Mallabula vs Tanilba Bay

Comparing Mallabula and Tanilba Bay, NSW: Mallabula is more walkable (47 vs 11); Tanilba Bay has more residents (3,237 vs 963); and Tanilba Bay carries more crime risk (77 vs 58).

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

Tanilba Bay

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 3)
  • But Mallabula carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 77/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mallabula

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($365,500 vs $979,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mallabula

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $380/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

  • Mallabula is more walkable (47/100 vs 11/100)
  • Tanilba Bay sits closer to the CBD (191.4 km vs 194.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mallabula

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (47/100 vs 11/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 77/100)
  • But Tanilba Bay has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Tanilba Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Mallabula and Tanilba 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.

Mallabula Tanilba 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.

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Walkability 47 / 11
Mallabula — Walkability: 47/100 Tanilba Bay — Walkability: 11/100
Safety 42 / 23
Mallabula — Safety: 42/100 Tanilba Bay — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 21 / 26
Mallabula — Low fire risk: 21/100 Tanilba Bay — Low fire risk: 26/100

Demographics

Tanilba Bay has more residents (3,237 vs 963).

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Population 963 3,237
+236% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +2.6%
Median age 49 48
Median household income $60,840/yr
+3% vs other
 $58,812/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk $380/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
0-4 4.9% / 5.3%
Mallabula — 0-4: 4.9% Tanilba Bay — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 11.0% / 11.2%
Mallabula — 5-14: 11.0% Tanilba Bay — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 6.2% / 5.6%
Mallabula — 15-19: 6.2% Tanilba Bay — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 5.5% / 4.4%
Mallabula — 20-24: 5.5% Tanilba Bay — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 9.7% / 9.9%
Mallabula — 25-34: 9.7% Tanilba Bay — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 8.6% / 9.6%
Mallabula — 35-44: 8.6% Tanilba Bay — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 12.7% / 11.5%
Mallabula — 45-54: 12.7% Tanilba Bay — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 17.7% / 13.9%
Mallabula — 55-64: 17.7% Tanilba Bay — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 15.7% / 15.4%
Mallabula — 65-74: 15.7% Tanilba Bay — 65-74: 15.4%
75-84 6.9% / 9.7%
Mallabula — 75-84: 6.9% Tanilba Bay — 75-84: 9.7%
85+ 2.2% / 3.0%
Mallabula — 85+: 2.2% Tanilba Bay — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mallabula 38.7% lone person
Mallabula — Lone Person: 38.7% Mallabula — Couple Families: 32.1% Mallabula — One Parent Families: 24.0% Mallabula — Group Household: 4.1% Mallabula — Other Families: 1.1%
Tanilba Bay 39.4% lone person
Tanilba Bay — Lone Person: 39.4% Tanilba Bay — Couple Families: 34.9% Tanilba Bay — One Parent Families: 19.5% Tanilba Bay — Group Household: 5.2% Tanilba Bay — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mallabula 25.6% renting
Mallabula — Owned Outright: 44.3% Mallabula — Mortgage: 30.1% Mallabula — Renting: 25.6%
Tanilba Bay 27.2% renting
Tanilba Bay — Owned Outright: 43.5% Tanilba Bay — Mortgage: 29.3% Tanilba Bay — Renting: 27.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Certificate III & IV 21.9% / 20.5%
Mallabula — Certificate III & IV: 21.9% Tanilba Bay — Certificate III & IV: 20.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 6.7%
Mallabula — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Tanilba Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Bachelor Degree 5.8% / 5.4%
Mallabula — Bachelor Degree: 5.8% Tanilba Bay — Bachelor Degree: 5.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.2% / 1.6%
Mallabula — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2% Tanilba Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / 1.0%
Mallabula — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Tanilba Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

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.

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
England 4.3% / 3.7%
Mallabula — England: 4.3% Tanilba Bay — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.3%
Mallabula — New Zealand: 1.1% Tanilba Bay — New Zealand: 1.3%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Mallabula — Germany: 0.5% Tanilba Bay — Germany: 0.6%
Philippines 0.4% / 0.4%
Mallabula — Philippines: 0.4% Tanilba Bay — Philippines: 0.4%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Mallabula — South Africa: not among its largest Tanilba Bay — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.4%
Mallabula — Scotland: 0.3% Tanilba Bay — Scotland: 0.4%
Malaysia 0.4% / —
Mallabula — Malaysia: 0.4% Tanilba Bay — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mallabula 95.1% houses
Mallabula — Houses: 95.1% Mallabula — Townhouses: 5.2% Mallabula — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Tanilba Bay 92.6% houses
Tanilba Bay — Houses: 92.6% Tanilba Bay — Townhouses: 6.5% Tanilba Bay — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Median house price $745,000 $772,500
Median unit price — $1,375,000
Median land price $365,500 $979,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 11 sales
 36 days
from 20 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.

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
3 bed $708K / $750K
Mallabula — 3 bed: $708K (16 sales) Tanilba Bay — 3 bed: $750K (37 sales)

16 vs 37 sales

4 bed $858K / $846K
Mallabula — 4 bed: $858K (8 sales) Tanilba Bay — 4 bed: $846K (19 sales)

8 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Tanilba Bay has more land zoned for conservation (71% vs 36%); Mallabula has more rural and farming land (26% vs 11%).

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Environmental 36% 71%
Rural and farming 26% 11%
Residential 14% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 3%
Parks and recreation 11% 1%
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

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
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.

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Houses 3.4%
$500/wk on $765K
 4.3%
$650/wk on $795K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
House price Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Income Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 52% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW

Liveability

Mallabula is more walkable (47 vs 11); Mallabula scores higher overall (21 vs 14).

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Grade D
same for both
Score 21/100 14/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Tanilba Bay carries more crime risk (77 vs 58).

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Bushfire High
79/100
 High
74/100
Crime Moderate
58/100
 High
77/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
23/100
 Moderate
47/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Mallabula

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

Schools in Tanilba Bay

  • Tanilba Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 11
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Mallabula sits further from the CBD (194.2 km vs 191.4 km).

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Walkability score 47/100 11/100
Distance to Sydney 194.2 km
+1% vs other
 191.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 148 min 145 min
Public transport score 59/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 83.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2319
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 2319
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.

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Car (driver) 74.6% / 73.7%
Mallabula — Car (driver): 74.6% Tanilba Bay — Car (driver): 73.7%
Worked from Home 18.7% / 17.5%
Mallabula — Worked from Home: 18.7% Tanilba Bay — Worked from Home: 17.5%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 5.4%
Mallabula — Car (passenger): 5.7% Tanilba Bay — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 1.0% / 2.7%
Mallabula — Walked Only: 1.0% Tanilba Bay — Walked Only: 2.7%
Bus — / 0.8%
Mallabula — Bus: not among its largest Tanilba Bay — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.6%).

Setting

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 748 m 1.6 km

NBN connectivity

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Connectivity score 86/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 65%
464 premises
 42%
1,611 premises

Climate

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
PM2.5 7.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 30.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.73 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Mallabula Tanilba Bay
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mallabula

Acreage Coastal Parks Quiet

Tanilba Bay

Acreage Coastal Retirees

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Full data on Mallabula Full data on Tanilba 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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