Murrays Beach vs Swansea

Murrays Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 53 in Swansea. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Murrays Beach, most households are couple families. In Swansea, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Murrays Beach tends to suit families with children and couples, while Swansea suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Murrays Beach

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 76/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (84% vs 45%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (102% vs 68%)
  • But Swansea has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Murrays Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 42%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Swansea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 9%)
  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $579/wk)
  • But Murrays Beach leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 32%)

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

  • Murrays Beach sits closer to the CBD (124.5 km vs 128.9 km)
  • Swansea is more walkable (81/100 vs 10/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Swansea

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 22%)
  • But Murrays Beach carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Murrays Beach

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (38.5% vs -0.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Murrays Beach Swansea
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.

Murrays Beach Swansea
Walkability 10 / 81
Murrays Beach — Walkability: 10/100 Swansea — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 78 / 24
Murrays Beach — Safety: 78/100 Swansea — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 19 / 80
Murrays Beach — Low fire risk: 19/100 Swansea — Low fire risk: 80/100

Demographics

Swansea has more residents (5,044 vs 882); Murrays Beach has higher household incomes ($119,756 vs $53,924).

Murrays Beach Swansea
Population 882 5,044
+472% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +38.5% -0.3%
Median age 44 53
Median household income $119,756/yr
+55% vs other
 $53,924/yr
Median weekly rent $579/wk
+43% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Murrays Beach Swansea
0-4 4.3% / 4.2%
Murrays Beach — 0-4: 4.3% Swansea — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 19.0% / 9.3%
Murrays Beach — 5-14: 19.0% Swansea — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 4.0% / 4.6%
Murrays Beach — 15-19: 4.0% Swansea — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 1.2% / 4.1%
Murrays Beach — 20-24: 1.2% Swansea — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 5.4% / 8.5%
Murrays Beach — 25-34: 5.4% Swansea — 25-34: 8.5%
35-44 16.6% / 8.6%
Murrays Beach — 35-44: 16.6% Swansea — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 13.6% / 13.4%
Murrays Beach — 45-54: 13.6% Swansea — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 13.8% / 15.2%
Murrays Beach — 55-64: 13.8% Swansea — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 16.9% / 15.4%
Murrays Beach — 65-74: 16.9% Swansea — 65-74: 15.4%
75-84 4.5% / 11.9%
Murrays Beach — 75-84: 4.5% Swansea — 75-84: 11.9%
85+ 0.3% / 4.7%
Murrays Beach — 85+: 0.3% Swansea — 85+: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Murrays Beach 73.9% couple families
Murrays Beach — Couple Families: 73.9% Murrays Beach — Lone Person: 16.4% Murrays Beach — One Parent Families: 9.7% Murrays Beach — Group Household: 0.0% Murrays Beach — Other Families: 0.0%
Swansea 25.9% couple families
Swansea — Couple Families: 25.9% Swansea — Lone Person: 49.7% Swansea — One Parent Families: 19.1% Swansea — Group Household: 3.2% Swansea — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Murrays Beach 9.1% renting
Murrays Beach — Owned Outright: 40.6% Murrays Beach — Mortgage: 50.3% Murrays Beach — Renting: 9.1%
Swansea 29.5% renting
Swansea — Owned Outright: 44.5% Swansea — Mortgage: 26.0% Swansea — Renting: 29.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Murrays Beach Swansea
Certificate III & IV 13.4% / 21.5%
Murrays Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.4% Swansea — Certificate III & IV: 21.5%
Bachelor Degree 17.3% / 5.9%
Murrays Beach — Bachelor Degree: 17.3% Swansea — Bachelor Degree: 5.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.7% / 6.1%
Murrays Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.7% Swansea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 0.9%
Murrays Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Swansea — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 0.9%
Murrays Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Swansea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

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.

Murrays Beach Swansea
England 5.2% / 3.2%
Murrays Beach — England: 5.2% Swansea — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.1%
Murrays Beach — New Zealand: 1.6% Swansea — New Zealand: 1.1%
South Africa 1.7% / 0.3%
Murrays Beach — South Africa: 1.7% Swansea — South Africa: 0.3%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.6%
Murrays Beach — Philippines: 0.7% Swansea — Philippines: 0.6%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.3%
Murrays Beach — Scotland: 0.5% Swansea — Scotland: 0.3%
India 0.7% / —
Murrays Beach — India: 0.7% Swansea — India: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.3%
Murrays Beach — Germany: not among its largest Swansea — Germany: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Murrays Beach 101.9% houses
Murrays Beach — Houses: 101.9% Murrays Beach — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Murrays Beach — Townhouses: 0.0%
Swansea 68.0% houses
Swansea — Houses: 68.0% Swansea — Flats / Apartments: 23.1% Swansea — Townhouses: 8.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Murrays Beach Swansea
Median house price $1,230,000 $1,150,000
Median unit price — $780,000
Median land price $565,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 42 days
from 20 sales
 38 days
from 61 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.

Murrays Beach Swansea
3 bed $1.15M / $1.09M
Murrays Beach — 3 bed: $1.15M (10 sales) Swansea — 3 bed: $1.09M (54 sales)

10 vs 54 sales

4 bed $1.24M / $1.3M
Murrays Beach — 4 bed: $1.24M (24 sales) Swansea — 4 bed: $1.3M (38 sales)

24 vs 38 sales

Zoning mix

Murrays Beach Swansea
Residential 55% 46%
Environmental 36% 38%
Parks and recreation 3% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 3%
Commercial 0% 2%
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

Murrays Beach Swansea
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.

Murrays Beach Swansea
Houses 4.8%
$1,075/wk on $1.16M
 3.8%
$750/wk on $1.02M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Murrays Beach Swansea
House price Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW

Liveability

Swansea is more walkable (81 vs 10); Murrays Beach scores higher overall (49 vs 40).

Murrays Beach Swansea
Grade B C
Score 49/100 40/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Murrays Beach carries more bushfire risk (81 vs 20); Swansea carries more crime risk (76 vs 22).

Murrays Beach Swansea
Bushfire High
81/100
 Low
20/100
Crime Low
22/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
68/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Murrays Beach Swansea
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Murrays Beach

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

Schools in Swansea

  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Swansea Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Murrays Beach Swansea
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 8
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Swansea sits further from the CBD (128.9 km vs 124.5 km).

Murrays Beach Swansea
Walkability score 10/100 81/100
Distance to Sydney 124.5 km 128.9 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 100 min 101 min
Public transport score 20/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2281
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 2281
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.

Murrays Beach Swansea
Car (driver) 49.0% / 72.6%
Murrays Beach — Car (driver): 49.0% Swansea — Car (driver): 72.6%
Worked from Home 48.7% / 19.9%
Murrays Beach — Worked from Home: 48.7% Swansea — Worked from Home: 19.9%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 3.6%
Murrays Beach — Car (passenger): 2.4% Swansea — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only — / 2.3%
Murrays Beach — Walked Only: not among its largest Swansea — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus — / 1.1%
Murrays Beach — Bus: not among its largest Swansea — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.6%).

Setting

Murrays Beach Swansea
Elevation 59 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 656 m
2.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Murrays Beach Swansea
Connectivity score 91/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 80%
511 premises
 39%
2,849 premises

Climate

Murrays Beach Swansea
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)

Murrays Beach Swansea
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

Murrays Beach Swansea
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Murrays Beach Swansea
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Murrays Beach

Acreage Coastal Family Quiet

Swansea

Coastal Parks Retirees

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Swansea

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Full data on Murrays Beach Full data on Swansea
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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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