Marks Point vs Pelican

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Marks Point, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Marks Point 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

Pelican

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 58%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (62% vs 44%)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 70/100)

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

First-home buyers

Pelican

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 37%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marks Point

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($318/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Marks Point has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 6%)
  • Pelican carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 70/100)

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

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

Marks Point Pelican
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.

Marks Point Pelican
Walkability 49 / 56
Marks Point — Walkability: 49/100 Pelican — Walkability: 56/100
Safety 30 / 43
Marks Point — Safety: 30/100 Pelican — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 57
Marks Point — Low fire risk: 100/100 Pelican — Low fire risk: 57/100

Demographics

Marks Point has more residents (1,861 vs 874); Pelican has higher household incomes ($75,296 vs $58,344).

Marks Point Pelican
Population 1,861
+53% vs other
 874
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% -0.8%
Median age 48
same for both
Median household income $58,344/yr $75,296/yr
+29% vs other
Median weekly rent $318/wk $370/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Marks Point Pelican
0-4 5.5% / 5.9%
Marks Point — 0-4: 5.5% Pelican — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 10.6% / 11.3%
Marks Point — 5-14: 10.6% Pelican — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 4.0% / 3.4%
Marks Point — 15-19: 4.0% Pelican — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 4.7% / 4.3%
Marks Point — 20-24: 4.7% Pelican — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 10.1% / 7.4%
Marks Point — 25-34: 10.1% Pelican — 25-34: 7.4%
35-44 10.3% / 13.5%
Marks Point — 35-44: 10.3% Pelican — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 11.6% / 12.7%
Marks Point — 45-54: 11.6% Pelican — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 17.2% / 16.0%
Marks Point — 55-64: 17.2% Pelican — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 15.8% / 16.2%
Marks Point — 65-74: 15.8% Pelican — 65-74: 16.2%
75-84 7.1% / 8.7%
Marks Point — 75-84: 7.1% Pelican — 75-84: 8.7%
85+ 2.4% / 1.8%
Marks Point — 85+: 2.4% Pelican — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Marks Point 51.1% lone person
Marks Point — Lone Person: 51.1% Marks Point — Couple Families: 26.6% Marks Point — One Parent Families: 17.7% Marks Point — Group Household: 2.7% Marks Point — Other Families: 1.8%
Pelican 33.8% lone person
Pelican — Lone Person: 33.8% Pelican — Couple Families: 44.6% Pelican — One Parent Families: 16.9% Pelican — Group Household: 2.6% Pelican — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Marks Point 40.4% renting
Marks Point — Owned Outright: 34.6% Marks Point — Mortgage: 25.1% Marks Point — Renting: 40.4%
Pelican 18.9% renting
Pelican — Owned Outright: 51.7% Pelican — Mortgage: 29.4% Pelican — Renting: 18.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Marks Point Pelican
England 2.7% / 1.9%
Marks Point — England: 2.7% Pelican — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.1%
Marks Point — New Zealand: 1.2% Pelican — New Zealand: 1.1%
Ireland 0.5% / 0.3%
Marks Point — Ireland: 0.5% Pelican — Ireland: 0.3%
Germany 0.6% / —
Marks Point — Germany: 0.6% Pelican — Germany: not among its largest
South Africa 0.5% / —
Marks Point — South Africa: 0.5% Pelican — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

Qualifications

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

Marks Point Pelican
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 23.5%
Marks Point — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Pelican — Certificate III & IV: 23.5%
Bachelor Degree 9.0% / 6.8%
Marks Point — Bachelor Degree: 9.0% Pelican — Bachelor Degree: 6.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 8.4%
Marks Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Pelican — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 0.9%
Marks Point — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Pelican — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 0.3%
Marks Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Pelican — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Marks Point 57.9% houses
Marks Point — Houses: 57.9% Marks Point — Flats / Apartments: 29.6% Marks Point — Townhouses: 12.5%
Pelican 94.2% houses
Pelican — Houses: 94.2% Pelican — Flats / Apartments: 1.4% Pelican — Townhouses: 4.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Marks Point Pelican
Median house price $1,000,000
same for both
Median unit price $697,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 17 sales
 40 days
from 9 sales

Zoning mix

Marks Point Pelican
Residential 63% 37%
Environmental 28% 36%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 17%
Parks and recreation 5% 10%
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

Marks Point Pelican
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Marks Point Pelican
Houses 3.5%
$930/wk on $1.39M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Marks Point Pelican
House price Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of NSW —

Liveability

Marks Point Pelican
Grade C
same for both
Score 43/100 41/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Pelican carries more bushfire risk (43 vs 0); Marks Point carries more crime risk (70 vs 57).

Marks Point Pelican
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
43/100
Crime High
70/100
 Moderate
57/100
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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Marks Point Pelican
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Marks Point

  • Marks Point Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Pelican

  • Pelican Flat Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Marks Point Pelican
Parks & reserves 2 3
Childcare 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Marks Point Pelican
Walkability score 49/100 56/100
Distance to Sydney 133.1 km 131.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 106 min 105 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 72/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 30.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2280
 0.9%
postcode 2281
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2280
 45
postcode 2281

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.

Marks Point Pelican
Car (driver) 68.7% / 75.6%
Marks Point — Car (driver): 68.7% Pelican — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 24.2% / 22.4%
Marks Point — Worked from Home: 24.2% Pelican — Worked from Home: 22.4%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 2.0%
Marks Point — Car (passenger): 3.2% Pelican — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 2.7% / —
Marks Point — Walked Only: 2.7% Pelican — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 0.7% / —
Marks Point — Bicycle: 0.7% Pelican — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.6%).

Setting

Marks Point Pelican
Elevation 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km
2.8 km to a named beach
 1.2 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Marks Point Pelican
Connectivity score 61/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
989 premises
 29%
406 premises

Climate

Marks Point Pelican
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Marks Point Pelican
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.27 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Marks Point Pelican
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Marks Point Pelican
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Marks Point Pelican
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Marks Point

Coastal Retirees

Pelican

Coastal Large Blocks Parks Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

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Marks Point vs Blacksmiths Marks Point vs Belmont South

Other comparisons with Pelican

Pelican vs Swansea Pelican vs Blacksmiths
Full data on Marks Point Full data on Pelican
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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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