Nabiac vs Darawank

Nabiac is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 52 in Darawank. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Darawank, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Darawank: a median of $1.15 million, against $630,000 in Nabiac. On these figures, Nabiac tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Nabiac

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 80%)
  • But Darawank carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Nabiac

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($802,500 vs $1,469,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($630,000 vs $1,150,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 43%)

Weighs house 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

Nabiac

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (198 min vs 214 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (283.9 km vs 302.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Darawank

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (20% vs 2%)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 79/100)
  • But Nabiac is more walkable (16/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Darawank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.2% vs 3.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Nabiac Darawank
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.

Nabiac Darawank
Walkability 16 / 0
Nabiac — Walkability: 16/100 Darawank — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 21 / 57
Nabiac — Safety: 21/100 Darawank — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 28 / 16
Nabiac — Low fire risk: 28/100 Darawank — Low fire risk: 16/100

Demographics

Nabiac has more residents (1,294 vs 451); Darawank skews older (52 vs 48).

Nabiac Darawank
Population 1,294
+65% vs other
 451
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +14.2%
Median age 48 52
Median household income $65,156/yr $66,820/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $330/wk $335/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nabiac Darawank
0-4 4.6% / 2.9%
Nabiac — 0-4: 4.6% Darawank — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 13.0% / 11.3%
Nabiac — 5-14: 13.0% Darawank — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 6.0% / 5.3%
Nabiac — 15-19: 6.0% Darawank — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 3.8% / 4.4%
Nabiac — 20-24: 3.8% Darawank — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 8.0% / 4.4%
Nabiac — 25-34: 8.0% Darawank — 25-34: 4.4%
35-44 11.0% / 10.4%
Nabiac — 35-44: 11.0% Darawank — 35-44: 10.4%
45-54 12.8% / 13.7%
Nabiac — 45-54: 12.8% Darawank — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 17.2% / 20.0%
Nabiac — 55-64: 17.2% Darawank — 55-64: 20.0%
65-74 14.8% / 15.7%
Nabiac — 65-74: 14.8% Darawank — 65-74: 15.7%
75-84 7.1% / 10.0%
Nabiac — 75-84: 7.1% Darawank — 75-84: 10.0%
85+ 1.5% / 1.8%
Nabiac — 85+: 1.5% Darawank — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nabiac 42.7% couple families
Nabiac — Couple Families: 42.7% Nabiac — Lone Person: 29.0% Nabiac — One Parent Families: 21.3% Nabiac — Group Household: 5.1% Nabiac — Other Families: 1.9%
Darawank 46.7% couple families
Darawank — Couple Families: 46.7% Darawank — Lone Person: 36.2% Darawank — One Parent Families: 9.5% Darawank — Group Household: 7.6% Darawank — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nabiac 15.0% renting
Nabiac — Owned Outright: 46.5% Nabiac — Mortgage: 38.5% Nabiac — Renting: 15.0%
Darawank 13.5% renting
Darawank — Owned Outright: 54.1% Darawank — Mortgage: 32.4% Darawank — Renting: 13.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Nabiac Darawank
Certificate III & IV 22.9% / 20.4%
Nabiac — Certificate III & IV: 22.9% Darawank — Certificate III & IV: 20.4%
Bachelor Degree 5.6% / 8.4%
Nabiac — Bachelor Degree: 5.6% Darawank — Bachelor Degree: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 7.3%
Nabiac — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Darawank — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.3%
Nabiac — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Darawank — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.6%
Nabiac — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Darawank — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

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.

Nabiac Darawank
England 3.5% / 2.9%
Nabiac — England: 3.5% Darawank — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Nabiac — New Zealand: 1.1% Darawank — New Zealand: 1.1%
South Africa 0.2% / 1.1%
Nabiac — South Africa: 0.2% Darawank — South Africa: 1.1%
Fiji — / 1.1%
Nabiac — Fiji: not among its largest Darawank — Fiji: 1.1%
India 0.4% / —
Nabiac — India: 0.4% Darawank — India: not among its largest
Germany 0.3% / —
Nabiac — Germany: 0.3% Darawank — Germany: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nabiac 98.3% houses
Nabiac — Houses: 98.3% Nabiac — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Darawank 79.7% houses
Darawank — Houses: 79.7% Darawank — Flats / Apartments: 20.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nabiac Darawank
Median house price $630,000 $1,150,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $802,500 $1,469,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 61 days
from 11 sales
 38 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Nabiac has more rural and farming land (84% vs 25%); Darawank has more land zoned for conservation (60% vs 12%).

Nabiac Darawank
Rural and farming 84% 25%
Environmental 12% 60%
Residential 2% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 7%
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

Nabiac Darawank
New dwellings approved 743
across Mid-Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +327%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Nabiac Darawank
House price Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW

Liveability

Nabiac is more walkable (16 vs 0).

Nabiac Darawank
Grade D —
Score 16/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Nabiac carries more crime risk (79 vs 43); Darawank carries more bushfire risk (84 vs 72).

Nabiac Darawank
Bushfire High
72/100
 High
84/100
Crime High
79/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
18/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Nabiac Darawank
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Nabiac

  • Nabiac Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Darawank

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

Amenities in the suburb

Nabiac Darawank
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 6 2
Childcare 3 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 21 7

Mobility

Darawank sits further from the CBD (302.2 km vs 283.9 km).

Nabiac Darawank
Walkability score 16/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 283.9 km 302.2 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 198 min 214 min
Public transport score 39/100
Bus
 30/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 18.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 9.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2312
 0.4%
postcode 2428
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 67
postcode 2312
 41
postcode 2428

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.

Nabiac Darawank
Car (driver) 75.5% / 74.8%
Nabiac — Car (driver): 75.5% Darawank — Car (driver): 74.8%
Worked from Home 15.1% / 17.9%
Nabiac — Worked from Home: 15.1% Darawank — Worked from Home: 17.9%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 5.3%
Nabiac — Car (passenger): 5.2% Darawank — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.0%
Nabiac — Walked Only: 3.4% Darawank — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 0.9% / —
Nabiac — Bus: 0.9% Darawank — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.5%).

Setting

Nabiac Darawank
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 2.0 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Nabiac Darawank
Connectivity score 44/100 33/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
617 premises
 0%
178 premises

Climate

Nabiac Darawank
Annual rainfall 1,331 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Nabiac Darawank
Average residential rate $1,560/yr
same for both
Council Mid-Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Nabiac Darawank
Division Lyne
same for both
Member Alison Penfold
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Nabiac Darawank
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Nabiac

Affordable Rural

Darawank

Coastal Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nabiac

Nabiac vs Tuncurry Nabiac vs Failford Nabiac vs Dyers Crossing Nabiac vs Firefly Nabiac vs Minimbah Nabiac vs Possum Brush

Other comparisons with Darawank

Darawank vs Tuncurry Darawank vs Black Head Darawank vs Failford Darawank vs Rainbow Flat Darawank vs Hallidays Point
Full data on Nabiac Full data on Darawank
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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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