Koolewong vs Woy Woy Bay

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Woy Woy Bay: a median of $1.22 million, against $1 million in Koolewong, though rent is higher in Koolewong. On these figures, Koolewong tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Woy Woy Bay suits share households.

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

Woy Woy Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 57/100)

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

First-home buyers

Koolewong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

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

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Woy Woy Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $450/wk)
  • But Koolewong has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 12%)

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

Commuting to the city

Woy Woy Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (66 min vs 71 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (75.8 km vs 79.6 km)
  • But Koolewong is more walkable (38/100 vs 6/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Koolewong is more walkable (38/100 vs 6/100)
  • Woy Woy Bay carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 57/100)

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

Koolewong 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.

Koolewong 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.

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Walkability 38 / 6
Koolewong — Walkability: 38/100 Woy Woy Bay — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 43 / 76
Koolewong — Safety: 43/100 Woy Woy Bay — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 8 / 6
Koolewong — Low fire risk: 8/100 Woy Woy Bay — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Koolewong has more residents (920 vs 423); Woy Woy Bay has higher household incomes ($125,632 vs $90,220).

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Population 920
+54% vs other
 423
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +1.0%
Median age 48 47
Median household income $90,220/yr $125,632/yr
+39% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+8% vs other
 $415/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
0-4 5.4% / 6.4%
Koolewong — 0-4: 5.4% Woy Woy Bay — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 8.9% / 9.0%
Koolewong — 5-14: 8.9% Woy Woy Bay — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 7.2% / 4.3%
Koolewong — 15-19: 7.2% Woy Woy Bay — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 3.4% / 4.3%
Koolewong — 20-24: 3.4% Woy Woy Bay — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 8.8% / 11.8%
Koolewong — 25-34: 8.8% Woy Woy Bay — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 10.5% / 11.8%
Koolewong — 35-44: 10.5% Woy Woy Bay — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 14.7% / 15.4%
Koolewong — 45-54: 14.7% Woy Woy Bay — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 16.6% / 17.3%
Koolewong — 55-64: 16.6% Woy Woy Bay — 55-64: 17.3%
65-74 11.5% / 12.1%
Koolewong — 65-74: 11.5% Woy Woy Bay — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 9.5% / 6.9%
Koolewong — 75-84: 9.5% Woy Woy Bay — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ 2.4% / 2.6%
Koolewong — 85+: 2.4% Woy Woy Bay — 85+: 2.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Koolewong 43.1% couple families
Koolewong — Couple Families: 43.1% Koolewong — Lone Person: 37.2% Koolewong — One Parent Families: 14.2% Koolewong — Group Household: 2.9% Koolewong — Other Families: 2.5%
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.

Koolewong 22.3% renting
Koolewong — Owned Outright: 44.1% Koolewong — Mortgage: 33.5% Koolewong — Renting: 22.3%
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.

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 16.1%
Koolewong — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Woy Woy Bay — Bachelor Degree: 16.1%
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 14.2%
Koolewong — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Woy Woy Bay — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 10.9%
Koolewong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Woy Woy Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 6.6%
Koolewong — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Woy Woy Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 2.6%
Koolewong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Woy Woy Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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.

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
England 6.4% / 7.1%
Koolewong — England: 6.4% Woy Woy Bay — England: 7.1%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.4%
Koolewong — New Zealand: 1.6% Woy Woy Bay — New Zealand: 2.4%
China 2.3% / —
Koolewong — China: 2.3% Woy Woy Bay — China: not among its largest
Germany 0.8% / 1.2%
Koolewong — Germany: 0.8% Woy Woy Bay — Germany: 1.2%
Canada — / 1.4%
Koolewong — Canada: not among its largest Woy Woy Bay — Canada: 1.4%
Thailand 0.4% / 0.7%
Koolewong — Thailand: 0.4% Woy Woy Bay — Thailand: 0.7%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Koolewong — South Africa: 0.9% Woy Woy Bay — South Africa: not among its largest
Italy 0.9% / —
Koolewong — Italy: 0.9% Woy Woy Bay — Italy: 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.

Koolewong 91.0% houses
Koolewong — Houses: 91.0% Koolewong — Flats / Apartments: 5.0% Koolewong — Townhouses: 3.9%
Woy Woy Bay 96.9% houses
Woy Woy Bay — Houses: 96.9% Woy Woy Bay — Flats / Apartments: 3.1% Woy Woy Bay — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Median house price $1,000,000 $1,215,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $770,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 12 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.

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
3 bed $1.01M / $1.1M
Koolewong — 3 bed: $1.01M (8 sales) Woy Woy Bay — 3 bed: $1.1M (9 sales)

8 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.07M / $1.24M
Koolewong — 4 bed: $1.07M (10 sales) Woy Woy Bay — 4 bed: $1.24M (6 sales)

10 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Woy Woy Bay has more land zoned for conservation (97% vs 50%).

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Environmental 50% 97%
Residential 32% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 1%
Parks and recreation 5% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Koolewong and 100% of Woy Woy Bay. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Koolewong 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.

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Houses 4.1%
$825/wk on $1.03M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
House price Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Income Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 80% of NSW —

Liveability

Koolewong is more walkable (38 vs 6).

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Grade C —
Score 37/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Koolewong carries more crime risk (57 vs 24).

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
94/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
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

Amenities in the suburb

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 3 1
Childcare 0 1

Mobility

Koolewong sits further from the CBD (79.6 km vs 75.8 km).

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Walkability score 38/100 6/100
Distance to Sydney 79.6 km
+5% vs other
 75.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 71 min 66 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 2256
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2256
same for both

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.

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Worked from Home 45.9% / 54.1%
Koolewong — Worked from Home: 45.9% Woy Woy Bay — Worked from Home: 54.1%
Car (driver) 44.0% / 45.9%
Koolewong — Car (driver): 44.0% Woy Woy Bay — Car (driver): 45.9%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / —
Koolewong — Car (passenger): 5.5% Woy Woy Bay — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Train 3.6% / —
Koolewong — Train: 3.6% Woy Woy Bay — Train: not among its largest
Bus 1.1% / —
Koolewong — Bus: 1.1% Woy Woy Bay — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.1%).

Setting

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.1 km 5.9 km

NBN connectivity

Koolewong Woy Woy Bay
Connectivity score 91/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 83%
424 premises
 0%
213 premises

Climate

Koolewong 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)

Koolewong 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

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

Federal electorate

Koolewong 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

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

Tags

Koolewong

Large Blocks Outer Parks Quiet Transport Hub

Woy Woy Bay

Acreage Outer

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Full data on Koolewong Full data on Woy Woy Bay
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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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