Tomago vs Heatherbrae

Heatherbrae is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 60 in Tomago. In both, most households own their home and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Tomago, most households are people living alone. In Heatherbrae, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Tomago tends to suit 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

They split

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

  • Tomago has more separate houses rather than flats (52% vs 41%)
  • Heatherbrae is already more of a family suburb (37% vs 26%)

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

First-home buyers

Heatherbrae

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($549,000 vs $2,000,000)
  • has cheaper land ($602,000 vs $1,895,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (43% vs 67%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tomago

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heatherbrae

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (30/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Heatherbrae

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (30/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (59% vs 48%)
  • But Tomago has more residents already 65 and over (40% vs 23%)

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

Investors

Heatherbrae

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (27.7% vs -2.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Tomago Heatherbrae
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.

Tomago Heatherbrae
Walkability 0 / 30
Tomago — Walkability: 0/100 Heatherbrae — Walkability: 30/100
Safety 3 / 2
Tomago — Safety: 3/100 Heatherbrae — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 32 / 24
Tomago — Low fire risk: 32/100 Heatherbrae — Low fire risk: 24/100

Demographics

Heatherbrae has more residents (654 vs 269); Heatherbrae has higher household incomes ($55,432 vs $40,976).

Tomago Heatherbrae
Population 269 654
+143% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.9% +27.7%
Median age 60 47
Median household income $40,976/yr $55,432/yr
+35% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $320/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tomago Heatherbrae
0-4 4.1% / 3.5%
Tomago — 0-4: 4.1% Heatherbrae — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 6.7% / 8.7%
Tomago — 5-14: 6.7% Heatherbrae — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 1.1% / 4.0%
Tomago — 15-19: 1.1% Heatherbrae — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 3.0% / 7.3%
Tomago — 20-24: 3.0% Heatherbrae — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 4.1% / 15.3%
Tomago — 25-34: 4.1% Heatherbrae — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 4.1% / 10.2%
Tomago — 35-44: 4.1% Heatherbrae — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 18.2% / 12.5%
Tomago — 45-54: 18.2% Heatherbrae — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 17.8% / 17.9%
Tomago — 55-64: 17.8% Heatherbrae — 55-64: 17.9%
65-74 25.3% / 11.6%
Tomago — 65-74: 25.3% Heatherbrae — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 12.3% / 8.4%
Tomago — 75-84: 12.3% Heatherbrae — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 1.9% / 2.6%
Tomago — 85+: 1.9% Heatherbrae — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tomago 71.2% lone person
Tomago — Lone Person: 71.2% Tomago — One Parent Families: 18.3% Tomago — Couple Families: 7.7% Tomago — Group Household: 2.9% Tomago — Other Families: 0.0%
Heatherbrae 52.9% lone person
Heatherbrae — Lone Person: 52.9% Heatherbrae — One Parent Families: 14.4% Heatherbrae — Couple Families: 22.5% Heatherbrae — Group Household: 7.0% Heatherbrae — Other Families: 3.2%
Lone Person One Parent Families Couple Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Tomago 32.5% renting
Tomago — Owned Outright: 58.5% Tomago — Mortgage: 8.9% Tomago — Renting: 32.5%
Heatherbrae 40.3% renting
Heatherbrae — Owned Outright: 45.8% Heatherbrae — Mortgage: 13.9% Heatherbrae — Renting: 40.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Tomago Heatherbrae
Certificate III & IV 13.4% / 15.4%
Tomago — Certificate III & IV: 13.4% Heatherbrae — Certificate III & IV: 15.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.8% / 4.3%
Tomago — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8% Heatherbrae — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.3%
Bachelor Degree 1.9% / 4.7%
Tomago — Bachelor Degree: 1.9% Heatherbrae — Bachelor Degree: 4.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 0.8%
Tomago — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Heatherbrae — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 0.6%
Tomago — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Heatherbrae — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

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.

