Tacoma vs Wadalba

Wadalba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 40 in Tacoma. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wadalba: a median of $950,000, against $850,000 in Tacoma, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wadalba tends to suit families with children.

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

Wadalba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Tacoma

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($850,000 vs $950,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Tacoma has cheaper rent ($390/wk vs $480/wk)
  • Wadalba has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 18%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wadalba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 45/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Tacoma has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 10%)
  • Wadalba is more walkable (72/100 vs 45/100)

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

Investors

Wadalba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (48.5% vs -2.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Tacoma and Wadalba 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 Wadalba
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 Wadalba
Walkability 45 / 72
Tacoma — Walkability: 45/100 Wadalba — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 24 / 30
Tacoma — Safety: 24/100 Wadalba — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 40 / 51
Tacoma — Low fire risk: 40/100 Wadalba — Low fire risk: 51/100

Demographics

Wadalba has more residents (4,204 vs 615); Tacoma skews older (40 vs 32).

Tacoma Wadalba
Population 615 4,204
+584% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.8% +48.5%
Median age 40 32
Median household income $87,308/yr $100,984/yr
+16% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $480/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tacoma Wadalba
0-4 5.4% / 9.3%
Tacoma — 0-4: 5.4% Wadalba — 0-4: 9.3%
5-14 16.7% / 17.0%
Tacoma — 5-14: 16.7% Wadalba — 5-14: 17.0%
15-19 6.5% / 7.5%
Tacoma — 15-19: 6.5% Wadalba — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 4.2% / 5.4%
Tacoma — 20-24: 4.2% Wadalba — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 10.1% / 14.2%
Tacoma — 25-34: 10.1% Wadalba — 25-34: 14.2%
35-44 12.8% / 16.4%
Tacoma — 35-44: 12.8% Wadalba — 35-44: 16.4%
45-54 13.8% / 11.7%
Tacoma — 45-54: 13.8% Wadalba — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 13.5% / 8.3%
Tacoma — 55-64: 13.5% Wadalba — 55-64: 8.3%
65-74 13.5% / 6.7%
Tacoma — 65-74: 13.5% Wadalba — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 3.4% / 2.6%
Tacoma — 75-84: 3.4% Wadalba — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 0.8% / 0.8%
Tacoma — 85+: 0.8% Wadalba — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tacoma 49.3% couple families
Tacoma — Couple Families: 49.3% Tacoma — One Parent Families: 26.7% Tacoma — Lone Person: 20.7% Tacoma — Group Household: 3.3% Tacoma — Other Families: 0.0%
Wadalba 51.0% couple families
Wadalba — Couple Families: 51.0% Wadalba — One Parent Families: 22.7% Wadalba — Lone Person: 21.9% Wadalba — Group Household: 3.2% Wadalba — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person 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%
Wadalba 40.0% renting
Wadalba — Owned Outright: 17.5% Wadalba — Mortgage: 42.5% Wadalba — Renting: 40.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Tacoma Wadalba
Certificate III & IV 21.1% / 16.9%
Tacoma — Certificate III & IV: 21.1% Wadalba — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 7.6%
Tacoma — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Wadalba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Bachelor Degree 4.6% / 8.3%
Tacoma — Bachelor Degree: 4.6% Wadalba — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 0.5% / 2.2%
Tacoma — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5% Wadalba — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 0.9%
Tacoma — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Wadalba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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 Wadalba
England 2.0% / 3.1%
Tacoma — England: 2.0% Wadalba — England: 3.1%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.0%
Tacoma — New Zealand: 2.1% Wadalba — New Zealand: 2.0%
Philippines 0.7% / 1.5%
Tacoma — Philippines: 0.7% Wadalba — Philippines: 1.5%
India — / 1.5%
Tacoma — India: not among its largest Wadalba — India: 1.5%
Indonesia 0.8% / —
Tacoma — Indonesia: 0.8% Wadalba — Indonesia: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.8%
Tacoma — South Africa: not among its largest Wadalba — South Africa: 0.8%
Ireland 0.5% / —
Tacoma — Ireland: 0.5% Wadalba — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tacoma 99.5% houses
Tacoma — Houses: 99.5% Tacoma — Townhouses: 0.0% Tacoma — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Wadalba 94.3% houses
Wadalba — Houses: 94.3% Wadalba — Townhouses: 5.4% Wadalba — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Tacoma Wadalba
Median house price $850,000 $950,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $671,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 4 sales
 20 days
from 67 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 Wadalba
3 bed $780K / $800K
Tacoma — 3 bed: $780K (7 sales) Wadalba — 3 bed: $800K (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.01M / $958K
Tacoma — 4 bed: $1.01M (11 sales) Wadalba — 4 bed: $958K (102 sales)

11 vs 102 sales

Zoning mix

Tacoma has more land zoned for conservation (73% vs 30%).

Tacoma Wadalba
Environmental 73% 30%
Residential 20% 56%
Rural and farming 0% 6%
Parks and recreation 5%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 3% 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

Tacoma Wadalba
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 Wadalba
Houses — 4.2%
$822/wk on $1.03M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Tacoma Wadalba
House price Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Income Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 71% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 80% of NSW

Liveability

Wadalba is more walkable (72 vs 45); Wadalba scores higher overall (42 vs 30).

Tacoma Wadalba
Grade C
same for both
Score 30/100 42/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Tacoma carries more bushfire risk (60 vs 49).

Tacoma Wadalba
Bushfire Moderate
60/100
 Moderate
49/100
Crime High
76/100
 High
70/100
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 Wadalba
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 Wadalba

  • Wadalba Community School Government · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tacoma Wadalba
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 2 4
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1

Mobility

Tacoma Wadalba
Walkability score 45/100 72/100
Distance to Sydney 95.3 km 97.1 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 83 min
Public transport score 57/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 22.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 61.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Wadalba
Car (driver) 68.1% / 64.8%
Tacoma — Car (driver): 68.1% Wadalba — Car (driver): 64.8%
Worked from Home 23.8% / 27.1%
Tacoma — Worked from Home: 23.8% Wadalba — Worked from Home: 27.1%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 4.5%
Tacoma — Car (passenger): 4.8% Wadalba — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 3.3% / 0.9%
Tacoma — Walked Only: 3.3% Wadalba — Walked Only: 0.9%
Train — / 1.6%
Tacoma — Train: not among its largest Wadalba — Train: 1.6%
Bus — / 1.1%
Tacoma — Bus: not among its largest Wadalba — Bus: 1.1%

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

Setting

Tacoma Wadalba
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 7.3 km

NBN connectivity

Tacoma Wadalba
Connectivity score 82/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 67%
221 premises
 66%
1,660 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Tacoma

Acreage Family

Wadalba

Family Large Blocks Parks Quiet Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tacoma

Tacoma vs Wyong Tacoma vs Tuggerawong Tacoma vs Rocky Point Tacoma vs Tacoma South

Other comparisons with Wadalba

Wadalba vs Hamlyn Terrace Wadalba vs Wyong Wadalba vs Kanwal Wadalba vs Wyongah Wadalba vs Tuggerawong
Full data on Tacoma Full data on Wadalba
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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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