Warners Bay vs Cardiff South

Cardiff South is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 46 in Warners Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Warners Bay: a median of $1.11 million, against $920,000 in Cardiff South. On these figures, Warners Bay tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Cardiff South suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Warners Bay

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 5)
  • But Cardiff South carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 69/100)

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

First-home buyers

Cardiff South

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper units ($695,000 vs $880,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($920,000 vs $1,111,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Warners Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 63/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Warners Bay

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 10%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 15%)
  • But Cardiff South carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 69/100)

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

Investors

Warners Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Warners Bay Cardiff South
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.

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Walkability 79 / 63
Warners Bay — Walkability: 79/100 Cardiff South — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 31 / 64
Warners Bay — Safety: 31/100 Cardiff South — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Warners Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cardiff South — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Warners Bay has more residents (8,237 vs 2,931); Warners Bay skews older (46 vs 38).

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Population 8,237
+64% vs other
 2,931
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.2% +3.6%
Median age 46 38
Median household income $77,688/yr $87,776/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+5% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Warners Bay Cardiff South
0-4 4.6% / 6.0%
Warners Bay — 0-4: 4.6% Cardiff South — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 11.4% / 12.2%
Warners Bay — 5-14: 11.4% Cardiff South — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 6.5% / 6.3%
Warners Bay — 15-19: 6.5% Cardiff South — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 4.8% / 7.5%
Warners Bay — 20-24: 4.8% Cardiff South — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 9.1% / 13.1%
Warners Bay — 25-34: 9.1% Cardiff South — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 11.8% / 13.4%
Warners Bay — 35-44: 11.8% Cardiff South — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 13.7% / 13.4%
Warners Bay — 45-54: 13.7% Cardiff South — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 12.5% / 13.1%
Warners Bay — 55-64: 12.5% Cardiff South — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 13.3% / 8.1%
Warners Bay — 65-74: 13.3% Cardiff South — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 9.3% / 5.3%
Warners Bay — 75-84: 9.3% Cardiff South — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 3.2% / 1.6%
Warners Bay — 85+: 3.2% Cardiff South — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Warners Bay 36.6% couple families
Warners Bay — Couple Families: 36.6% Warners Bay — Lone Person: 41.3% Warners Bay — One Parent Families: 17.9% Warners Bay — Group Household: 2.9% Warners Bay — Other Families: 1.3%
Cardiff South 42.2% couple families
Cardiff South — Couple Families: 42.2% Cardiff South — Lone Person: 32.1% Cardiff South — One Parent Families: 19.4% Cardiff South — Group Household: 4.8% Cardiff South — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Warners Bay 23.9% renting
Warners Bay — Owned Outright: 45.3% Warners Bay — Mortgage: 30.8% Warners Bay — Renting: 23.9%
Cardiff South 22.5% renting
Cardiff South — Owned Outright: 33.5% Cardiff South — Mortgage: 44.0% Cardiff South — Renting: 22.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 20.1%
Warners Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Cardiff South — Certificate III & IV: 20.1%
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 9.1%
Warners Bay — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Cardiff South — Bachelor Degree: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 7.9%
Warners Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Cardiff South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 2.3%
Warners Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Cardiff South — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.4%
Warners Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Cardiff South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Warners Bay Cardiff South
England 3.1% / 1.2%
Warners Bay — England: 3.1% Cardiff South — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.7%
Warners Bay — New Zealand: 1.2% Cardiff South — New Zealand: 0.7%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.4%
Warners Bay — Scotland: 0.7% Cardiff South — Scotland: 0.4%
Germany 0.7% / 0.4%
Warners Bay — Germany: 0.7% Cardiff South — Germany: 0.4%
China 0.3% / 0.5%
Warners Bay — China: 0.3% Cardiff South — China: 0.5%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Warners Bay — South Africa: 0.6% Cardiff South — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Warners Bay — Philippines: not among its largest Cardiff South — Philippines: 0.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Warners Bay 67.6% houses
Warners Bay — Houses: 67.6% Warners Bay — Townhouses: 23.1% Warners Bay — Flats / Apartments: 9.3%
Cardiff South 89.6% houses
Cardiff South — Houses: 89.6% Cardiff South — Townhouses: 7.9% Cardiff South — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Median house price $1,111,500 $920,000
Median unit price $880,000 $695,000
Median land price $1,150,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 81 sales
 11 days
from 12 sales

Zoning mix

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Residential 53% 66%
Environmental 21% 25%
Industrial 8% 0%
Parks and recreation 7% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 2%
Rural and farming 4% 0%
Commercial 2% 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

Warners Bay Cardiff South
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.

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Houses 3.6%
$710/wk on $1.01M
 3.1%
$740/wk on $1.25M
Units 3.5%
$650/wk on $968K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Warners Bay Cardiff South
House price Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Income Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Schools Higher than 34% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 10% of NSW —

Liveability

Warners Bay is more walkable (79 vs 63); Cardiff South scores higher overall (59 vs 49).

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 59/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Warners Bay carries more crime risk (69 vs 36).

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Low
36/100
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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 7.9 km

Schools in Warners Bay

  • St Mary's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Warners Bay High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Warners Bay Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Biddabah Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Cardiff South

  • Cardiff South Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 10 5
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 5 0
Waterways 11 1

Mobility

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Walkability score 79/100 63/100
Distance to Sydney 147.8 km 148.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 117 min
same for both
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 161.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 41.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2282
 0.7%
postcode 2285
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 2282
 50
postcode 2285

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.

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Car (driver) 65.7% / 73.1%
Warners Bay — Car (driver): 65.7% Cardiff South — Car (driver): 73.1%
Worked from Home 27.3% / 20.6%
Warners Bay — Worked from Home: 27.3% Cardiff South — Worked from Home: 20.6%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 4.1%
Warners Bay — Car (passenger): 4.3% Cardiff South — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 1.7% / 0.6%
Warners Bay — Walked Only: 1.7% Cardiff South — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bus 0.6% / 1.0%
Warners Bay — Bus: 0.6% Cardiff South — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.1%).

Setting

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.0 km 6.4 km

NBN connectivity

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Connectivity score 64/100 69/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
4,507 premises
 44%
1,215 premises

Climate

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Warners Bay Cardiff South
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Warners Bay Cardiff South
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Warners Bay

Parks Regional Centre Retirees River Townhouses

Cardiff South

River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Warners Bay

Warners Bay vs Eleebana Warners Bay vs Mount Hutton Warners Bay vs Macquarie Hills Warners Bay vs Speers Point Warners Bay vs Lakelands Warners Bay vs Hillsborough

Other comparisons with Cardiff South

Cardiff South vs Cardiff Cardiff South vs Macquarie Hills Cardiff South vs Hillsborough
Full data on Warners Bay Full data on Cardiff South
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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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