Tomago Heatherbrae
Malaysia — / 4.9%
Tomago — Malaysia: not among its largest Heatherbrae — Malaysia: 4.9%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.8%
Tomago — New Zealand: 1.5% Heatherbrae — New Zealand: 1.8%
Germany 1.9% / 0.9%
Tomago — Germany: 1.9% Heatherbrae — Germany: 0.9%
England 1.5% / 0.9%
Tomago — England: 1.5% Heatherbrae — England: 0.9%
Pakistan — / 2.0%
Tomago — Pakistan: not among its largest Heatherbrae — Pakistan: 2.0%
Italy — / 1.2%
Tomago — Italy: not among its largest Heatherbrae — Italy: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tomago 48.0% flats / apartments
Tomago — Flats / Apartments: 48.0% Tomago — Houses: 52.0% Tomago — Townhouses: 0.0%
Heatherbrae 53.9% flats / apartments
Heatherbrae — Flats / Apartments: 53.9% Heatherbrae — Houses: 41.1% Heatherbrae — Townhouses: 5.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Tomago Heatherbrae
Median house price $2,000,000 $549,000
Median unit price $385,000 $401,500
Median land price $1,895,000 $602,000

Zoning mix

Heatherbrae has more rural and farming land (60% vs 7%); Tomago has more land zoned for conservation (29% vs 8%).

Tomago Heatherbrae
Rural and farming 7% 60%
Industrial 33% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 32% 12%
Environmental 29% 8%
Residential 0% 2%
Parks and recreation 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

Tomago Heatherbrae
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
same for both
Approvals change year on year -72%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Tomago Heatherbrae
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW

Liveability

Heatherbrae is more walkable (30 vs 0).

Tomago Heatherbrae
Grade — D
Score — 13/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Tomago Heatherbrae
Bushfire Moderate
68/100
 High
76/100
Crime High
97/100
 High
98/100
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 6
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Tomago Heatherbrae
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.4 km
 None

Schools in Tomago

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

Schools in Heatherbrae

  • Hunter River High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tomago Heatherbrae
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 0
Childcare 0 1
Fuel stations 1 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Tomago Heatherbrae
Walkability score 0/100 30/100
Distance to Sydney 164.6 km 166.3 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 122 min 125 min
Public transport score 43/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 28.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2322
 0.5%
postcode 2324
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 2322
 54
postcode 2324

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.

Tomago Heatherbrae
Car (driver) 85.7% / 62.6%
Tomago — Car (driver): 85.7% Heatherbrae — Car (driver): 62.6%
Worked from Home 14.3% / 16.2%
Tomago — Worked from Home: 14.3% Heatherbrae — Worked from Home: 16.2%
Car (passenger) — / 11.1%
Tomago — Car (passenger): not among its largest Heatherbrae — Car (passenger): 11.1%
Walked Only — / 7.6%
Tomago — Walked Only: not among its largest Heatherbrae — Walked Only: 7.6%
Bus — / 2.5%
Tomago — Bus: not among its largest Heatherbrae — Bus: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.7%).

Setting

Tomago Heatherbrae
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.7 km 6.0 km

NBN connectivity

Tomago Heatherbrae
Connectivity score 67/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
553 premises
 48%
598 premises

Climate

Tomago Heatherbrae
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Tomago Heatherbrae
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³ 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 21.1 µg/m³ 17.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.75 pphm 0.72 pphm

Council rates

Tomago Heatherbrae
Average residential rate $1,359/yr
same for both
Council Port Stephens
same for both

Federal electorate

Tomago Heatherbrae
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Tomago Heatherbrae
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Tomago

Retirees Rural

Heatherbrae

Affordable Quiet Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tomago

Tomago vs Raymond Terrace Tomago vs Woodberry Tomago vs Tarro Tomago vs Williamtown Tomago vs Fullerton Cove

Other comparisons with Heatherbrae

Heatherbrae vs Raymond Terrace Heatherbrae vs Woodberry Heatherbrae vs Millers Forest
Full data on Tomago Full data on Heatherbrae
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or