Woodberry vs Heatherbrae

Woodberry is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 47 in Heatherbrae. In both, most households own their home. In Woodberry, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Heatherbrae, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Woodberry: a median of $645,000, against $549,000 in Heatherbrae. On these figures, Woodberry tends to suit families with children, while Heatherbrae 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

Woodberry

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 41%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Woodberry leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 43%)
  • Heatherbrae has cheaper houses ($549,000 vs $645,000)

Weighs house 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

Woodberry

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (119 min vs 125 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (158.8 km vs 166.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Heatherbrae

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (59% vs 4%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 15%)
  • But Woodberry carries lower crime risk (82/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

Heatherbrae

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (27.7% vs 1.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Woodberry Heatherbrae
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.

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Walkability 35 / 30
Woodberry — Walkability: 35/100 Heatherbrae — Walkability: 30/100
Safety 18 / 2
Woodberry — Safety: 18/100 Heatherbrae — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 24
Woodberry — Low fire risk: 100/100 Heatherbrae — Low fire risk: 24/100

Demographics

Woodberry has more residents (3,024 vs 654); Heatherbrae skews older (47 vs 36).

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Population 3,024
+78% vs other
 654
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.0% +27.7%
Median age 36 47
Median household income $61,724/yr
+10% vs other
 $55,432/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Woodberry Heatherbrae
0-4 6.9% / 3.5%
Woodberry — 0-4: 6.9% Heatherbrae — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 14.9% / 8.7%
Woodberry — 5-14: 14.9% Heatherbrae — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 6.9% / 4.0%
Woodberry — 15-19: 6.9% Heatherbrae — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 5.7% / 7.3%
Woodberry — 20-24: 5.7% Heatherbrae — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 14.4% / 15.3%
Woodberry — 25-34: 14.4% Heatherbrae — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 10.4% / 10.2%
Woodberry — 35-44: 10.4% Heatherbrae — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 12.0% / 12.5%
Woodberry — 45-54: 12.0% Heatherbrae — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 13.1% / 17.9%
Woodberry — 55-64: 13.1% Heatherbrae — 55-64: 17.9%
65-74 9.7% / 11.6%
Woodberry — 65-74: 9.7% Heatherbrae — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 4.6% / 8.4%
Woodberry — 75-84: 4.6% Heatherbrae — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 1.1% / 2.6%
Woodberry — 85+: 1.1% Heatherbrae — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Woodberry 30.6% lone person
Woodberry — Lone Person: 30.6% Woodberry — Couple Families: 31.0% Woodberry — One Parent Families: 30.3% Woodberry — Group Household: 4.7% Woodberry — Other Families: 3.5%
Heatherbrae 52.9% lone person
Heatherbrae — Lone Person: 52.9% Heatherbrae — Couple Families: 22.5% Heatherbrae — One Parent Families: 14.4% Heatherbrae — Group Household: 7.0% Heatherbrae — Other Families: 3.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Woodberry 34.3% renting
Woodberry — Owned Outright: 27.4% Woodberry — Mortgage: 38.2% Woodberry — Renting: 34.3%
Heatherbrae 40.3% renting
Heatherbrae — Owned Outright: 45.8% Heatherbrae — Mortgage: 13.9% Heatherbrae — Renting: 40.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 15.4%
Woodberry — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Heatherbrae — Certificate III & IV: 15.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.9% / 4.3%
Woodberry — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9% Heatherbrae — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.3%
Bachelor Degree 3.7% / 4.7%
Woodberry — Bachelor Degree: 3.7% Heatherbrae — Bachelor Degree: 4.7%
Postgraduate Degree 0.3% / 0.8%
Woodberry — Postgraduate Degree: 0.3% Heatherbrae — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / 0.6%
Woodberry — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Heatherbrae — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Malaysia 0.2% / 4.9%
Woodberry — Malaysia: 0.2% Heatherbrae — Malaysia: 4.9%
England 1.9% / 0.9%
Woodberry — England: 1.9% Heatherbrae — England: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.8%
Woodberry — New Zealand: 1.0% Heatherbrae — New Zealand: 1.8%
Pakistan — / 2.0%
Woodberry — Pakistan: not among its largest Heatherbrae — Pakistan: 2.0%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.6%
Woodberry — Philippines: 1.0% Heatherbrae — Philippines: 0.6%
Italy — / 1.2%
Woodberry — Italy: not among its largest Heatherbrae — Italy: 1.2%
Scotland 0.4% / —
Woodberry — Scotland: 0.4% Heatherbrae — Scotland: not among its largest
India 0.3% / —
Woodberry — India: 0.3% Heatherbrae — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Woodberry 96.2% houses
Woodberry — Houses: 96.2% Woodberry — Flats / Apartments: 0.2% Woodberry — Townhouses: 3.6%
Heatherbrae 41.1% houses
Heatherbrae — Houses: 41.1% Heatherbrae — Flats / Apartments: 53.9% Heatherbrae — Townhouses: 5.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Median house price $645,000 $549,000
Median unit price — $401,500
Median land price — $602,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 4 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Woodberry has more land zoned for conservation (35% vs 8%); Heatherbrae has more industrially zoned land (15% vs 0%).

