Lilli Pilli vs Malua Bay

Malua Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 52 against 59 in Lilli Pilli. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Lilli Pilli: a median of $1.03 million, against $930,000 in Malua Bay, though rent is higher in Malua Bay.

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

First-home buyers

Malua Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($417,500 vs $871,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($930,000 vs $1,035,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Lilli Pilli

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (290.5 km vs 293.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lilli Pilli

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (37% vs 29%)

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

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

Lilli Pilli and Malua 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.

Lilli Pilli Malua 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.

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Walkability 18 / 12
Lilli Pilli — Walkability: 18/100 Malua Bay — Walkability: 12/100
Low fire risk 8 / 17
Lilli Pilli — Low fire risk: 8/100 Malua Bay — Low fire risk: 17/100

Demographics

Malua Bay has more residents (2,071 vs 647); Lilli Pilli skews older (59 vs 52).

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Population 647 2,071
+220% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% +7.4%
Median age 59 52
Median household income $70,460/yr $73,996/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $418/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
0-4 3.1% / 4.7%
Lilli Pilli — 0-4: 3.1% Malua Bay — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 10.2% / 10.9%
Lilli Pilli — 5-14: 10.2% Malua Bay — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 4.2% / 5.0%
Lilli Pilli — 15-19: 4.2% Malua Bay — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 2.0% / 3.1%
Lilli Pilli — 20-24: 2.0% Malua Bay — 20-24: 3.1%
25-34 7.4% / 7.3%
Lilli Pilli — 25-34: 7.4% Malua Bay — 25-34: 7.3%
35-44 8.7% / 9.2%
Lilli Pilli — 35-44: 8.7% Malua Bay — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 9.6% / 12.9%
Lilli Pilli — 45-54: 9.6% Malua Bay — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 17.2% / 17.5%
Lilli Pilli — 55-64: 17.2% Malua Bay — 55-64: 17.5%
65-74 22.4% / 18.9%
Lilli Pilli — 65-74: 22.4% Malua Bay — 65-74: 18.9%
75-84 10.8% / 8.5%
Lilli Pilli — 75-84: 10.8% Malua Bay — 75-84: 8.5%
85+ 3.7% / 1.9%
Lilli Pilli — 85+: 3.7% Malua Bay — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lilli Pilli 42.6% lone person
Lilli Pilli — Lone Person: 42.6% Lilli Pilli — Couple Families: 38.2% Lilli Pilli — One Parent Families: 16.2% Lilli Pilli — Group Household: 2.9% Lilli Pilli — Other Families: 0.0%
Malua Bay 40.0% lone person
Malua Bay — Lone Person: 40.0% Malua Bay — Couple Families: 36.9% Malua Bay — One Parent Families: 18.2% Malua Bay — Group Household: 4.3% Malua Bay — Other Families: 0.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lilli Pilli 11.4% renting
Lilli Pilli — Owned Outright: 58.4% Lilli Pilli — Mortgage: 30.2% Lilli Pilli — Renting: 11.4%
Malua Bay 18.4% renting
Malua Bay — Owned Outright: 53.1% Malua Bay — Mortgage: 28.5% Malua Bay — Renting: 18.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Certificate III & IV 13.9% / 18.2%
Lilli Pilli — Certificate III & IV: 13.9% Malua Bay — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 14.2% / 11.2%
Lilli Pilli — Bachelor Degree: 14.2% Malua Bay — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.4% / 9.4%
Lilli Pilli — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.4% Malua Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.9% / 3.4%
Lilli Pilli — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9% Malua Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.2%
Lilli Pilli — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Malua Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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.

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
England 4.8% / 4.7%
Lilli Pilli — England: 4.8% Malua Bay — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.7%
Lilli Pilli — New Zealand: 1.1% Malua Bay — New Zealand: 1.7%
Germany 1.1% / 0.6%
Lilli Pilli — Germany: 1.1% Malua Bay — Germany: 0.6%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Lilli Pilli — Scotland: not among its largest Malua Bay — Scotland: 1.0%
South Africa — / 0.8%
Lilli Pilli — South Africa: not among its largest Malua Bay — South Africa: 0.8%
Japan 0.6% / —
Lilli Pilli — Japan: 0.6% Malua Bay — Japan: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.6%
Lilli Pilli — Philippines: not among its largest Malua Bay — Philippines: 0.6%
China 0.5% / —
Lilli Pilli — China: 0.5% Malua Bay — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lilli Pilli 98.1% houses
Lilli Pilli — Houses: 98.1% Lilli Pilli — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% Lilli Pilli — Townhouses: 0.0%
Malua Bay 97.0% houses
Malua Bay — Houses: 97.0% Malua Bay — Flats / Apartments: 1.6% Malua Bay — Townhouses: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Median house price $1,035,000 $930,000
Median unit price — $822,500
Median land price $871,500 $417,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 46 days
from 13 sales
 48 days
from 48 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.

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
3 bed $785K / $841K
Lilli Pilli — 3 bed: $785K (12 sales) Malua Bay — 3 bed: $841K (38 sales)

12 vs 38 sales

4 bed $1.06M / $970K
Lilli Pilli — 4 bed: $1.06M (12 sales) Malua Bay — 4 bed: $970K (49 sales)

12 vs 49 sales

5 bed $1.2M / $1.24M
Lilli Pilli — 5 bed: $1.2M (6 sales) Malua Bay — 5 bed: $1.24M (11 sales)

6 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Lilli Pilli has more land zoned for conservation (80% vs 56%); Malua Bay has more rural and farming land (19% vs 0%).

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Environmental 80% 56%
Residential 18% 24%
Rural and farming 0% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Lilli Pilli and 100% of Malua 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

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
New dwellings approved 211
across Eurobodalla
same for both
Approvals change year on year -9%
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.

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Houses — 3.2%
$708/wk on $1.15M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
House price Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Income Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 62% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 30% of NSW

Liveability

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Grade D
same for both
Score 26/100 29/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
83/100
Crime — Moderate
42/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
26/100
 Low
23/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Lilli Pilli Malua 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

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 0 10

Mobility

Malua Bay sits further from the CBD (293.5 km vs 290.5 km).

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Walkability score 18/100 12/100
Distance to Sydney 290.5 km 293.5 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 241 min 244 min
Public transport score 30/100
Bus
 39/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2536
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2536
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.

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Car (driver) 77.2% / 77.4%
Lilli Pilli — Car (driver): 77.2% Malua Bay — Car (driver): 77.4%
Worked from Home 18.1% / 14.8%
Lilli Pilli — Worked from Home: 18.1% Malua Bay — Worked from Home: 14.8%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 5.3%
Lilli Pilli — Car (passenger): 4.7% Malua Bay — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Bus — / 1.4%
Lilli Pilli — Bus: not among its largest Malua Bay — Bus: 1.4%
Walked Only — / 1.0%
Lilli Pilli — Walked Only: not among its largest Malua Bay — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.4%).

Setting

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Elevation 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 498 m
510 m to a named beach
 1.7 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Connectivity score 44/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
470 premises
 51%
1,690 premises

Climate

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Annual rainfall 914 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Average residential rate $1,246/yr
same for both
Council Eurobodalla
same for both

Federal electorate

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lilli Pilli Malua Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lilli Pilli

Acreage Beach Coastal Retirees

Malua Bay

Acreage Coastal Retirees River

More comparisons

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Lilli Pilli vs Surf Beach

Other comparisons with Malua Bay

Malua Bay vs Surf Beach Malua Bay vs Mogo Malua Bay vs Rosedale Malua Bay vs Woodlands
Full data on Lilli Pilli Full data on Malua 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.

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