Tacoma vs Tuggerawong

Tacoma is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Tuggerawong. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tacoma, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Tuggerawong 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

Tacoma

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 56%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 88%)

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

First-home buyers

Tacoma

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tuggerawong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $390/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Tacoma sits closer to the CBD (95.3 km vs 98.2 km)
  • Tuggerawong is more walkable (54/100 vs 45/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Tuggerawong

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (12% vs 0%)
  • is more walkable (54/100 vs 45/100)

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

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

Tacoma Tuggerawong
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.

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Walkability 45 / 54
Tacoma — Walkability: 45/100 Tuggerawong — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 24 / 31
Tacoma — Safety: 24/100 Tuggerawong — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 40 / 43
Tacoma — Low fire risk: 40/100 Tuggerawong — Low fire risk: 43/100

Demographics

Tuggerawong has more residents (1,285 vs 615); Tacoma has higher household incomes ($87,308 vs $76,804).

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Population 615 1,285
+109% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.8% +0.4%
Median age 40 43
Median household income $87,308/yr
+12% vs other
 $76,804/yr
Median weekly rent $390/wk
+10% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tacoma Tuggerawong
0-4 5.4% / 6.1%
Tacoma — 0-4: 5.4% Tuggerawong — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 16.7% / 12.4%
Tacoma — 5-14: 16.7% Tuggerawong — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 6.5% / 4.7%
Tacoma — 15-19: 6.5% Tuggerawong — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 4.2% / 5.5%
Tacoma — 20-24: 4.2% Tuggerawong — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 10.1% / 11.9%
Tacoma — 25-34: 10.1% Tuggerawong — 25-34: 11.9%
35-44 12.8% / 11.0%
Tacoma — 35-44: 12.8% Tuggerawong — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 13.8% / 13.3%
Tacoma — 45-54: 13.8% Tuggerawong — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 13.5% / 15.4%
Tacoma — 55-64: 13.5% Tuggerawong — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 13.5% / 10.4%
Tacoma — 65-74: 13.5% Tuggerawong — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 3.4% / 6.7%
Tacoma — 75-84: 3.4% Tuggerawong — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 0.8% / 2.1%
Tacoma — 85+: 0.8% Tuggerawong — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tacoma 49.3% couple families
Tacoma — Couple Families: 49.3% Tacoma — Lone Person: 20.7% Tacoma — One Parent Families: 26.7% Tacoma — Group Household: 3.3% Tacoma — Other Families: 0.0%
Tuggerawong 41.6% couple families
Tuggerawong — Couple Families: 41.6% Tuggerawong — Lone Person: 36.8% Tuggerawong — One Parent Families: 14.4% Tuggerawong — Group Household: 5.0% Tuggerawong — Other Families: 2.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Tacoma 17.8% renting
Tacoma — Owned Outright: 37.6% Tacoma — Mortgage: 44.7% Tacoma — Renting: 17.8%
Tuggerawong 27.6% renting
Tuggerawong — Owned Outright: 35.7% Tuggerawong — Mortgage: 36.6% Tuggerawong — Renting: 27.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Certificate III & IV 21.1% / 21.6%
Tacoma — Certificate III & IV: 21.1% Tuggerawong — Certificate III & IV: 21.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 6.8%
Tacoma — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Tuggerawong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Bachelor Degree 4.6% / 7.6%
Tacoma — Bachelor Degree: 4.6% Tuggerawong — Bachelor Degree: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 0.5% / 2.0%
Tacoma — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5% Tuggerawong — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.2%
Tacoma — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Tuggerawong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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.

Tacoma Tuggerawong
England 2.0% / 3.3%
Tacoma — England: 2.0% Tuggerawong — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.2%
Tacoma — New Zealand: 2.1% Tuggerawong — New Zealand: 2.2%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.9%
Tacoma — Philippines: 0.7% Tuggerawong — Philippines: 0.9%
Indonesia 0.8% / 0.2%
Tacoma — Indonesia: 0.8% Tuggerawong — Indonesia: 0.2%
Scotland — / 0.8%
Tacoma — Scotland: not among its largest Tuggerawong — Scotland: 0.8%
Ireland 0.5% / —
Tacoma — Ireland: 0.5% Tuggerawong — Ireland: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.3%
Tacoma — Netherlands: not among its largest Tuggerawong — Netherlands: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tacoma 99.5% houses
Tacoma — Houses: 99.5% Tacoma — Flats / Apartments: 0.5% Tacoma — Townhouses: 0.0%
Tuggerawong 87.5% houses
Tuggerawong — Houses: 87.5% Tuggerawong — Flats / Apartments: 8.3% Tuggerawong — Townhouses: 4.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Median house price $850,000 $860,000
Median unit price — $710,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 4 sales
 34 days
from 12 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.

Tacoma Tuggerawong
3 bed $780K / $816K
Tacoma — 3 bed: $780K (7 sales) Tuggerawong — 3 bed: $816K (16 sales)

7 vs 16 sales

4 bed $1.01M / $1.11M
Tacoma — 4 bed: $1.01M (11 sales) Tuggerawong — 4 bed: $1.11M (16 sales)

11 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Tacoma has more land zoned for conservation (73% vs 51%).

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Environmental 73% 51%
Residential 20% 35%
Parks and recreation 5% 11%
Rural and farming 0% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 0%
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

Tacoma Tuggerawong
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.

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Houses — 3.7%
$572/wk on $800K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Tacoma Tuggerawong
House price Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Income Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 58% of NSW

Liveability

Tuggerawong is more walkable (54 vs 45).

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Grade C
same for both
Score 30/100 33/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Bushfire Moderate
60/100
 Moderate
57/100
Crime High
76/100
 Moderate
69/100
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

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Tacoma

  • Tacoma Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • HopeTown School Government · Combined · Special school below peers

Schools in Tuggerawong

  • Tuggerawong Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1

Mobility

Tuggerawong sits further from the CBD (98.2 km vs 95.3 km).

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Walkability score 45/100 54/100
Distance to Sydney 95.3 km 98.2 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 84 min
Public transport score 57/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 22.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 34.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2259
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2259
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.

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Car (driver) 68.1% / 66.5%
Tacoma — Car (driver): 68.1% Tuggerawong — Car (driver): 66.5%
Worked from Home 23.8% / 25.5%
Tacoma — Worked from Home: 23.8% Tuggerawong — Worked from Home: 25.5%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 4.8%
Tacoma — Car (passenger): 4.8% Tuggerawong — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Walked Only 3.3% / 0.6%
Tacoma — Walked Only: 3.3% Tuggerawong — Walked Only: 0.6%
Train — / 1.5%
Tacoma — Train: not among its largest Tuggerawong — Train: 1.5%
Bicycle — / 1.1%
Tacoma — Bicycle: not among its largest Tuggerawong — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.1%).

Setting

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 5.9 km

NBN connectivity

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Connectivity score 82/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 67%
221 premises
 49%
525 premises

Climate

Tacoma Tuggerawong
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)

Tacoma Tuggerawong
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

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

Federal electorate

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Tacoma Tuggerawong
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Tacoma

Acreage Family

Tuggerawong

Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tacoma

Tacoma vs Wyong Tacoma vs Wadalba Tacoma vs Rocky Point Tacoma vs Tacoma South

Other comparisons with Tuggerawong

Tuggerawong vs Wadalba Tuggerawong vs Wyongah Tuggerawong vs Rocky Point
Full data on Tacoma Full data on Tuggerawong
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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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