Pretty Beach vs Wagstaffe

Pretty Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 57 against 60 in Wagstaffe. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wagstaffe, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Wagstaffe: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.75 million in Pretty Beach. On these figures, Wagstaffe 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

Pretty Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 43%)

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

First-home buyers

Pretty Beach

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,755,000 vs $2,013,000)

Weighs house 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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Wagstaffe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.1% vs -10.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
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.

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Walkability 53 / 51
Pretty Beach — Walkability: 53/100 Wagstaffe — Walkability: 51/100
Low fire risk 18 / 32
Pretty Beach — Low fire risk: 18/100 Wagstaffe — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Pretty Beach has more residents (314 vs 240); Wagstaffe skews older (60 vs 57).

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Population 314
+24% vs other
 240
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -10.8% +8.1%
Median age 57 60
Median household income $94,536/yr $98,384/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $428/wk
+4% vs other
 $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
0-4 1.3% / 1.2%
Pretty Beach — 0-4: 1.3% Wagstaffe — 0-4: 1.2%
5-14 8.9% / 10.0%
Pretty Beach — 5-14: 8.9% Wagstaffe — 5-14: 10.0%
15-19 4.1% / 5.0%
Pretty Beach — 15-19: 4.1% Wagstaffe — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 2.2% / 1.2%
Pretty Beach — 20-24: 2.2% Wagstaffe — 20-24: 1.2%
25-34 6.7% / 4.6%
Pretty Beach — 25-34: 6.7% Wagstaffe — 25-34: 4.6%
35-44 6.1% / 7.1%
Pretty Beach — 35-44: 6.1% Wagstaffe — 35-44: 7.1%
45-54 11.8% / 10.4%
Pretty Beach — 45-54: 11.8% Wagstaffe — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 18.2% / 25.0%
Pretty Beach — 55-64: 18.2% Wagstaffe — 55-64: 25.0%
65-74 22.6% / 21.7%
Pretty Beach — 65-74: 22.6% Wagstaffe — 65-74: 21.7%
75-84 11.5% / 12.9%
Pretty Beach — 75-84: 11.5% Wagstaffe — 75-84: 12.9%
85+ 2.9% / 1.2%
Pretty Beach — 85+: 2.9% Wagstaffe — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pretty Beach 39.7% lone person
Pretty Beach — Lone Person: 39.7% Pretty Beach — Couple Families: 39.7% Pretty Beach — One Parent Families: 12.3% Pretty Beach — Group Household: 8.2%
Wagstaffe 57.1% lone person
Wagstaffe — Lone Person: 57.1% Wagstaffe — Couple Families: 34.7% Wagstaffe — One Parent Families: 8.2% Wagstaffe — Group Household: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pretty Beach 12.7% renting
Pretty Beach — Owned Outright: 52.4% Pretty Beach — Mortgage: 34.9% Pretty Beach — Renting: 12.7%
Wagstaffe 13.2% renting
Wagstaffe — Owned Outright: 61.3% Wagstaffe — Mortgage: 25.5% Wagstaffe — Renting: 13.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Bachelor Degree 20.1% / 25.4%
Pretty Beach — Bachelor Degree: 20.1% Wagstaffe — Bachelor Degree: 25.4%
Postgraduate Degree 10.8% / 13.8%
Pretty Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 10.8% Wagstaffe — Postgraduate Degree: 13.8%
Certificate III & IV 13.4% / 7.5%
Pretty Beach — Certificate III & IV: 13.4% Wagstaffe — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 9.2%
Pretty Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Wagstaffe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.1% / 4.6%
Pretty Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1% Wagstaffe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.4%).

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.

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
England 6.4% / 4.6%
Pretty Beach — England: 6.4% Wagstaffe — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.2%
Pretty Beach — New Zealand: 1.9% Wagstaffe — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 2.5% / —
Pretty Beach — South Africa: 2.5% Wagstaffe — South Africa: not among its largest
Germany 1.3% / 1.2%
Pretty Beach — Germany: 1.3% Wagstaffe — Germany: 1.2%
Malaysia — / 2.5%
Pretty Beach — Malaysia: not among its largest Wagstaffe — Malaysia: 2.5%
Philippines — / 1.7%
Pretty Beach — Philippines: not among its largest Wagstaffe — Philippines: 1.7%
Japan 1.0% / —
Pretty Beach — Japan: 1.0% Wagstaffe — Japan: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pretty Beach 100.0% houses
Pretty Beach — Houses: 100.0% Pretty Beach — Townhouses: 3.2%
Wagstaffe 98.1% houses
Wagstaffe — Houses: 98.1% Wagstaffe — Townhouses: 2.8%
Houses Townhouses

Property market

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Median house price $1,755,000 $2,013,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 120 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Wagstaffe has more land zoned for conservation (50% vs 34%).

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Residential 51% 49%
Environmental 34% 50%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 0%
Parks and recreation 5% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Pretty Beach and 100% of Wagstaffe. 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

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
House price Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Income Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW

Liveability

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Pretty Beach carries more bushfire risk (82 vs 68).

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Bushfire High
82/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime — Low
38/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
29/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
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

Schools in Pretty Beach

  • Pretty Beach Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Wagstaffe

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

Amenities in the suburb

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Walkability score 53/100 51/100
Distance to Sydney 95.7 km 97 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 94 min 97 min
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2257
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2257
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.

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Worked from Home 53.5% / 65.1%
Pretty Beach — Worked from Home: 53.5% Wagstaffe — Worked from Home: 65.1%
Car (driver) 38.6% / 27.9%
Pretty Beach — Car (driver): 38.6% Wagstaffe — Car (driver): 27.9%
Walked Only 4.0% / 7.0%
Pretty Beach — Walked Only: 4.0% Wagstaffe — Walked Only: 7.0%
Train 4.0% / —
Pretty Beach — Train: 4.0% Wagstaffe — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.1%).

Setting

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 38 m
785 m to a named beach
 187 m
910 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Connectivity score 63/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
251 premises
 0%
193 premises

Climate

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
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)

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Pretty Beach Wagstaffe
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Pretty Beach

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Outer Parks Professionals Retirees

Wagstaffe

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Outer Professionals Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pretty Beach

Pretty Beach vs Booker Bay Pretty Beach vs Killcare Pretty Beach vs Hardys Bay

Other comparisons with Wagstaffe

Wagstaffe vs Ettalong Beach Wagstaffe vs Booker Bay
Full data on Pretty Beach Full data on Wagstaffe
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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