Old Erowal Bay vs Worrowing Heights

Old Erowal Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 77 in Worrowing Heights. In both, most households own their home. In Old Erowal Bay, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Worrowing Heights, the large majority of households are people living alone. On these figures, Old Erowal Bay tends to suit families with children, while Worrowing Heights 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

Old Erowal Bay

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 7%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 10%)
  • But Worrowing Heights carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 52/100)

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

First-home buyers

Worrowing Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (15% vs 24%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Old Erowal Bay has a bigger rental market to choose from (26% vs 9%)
  • Worrowing Heights has cheaper rent ($187/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Old Erowal Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (32/100 vs 8/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (159 min vs 166 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Worrowing Heights

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (94% vs 2%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (87% vs 19%)
  • carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 52/100)
  • But Old Erowal Bay is more walkable (32/100 vs 8/100)

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

Investors

Worrowing Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (40.9% vs 4.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Old Erowal Bay and Worrowing Heights drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
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.

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Walkability 32 / 8
Old Erowal Bay — Walkability: 32/100 Worrowing Heights — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 48 / 72
Old Erowal Bay — Safety: 48/100 Worrowing Heights — Safety: 72/100
Low fire risk 100 / 7
Old Erowal Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Worrowing Heights — Low fire risk: 7/100

Demographics

Worrowing Heights skews older (77 vs 40); Old Erowal Bay rents higher ($350/wk vs $187/wk).

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Population 1,080
+34% vs other
 713
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.0% +40.9%
Median age 40 77
Median household income $64,792/yr
+38% vs other
 $39,884/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+47% vs other
 $187/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
0-4 5.8% / 0.8%
Old Erowal Bay — 0-4: 5.8% Worrowing Heights — 0-4: 0.8%
5-14 13.9% / 2.0%
Old Erowal Bay — 5-14: 13.9% Worrowing Heights — 5-14: 2.0%
15-19 7.6% / 0.8%
Old Erowal Bay — 15-19: 7.6% Worrowing Heights — 15-19: 0.8%
20-24 4.0% / —
Old Erowal Bay — 20-24: 4.0% Worrowing Heights — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 10.9% / 0.8%
Old Erowal Bay — 25-34: 10.9% Worrowing Heights — 25-34: 0.8%
35-44 13.1% / 1.3%
Old Erowal Bay — 35-44: 13.1% Worrowing Heights — 35-44: 1.3%
45-54 12.0% / 2.2%
Old Erowal Bay — 45-54: 12.0% Worrowing Heights — 45-54: 2.2%
55-64 13.0% / 5.6%
Old Erowal Bay — 55-64: 13.0% Worrowing Heights — 55-64: 5.6%
65-74 12.9% / 29.7%
Old Erowal Bay — 65-74: 12.9% Worrowing Heights — 65-74: 29.7%
75-84 5.8% / 40.3%
Old Erowal Bay — 75-84: 5.8% Worrowing Heights — 75-84: 40.3%
85+ 0.5% / 17.0%
Old Erowal Bay — 85+: 0.5% Worrowing Heights — 85+: 17.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (40.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Old Erowal Bay 37.3% lone person
Old Erowal Bay — Lone Person: 37.3% Old Erowal Bay — Couple Families: 31.5% Old Erowal Bay — One Parent Families: 24.0% Old Erowal Bay — Group Household: 5.8% Old Erowal Bay — Other Families: 1.4%
Worrowing Heights 88.0% lone person
Worrowing Heights — Lone Person: 88.0% Worrowing Heights — Couple Families: 7.0% Worrowing Heights — One Parent Families: 2.5% Worrowing Heights — Group Household: 2.5% Worrowing Heights — 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.

Old Erowal Bay 25.9% renting
Old Erowal Bay — Owned Outright: 34.9% Old Erowal Bay — Mortgage: 39.2% Old Erowal Bay — Renting: 25.9%
Worrowing Heights 8.9% renting
Worrowing Heights — Owned Outright: 81.1% Worrowing Heights — Mortgage: 10.0% Worrowing Heights — Renting: 8.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Certificate III & IV 19.9% / 17.0%
Old Erowal Bay — Certificate III & IV: 19.9% Worrowing Heights — Certificate III & IV: 17.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 7.7%
Old Erowal Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Worrowing Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Bachelor Degree 5.6% / 6.5%
Old Erowal Bay — Bachelor Degree: 5.6% Worrowing Heights — Bachelor Degree: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 1.3%
Old Erowal Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Worrowing Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.4%
Old Erowal Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Worrowing Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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.