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Rural and farming 47% 60%
Environmental 35% 8%
Industrial 0% 15%
Residential 14% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 12%
Parks and recreation 3% 2%
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

Woodberry Heatherbrae
New dwellings approved 1,413
across Maitland
 495
across Port Stephens
Approvals change year on year +20% -72%

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.

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Houses 4.8%
$670/wk on $720K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Woodberry Heatherbrae
House price Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
Schools Higher than 5% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 95% of NSW —

Liveability

Woodberry scores higher overall (28 vs 13).

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Grade D
same for both
Score 28/100 13/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Heatherbrae carries more bushfire risk (76 vs 0); Heatherbrae carries more crime risk (98 vs 82).

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
76/100
Crime High
82/100
 High
98/100
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 8
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Woodberry

  • Francis Greenway High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Woodberry Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Woodberry Learning Centre Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Heatherbrae

  • Hunter River High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 2 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 0 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Heatherbrae sits further from the CBD (166.3 km vs 158.8 km).

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Walkability score 35/100 30/100
Distance to Sydney 158.8 km 166.3 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 119 min 125 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 28.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2322
 0.5%
postcode 2324
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 2322
 54
postcode 2324

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.

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Car (driver) 80.6% / 62.6%
Woodberry — Car (driver): 80.6% Heatherbrae — Car (driver): 62.6%
Worked from Home 10.0% / 16.2%
Woodberry — Worked from Home: 10.0% Heatherbrae — Worked from Home: 16.2%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 11.1%
Woodberry — Car (passenger): 6.0% Heatherbrae — Car (passenger): 11.1%
Walked Only 1.4% / 7.6%
Woodberry — Walked Only: 1.4% Heatherbrae — Walked Only: 7.6%
Bus 0.4% / 2.5%
Woodberry — Bus: 0.4% Heatherbrae — Bus: 2.5%
Train 1.6% / —
Woodberry — Train: 1.6% Heatherbrae — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.6%).

Setting

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Elevation 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.4 km 6.0 km

NBN connectivity

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Connectivity score 66/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
1,247 premises
 48%
598 premises

Climate

Woodberry Heatherbrae
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)

Woodberry Heatherbrae
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Average residential rate $1,908/yr $1,359/yr
Council Maitland Port Stephens

Federal electorate

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Woodberry Heatherbrae
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Woodberry

Acreage Affordable

Heatherbrae

Affordable Quiet Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Woodberry

Woodberry vs Thornton Woodberry vs Beresfield Woodberry vs Tarro Woodberry vs Millers Forest Woodberry vs Tomago

Other comparisons with Heatherbrae

Heatherbrae vs Raymond Terrace Heatherbrae vs Millers Forest Heatherbrae vs Tomago
Full data on Woodberry Full data on Heatherbrae
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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