Swansea Heads vs Swansea

Swansea Heads is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 53 in Swansea. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Swansea Heads, about half of households are couple families. In Swansea, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Swansea Heads: a median of $1.34 million, against $1.15 million in Swansea, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Swansea Heads tends to suit 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

Swansea Heads

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 76/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 45%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 68%)
  • But Swansea has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Swansea Heads leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 42%)
  • Swansea has cheaper houses ($1,150,000 vs $1,345,000)

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 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $380/wk)
  • But Swansea Heads leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Swansea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Swansea

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 28/100)
  • But Swansea Heads carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Swansea Heads 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.

Swansea Heads 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.

Swansea Heads Swansea
Walkability 28 / 81
Swansea Heads — Walkability: 28/100 Swansea — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 52 / 24
Swansea Heads — Safety: 52/100 Swansea — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 80
Swansea Heads — Low fire risk: 100/100 Swansea — Low fire risk: 80/100

Demographics

Swansea has more residents (5,044 vs 609); Swansea Heads has higher household incomes ($108,316 vs $53,924).

Swansea Heads Swansea
Population 609 5,044
+728% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% -0.3%
Median age 46 53
Median household income $108,316/yr
+50% vs other
 $53,924/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+13% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Swansea Heads Swansea
0-4 4.3% / 4.2%
Swansea Heads — 0-4: 4.3% Swansea — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 12.5% / 9.3%
Swansea Heads — 5-14: 12.5% Swansea — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 5.7% / 4.6%
Swansea Heads — 15-19: 5.7% Swansea — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 5.6% / 4.1%
Swansea Heads — 20-24: 5.6% Swansea — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 7.2% / 8.5%
Swansea Heads — 25-34: 7.2% Swansea — 25-34: 8.5%
35-44 14.0% / 8.6%
Swansea Heads — 35-44: 14.0% Swansea — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 11.7% / 13.4%
Swansea Heads — 45-54: 11.7% Swansea — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 17.4% / 15.2%
Swansea Heads — 55-64: 17.4% Swansea — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 14.1% / 15.4%
Swansea Heads — 65-74: 14.1% Swansea — 65-74: 15.4%
75-84 6.2% / 11.9%
Swansea Heads — 75-84: 6.2% Swansea — 75-84: 11.9%
85+ 2.5% / 4.7%
Swansea Heads — 85+: 2.5% Swansea — 85+: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Swansea Heads 48.2% couple families
Swansea Heads — Couple Families: 48.2% Swansea Heads — Lone Person: 24.1% Swansea Heads — One Parent Families: 21.7% Swansea Heads — Other Families: 4.2% Swansea Heads — Group Household: 1.8%
Swansea 25.9% couple families
Swansea — Couple Families: 25.9% Swansea — Lone Person: 49.7% Swansea — One Parent Families: 19.1% Swansea — Other Families: 2.1% Swansea — Group Household: 3.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Swansea Heads 14.9% renting
Swansea Heads — Owned Outright: 50.0% Swansea Heads — Mortgage: 35.1% Swansea Heads — Renting: 14.9%
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.

Swansea Heads Swansea
Certificate III & IV 21.2% / 21.5%
Swansea Heads — Certificate III & IV: 21.2% Swansea — Certificate III & IV: 21.5%
Bachelor Degree 12.6% / 5.9%
Swansea Heads — Bachelor Degree: 12.6% Swansea — Bachelor Degree: 5.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 6.1%
Swansea Heads — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Swansea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 0.9%
Swansea Heads — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Swansea — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 0.9%
Swansea Heads — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% 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.

Swansea Heads Swansea
England 2.8% / 3.2%
Swansea Heads — England: 2.8% Swansea — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.1%
Swansea Heads — New Zealand: 0.7% Swansea — New Zealand: 1.1%
Germany 1.1% / 0.3%
Swansea Heads — Germany: 1.1% Swansea — Germany: 0.3%
Thailand 1.1% / —
Swansea Heads — Thailand: 1.1% Swansea — Thailand: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.6%
Swansea Heads — Philippines: not among its largest Swansea — Philippines: 0.6%
Scotland — / 0.3%
Swansea Heads — Scotland: not among its largest Swansea — Scotland: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Swansea Heads 90.2% houses
Swansea Heads — Houses: 90.2% Swansea Heads — Flats / Apartments: 3.7% Swansea Heads — Townhouses: 6.1%
Swansea 68.0% houses
Swansea — Houses: 68.0% Swansea — Flats / Apartments: 23.1% Swansea — Townhouses: 8.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Swansea Heads Swansea
Median house price $1,345,000 $1,150,000
Median unit price — $780,000
Median land price $1,950,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 4 sales
 38 days
from 61 sales

Zoning mix

Swansea Heads has more land zoned for conservation (58% vs 38%).

Swansea Heads Swansea
Environmental 58% 38%
Residential 31% 46%
Parks and recreation 5% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 3%
Commercial 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 94% of Swansea Heads and 100% of Swansea. 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

Swansea Heads 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.

Swansea Heads Swansea
Houses — 3.8%
$750/wk on $1.02M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Swansea Heads Swansea
House price Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 64% of NSW

Liveability

Swansea is more walkable (81 vs 28); Swansea Heads scores higher overall (61 vs 40).

Swansea Heads Swansea
Grade B C
Score 61/100 40/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Swansea carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); Swansea carries more crime risk (76 vs 48).

Swansea Heads Swansea
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
20/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
68/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Swansea Heads 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 Swansea Heads

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

Swansea Heads Swansea
Supermarkets 0 2
Parks & reserves 3 8
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 3 0

Mobility

Swansea Heads Swansea
Walkability score 28/100 81/100
Distance to Sydney 130.7 km
+1% vs other
 128.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min 101 min
Public transport score 50/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 14.0
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.

Swansea Heads Swansea
Car (driver) 64.2% / 72.6%
Swansea Heads — Car (driver): 64.2% Swansea — Car (driver): 72.6%
Worked from Home 29.7% / 19.9%
Swansea Heads — Worked from Home: 29.7% Swansea — Worked from Home: 19.9%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.6%
Swansea Heads — Car (passenger): 3.9% Swansea — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Bicycle 2.2% / 0.4%
Swansea Heads — Bicycle: 2.2% Swansea — Bicycle: 0.4%
Walked Only — / 2.3%
Swansea Heads — Walked Only: not among its largest Swansea — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus — / 1.1%
Swansea Heads — Bus: not among its largest Swansea — Bus: 1.1%

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

Setting

Swansea Heads Swansea
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 154 m
187 m to a named beach
 656 m
2.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Swansea Heads Swansea
Connectivity score 91/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
259 premises
 39%
2,849 premises

Climate

Swansea Heads 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)

Swansea Heads 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Swansea Heads

Beach Beachfront Coastal Large Blocks

Swansea

Coastal Parks Retirees

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Swansea

Swansea vs Caves Beach Swansea vs Blacksmiths Swansea vs Murrays Beach Swansea vs Pelican
Full data on Swansea Heads 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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