Mitchells Island vs Old Bar

Old Bar is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 55 in Mitchells Island. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Mitchells Island: a median of $925,000, against $795,000 in Old Bar, though rent is higher in Old Bar. On these figures, Old Bar 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

Mitchells Island

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 51/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 50%)
  • But Old Bar has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Old Bar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($425,000 vs $1,005,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($795,000 vs $925,000)
  • But Mitchells Island leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mitchells Island

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $358/wk)
  • But Old Bar has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 9%)

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

Commuting to the city

Old Bar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (218 min vs 228 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (316.2 km vs 326.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Mitchells Island carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 51/100)
  • Old Bar has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 2%)

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

Investors

Old Bar

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.8% vs -1.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Mitchells Island and Old Bar drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Mitchells Island Old Bar
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.

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Walkability 13 / 16
Mitchells Island — Walkability: 13/100 Old Bar — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 82 / 49
Mitchells Island — Safety: 82/100 Old Bar — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 16
Mitchells Island — Low fire risk: 100/100 Old Bar — Low fire risk: 16/100

Demographics

Old Bar has more residents (5,126 vs 462); Old Bar rents higher ($358/wk vs $290/wk).

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Population 462 5,126
+1010% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.3% +16.8%
Median age 55 50
Median household income $67,808/yr
+10% vs other
 $60,840/yr
Median weekly rent $290/wk $358/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mitchells Island Old Bar
0-4 1.7% / 5.5%
Mitchells Island — 0-4: 1.7% Old Bar — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 9.5% / 12.4%
Mitchells Island — 5-14: 9.5% Old Bar — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 4.8% / 4.2%
Mitchells Island — 15-19: 4.8% Old Bar — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 3.9% / 3.4%
Mitchells Island — 20-24: 3.9% Old Bar — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 3.9% / 8.9%
Mitchells Island — 25-34: 3.9% Old Bar — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 8.7% / 9.9%
Mitchells Island — 35-44: 8.7% Old Bar — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 16.9% / 11.0%
Mitchells Island — 45-54: 16.9% Old Bar — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 19.3% / 13.5%
Mitchells Island — 55-64: 19.3% Old Bar — 55-64: 13.5%
65-74 22.3% / 17.4%
Mitchells Island — 65-74: 22.3% Old Bar — 65-74: 17.4%
75-84 7.8% / 9.8%
Mitchells Island — 75-84: 7.8% Old Bar — 75-84: 9.8%
85+ 2.4% / 4.3%
Mitchells Island — 85+: 2.4% Old Bar — 85+: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mitchells Island 29.8% lone person
Mitchells Island — Lone Person: 29.8% Mitchells Island — Couple Families: 39.4% Mitchells Island — One Parent Families: 21.3% Mitchells Island — Group Household: 4.3% Mitchells Island — Other Families: 5.3%
Old Bar 44.2% lone person
Old Bar — Lone Person: 44.2% Old Bar — Couple Families: 31.1% Old Bar — One Parent Families: 18.4% Old Bar — Group Household: 5.1% Old Bar — 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.

Mitchells Island 9.1% renting
Mitchells Island — Owned Outright: 63.0% Mitchells Island — Mortgage: 27.9% Mitchells Island — Renting: 9.1%
Old Bar 27.3% renting
Old Bar — Owned Outright: 46.9% Old Bar — Mortgage: 25.8% Old Bar — Renting: 27.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 18.9%
Mitchells Island — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Old Bar — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 8.8%
Mitchells Island — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Old Bar — Bachelor Degree: 8.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 3.7% / 7.7%
Mitchells Island — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.7% Old Bar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 2.1%
Mitchells Island — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Old Bar — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.3%
Mitchells Island — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Old Bar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Mitchells Island Old Bar
England 3.5% / 3.2%
Mitchells Island — England: 3.5% Old Bar — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.0%
Mitchells Island — New Zealand: 1.3% Old Bar — New Zealand: 1.0%
South Africa 1.1% / 0.4%
Mitchells Island — South Africa: 1.1% Old Bar — South Africa: 0.4%
Malaysia 1.3% / —
Mitchells Island — Malaysia: 1.3% Old Bar — Malaysia: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.5%
Mitchells Island — Scotland: not among its largest Old Bar — Scotland: 0.5%
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Mitchells Island — Netherlands: not among its largest Old Bar — Netherlands: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mitchells Island 98.2% houses
Mitchells Island — Houses: 98.2% Mitchells Island — Townhouses: 0.0% Mitchells Island — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Old Bar 82.2% houses
Old Bar — Houses: 82.2% Old Bar — Townhouses: 14.4% Old Bar — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Median house price $925,000 $795,000
Median unit price — $469,000
Median land price $1,005,500 $425,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 3 sales
 43 days
from 79 sales

Zoning mix

Mitchells Island has more rural and farming land (72% vs 39%).

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Rural and farming 72% 39%
Residential 3% 30%
Environmental 25%
same for both
Parks and recreation 0% 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

Mitchells Island Old Bar
New dwellings approved 743
across Mid-Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +327%
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.

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Houses — 3.8%
$620/wk on $855K
Units — 3.9%
$450/wk on $608K

Ranking within NSW

Mitchells Island Old Bar
House price Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Income Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 36% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 61% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 18% of NSW

Liveability

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Grade — D
Score — 21/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Old Bar carries more bushfire risk (84 vs 0); Old Bar carries more crime risk (51 vs 18).

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
84/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
81/100
 High
88/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Mitchells Island

  • Mitchells Island Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Old Bar

  • Old Bar Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 1 8
Childcare 0 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 8 20

Mobility

Mitchells Island sits further from the CBD (326.6 km vs 316.2 km).

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Walkability score 13/100 16/100
Distance to Sydney 326.6 km
+3% vs other
 316.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 228 min 218 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2430
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2430
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.

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Car (driver) 73.0% / 80.2%
Mitchells Island — Car (driver): 73.0% Old Bar — Car (driver): 80.2%
Worked from Home 18.4% / 11.4%
Mitchells Island — Worked from Home: 18.4% Old Bar — Worked from Home: 11.4%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.1%
Mitchells Island — Car (passenger): 3.9% Old Bar — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 2.6% / 3.6%
Mitchells Island — Walked Only: 2.6% Old Bar — Walked Only: 3.6%
Bicycle 2.0% / 0.2%
Mitchells Island — Bicycle: 2.0% Old Bar — Bicycle: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.2%).

Setting

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.6 km
4.6 km to a named beach
 2.7 km
3.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Connectivity score 30/100 70/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
241 premises
 46%
2,910 premises

Climate

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Annual rainfall 1,331 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Average residential rate $1,560/yr
same for both
Council Mid-Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Division Lyne
same for both
Member Alison Penfold
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mitchells Island Old Bar
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mitchells Island

Coastal Retirees Rural

Old Bar

Coastal Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mitchells Island

Mitchells Island vs Harrington Mitchells Island vs Coopernook Mitchells Island vs Oxley Island Mitchells Island vs Manning Point Mitchells Island vs Jones Island

Other comparisons with Old Bar

Old Bar vs Wallabi Point Old Bar vs Pampoolah Old Bar vs Oxley Island Old Bar vs Koorainghat Old Bar vs Bohnock
Full data on Mitchells Island Full data on Old Bar
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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