Saratoga vs Woy Woy

Saratoga is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 48 in Woy Woy. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Saratoga, about half of households are couple families. In Woy Woy, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Saratoga: a median of $1.3 million, against $1.05 million in Woy Woy, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Saratoga tends to suit couples, while Woy Woy suits people living alone, older residents, and 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

They split

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

  • Saratoga carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 86/100)
  • Woy Woy has more childcare (9 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Woy Woy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,050,000 vs $1,300,000)
  • has cheaper units ($787,500 vs $965,000)
  • But Saratoga leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Woy Woy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $485/wk)
  • But Saratoga leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Woy Woy

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (6% vs 1%)
  • has a shorter drive in (73 min vs 80 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (81.4 km vs 86.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Woy Woy

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 5%)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 20%)
  • But Saratoga carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 86/100)

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

Investors

Woy Woy

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Saratoga Woy Woy
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.

Saratoga Woy Woy
Walkability 58 / 52
Saratoga — Walkability: 58/100 Woy Woy — Walkability: 52/100
Safety 80 / 14
Saratoga — Safety: 80/100 Woy Woy — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 72 / 17
Saratoga — Low fire risk: 72/100 Woy Woy — Low fire risk: 17/100

Demographics

Woy Woy has more residents (11,072 vs 3,982); Saratoga has higher household incomes ($103,428 vs $59,852).

Saratoga Woy Woy
Population 3,982 11,072
+178% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.1% +4.0%
Median age 43 48
Median household income $103,428/yr
+42% vs other
$59,852/yr
Median weekly rent $485/wk
+22% vs other
$380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Saratoga Woy Woy
0-4 5.0% / 5.0%
Saratoga — 0-4: 5.0% Woy Woy — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 13.5% / 10.1%
Saratoga — 5-14: 13.5% Woy Woy — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 6.1% / 4.7%
Saratoga — 15-19: 6.1% Woy Woy — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 5.5% / 4.5%
Saratoga — 20-24: 5.5% Woy Woy — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 10.1% / 10.6%
Saratoga — 25-34: 10.1% Woy Woy — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 11.6% / 11.5%
Saratoga — 35-44: 11.6% Woy Woy — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 14.2% / 12.1%
Saratoga — 45-54: 14.2% Woy Woy — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 14.1% / 13.3%
Saratoga — 55-64: 14.1% Woy Woy — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 11.6% / 13.3%
Saratoga — 65-74: 11.6% Woy Woy — 65-74: 13.3%
75-84 6.5% / 10.0%
Saratoga — 75-84: 6.5% Woy Woy — 75-84: 10.0%
85+ 1.8% / 4.8%
Saratoga — 85+: 1.8% Woy Woy — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Saratoga 52.1% couple families
Saratoga — Couple Families: 52.1% Saratoga — Lone Person: 28.8% Saratoga — One Parent Families: 15.9% Saratoga — Group Household: 2.3% Saratoga — Other Families: 0.9%
Woy Woy 26.3% couple families
Woy Woy — Couple Families: 26.3% Woy Woy — Lone Person: 48.5% Woy Woy — One Parent Families: 18.9% Woy Woy — Group Household: 4.5% Woy Woy — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Saratoga 15.9% renting
Saratoga — Owned Outright: 38.9% Saratoga — Mortgage: 45.2% Saratoga — Renting: 15.9%
Woy Woy 39.9% renting
Woy Woy — Owned Outright: 35.4% Woy Woy — Mortgage: 24.7% Woy Woy — Renting: 39.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Saratoga Woy Woy
Certificate III & IV 18.6% / 15.6%
Saratoga — Certificate III & IV: 18.6% Woy Woy — Certificate III & IV: 15.6%
Bachelor Degree 13.1% / 8.6%
Saratoga — Bachelor Degree: 13.1% Woy Woy — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 7.0%
Saratoga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Woy Woy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 3.0%
Saratoga — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Woy Woy — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.2%
Saratoga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Woy Woy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Saratoga Woy Woy
England 5.5% / 4.9%
Saratoga — England: 5.5% Woy Woy — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.0%
Saratoga — New Zealand: 2.1% Woy Woy — New Zealand: 2.0%
China 0.3% / 1.6%
Saratoga — China: 0.3% Woy Woy — China: 1.6%
Philippines 0.3% / 1.1%
Saratoga — Philippines: 0.3% Woy Woy — Philippines: 1.1%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.6%
Saratoga — Scotland: 0.5% Woy Woy — Scotland: 0.6%
South Africa 0.7% / —
Saratoga — South Africa: 0.7% Woy Woy — South Africa: not among its largest
India — / 0.7%
Saratoga — India: not among its largest Woy Woy — India: 0.7%
Italy 0.4% / —
Saratoga — Italy: 0.4% Woy Woy — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Saratoga 95.0% houses
Saratoga — Houses: 95.0% Saratoga — Townhouses: 2.6% Saratoga — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Woy Woy 61.9% houses
Woy Woy — Houses: 61.9% Woy Woy — Townhouses: 29.0% Woy Woy — Flats / Apartments: 9.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Saratoga Woy Woy
Median house price $1,300,000 $1,050,000
Median unit price $965,000 $787,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 48 sales
29 days
from 93 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.

