Warnervale vs Watanobbi

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Warnervale, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Warnervale: a median of $966,000, against $820,000 in Watanobbi, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Warnervale tends to suit couples, while Watanobbi suits people living alone 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

Watanobbi

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Warnervale is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 64%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Warnervale has cheaper land ($618,000 vs $757,500)
  • Watanobbi has cheaper houses ($820,000 vs $966,298)

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

Renters

Watanobbi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $490/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Watanobbi

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 8/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (95.2 km vs 99.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Watanobbi

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 8/100)

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

Investors

Warnervale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.4% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Warnervale Watanobbi
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.

Warnervale Watanobbi
Walkability 8 / 70
Warnervale — Walkability: 8/100 Watanobbi — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 9 / 17
Warnervale — Safety: 9/100 Watanobbi — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 58 / 100
Warnervale — Low fire risk: 58/100 Watanobbi — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Watanobbi has more residents (3,980 vs 701); Warnervale has higher household incomes ($100,308 vs $68,380).

Warnervale Watanobbi
Population 701 3,980
+468% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.4% +3.1%
Median age 34 35
Median household income $100,308/yr
+32% vs other
 $68,380/yr
Median weekly rent $490/wk
+22% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Warnervale Watanobbi
0-4 7.1% / 7.3%
Warnervale — 0-4: 7.1% Watanobbi — 0-4: 7.3%
5-14 13.1% / 13.7%
Warnervale — 5-14: 13.1% Watanobbi — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 7.7% / 6.7%
Warnervale — 15-19: 7.7% Watanobbi — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 8.8% / 7.0%
Warnervale — 20-24: 8.8% Watanobbi — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 13.1% / 14.3%
Warnervale — 25-34: 13.1% Watanobbi — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 10.7% / 11.9%
Warnervale — 35-44: 10.7% Watanobbi — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 14.7% / 13.0%
Warnervale — 45-54: 14.7% Watanobbi — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 11.0% / 12.7%
Warnervale — 55-64: 11.0% Watanobbi — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 6.8% / 8.0%
Warnervale — 65-74: 6.8% Watanobbi — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 4.6% / 3.9%
Warnervale — 75-84: 4.6% Watanobbi — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 0.7% / 1.3%
Warnervale — 85+: 0.7% Watanobbi — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Warnervale 52.1% couple families
Warnervale — Couple Families: 52.1% Warnervale — One Parent Families: 25.1% Warnervale — Lone Person: 18.0% Warnervale — Group Household: 3.0% Warnervale — Other Families: 1.8%
Watanobbi 34.5% couple families
Watanobbi — Couple Families: 34.5% Watanobbi — One Parent Families: 29.2% Watanobbi — Lone Person: 30.6% Watanobbi — Group Household: 4.1% Watanobbi — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Warnervale 26.2% renting
Warnervale — Owned Outright: 31.9% Warnervale — Mortgage: 41.9% Warnervale — Renting: 26.2%
Watanobbi 42.2% renting
Watanobbi — Owned Outright: 22.2% Watanobbi — Mortgage: 35.6% Watanobbi — Renting: 42.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Warnervale Watanobbi
Certificate III & IV 23.4% / 17.6%
Warnervale — Certificate III & IV: 23.4% Watanobbi — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.6%
Warnervale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Watanobbi — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 6.5%
Warnervale — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% Watanobbi — Bachelor Degree: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 1.3%
Warnervale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Watanobbi — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 0.8%
Warnervale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Watanobbi — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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.

