Warners Bay vs Macquarie Hills

Macquarie Hills is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 46 in Warners Bay. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Macquarie Hills, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Warners Bay: a median of $1.11 million, against $915,000 in Macquarie Hills, though rent is higher in Macquarie Hills. On these figures, Warners Bay tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Macquarie Hills suits families with children, couples, and 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

They split

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

  • Warners Bay has more childcare (10 vs 1)
  • Macquarie Hills carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 69/100)

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

First-home buyers

Macquarie Hills

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper houses ($915,000 vs $1,111,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Warners Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $473/wk)
  • But Macquarie Hills leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Warners Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 41/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (147.8 km vs 152.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, 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 2%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 13%)
  • But Macquarie Hills carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 69/100)

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

Warners Bay and Macquarie Hills 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 Macquarie Hills
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 Macquarie Hills
Walkability 79 / 41
Warners Bay — Walkability: 79/100 Macquarie Hills — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 31 / 70
Warners Bay — Safety: 31/100 Macquarie Hills — Safety: 70/100
Low fire risk 100 / 65
Warners Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Macquarie Hills — Low fire risk: 65/100

Demographics

Warners Bay has more residents (8,237 vs 3,605); Macquarie Hills has higher household incomes ($116,532 vs $77,688).

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Population 8,237
+56% vs other
 3,605
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.2% +9.1%
Median age 46 35
Median household income $77,688/yr $116,532/yr
+50% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk $473/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
0-4 4.6% / 8.0%
Warners Bay — 0-4: 4.6% Macquarie Hills — 0-4: 8.0%
5-14 11.4% / 14.2%
Warners Bay — 5-14: 11.4% Macquarie Hills — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 6.5% / 6.8%
Warners Bay — 15-19: 6.5% Macquarie Hills — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 4.8% / 5.2%
Warners Bay — 20-24: 4.8% Macquarie Hills — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 9.1% / 15.4%
Warners Bay — 25-34: 9.1% Macquarie Hills — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 11.8% / 15.1%
Warners Bay — 35-44: 11.8% Macquarie Hills — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 13.7% / 12.9%
Warners Bay — 45-54: 13.7% Macquarie Hills — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 12.5% / 9.7%
Warners Bay — 55-64: 12.5% Macquarie Hills — 55-64: 9.7%
65-74 13.3% / 8.9%
Warners Bay — 65-74: 13.3% Macquarie Hills — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 9.3% / 3.4%
Warners Bay — 75-84: 9.3% Macquarie Hills — 75-84: 3.4%
85+ 3.2% / 0.5%
Warners Bay — 85+: 3.2% Macquarie Hills — 85+: 0.5%

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

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%
Macquarie Hills 61.0% couple families
Macquarie Hills — Couple Families: 61.0% Macquarie Hills — Lone Person: 18.8% Macquarie Hills — One Parent Families: 16.6% Macquarie Hills — Group Household: 2.7% Macquarie Hills — Other Families: 0.9%
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%
Macquarie Hills 13.4% renting
Macquarie Hills — Owned Outright: 29.1% Macquarie Hills — Mortgage: 57.5% Macquarie Hills — Renting: 13.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 19.2%
Warners Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Macquarie Hills — Certificate III & IV: 19.2%
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 11.7%
Warners Bay — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Macquarie Hills — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 8.4%
Warners Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Macquarie Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 3.2%
Warners Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Macquarie Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.6%
Warners Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Macquarie Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

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 Macquarie Hills
England 3.1% / 1.5%
Warners Bay — England: 3.1% Macquarie Hills — England: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.9%
Warners Bay — New Zealand: 1.2% Macquarie Hills — New Zealand: 0.9%
Germany 0.7% / 0.6%
Warners Bay — Germany: 0.7% Macquarie Hills — Germany: 0.6%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.5%
Warners Bay — South Africa: 0.6% Macquarie Hills — South Africa: 0.5%
Scotland 0.7% / —
Warners Bay — Scotland: 0.7% Macquarie Hills — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.6%
Warners Bay — Philippines: not among its largest Macquarie Hills — Philippines: 0.6%

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%
Macquarie Hills 97.8% houses
Macquarie Hills — Houses: 97.8% Macquarie Hills — Townhouses: 2.0% Macquarie Hills — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Median house price $1,111,500 $915,000
Median unit price $880,000 —
Median land price $1,150,000 $1,285,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 81 sales
 17 days
from 19 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.

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
3 bed $1.02M / $865K
Warners Bay — 3 bed: $1.02M (49 sales) Macquarie Hills — 3 bed: $865K (37 sales)

49 vs 37 sales

4 bed $1.27M / $965K
Warners Bay — 4 bed: $1.27M (35 sales) Macquarie Hills — 4 bed: $965K (30 sales)

35 vs 30 sales

5 bed $1.92M / $1.01M
Warners Bay — 5 bed: $1.92M (11 sales) Macquarie Hills — 5 bed: $1.01M (8 sales)

11 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Macquarie Hills has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 21%).

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Residential 53% 47%
Environmental 21% 33%
Parks and recreation 7% 11%
Industrial 8% 1%
Rural and farming 4% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 1%
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 Macquarie Hills
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 Macquarie Hills
Houses 3.6%
$710/wk on $1.01M
 —
Units 3.5%
$650/wk on $968K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
House price Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Income Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Schools Higher than 34% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 10% of NSW —

Liveability

Warners Bay is more walkable (79 vs 41); Macquarie Hills scores higher overall (56 vs 49).

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 56/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Macquarie Hills carries more bushfire risk (35 vs 0); Warners Bay carries more crime risk (69 vs 30).

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
35/100
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Low
30/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.6 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 Macquarie Hills

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Macquarie Hills sits further from the CBD (152.9 km vs 147.8 km).

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Walkability score 79/100 41/100
Distance to Sydney 147.8 km 152.9 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 117 min 118 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 161.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 40.0
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 Macquarie Hills
Car (driver) 65.7% / 68.6%
Warners Bay — Car (driver): 65.7% Macquarie Hills — Car (driver): 68.6%
Worked from Home 27.3% / 26.7%
Warners Bay — Worked from Home: 27.3% Macquarie Hills — Worked from Home: 26.7%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 3.4%
Warners Bay — Car (passenger): 4.3% Macquarie Hills — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 1.7% / 0.7%
Warners Bay — Walked Only: 1.7% Macquarie Hills — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 0.6% / 0.4%
Warners Bay — Bus: 0.6% Macquarie Hills — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.6%).

Setting

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.0 km 8.2 km

NBN connectivity

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Connectivity score 64/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
4,507 premises
 45%
1,282 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Warners Bay Macquarie Hills
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

Macquarie Hills

Family Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Warners Bay

Warners Bay vs Eleebana Warners Bay vs Mount Hutton Warners Bay vs Speers Point Warners Bay vs Cardiff South Warners Bay vs Lakelands Warners Bay vs Hillsborough

Other comparisons with Macquarie Hills

Macquarie Hills vs Cardiff Macquarie Hills vs Speers Point Macquarie Hills vs Cardiff South Macquarie Hills vs Boolaroo Macquarie Hills vs Lakelands
Full data on Warners Bay Full data on Macquarie Hills
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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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