Kariong vs Woy Woy

Kariong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 48 in Woy Woy. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Kariong, most households are couple families. In Woy Woy, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Kariong tends to suit families with children and couples, while Woy Woy 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

Kariong

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 45%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 62%)
  • But Woy Woy has more childcare (9 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Kariong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Woy Woy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $450/wk)
  • But Kariong leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Woy Woy

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 0/100)
  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (6% vs 1%)
  • But Kariong sits closer to the CBD (74.4 km vs 81.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Woy Woy

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 8%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Kariong and Woy Woy 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
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
Walkability 0 / 52
Kariong — Walkability: 0/100 Woy Woy — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 20 / 14
Kariong — Safety: 20/100 Woy Woy — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 12 / 17
Kariong — Low fire risk: 12/100 Woy Woy — Low fire risk: 17/100

Demographics

Kariong has higher household incomes ($114,400 vs $59,852); Woy Woy has more residents (11,072 vs 6,485).

Kariong Woy Woy
Population 6,485 11,072
+71% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +4.0%
Median age 36 48
Median household income $114,400/yr
+48% vs other
 $59,852/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+16% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kariong Woy Woy
0-4 6.4% / 5.0%
Kariong — 0-4: 6.4% Woy Woy — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 15.6% / 10.1%
Kariong — 5-14: 15.6% Woy Woy — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 8.0% / 4.7%
Kariong — 15-19: 8.0% Woy Woy — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 6.2% / 4.5%
Kariong — 20-24: 6.2% Woy Woy — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 11.7% / 10.6%
Kariong — 25-34: 11.7% Woy Woy — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 14.4% / 11.5%
Kariong — 35-44: 14.4% Woy Woy — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 14.9% / 12.1%
Kariong — 45-54: 14.9% Woy Woy — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 12.4% / 13.3%
Kariong — 55-64: 12.4% Woy Woy — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 6.4% / 13.3%
Kariong — 65-74: 6.4% Woy Woy — 65-74: 13.3%
75-84 3.0% / 10.0%
Kariong — 75-84: 3.0% Woy Woy — 75-84: 10.0%
85+ 1.1% / 4.8%
Kariong — 85+: 1.1% Woy Woy — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

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 26.3% couple families
Woy Woy — Couple Families: 26.3% Woy Woy — Lone Person: 48.5% Woy Woy — One Parent Families: 18.9% Woy Woy — Group Household: 4.5% Woy Woy — Other Families: 1.8%
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 39.9% renting
Woy Woy — Owned Outright: 35.4% Woy Woy — Mortgage: 24.7% Woy Woy — Renting: 39.9%
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.

Kariong Woy Woy
England 4.4% / 4.9%
Kariong — England: 4.4% Woy Woy — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.0%
Kariong — New Zealand: 2.0% Woy Woy — New Zealand: 2.0%
China 0.8% / 1.6%
Kariong — China: 0.8% Woy Woy — China: 1.6%
Philippines 0.9% / 1.1%
Kariong — Philippines: 0.9% Woy Woy — Philippines: 1.1%
India 1.0% / 0.7%
Kariong — India: 1.0% Woy Woy — India: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

Qualifications

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

Kariong Woy Woy
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 15.6%
Kariong — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Woy Woy — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 8.6%
Kariong — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Woy Woy — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 7.0%
Kariong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Woy Woy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 3.0%
Kariong — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Woy Woy — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.2%
Kariong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Woy Woy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

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

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 61.9% houses
Woy Woy — Houses: 61.9% Woy Woy — Townhouses: 29.0% Woy Woy — Flats / Apartments: 9.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kariong Woy Woy
Median house price $1,050,000
same for both
Median unit price $772,500 $787,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 36 sales
 29 days
from 93 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
3 bed $919K / $1.02M
Kariong — 3 bed: $919K (60 sales) Woy Woy — 3 bed: $1.02M (92 sales)

60 vs 92 sales

4 bed $1.16M / $1.12M
Kariong — 4 bed: $1.16M (58 sales) Woy Woy — 4 bed: $1.12M (36 sales)

58 vs 36 sales

5 bed $1.13M / $1.33M
Kariong — 5 bed: $1.13M (16 sales) Woy Woy — 5 bed: $1.33M (14 sales)

16 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Kariong has more land zoned for conservation (75% vs 64%).

Kariong Woy Woy
Environmental 75% 64%
Residential 7% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 8%
Parks and recreation 8% 5%
Industrial 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

Kariong Woy Woy
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
Houses 3.5%
$730/wk on $1.07M
 3.7%
$680/wk on $960K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Kariong Woy Woy
House price Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
Schools Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 2% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW

Liveability

Woy Woy is more walkable (52 vs 0); Kariong scores higher overall (31 vs 23).

Kariong Woy Woy
Grade C D
Score 31/100 23/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Kariong Woy Woy
Bushfire High
88/100
 High
83/100
Crime High
80/100
 High
86/100
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
Inside the suburb 5 6
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 3
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

  • St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Woy Woy Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Woy Woy South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus Government · Secondary
  • Aspect Central Coast School, Woy Woy Independent · Primary · Special school
  • EOC Broken Bay - Woy Woy Catholic · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Kariong Woy Woy
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 10
Parks & reserves 20 17
Childcare 6 9
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 10 3

Mobility

Woy Woy sits further from the CBD (81.4 km vs 74.4 km).

Kariong Woy Woy
Walkability score 0/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 74.4 km 81.4 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 71 min 73 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 95.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 329.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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
Car (driver) 61.6% / 51.8%
Kariong — Car (driver): 61.6% Woy Woy — Car (driver): 51.8%
Worked from Home 30.9% / 33.2%
Kariong — Worked from Home: 30.9% Woy Woy — Worked from Home: 33.2%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.6%
Kariong — Car (passenger): 4.4% Woy Woy — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 1.1% / 6.5%
Kariong — Train: 1.1% Woy Woy — Train: 6.5%
Walked Only 1.1% / 2.9%
Kariong — Walked Only: 1.1% Woy Woy — Walked Only: 2.9%

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

Setting

Kariong Woy Woy
Elevation 168 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 97 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.9 km 3.5 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Kariong Woy Woy
Connectivity score 61/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
2,314 premises
 31%
5,959 premises

Climate

Kariong Woy Woy
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm 1,176 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C —
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

Kariong Woy Woy
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
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

Easy Commute Outer Parks Retirees River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kariong

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

Other comparisons with Woy Woy

Woy Woy vs Umina Beach Woy Woy vs Saratoga Woy Woy vs Blackwall Woy Woy vs St Huberts Island Woy Woy vs Koolewong Woy Woy vs Horsfield Bay
Full data on Kariong Full data on Woy Woy
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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