Magenta vs Canton Beach

In both, most households own their home. In Magenta, about half of households are people living alone. In Canton Beach, most homes are detached houses and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Magenta: a median of $1.75 million, against $825,000 in Canton Beach, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Canton Beach tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

  • Magenta is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 25%)
  • Canton Beach has more separate houses rather than flats (73% vs 51%)

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

First-home buyers

Canton Beach

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($825,000 vs $1,755,000)
  • has cheaper units ($395,000 vs $818,000)
  • But Magenta leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 58%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Magenta leaves renters under less rental stress (30% vs 42%)
  • Canton Beach has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Magenta sits closer to the CBD (106.1 km vs 111 km)
  • Canton Beach is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Magenta has more units and townhouses to downsize into (49% vs 27%)
  • Canton Beach is more walkable (55/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Magenta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (62.0% vs 2.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Magenta Canton Beach
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.

Magenta Canton Beach
Walkability 0 / 55
Magenta — Walkability: 0/100 Canton Beach — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 22 / 16
Magenta — Safety: 22/100 Canton Beach — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 32 / 22
Magenta — Low fire risk: 32/100 Canton Beach — Low fire risk: 22/100

Demographics

Canton Beach has more residents (1,202 vs 332); Magenta has higher household incomes ($95,836 vs $36,920).

Magenta Canton Beach
Population 332 1,202
+262% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +62.0% +2.6%
Median age 60 61
Median household income $95,836/yr
+61% vs other
 $36,920/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+45% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Magenta Canton Beach
0-4 — / 4.6%
Magenta — 0-4: not among its largest Canton Beach — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 6.3% / 7.2%
Magenta — 5-14: 6.3% Canton Beach — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 3.3% / 3.2%
Magenta — 15-19: 3.3% Canton Beach — 15-19: 3.2%
20-24 5.4% / 3.5%
Magenta — 20-24: 5.4% Canton Beach — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 6.6% / 7.4%
Magenta — 25-34: 6.6% Canton Beach — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 6.3% / 8.2%
Magenta — 35-44: 6.3% Canton Beach — 35-44: 8.2%
45-54 9.6% / 8.7%
Magenta — 45-54: 9.6% Canton Beach — 45-54: 8.7%
55-64 22.0% / 13.8%
Magenta — 55-64: 22.0% Canton Beach — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 31.6% / 19.1%
Magenta — 65-74: 31.6% Canton Beach — 65-74: 19.1%
75-84 8.1% / 18.2%
Magenta — 75-84: 8.1% Canton Beach — 75-84: 18.2%
85+ 1.5% / 6.9%
Magenta — 85+: 1.5% Canton Beach — 85+: 6.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Magenta 52.2% lone person
Magenta — Lone Person: 52.2% Magenta — Couple Families: 34.8% Magenta — One Parent Families: 13.0% Magenta — Group Household: 0.0% Magenta — Other Families: 0.0%
Canton Beach 69.6% lone person
Canton Beach — Lone Person: 69.6% Canton Beach — Couple Families: 15.3% Canton Beach — One Parent Families: 9.6% Canton Beach — Group Household: 4.9% Canton Beach — 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.

Magenta 25.2% renting
Magenta — Owned Outright: 53.2% Magenta — Mortgage: 21.6% Magenta — Renting: 25.2%
Canton Beach 33.2% renting
Canton Beach — Owned Outright: 55.3% Canton Beach — Mortgage: 11.6% Canton Beach — Renting: 33.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Magenta Canton Beach
Certificate III & IV 12.7% / 17.6%
Magenta — Certificate III & IV: 12.7% Canton Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 19.6% / 3.6%
Magenta — Bachelor Degree: 19.6% Canton Beach — Bachelor Degree: 3.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.9% / 5.0%
Magenta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.9% Canton Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0%
Postgraduate Degree 5.4% / 0.7%
Magenta — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4% Canton Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.9%
Magenta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Canton Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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.

Magenta Canton Beach
England 7.2% / 6.2%
Magenta — England: 7.2% Canton Beach — England: 6.2%
South Africa 1.8% / —
Magenta — South Africa: 1.8% Canton Beach — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.9% / 0.6%
Magenta — Scotland: 0.9% Canton Beach — Scotland: 0.6%
India 1.2% / —
Magenta — India: 1.2% Canton Beach — India: not among its largest
Malaysia 1.2% / —
Magenta — Malaysia: 1.2% Canton Beach — Malaysia: not among its largest
Canada 1.2% / —
Magenta — Canada: 1.2% Canton Beach — Canada: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.9%
Magenta — New Zealand: not among its largest Canton Beach — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines — / 0.7%
Magenta — Philippines: not among its largest Canton Beach — Philippines: 0.7%
Italy — / 0.5%
Magenta — Italy: not among its largest Canton Beach — Italy: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Magenta 51.4% houses
Magenta — Houses: 51.4% Magenta — Townhouses: 47.9% Magenta — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Canton Beach 72.8% houses
Canton Beach — Houses: 72.8% Canton Beach — Townhouses: 15.1% Canton Beach — Flats / Apartments: 12.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Magenta Canton Beach
Median house price $1,755,000 $825,000
Median unit price $818,000 $395,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 258 days
from 3 sales
 32 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Magenta has more land zoned for conservation (76% vs 21%).

Magenta Canton Beach
Environmental 76% 21%
Parks and recreation 11% 42%
Residential 0% 30%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 6%
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

Magenta Canton Beach
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Magenta Canton Beach
House price Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 2% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW

Liveability

Canton Beach is more walkable (55 vs 0).

Magenta Canton Beach
Grade — D
Score — 18/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Canton Beach carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 68).

Magenta Canton Beach
Bushfire Moderate
68/100
 High
78/100
Crime High
78/100
 High
84/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
44/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Magenta Canton Beach
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

Magenta Canton Beach
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 0 1

Mobility

Canton Beach sits further from the CBD (111 km vs 106.1 km).

Magenta Canton Beach
Walkability score 0/100 55/100
Distance to Sydney 106.1 km 111 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 97 min 95 min
Public transport score 23/100
Bus
 47/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 13.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 42 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2261
 0.5%
postcode 2263
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2261
 36
postcode 2263

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.

Magenta Canton Beach
Car (driver) 49.6% / 72.8%
Magenta — Car (driver): 49.6% Canton Beach — Car (driver): 72.8%
Worked from Home 40.2% / 18.7%
Magenta — Worked from Home: 40.2% Canton Beach — Worked from Home: 18.7%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 7.3%
Magenta — Car (passenger): 5.1% Canton Beach — Car (passenger): 7.3%
Walked Only 2.6% / 1.2%
Magenta — Walked Only: 2.6% Canton Beach — Walked Only: 1.2%
Train 2.6% / —
Magenta — Train: 2.6% Canton Beach — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.8%).

Setting

Magenta Canton Beach
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 705 m
1.7 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Magenta Canton Beach
Connectivity score 100/100 52/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
370 premises
 12%
756 premises

Climate

Magenta Canton Beach
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)

Magenta Canton Beach
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

Magenta Canton Beach
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Magenta Canton Beach
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Magenta Canton Beach
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Magenta

Coastal Retirees Rural Townhouses

Canton Beach

Coastal Parks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Magenta

Magenta vs Noraville Magenta vs The Entrance North Magenta vs Norah Head

Other comparisons with Canton Beach

Canton Beach vs Toukley Canton Beach vs Noraville
Full data on Magenta Full data on Canton Beach
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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