — 0-4: 6.7% Fullerton Cove — 0-4: 1.1%
5-14 13.2% / 4.8%
Fern Bay — 5-14: 13.2% Fullerton Cove — 5-14: 4.8%
15-19 4.1% / 2.4%
Fern Bay — 15-19: 4.1% Fullerton Cove — 15-19: 2.4%
20-24 3.7% / 1.9%
Fern Bay — 20-24: 3.7% Fullerton Cove — 20-24: 1.9%
25-34 10.7% / 3.1%
Fern Bay — 25-34: 10.7% Fullerton Cove — 25-34: 3.1%
35-44 13.5% / 3.4%
Fern Bay — 35-44: 13.5% Fullerton Cove — 35-44: 3.4%
45-54 8.6% / 5.7%
Fern Bay — 45-54: 8.6% Fullerton Cove — 45-54: 5.7%
55-64 9.6% / 13.5%
Fern Bay — 55-64: 9.6% Fullerton Cove — 55-64: 13.5%
65-74 17.3% / 36.5%
Fern Bay — 65-74: 17.3% Fullerton Cove — 65-74: 36.5%
75-84 10.3% / 23.9%
Fern Bay — 75-84: 10.3% Fullerton Cove — 75-84: 23.9%
85+ 2.4% / 2.4%
Fern Bay — 85+: 2.4% Fullerton Cove — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (36.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fern Bay 44.4% lone person
Fern Bay — Lone Person: 44.4% Fern Bay — Couple Families: 41.6% Fern Bay — One Parent Families: 10.2% Fern Bay — Group Household: 2.7% Fern Bay — Other Families: 1.0%
Fullerton Cove 55.6% lone person
Fullerton Cove — Lone Person: 55.6% Fullerton Cove — Couple Families: 26.7% Fullerton Cove — One Parent Families: 12.6% Fullerton Cove — Group Household: 5.2% Fullerton Cove — 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.

Fern Bay 24.7% renting
Fern Bay — Owned Outright: 48.3% Fern Bay — Mortgage: 27.0% Fern Bay — Renting: 24.7%
Fullerton Cove 1.4% renting
Fullerton Cove — Owned Outright: 80.4% Fullerton Cove — Mortgage: 18.2% Fullerton Cove — Renting: 1.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 17.6%
Fern Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Fullerton Cove — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.4% / 9.3%
Fern Bay — Bachelor Degree: 10.4% Fullerton Cove — Bachelor Degree: 9.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 9.5%
Fern Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Fullerton Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 2.3%
Fern Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Fullerton Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.4%
Fern Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Fullerton Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
England 4.0% / 6.9%
Fern Bay — England: 4.0% Fullerton Cove — England: 6.9%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.4%
Fern Bay — New Zealand: 1.2% Fullerton Cove — New Zealand: 1.4%
Germany 0.3% / 1.2%
Fern Bay — Germany: 0.3% Fullerton Cove — Germany: 1.2%
Philippines 0.6% / —
Fern Bay — Philippines: 0.6% Fullerton Cove — Philippines: not among its largest
South Africa 0.5% / —
Fern Bay — South Africa: 0.5% Fullerton Cove — South Africa: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Fern Bay — Netherlands: not among its largest Fullerton Cove — Netherlands: 0.5%
Ireland 0.4% / —
Fern Bay — Ireland: 0.4% Fullerton Cove — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fern Bay 97.9% houses
Fern Bay — Houses: 97.9% Fern Bay — Townhouses: 1.6% Fern Bay — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Fullerton Cove 72.3% houses
Fullerton Cove — Houses: 72.3% Fullerton Cove — Townhouses: 25.8% Fullerton Cove — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Median house price $1,010,000 $1,208,750
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 49 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Fullerton Cove has more rural and farming land (64% vs 1%); Fern Bay has more land zoned for conservation (65% vs 33%).

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Environmental 65% 33%
Rural and farming 1% 64%
Residential 20% 0%
Parks and recreation 12% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
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

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
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.

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Houses 3.7%
$800/wk on $1.12M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Income Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 57% of NSW —

Liveability

Fern Bay is more walkable (30 vs 12); Fern Bay scores higher overall (42 vs 34).

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Grade C
same for both
Score 42/100 34/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Fullerton Cove carries more crime risk (51 vs 39).

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Bushfire Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
50/100
Crime Low
39/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
66/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 7.6 km
 None

Schools in Fern Bay

  • Fern Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Fullerton Cove

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

Amenities in the suburb

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 3 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0

Mobility

Fullerton Cove sits further from the CBD (178.3 km vs 169.6 km).

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Walkability score 30/100 12/100
Distance to Sydney 169.6 km 178.3 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 135 min 134 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 78.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 39.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2295
 0.6%
postcode 2318
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2295
 79
postcode 2318

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.

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Car (driver) 64.3% / 65.0%
Fern Bay — Car (driver): 64.3% Fullerton Cove — Car (driver): 65.0%
Worked from Home 32.2% / 24.4%
Fern Bay — Worked from Home: 32.2% Fullerton Cove — Worked from Home: 24.4%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 8.1%
Fern Bay — Car (passenger): 2.6% Fullerton Cove — Car (passenger): 8.1%
Walked Only 0.7% / 2.4%
Fern Bay — Walked Only: 0.7% Fullerton Cove — Walked Only: 2.4%
Bus 0.2% / —
Fern Bay — Bus: 0.2% Fullerton Cove — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.0%).

Setting

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.1 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Connectivity score 46/100 60/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
923 premises
 37%
347 premises

Climate

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm 1,181 mm
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C 28.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C 7.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
PM2.5 7.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 30.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.73 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fern Bay Fullerton Cove
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Fern Bay

Acreage Coastal Retirees

Fullerton Cove

Coastal Retirees Rural Townhouses

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Fullerton Cove

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Full data on Fern Bay Full data on Fullerton Cove
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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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