Williamtown vs Tomago

Williamtown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 56 against 60 in Tomago. In both, most households own their home and most households are people living alone. In Williamtown, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tomago, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Tomago: a median of $2 million, against $1.1 million in Williamtown, though rent is higher in Williamtown. On these figures, Williamtown tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Tomago suits people living alone.

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

Williamtown

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 52%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (36% vs 26%)
  • carries lower crime risk (87/100 vs 97/100)

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

First-home buyers

Williamtown

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $2,000,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,250,000 vs $1,895,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (51% vs 67%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tomago

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Tomago

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (122 min vs 133 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (164.6 km vs 176 km)
  • But Williamtown is more walkable (24/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Williamtown

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (24/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (87/100 vs 97/100)
  • But Tomago has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 4%)

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

Investors

Tomago

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-2.9% vs -13.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Williamtown Tomago
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.

Williamtown Tomago
Walkability 24 / 0
Williamtown — Walkability: 24/100 Tomago — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 13 / 3
Williamtown — Safety: 13/100 Tomago — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 31 / 32
Williamtown — Low fire risk: 31/100 Tomago — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Williamtown has more residents (762 vs 269); Williamtown rents higher ($320/wk vs $250/wk).

Williamtown Tomago
Population 762
+65% vs other
 269
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -13.9% -2.9%
Median age 56 60
Median household income $46,228/yr
+11% vs other
 $40,976/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+22% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Williamtown Tomago
0-4 3.5% / 4.1%
Williamtown — 0-4: 3.5% Tomago — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 6.3% / 6.7%
Williamtown — 5-14: 6.3% Tomago — 5-14: 6.7%
15-19 4.7% / 1.1%
Williamtown — 15-19: 4.7% Tomago — 15-19: 1.1%
20-24 7.7% / 3.0%
Williamtown — 20-24: 7.7% Tomago — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 7.5% / 4.1%
Williamtown — 25-34: 7.5% Tomago — 25-34: 4.1%
35-44 7.0% / 4.1%
Williamtown — 35-44: 7.0% Tomago — 35-44: 4.1%
45-54 11.8% / 18.2%
Williamtown — 45-54: 11.8% Tomago — 45-54: 18.2%
55-64 13.8% / 17.8%
Williamtown — 55-64: 13.8% Tomago — 55-64: 17.8%
65-74 19.6% / 25.3%
Williamtown — 65-74: 19.6% Tomago — 65-74: 25.3%
75-84 13.5% / 12.3%
Williamtown — 75-84: 13.5% Tomago — 75-84: 12.3%
85+ 3.9% / 1.9%
Williamtown — 85+: 3.9% Tomago — 85+: 1.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Williamtown 60.6% lone person
Williamtown — Lone Person: 60.6% Williamtown — Couple Families: 24.5% Williamtown — One Parent Families: 11.1% Williamtown — Group Household: 1.9% Williamtown — Other Families: 1.9%
Tomago 71.2% lone person
Tomago — Lone Person: 71.2% Tomago — Couple Families: 7.7% Tomago — One Parent Families: 18.3% Tomago — Group Household: 2.9% Tomago — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Williamtown 14.0% renting
Williamtown — Owned Outright: 66.7% Williamtown — Mortgage: 19.3% Williamtown — Renting: 14.0%
Tomago 32.5% renting
Tomago — Owned Outright: 58.5% Tomago — Mortgage: 8.9% Tomago — Renting: 32.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Williamtown Tomago
England 5.2% / 1.5%
Williamtown — England: 5.2% Tomago — England: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.5%
Williamtown — New Zealand: 1.2% Tomago — New Zealand: 1.5%
Germany 0.7% / 1.9%
Williamtown — Germany: 0.7% Tomago — Germany: 1.9%
Malaysia 0.8% / —
Williamtown — Malaysia: 0.8% Tomago — Malaysia: not among its largest
Scotland 0.8% / —
Williamtown — Scotland: 0.8% Tomago — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

Qualifications

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

Williamtown Tomago
Certificate III & IV 21.4% / 13.4%
Williamtown — Certificate III & IV: 21.4% Tomago — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 4.8%
Williamtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Tomago — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.6% / 1.9%
Williamtown — Bachelor Degree: 5.6% Tomago — Bachelor Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.1%
Williamtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Tomago — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%
Postgraduate Degree 0.9% / 1.1%
Williamtown — Postgraduate Degree: 0.9% Tomago — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Williamtown 96.4% houses
Williamtown — Houses: 96.4% Williamtown — Flats / Apartments: 1.6% Williamtown — Townhouses: 1.9%
Tomago 52.0% houses
Tomago — Houses: 52.0% Tomago — Flats / Apartments: 48.0% Tomago — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Williamtown Tomago
Median house price $1,100,000 $2,000,000
Median unit price — $385,000
Median land price $1,250,000 $1,895,000

Zoning mix

Tomago has more industrially zoned land (33% vs 0%); Williamtown has more rural and farming land (39% vs 7%).

Williamtown Tomago
Infrastructure and transport 43% 32%
Rural and farming 39% 7%
Industrial 0% 33%
Environmental 17% 29%
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

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

Ranking within NSW

Williamtown Tomago
House price Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Income Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW

Liveability

Williamtown is more walkable (24 vs 0).

Williamtown Tomago
Grade D —
Score 18/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Tomago carries more crime risk (97 vs 87).

Williamtown Tomago
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime High
87/100
 High
97/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
100/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

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

Amenities in the suburb

Williamtown Tomago
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 0 1
GPs 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 6 1

Mobility

Williamtown sits further from the CBD (176 km vs 164.6 km).

Williamtown Tomago
Walkability score 24/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 176 km
+6% vs other
 164.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 133 min 122 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 43/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 75.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2318
 0.7%
postcode 2322
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 79
postcode 2318
 64
postcode 2322

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.

Williamtown Tomago
Car (driver) 68.9% / 85.7%
Williamtown — Car (driver): 68.9% Tomago — Car (driver): 85.7%
Worked from Home 21.5% / 14.3%
Williamtown — Worked from Home: 21.5% Tomago — Worked from Home: 14.3%
Walked Only 6.4% / —
Williamtown — Walked Only: 6.4% Tomago — Walked Only: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 3.2% / —
Williamtown — Car (passenger): 3.2% Tomago — Car (passenger): not among its largest

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

Setting

Williamtown Tomago
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.8 km 3.7 km

NBN connectivity

Williamtown Tomago
Connectivity score 49/100 67/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
548 premises
 40%
553 premises

Climate

Williamtown Tomago
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)

Williamtown Tomago
PM2.5 7.5 µg/m³ 6.6 µg/m³
PM10 30.4 µg/m³ 21.1 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.73 pphm 0.75 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Williamtown

Quiet Retirees River Rural

Tomago

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Williamtown

Williamtown vs Raymond Terrace Williamtown vs Salt Ash Williamtown vs Fullerton Cove

Other comparisons with Tomago

Tomago vs Raymond Terrace Tomago vs Woodberry Tomago vs Tarro Tomago vs Fullerton Cove Tomago vs Heatherbrae
Full data on Williamtown Full data on Tomago
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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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