Warnervale Watanobbi
New Zealand 2.4% / 2.0%
Warnervale — New Zealand: 2.4% Watanobbi — New Zealand: 2.0%
England 2.0% / 2.4%
Warnervale — England: 2.0% Watanobbi — England: 2.4%
India 1.7% / 1.1%
Warnervale — India: 1.7% Watanobbi — India: 1.1%
Philippines 1.0% / 1.7%
Warnervale — Philippines: 1.0% Watanobbi — Philippines: 1.7%
Indonesia 1.1% / —
Warnervale — Indonesia: 1.1% Watanobbi — Indonesia: not among its largest
China — / 1.0%
Warnervale — China: not among its largest Watanobbi — China: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Warnervale 96.3% houses
Warnervale — Houses: 96.3% Warnervale — Townhouses: 4.1% Warnervale — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Watanobbi 86.8% houses
Watanobbi — Houses: 86.8% Watanobbi — Townhouses: 10.0% Watanobbi — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Warnervale Watanobbi
Median house price $966,298 $820,000
Median unit price $660,000 $618,750
Median land price $618,000 $757,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 25 sales
 31 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.

Warnervale Watanobbi
3 bed $900K / $778K
Warnervale — 3 bed: $900K (12 sales) Watanobbi — 3 bed: $778K (52 sales)

12 vs 52 sales

4 bed $975K / $918K
Warnervale — 4 bed: $975K (40 sales) Watanobbi — 4 bed: $918K (30 sales)

40 vs 30 sales

5 bed $1.22M / $960K
Warnervale — 5 bed: $1.22M (12 sales) Watanobbi — 5 bed: $960K (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Warnervale has more land zoned for conservation (68% vs 10%).

Warnervale Watanobbi
Residential 11% 74%
Environmental 68% 10%
Parks and recreation 1% 11%
Industrial 9% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 4%
Commercial 3% 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

Warnervale Watanobbi
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.

Warnervale Watanobbi
Houses 4.0%
$850/wk on $1.1M
 3.9%
$650/wk on $870K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Warnervale Watanobbi
House price Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
Income Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW

Liveability

Watanobbi is more walkable (70 vs 8); Watanobbi scores higher overall (42 vs 27).

Warnervale Watanobbi
Grade D C
Score 27/100 42/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Warnervale carries more bushfire risk (42 vs 0).

Warnervale Watanobbi
Bushfire Moderate
42/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
91/100
 High
83/100
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 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Warnervale Watanobbi
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.9 km

Schools in Warnervale

  • Lakes Grammar - An Anglican School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Porters Creek Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Watanobbi

  • Wyong Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Warnervale Watanobbi
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 2 5
Childcare 3 1
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Warnervale sits further from the CBD (99.2 km vs 95.2 km).

Warnervale Watanobbi
Walkability score 8/100 70/100
Distance to Sydney 99.2 km
+4% vs other
 95.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 78 min 81 min
Public transport score 75/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 32.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 55.0
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.

Warnervale Watanobbi
Car (driver) 67.7% / 69.0%
Warnervale — Car (driver): 67.7% Watanobbi — Car (driver): 69.0%
Worked from Home 25.8% / 20.8%
Warnervale — Worked from Home: 25.8% Watanobbi — Worked from Home: 20.8%
Car (passenger) 5.2% / 5.2%
Warnervale — Car (passenger): 5.2% Watanobbi — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Train 1.2% / 3.4%
Warnervale — Train: 1.2% Watanobbi — Train: 3.4%
Walked Only — / 1.0%
Warnervale — Walked Only: not among its largest Watanobbi — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.0%).

Setting

Warnervale Watanobbi
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.4 km 10.4 km

NBN connectivity

Warnervale Watanobbi
Connectivity score 81/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 69%
631 premises
 49%
1,634 premises

Climate

Warnervale Watanobbi
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)

Warnervale Watanobbi
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

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

Federal electorate

Warnervale Watanobbi
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Warnervale Watanobbi
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Warnervale

Acreage River Trains

Watanobbi

Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Warnervale

Warnervale vs Hamlyn Terrace Warnervale vs Woongarrah Warnervale vs Wyong Warnervale vs Jilliby Warnervale vs Wallarah Warnervale vs Alison

Other comparisons with Watanobbi

Watanobbi vs Wyong
Full data on Warnervale Full data on Watanobbi
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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