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
England 3.8% / 12.3%
Old Erowal Bay — England: 3.8% Worrowing Heights — England: 12.3%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.4%
Old Erowal Bay — New Zealand: 2.0% Worrowing Heights — New Zealand: 2.4%
Netherlands 0.7% / 0.7%
Old Erowal Bay — Netherlands: 0.7% Worrowing Heights — Netherlands: 0.7%
Scotland — / 1.1%
Old Erowal Bay — Scotland: not among its largest Worrowing Heights — Scotland: 1.1%
Germany — / 0.8%
Old Erowal Bay — Germany: not among its largest Worrowing Heights — Germany: 0.8%
Egypt — / 0.8%
Old Erowal Bay — Egypt: not among its largest Worrowing Heights — Egypt: 0.8%
South Africa 0.7% / —
Old Erowal Bay — South Africa: 0.7% Worrowing Heights — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Old Erowal Bay — Philippines: 0.5% Worrowing Heights — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Old Erowal Bay 98.3% houses
Old Erowal Bay — Houses: 98.3% Old Erowal Bay — Townhouses: 0.0% Old Erowal Bay — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Worrowing Heights 7.2% houses
Worrowing Heights — Houses: 7.2% Worrowing Heights — Townhouses: 94.0% Worrowing Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Median house price $692,857 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $5,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 7 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Worrowing Heights has more land zoned for conservation (55% vs 5%); Worrowing Heights has more rural and farming land (42% vs 6%).

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Residential 74% 0%
Environmental 5% 55%
Rural and farming 6% 42%
Parks and recreation 12% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
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

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
New dwellings approved 854
across Shoalhaven
same for both
Approvals change year on year -10%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
House price Higher than 25% of NSW —
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 60% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 54% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW

Liveability

Old Erowal Bay is more walkable (32 vs 8); Old Erowal Bay scores higher overall (42 vs 19).

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Grade C D
Score 42/100 19/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Worrowing Heights carries more bushfire risk (93 vs 0); Old Erowal Bay carries more crime risk (52 vs 28).

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
93/100
Crime Moderate
52/100
 Low
28/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
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

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 1 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Walkability score 32/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 192.3 km 192.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 159 min 166 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2540
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2540
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.

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Car (driver) 81.5% / 62.5%
Old Erowal Bay — Car (driver): 81.5% Worrowing Heights — Car (driver): 62.5%
Worked from Home 10.2% / 37.5%
Old Erowal Bay — Worked from Home: 10.2% Worrowing Heights — Worked from Home: 37.5%
Car (passenger) 6.4% / —
Old Erowal Bay — Car (passenger): 6.4% Worrowing Heights — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Bus 1.1% / —
Old Erowal Bay — Bus: 1.1% Worrowing Heights — Bus: not among its largest
Walked Only 0.8% / —
Old Erowal Bay — Walked Only: 0.8% Worrowing Heights — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.5%).

Setting

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km
3.7 km to a named beach
 3.3 km
3.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Connectivity score 71/100 58/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
548 premises
 0%
417 premises

Climate

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
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

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Average residential rate $1,501/yr
same for both
Council Shoalhaven
same for both

Federal electorate

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Old Erowal Bay Worrowing Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Old Erowal Bay

Affordable Large Blocks

Worrowing Heights

Affordable Retirees River Rural Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Old Erowal Bay

Old Erowal Bay vs St Georges Basin Old Erowal Bay vs Erowal Bay

Other comparisons with Worrowing Heights

Worrowing Heights vs Sanctuary Point Worrowing Heights vs Vincentia Worrowing Heights vs St Georges Basin Worrowing Heights vs Tomerong Worrowing Heights vs Huskisson Worrowing Heights vs Erowal Bay
Full data on Old Erowal Bay Full data on Worrowing Heights
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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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