Tuggerah vs Chittaway Bay

Tuggerah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 41 in Chittaway Bay. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Chittaway Bay: a median of $920,000, against $826,000 in Tuggerah, though rent is higher in Tuggerah.

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

  • Tuggerah has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • Chittaway Bay carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 99/100)

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

First-home buyers

Tuggerah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($825,500 vs $920,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Tuggerah has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 22%)
  • Chittaway Bay has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $418/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Tuggerah

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (27% vs 4%)
  • But Chittaway Bay carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 99/100)

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

Investors

Chittaway Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
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.

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Walkability 58 / 62
Tuggerah — Walkability: 58/100 Chittaway Bay — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 1 / 47
Tuggerah — Safety: 1/100 Chittaway Bay — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 75 / 100
Tuggerah — Low fire risk: 75/100 Chittaway Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Chittaway Bay has more residents (1,987 vs 925); Chittaway Bay skews older (41 vs 35).

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Population 925 1,987
+115% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.2% -2.0%
Median age 35 41
Median household income $81,588/yr $88,036/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $418/wk
+9% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
0-4 6.7% / 6.2%
Tuggerah — 0-4: 6.7% Chittaway Bay — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 11.2% / 12.4%
Tuggerah — 5-14: 11.2% Chittaway Bay — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 7.1% / 5.5%
Tuggerah — 15-19: 7.1% Chittaway Bay — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 8.3% / 5.7%
Tuggerah — 20-24: 8.3% Chittaway Bay — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 15.2% / 12.1%
Tuggerah — 25-34: 15.2% Chittaway Bay — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 11.7% / 11.8%
Tuggerah — 35-44: 11.7% Chittaway Bay — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 12.3% / 13.5%
Tuggerah — 45-54: 12.3% Chittaway Bay — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 13.0% / 14.7%
Tuggerah — 55-64: 13.0% Chittaway Bay — 55-64: 14.7%
65-74 8.3% / 12.0%
Tuggerah — 65-74: 8.3% Chittaway Bay — 65-74: 12.0%
75-84 5.2% / 4.8%
Tuggerah — 75-84: 5.2% Chittaway Bay — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 0.8% / 1.5%
Tuggerah — 85+: 0.8% Chittaway Bay — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tuggerah 36.6% couple families
Tuggerah — Couple Families: 36.6% Tuggerah — Lone Person: 34.1% Tuggerah — One Parent Families: 23.1% Tuggerah — Group Household: 4.8% Tuggerah — Other Families: 1.4%
Chittaway Bay 44.3% couple families
Chittaway Bay — Couple Families: 44.3% Chittaway Bay — Lone Person: 26.7% Chittaway Bay — One Parent Families: 23.2% Chittaway Bay — Group Household: 4.5% Chittaway Bay — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Tuggerah 38.3% renting
Tuggerah — Owned Outright: 26.8% Tuggerah — Mortgage: 34.9% Tuggerah — Renting: 38.3%
Chittaway Bay 22.2% renting
Chittaway Bay — Owned Outright: 34.5% Chittaway Bay — Mortgage: 43.3% Chittaway Bay — Renting: 22.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 21.8%
Tuggerah — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Chittaway Bay — Certificate III & IV: 21.8%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 8.2%
Tuggerah — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Chittaway Bay — Bachelor Degree: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 6.5%
Tuggerah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Chittaway Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 2.3%
Tuggerah — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Chittaway Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.5%
Tuggerah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Chittaway Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

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.

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
England 3.9% / 4.1%
Tuggerah — England: 3.9% Chittaway Bay — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.5%
Tuggerah — New Zealand: 1.6% Chittaway Bay — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines 2.5% / 0.5%
Tuggerah — Philippines: 2.5% Chittaway Bay — Philippines: 0.5%
China 1.7% / 0.4%
Tuggerah — China: 1.7% Chittaway Bay — China: 0.4%
Thailand 1.2% / 0.6%
Tuggerah — Thailand: 1.2% Chittaway Bay — Thailand: 0.6%
India 1.1% / 0.6%
Tuggerah — India: 1.1% Chittaway Bay — India: 0.6%
Nepal 1.3% / 0.3%
Tuggerah — Nepal: 1.3% Chittaway Bay — Nepal: 0.3%
Scotland — / 0.6%
Tuggerah — Scotland: not among its largest Chittaway Bay — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tuggerah 72.9% houses
Tuggerah — Houses: 72.9% Tuggerah — Townhouses: 25.5% Tuggerah — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Chittaway Bay 96.5% houses
Chittaway Bay — Houses: 96.5% Chittaway Bay — Townhouses: 1.8% Chittaway Bay — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Median house price $825,500 $920,000
Median unit price $745,000 —
Median land price $1,250,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 6 sales
 20 days
from 18 sales

Zoning mix

Tuggerah has more land zoned for conservation (50% vs 19%); Tuggerah has more industrially zoned land (13% vs 0%).

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Residential 9% 59%
Environmental 50% 19%
Parks and recreation 7% 18%
Industrial 13% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 1%
Commercial 8% 2%
Planning zones cover 100% of Tuggerah and 99% of Chittaway Bay. 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

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
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.

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Houses 3.4%
$585/wk on $885K
 4.3%
$750/wk on $900K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
House price Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW

Liveability

Chittaway Bay scores higher overall (55 vs 37).

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Grade C B
Score 37/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
same for both

Risk profile

Tuggerah carries more bushfire risk (25 vs 0); Tuggerah carries more crime risk (99 vs 53).

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Bushfire Low
25/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
99/100
 Moderate
53/100
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 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 8.7 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 0.7%

Schools in Tuggerah

  • Tuggerah Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Aspect Central Coast School, Tuggerah Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Chittaway Bay

  • Chittaway Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 17 0
Parks & reserves 7 3
Childcare 4 1
GPs 7 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 8 1
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 24 0

Mobility

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Walkability score 58/100 62/100
Distance to Sydney 91 km 90.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 75 min 77 min
Public transport score 89/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 249.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 77.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2259
 0.6%
postcode 2261
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2259
 33
postcode 2261

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.

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Car (driver) 60.4% / 65.8%
Tuggerah — Car (driver): 60.4% Chittaway Bay — Car (driver): 65.8%
Worked from Home 25.4% / 27.0%
Tuggerah — Worked from Home: 25.4% Chittaway Bay — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 4.6%
Tuggerah — Car (passenger): 6.9% Chittaway Bay — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 4.6% / 1.1%
Tuggerah — Walked Only: 4.6% Chittaway Bay — Walked Only: 1.1%
Train 2.0% / —
Tuggerah — Train: 2.0% Chittaway Bay — Train: not among its largest
Bicycle — / 1.0%
Tuggerah — Bicycle: not among its largest Chittaway Bay — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.8%).

Setting

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.5 km 5.7 km

NBN connectivity

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Connectivity score 59/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
1,940 premises
 100%
831 premises

Climate

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
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)

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
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

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Tuggerah Chittaway Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Tuggerah

Parks Quiet River Townhouses Transport Hub

Chittaway Bay

Large Blocks Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tuggerah

Tuggerah vs Berkeley Vale Tuggerah vs Wyong Tuggerah vs Mardi Tuggerah vs Chittaway Point Tuggerah vs Kangy Angy Tuggerah vs Tacoma South

Other comparisons with Chittaway Bay

Chittaway Bay vs Berkeley Vale Chittaway Bay vs Chittaway Point
Full data on Tuggerah Full data on Chittaway Bay
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.

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