Fullerton Cove vs Tomago

Tomago is the younger of the two, with a median age of 60 against 69 in Fullerton Cove. In both, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. In Fullerton Cove, most homes are detached houses. In Tomago, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Tomago: a median of $2 million, against $1.21 million in Fullerton Cove, though rent is higher in Fullerton Cove. On these figures, Fullerton Cove tends to suit older residents and buyers on a tighter budget, while Tomago suits people living alone.

Fullerton Cove and Tomago are both small NSW communities, but they differ notably in character and risk profile. Fullerton Cove has a larger population of 735 people, higher median household income at $55,224 per year, and significantly lower crime risk at 48 compared to Tomago's 97. However, Tomago's median house price of $2,000,000 is substantially higher than Fullerton Cove's $1,130,000, and Fullerton Cove faces a higher bushfire risk at 50 versus Tomago's 67. Fullerton Cove may suit buyers seeking a quieter, more established community with lower crime, while Tomago appeals to those prioritising proximity to the CBD, though both are rural areas requiring a commute.

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

Fullerton Cove

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 97/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (39% vs 26%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (72% vs 52%)

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

First-home buyers

Fullerton Cove

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,208,750 vs $2,000,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (41% vs 67%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tomago

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 1%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Tomago

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (122 min vs 134 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (164.6 km vs 178.3 km)
  • But Fullerton Cove is more walkable (12/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fullerton Cove

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (12/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 97/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (63% vs 40%)
  • But Tomago has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 28%)

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

Investors

Fullerton Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (29.9% vs -2.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fullerton Cove Tomago
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.

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Walkability 12 / 0
Fullerton Cove — Walkability: 12/100 Tomago — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 49 / 3
Fullerton Cove — Safety: 49/100 Tomago — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 50 / 32
Fullerton Cove — Low fire risk: 50/100 Tomago — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Fullerton Cove has more residents (735 vs 269); Fullerton Cove has higher household incomes ($55,224 vs $40,976).

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Population 735
+63% vs other
 269
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +29.9% -2.9%
Median age 69 60
Median household income $55,224/yr
+26% vs other
 $40,976/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+17% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fullerton Cove Tomago
0-4 1.1% / 4.1%
Fullerton Cove — 0-4: 1.1% Tomago — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 4.8% / 6.7%
Fullerton Cove — 5-14: 4.8% Tomago — 5-14: 6.7%
15-19 2.4% / 1.1%
Fullerton Cove — 15-19: 2.4% Tomago — 15-19: 1.1%
20-24 1.9% / 3.0%
Fullerton Cove — 20-24: 1.9% Tomago — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 3.1% / 4.1%
Fullerton Cove — 25-34: 3.1% Tomago — 25-34: 4.1%
35-44 3.4% / 4.1%
Fullerton Cove — 35-44: 3.4% Tomago — 35-44: 4.1%
45-54 5.7% / 18.2%
Fullerton Cove — 45-54: 5.7% Tomago — 45-54: 18.2%
55-64 13.5% / 17.8%
Fullerton Cove — 55-64: 13.5% Tomago — 55-64: 17.8%
65-74 36.5% / 25.3%
Fullerton Cove — 65-74: 36.5% Tomago — 65-74: 25.3%
75-84 23.9% / 12.3%
Fullerton Cove — 75-84: 23.9% Tomago — 75-84: 12.3%
85+ 2.4% / 1.9%
Fullerton Cove — 85+: 2.4% Tomago — 85+: 1.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Tomago 71.2% lone person
Tomago — Lone Person: 71.2% Tomago — Couple Families: 7.7% Tomago — One Parent Families: 18.3% Tomago — Group Household: 2.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fullerton Cove 1.4% renting
Fullerton Cove — Owned Outright: 80.4% Fullerton Cove — Mortgage: 18.2% Fullerton Cove — Renting: 1.4%
Tomago 32.5% renting
Tomago — Owned Outright: 58.5% Tomago — Mortgage: 8.9% Tomago — Renting: 32.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Fullerton Cove Tomago
England 6.9% / 1.5%
Fullerton Cove — England: 6.9% Tomago — England: 1.5%
Germany 1.2% / 1.9%
Fullerton Cove — Germany: 1.2% Tomago — Germany: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.5%
Fullerton Cove — New Zealand: 1.4% Tomago — New Zealand: 1.5%
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Fullerton Cove — Netherlands: 0.5% Tomago — Netherlands: not among its largest

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

Qualifications

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

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 13.4%
Fullerton Cove — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Tomago — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 4.8%
Fullerton Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Tomago — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.3% / 1.9%
Fullerton Cove — Bachelor Degree: 9.3% Tomago — Bachelor Degree: 1.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 1.1%
Fullerton Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Tomago — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.1%
Fullerton Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Tomago — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fullerton Cove 72.3% houses
Fullerton Cove — Houses: 72.3% Fullerton Cove — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% Fullerton Cove — Townhouses: 25.8%
Tomago 52.0% houses
Tomago — Houses: 52.0% Tomago — Flats / Apartments: 48.0% Tomago — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Median house price $1,208,750 $2,000,000
Median unit price — $385,000
Median land price — $1,895,000

Zoning mix

Fullerton Cove has more rural and farming land (64% vs 7%); Tomago has more industrially zoned land (33% vs 0%).

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Rural and farming 64% 7%
Environmental 33% 29%
Industrial 0% 33%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 32%
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

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

Ranking within NSW

Fullerton Cove Tomago
House price Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Income Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW

Liveability

Fullerton Cove is more walkable (12 vs 0).

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Grade C —
Score 34/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Tomago carries more crime risk (97 vs 51); Tomago carries more bushfire risk (68 vs 50).

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Bushfire Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Moderate
51/100
 High
97/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
66/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.4 km

Amenities in the suburb

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Fullerton Cove sits further from the CBD (178.3 km vs 164.6 km).

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Walkability score 12/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 178.3 km
+8% vs other
 164.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 134 min 122 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 43/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 39.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2318
 0.7%
postcode 2322
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 79
postcode 2318
 64
postcode 2322

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.

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Car (driver) 65.0% / 85.7%
Fullerton Cove — Car (driver): 65.0% Tomago — Car (driver): 85.7%
Worked from Home 24.4% / 14.3%
Fullerton Cove — Worked from Home: 24.4% Tomago — Worked from Home: 14.3%
Car (passenger) 8.1% / —
Fullerton Cove — Car (passenger): 8.1% Tomago — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 2.4% / —
Fullerton Cove — Walked Only: 2.4% Tomago — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.7%).

Setting

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Elevation 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.1 km 3.7 km

NBN connectivity

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Connectivity score 60/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 37%
347 premises
 40%
553 premises

Climate

Fullerton Cove Tomago
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Fullerton Cove Tomago
PM2.5 7.5 µg/m³ 6.6 µg/m³
PM10 30.4 µg/m³ 21.1 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.73 pphm 0.75 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fullerton Cove

Coastal Retirees Rural Townhouses

Tomago

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

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Fullerton Cove vs Fern Bay Fullerton Cove vs Salt Ash Fullerton Cove vs Williamtown

Other comparisons with Tomago

Tomago vs Raymond Terrace Tomago vs Woodberry Tomago vs Tarro Tomago vs Williamtown Tomago vs Heatherbrae
Full data on Fullerton Cove Full data on Tomago
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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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