Saratoga Woy Woy
2 bed $1.09M / $922K
Saratoga — 2 bed: $1.09M (7 sales) Woy Woy — 2 bed: $922K (36 sales)

7 vs 36 sales

3 bed $1.27M / $1.02M
Saratoga — 3 bed: $1.27M (41 sales) Woy Woy — 3 bed: $1.02M (92 sales)

41 vs 92 sales

4 bed $1.35M / $1.12M
Saratoga — 4 bed: $1.35M (29 sales) Woy Woy — 4 bed: $1.12M (36 sales)

29 vs 36 sales

5 bed $1.74M / $1.33M
Saratoga — 5 bed: $1.74M (6 sales) Woy Woy — 5 bed: $1.33M (14 sales)

6 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Woy Woy has more land zoned for conservation (64% vs 20%).

Saratoga Woy Woy
Environmental 20% 64%
Residential 61% 20%
Parks and recreation 17% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 8%
Industrial 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

Saratoga Woy Woy
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Saratoga Woy Woy
Houses 2.8%
$880/wk on $1.62M
3.7%
$680/wk on $960K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Saratoga Woy Woy
House price Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 33% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW

Liveability

Saratoga scores higher overall (67 vs 23).

Saratoga Woy Woy
Grade B D
Score 67/100 23/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Woy Woy carries more crime risk (86 vs 20); Woy Woy carries more bushfire risk (83 vs 28).

Saratoga Woy Woy
Bushfire Low
28/100
High
83/100
Crime Low
20/100
High
86/100
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 3
within 5 km
1
within 5 km

Schools

Saratoga Woy Woy
Inside the suburb 1 6
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Saratoga

  • Brisbania Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Woy Woy

  • St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Woy Woy Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Woy Woy South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Brisbane Water Secondary College Woy Woy Campus Government · Secondary
  • Aspect Central Coast School, Woy Woy Independent · Primary · Special school
  • EOC Broken Bay - Woy Woy Catholic · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Saratoga Woy Woy
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 10
Parks & reserves 4 17
Childcare 1 9
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Saratoga sits further from the CBD (86.1 km vs 81.4 km).

Saratoga Woy Woy
Walkability score 58/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 86.1 km
+5% vs other
81.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 80 min 73 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 63.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
329.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2251
0.8%
postcode 2256
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2251
31
postcode 2256

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.

Saratoga Woy Woy
Car (driver) 57.7% / 51.8%
Saratoga — Car (driver): 57.7% Woy Woy — Car (driver): 51.8%
Worked from Home 37.1% / 33.2%
Saratoga — Worked from Home: 37.1% Woy Woy — Worked from Home: 33.2%
Train 0.9% / 6.5%
Saratoga — Train: 0.9% Woy Woy — Train: 6.5%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 3.6%
Saratoga — Car (passenger): 3.3% Woy Woy — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 0.6% / 2.9%
Saratoga — Walked Only: 0.6% Woy Woy — Walked Only: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.7%).

Setting

Saratoga Woy Woy
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
97 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.5 km 3.5 km
4.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Saratoga Woy Woy
Connectivity score 49/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
1,658 premises
31%
5,959 premises

Climate

Saratoga Woy Woy
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm 1,176 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C —
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Saratoga Woy Woy
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

Saratoga Woy Woy
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Saratoga Woy Woy
Division Robertson
same for both
Member Gordon Reid
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Saratoga Woy Woy
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Saratoga

Woy Woy

More comparisons

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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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