Overall score
Caringbah
60.7/100
Dolans Bay
49.8/100
Caringbah vs Dolans Bay, NSW Suburb Comparison
Caringbah for retirees and families; Dolans Bay for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
CaringbahDolans Bay
Crime rate
Caringbah
46.5 / 1k
Dolans Bay
46.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Caringbah
597
Dolans Bay
6
Population
Caringbah
12,575
Dolans Bay
699
Metric leadCaringbah 8Dolans Bay 41 tiedacross 13 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesCaringbah
- Best for familiesCaringbah
- Best for investmentDolans Bay
- Best for best valueDolans Bay
- Best for best schoolsDolans 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 | Caringbah | Dolans Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 60.7/100 | 49.8/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 59.4/100 | 42.6/100 |
| Crime rate | 46.5 / 1k | 46.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 12 | 5 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 7 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 150 | 10 |
| Walkability | 100.0/100 | 15.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 597 | 6 |
| Planning activity | 38 | 9 |
| Green cover | 1.9% | 2.4% |
| Population | 12,575 | 699 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 10/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Caringbah is a lively metro established suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by, and Dolans Bay is a metro smaller community with a gently premium housing feel and familiar suburban calm. Caringbah sits in a middle-ring position, whereas Dolans Bay is further out with more breathing room.
Caringbah pulls ahead on schools and education options, parks and reserves, and public transport access, whereas Dolans Bay is the better pick for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and a calmer planning outlook.
Families, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools may find Caringbah the better fit, while retirees and investors are more likely to prefer Dolans Bay.
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.