Overall score
Boat Harbour
51.3/100
Nelson Bay
44.9/100
Boat Harbour vs Nelson Bay, NSW Suburb Comparison
Boat Harbour for retirees and families; Nelson Bay for investment and schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Boat HarbourNelson Bay
Crime rate
Boat Harbour
41.6 / 1k
Nelson Bay
70.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Boat Harbour
72
Nelson Bay
62
Population
Boat Harbour
993
Nelson Bay
6,141
Metric leadBoat Harbour 8Nelson Bay 31 tiedacross 12 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesBoat Harbour
- Best for familiesBoat Harbour
- Best for beach lifestyleBoat Harbour
- Best for investmentNelson Bay
- Best for best valueBoat Harbour
- Best for best schoolsNelson Bay
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Boat Harbour | Nelson Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 51.3/100 | 44.9/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 52.2/100 | 42.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 41.6 / 1k | 70.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 60.5/100 | 60.5/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 7 | 2 |
| Public transport stops | 20 | 122 |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 32.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 72 | 62 |
| Planning activity | 14 | 77 |
| Green cover | 14.2% | 4.9% |
| Population | 993 | 6,141 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 4/10 |
Comparison summary
Boat Harbour reads as a coastal smaller community shaped by beach life and outdoor living; Nelson Bay is a beachside mid-sized suburb where the coast sets the tone.
Boat Harbour pulls ahead on housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves, whereas Nelson Bay is the better pick for public transport access, walkability, and overall desirability.
Choose Boat Harbour if you are weighing retirees and families; lean toward Nelson Bay for people chasing a beach lifestyle, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Related comparisons
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