Koolewong vs Woy Woy

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Woy Woy, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Woy Woy tends to suit people living alone.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Koolewong carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 86/100)
  • Woy Woy has more childcare (9 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Koolewong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 38%)

Weighs house 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 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $450/wk)
  • But Koolewong leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Woy Woy

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 38/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Woy Woy

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 9%)
  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 38/100)
  • But Koolewong carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 86/100)

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

Koolewong 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.

Koolewong 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.

Koolewong Woy Woy
Walkability 38 / 52
Koolewong — Walkability: 38/100 Woy Woy — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 43 / 14
Koolewong — Safety: 43/100 Woy Woy — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 8 / 17
Koolewong — Low fire risk: 8/100 Woy Woy — Low fire risk: 17/100

Demographics

Woy Woy has more residents (11,072 vs 920); Koolewong has higher household incomes ($90,220 vs $59,852).

Koolewong Woy Woy
Population 920 11,072
+1103% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +4.0%
Median age 48
same for both
Median household income $90,220/yr
+34% 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.

Koolewong Woy Woy
0-4 5.4% / 5.0%
Koolewong — 0-4: 5.4% Woy Woy — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 8.9% / 10.1%
Koolewong — 5-14: 8.9% Woy Woy — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 7.2% / 4.7%
Koolewong — 15-19: 7.2% Woy Woy — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 3.4% / 4.5%
Koolewong — 20-24: 3.4% Woy Woy — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 8.8% / 10.6%
Koolewong — 25-34: 8.8% Woy Woy — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 10.5% / 11.5%
Koolewong — 35-44: 10.5% Woy Woy — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 14.7% / 12.1%
Koolewong — 45-54: 14.7% Woy Woy — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 16.6% / 13.3%
Koolewong — 55-64: 16.6% Woy Woy — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 11.5% / 13.3%
Koolewong — 65-74: 11.5% Woy Woy — 65-74: 13.3%
75-84 9.5% / 10.0%
Koolewong — 75-84: 9.5% Woy Woy — 75-84: 10.0%
85+ 2.4% / 4.8%
Koolewong — 85+: 2.4% Woy Woy — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Koolewong 37.2% lone person
Koolewong — Lone Person: 37.2% Koolewong — Couple Families: 43.1% Koolewong — One Parent Families: 14.2% Koolewong — Group Household: 2.9% Koolewong — Other Families: 2.5%
Woy Woy 48.5% lone person
Woy Woy — Lone Person: 48.5% Woy Woy — Couple Families: 26.3% Woy Woy — One Parent Families: 18.9% Woy Woy — Group Household: 4.5% Woy Woy — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families 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 39.9% renting
Woy Woy — Owned Outright: 35.4% Woy Woy — Mortgage: 24.7% Woy Woy — Renting: 39.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Koolewong Woy Woy
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 15.6%
Koolewong — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Woy Woy — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 8.6%
Koolewong — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Woy Woy — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 7.0%
Koolewong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Woy Woy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 3.0%
Koolewong — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Woy Woy — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 1.2%
Koolewong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Woy Woy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

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

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.

Koolewong Woy Woy
England 6.4% / 4.9%
Koolewong — England: 6.4% Woy Woy — England: 4.9%
China 2.3% / 1.6%
Koolewong — China: 2.3% Woy Woy — China: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.0%
Koolewong — New Zealand: 1.6% Woy Woy — New Zealand: 2.0%
Philippines 0.4% / 1.1%
Koolewong — Philippines: 0.4% Woy Woy — Philippines: 1.1%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Koolewong — South Africa: 0.9% Woy Woy — South Africa: not among its largest
Italy 0.9% / —
Koolewong — Italy: 0.9% Woy Woy — Italy: not among its largest
India — / 0.7%
Koolewong — India: not among its largest Woy Woy — India: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Koolewong 91.0% houses
Koolewong — Houses: 91.0% Koolewong — Townhouses: 3.9% Koolewong — Flats / Apartments: 5.0%
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

Koolewong Woy Woy
Median house price $1,000,000 $1,050,000
Median unit price — $787,500
Median land price $770,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 12 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.

Koolewong Woy Woy
2 bed $874K / $922K
Koolewong — 2 bed: $874K (6 sales) Woy Woy — 2 bed: $922K (36 sales)

6 vs 36 sales

3 bed $1.01M / $1.02M
Koolewong — 3 bed: $1.01M (8 sales) Woy Woy — 3 bed: $1.02M (92 sales)

8 vs 92 sales

4 bed $1.07M / $1.12M
Koolewong — 4 bed: $1.07M (10 sales) Woy Woy — 4 bed: $1.12M (36 sales)

10 vs 36 sales

Zoning mix

Woy Woy has more land zoned for conservation (64% vs 50%).

Koolewong Woy Woy
Environmental 50% 64%
Residential 32% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 8%
Parks and recreation 5%
same for both
Industrial 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 99% of Koolewong and 100% of Woy Woy. 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
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
Houses 4.1%
$825/wk on $1.03M
 3.7%
$680/wk on $960K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Koolewong Woy Woy
House price Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 33% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW

Liveability

Koolewong scores higher overall (37 vs 23); Woy Woy is more walkable (52 vs 38).

Koolewong Woy Woy
Grade C D
Score 37/100 23/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Woy Woy carries more crime risk (86 vs 57).

Koolewong Woy Woy
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
83/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Koolewong Woy Woy
Inside the suburb 0 6
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Koolewong

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

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

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

Mobility

Koolewong Woy Woy
Walkability score 38/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 79.6 km 81.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 71 min 73 min
Public transport score 83/100
Rail · Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 329.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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
Car (driver) 44.0% / 51.8%
Koolewong — Car (driver): 44.0% Woy Woy — Car (driver): 51.8%
Worked from Home 45.9% / 33.2%
Koolewong — Worked from Home: 45.9% Woy Woy — Worked from Home: 33.2%
Train 3.6% / 6.5%
Koolewong — Train: 3.6% Woy Woy — Train: 6.5%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 3.6%
Koolewong — Car (passenger): 5.5% Woy Woy — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only — / 2.9%
Koolewong — Walked Only: not among its largest Woy Woy — Walked Only: 2.9%
Bus 1.1% / 1.6%
Koolewong — Bus: 1.1% Woy Woy — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.8%).

Setting

Koolewong Woy Woy
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 97 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.1 km 3.5 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Koolewong Woy Woy
Connectivity score 91/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 83%
424 premises
 31%
5,959 premises

Climate

Koolewong 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)

Koolewong 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

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

Federal electorate

Koolewong Woy Woy
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
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

Easy Commute Outer Parks Retirees River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Koolewong

Koolewong vs Green Point Koolewong vs Saratoga Koolewong vs Tascott Koolewong vs Woy Woy Bay

Other comparisons with Woy Woy

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