Mollymook Beach vs Narrawallee

Narrawallee is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 57 in Mollymook Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Mollymook Beach, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Mollymook Beach 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Mollymook Beach carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 30/100)
  • Narrawallee is already more of a family suburb (57% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

Mollymook Beach

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($475,000 vs $650,000)
  • has cheaper units ($755,000 vs $950,000)

Weighs house prices, unit 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

Mollymook Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 27/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mollymook Beach

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (52/100 vs 27/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 30/100)

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

Investors

Narrawallee

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (19.8% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
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.

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Walkability 52 / 27
Mollymook Beach — Walkability: 52/100 Narrawallee — Walkability: 27/100
Safety 80 / 70
Mollymook Beach — Safety: 80/100 Narrawallee — Safety: 70/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Mollymook Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Narrawallee — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mollymook Beach has more residents (2,531 vs 1,487); Mollymook Beach skews older (57 vs 50).

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Population 2,531
+41% vs other
 1,487
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +19.8%
Median age 57 50
Median household income $64,844/yr $68,068/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $400/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
0-4 4.3% / 5.6%
Mollymook Beach — 0-4: 4.3% Narrawallee — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 9.9% / 11.0%
Mollymook Beach — 5-14: 9.9% Narrawallee — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 3.9% / 4.9%
Mollymook Beach — 15-19: 3.9% Narrawallee — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 2.1% / 3.6%
Mollymook Beach — 20-24: 2.1% Narrawallee — 20-24: 3.6%
25-34 6.2% / 7.9%
Mollymook Beach — 25-34: 6.2% Narrawallee — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 10.7% / 10.0%
Mollymook Beach — 35-44: 10.7% Narrawallee — 35-44: 10.0%
45-54 10.1% / 10.8%
Mollymook Beach — 45-54: 10.1% Narrawallee — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 15.8% / 16.0%
Mollymook Beach — 55-64: 15.8% Narrawallee — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 22.7% / 17.2%
Mollymook Beach — 65-74: 22.7% Narrawallee — 65-74: 17.2%
75-84 11.1% / 10.3%
Mollymook Beach — 75-84: 11.1% Narrawallee — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 3.4% / 2.6%
Mollymook Beach — 85+: 3.4% Narrawallee — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mollymook Beach 48.7% lone person
Mollymook Beach — Lone Person: 48.7% Mollymook Beach — Couple Families: 32.9% Mollymook Beach — One Parent Families: 13.7% Mollymook Beach — Group Household: 3.7% Mollymook Beach — Other Families: 1.0%
Narrawallee 40.5% lone person
Narrawallee — Lone Person: 40.5% Narrawallee — Couple Families: 37.1% Narrawallee — One Parent Families: 20.1% Narrawallee — Group Household: 2.3% Narrawallee — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mollymook Beach 18.0% renting
Mollymook Beach — Owned Outright: 58.5% Mollymook Beach — Mortgage: 23.5% Mollymook Beach — Renting: 18.0%
Narrawallee 19.7% renting
Narrawallee — Owned Outright: 51.9% Narrawallee — Mortgage: 28.4% Narrawallee — Renting: 19.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 18.8%
Mollymook Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Narrawallee — Certificate III & IV: 18.8%
Bachelor Degree 14.1% / 11.9%
Mollymook Beach — Bachelor Degree: 14.1% Narrawallee — Bachelor Degree: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.3%
Mollymook Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Narrawallee — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 4.3%
Mollymook Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Narrawallee — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.5%
Mollymook Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Narrawallee — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

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.

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
England 5.0% / 4.4%
Mollymook Beach — England: 5.0% Narrawallee — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.9%
Mollymook Beach — New Zealand: 1.4% Narrawallee — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 0.6% / 1.5%
Mollymook Beach — South Africa: 0.6% Narrawallee — South Africa: 1.5%
Scotland 1.1% / 0.3%
Mollymook Beach — Scotland: 1.1% Narrawallee — Scotland: 0.3%
Canada 0.5% / 0.4%
Mollymook Beach — Canada: 0.5% Narrawallee — Canada: 0.4%
Germany 0.6% / 0.3%
Mollymook Beach — Germany: 0.6% Narrawallee — Germany: 0.3%
Italy 0.6% / —
Mollymook Beach — Italy: 0.6% Narrawallee — Italy: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 0.3%
Mollymook Beach — Malaysia: not among its largest Narrawallee — Malaysia: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mollymook Beach 89.8% houses
Mollymook Beach — Houses: 89.8% Mollymook Beach — Townhouses: 7.7% Mollymook Beach — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Narrawallee 95.1% houses
Narrawallee — Houses: 95.1% Narrawallee — Townhouses: 2.4% Narrawallee — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Median house price $1,128,500 $1,197,500
Median unit price $755,000 $950,000
Median land price $475,000 $650,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 41 sales
 53 days
from 34 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.

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
3 bed $995K / $948K
Mollymook Beach — 3 bed: $995K (27 sales) Narrawallee — 3 bed: $948K (16 sales)

27 vs 16 sales

4 bed $1.37M / $1.35M
Mollymook Beach — 4 bed: $1.37M (32 sales) Narrawallee — 4 bed: $1.35M (41 sales)

32 vs 41 sales

Zoning mix

Narrawallee has more land zoned for conservation (56% vs 5%).

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Residential 58% 34%
Environmental 5% 56%
Parks and recreation 31% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 0%
Rural and farming 1%
same for both
Planning zones cover 98% of Mollymook Beach and 100% of Narrawallee. 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

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
New dwellings approved 854
across Shoalhaven
same for both
Approvals change year on year -10%
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.

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Houses 2.7%
$700/wk on $1.35M
 3.0%
$730/wk on $1.27M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
House price Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 70% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW

Liveability

Mollymook Beach is more walkable (52 vs 27); Mollymook Beach scores higher overall (63 vs 54).

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 54/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Narrawallee carries more crime risk (30 vs 20).

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
20/100
 Low
30/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
27/100
 Low
33/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
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

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 1 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Waterways 10 0

Mobility

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Walkability score 52/100 27/100
Distance to Sydney 224.2 km 224.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 184 min 185 min
Public transport score 33/100
Bus
 26/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 9.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2539
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2539
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.

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Car (driver) 73.2% / 73.0%
Mollymook Beach — Car (driver): 73.2% Narrawallee — Car (driver): 73.0%
Worked from Home 19.6% / 17.9%
Mollymook Beach — Worked from Home: 19.6% Narrawallee — Worked from Home: 17.9%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 6.3%
Mollymook Beach — Car (passenger): 4.5% Narrawallee — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only 2.0% / 2.8%
Mollymook Beach — Walked Only: 2.0% Narrawallee — Walked Only: 2.8%
Bicycle 0.6% / —
Mollymook Beach — Bicycle: 0.6% Narrawallee — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.2%).

Setting

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Elevation 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 645 m
832 m to a named beach
 725 m
822 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Connectivity score 70/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 46%
1,914 premises
 62%
1,132 premises

Climate

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Annual rainfall 1,302 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Average residential rate $1,501/yr
same for both
Council Shoalhaven
same for both

Federal electorate

Mollymook Beach Narrawallee
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mollymook Beach

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Quiet Retirees River

Narrawallee

Acreage Beach Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mollymook Beach

Mollymook Beach vs Milton Mollymook Beach vs Mollymook

Other comparisons with Narrawallee

Narrawallee vs Milton Narrawallee vs Lake Conjola
Full data on Mollymook Beach Full data on Narrawallee
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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