Kariong vs Woy Woy Bay

Kariong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 47 in Woy Woy Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Kariong, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Woy Woy Bay: a median of $1.22 million, against $1.05 million in Kariong, though rent is higher in Kariong. On these figures, Kariong tends to suit families with children and couples, while Woy Woy Bay suits people living alone, share households, 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

Kariong

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (20 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 1)
  • But Woy Woy Bay carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Kariong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,050,000 vs $1,215,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Kariong has a bigger rental market to choose from (23% vs 12%)
  • Woy Woy Bay has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Woy Woy Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (66 min vs 71 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Woy Woy Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 80/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 10%)

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

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

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
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.

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Walkability 0 / 6
Kariong — Walkability: 0/100 Woy Woy Bay — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 20 / 76
Kariong — Safety: 20/100 Woy Woy Bay — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 12 / 6
Kariong — Low fire risk: 12/100 Woy Woy Bay — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Kariong has more residents (6,485 vs 423); Woy Woy Bay skews older (47 vs 36).

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Population 6,485
+93% vs other
 423
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +1.0%
Median age 36 47
Median household income $114,400/yr $125,632/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+8% vs other
 $415/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
0-4 6.4% / 6.4%
Kariong — 0-4: 6.4% Woy Woy Bay — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 15.6% / 9.0%
Kariong — 5-14: 15.6% Woy Woy Bay — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 8.0% / 4.3%
Kariong — 15-19: 8.0% Woy Woy Bay — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 6.2% / 4.3%
Kariong — 20-24: 6.2% Woy Woy Bay — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 11.7% / 11.8%
Kariong — 25-34: 11.7% Woy Woy Bay — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 14.4% / 11.8%
Kariong — 35-44: 14.4% Woy Woy Bay — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 14.9% / 15.4%
Kariong — 45-54: 14.9% Woy Woy Bay — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 12.4% / 17.3%
Kariong — 55-64: 12.4% Woy Woy Bay — 55-64: 17.3%
65-74 6.4% / 12.1%
Kariong — 65-74: 6.4% Woy Woy Bay — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 3.0% / 6.9%
Kariong — 75-84: 3.0% Woy Woy Bay — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ 1.1% / 2.6%
Kariong — 85+: 1.1% Woy Woy Bay — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kariong 58.8% couple families
Kariong — Couple Families: 58.8% Kariong — Lone Person: 19.7% Kariong — One Parent Families: 18.3% Kariong — Group Household: 2.6% Kariong — Other Families: 0.6%
Woy Woy Bay 43.3% couple families
Woy Woy Bay — Couple Families: 43.3% Woy Woy Bay — Lone Person: 35.6% Woy Woy Bay — One Parent Families: 10.0% Woy Woy Bay — Group Household: 11.1% Woy Woy Bay — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kariong 22.8% renting
Kariong — Owned Outright: 25.0% Kariong — Mortgage: 52.2% Kariong — Renting: 22.8%
Woy Woy Bay 12.3% renting
Woy Woy Bay — Owned Outright: 45.2% Woy Woy Bay — Mortgage: 42.6% Woy Woy Bay — Renting: 12.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 14.2%
Kariong — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Woy Woy Bay — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 16.1%
Kariong — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Woy Woy Bay — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 10.9%
Kariong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Woy Woy Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 6.6%
Kariong — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Woy Woy Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 2.6%
Kariong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Woy Woy Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
England 4.4% / 7.1%
Kariong — England: 4.4% Woy Woy Bay — England: 7.1%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.4%
Kariong — New Zealand: 2.0% Woy Woy Bay — New Zealand: 2.4%
Canada — / 1.4%
Kariong — Canada: not among its largest Woy Woy Bay — Canada: 1.4%
Germany — / 1.2%
Kariong — Germany: not among its largest Woy Woy Bay — Germany: 1.2%
India 1.0% / —
Kariong — India: 1.0% Woy Woy Bay — India: not among its largest
Thailand 0.3% / 0.7%
Kariong — Thailand: 0.3% Woy Woy Bay — Thailand: 0.7%
Philippines 0.9% / —
Kariong — Philippines: 0.9% Woy Woy Bay — Philippines: not among its largest
China 0.8% / —
Kariong — China: 0.8% Woy Woy Bay — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kariong 91.9% houses
Kariong — Houses: 91.9% Kariong — Townhouses: 7.2% Kariong — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Woy Woy Bay 96.9% houses
Woy Woy Bay — Houses: 96.9% Woy Woy Bay — Townhouses: 0.0% Woy Woy Bay — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Median house price $1,050,000 $1,215,000
Median unit price $772,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 36 sales
 36 days
from 4 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.

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
3 bed $919K / $1.1M
Kariong — 3 bed: $919K (60 sales) Woy Woy Bay — 3 bed: $1.1M (9 sales)

60 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.16M / $1.24M
Kariong — 4 bed: $1.16M (58 sales) Woy Woy Bay — 4 bed: $1.24M (6 sales)

58 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Woy Woy Bay has more land zoned for conservation (97% vs 75%).

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Environmental 75% 97%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 1%
Parks and recreation 8% 0%
Residential 7% 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

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
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.

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Houses 3.5%
$730/wk on $1.07M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
House price Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Schools Higher than 41% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 2% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of NSW —

Liveability

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Grade C —
Score 31/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Kariong carries more crime risk (80 vs 24).

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Bushfire High
88/100
 High
94/100
Crime High
80/100
 Low
24/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Kariong

  • Kariong Mountains High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Kariong Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Central Coast Sports College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Girrakool School Government · Secondary · Special school
  • Ngaruki Gulgul Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Woy Woy Bay

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

Amenities in the suburb

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 20 1
Childcare 6 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 10 0

Mobility

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Walkability score 0/100 6/100
Distance to Sydney 74.4 km 75.8 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 71 min 66 min
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2250
 0.8%
postcode 2256
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2250
 31
postcode 2256

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.

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Car (driver) 61.6% / 45.9%
Kariong — Car (driver): 61.6% Woy Woy Bay — Car (driver): 45.9%
Worked from Home 30.9% / 54.1%
Kariong — Worked from Home: 30.9% Woy Woy Bay — Worked from Home: 54.1%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / —
Kariong — Car (passenger): 4.4% Woy Woy Bay — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 1.1% / —
Kariong — Walked Only: 1.1% Woy Woy Bay — Walked Only: not among its largest
Train 1.1% / —
Kariong — Train: 1.1% Woy Woy Bay — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.6%).

Setting

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Elevation 168 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.9 km 5.9 km

NBN connectivity

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Connectivity score 61/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
2,314 premises
 0%
213 premises

Climate

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
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)

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
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

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Kariong Woy Woy Bay
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Kariong

Acreage Outer

Woy Woy Bay

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kariong

Kariong vs Woy Woy Kariong vs Point Clare Kariong vs Tascott Kariong vs West Gosford Kariong vs Somersby

Other comparisons with Woy Woy Bay

Woy Woy Bay vs Woy Woy Woy Woy Bay vs Tascott Woy Woy Bay vs Koolewong Woy Woy Bay vs Phegans Bay
Full data on Kariong Full data on Woy Woy Bay
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or