Median house price
$1.34M
+9.4% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Booker Bay, 2257
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,349
Growth (1 yr)
0.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.8%
Median age
54
Median income
$1,218/wk
Employment rate
39.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,340,000
Languages at home
3.8%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Booker Bay is a quieter residential smaller community in Central Coast Council, more about homes and street life than a busy local strip. You get space and calm here, while the city and neighbouring suburbs are still close enough for regular outings. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The overall desirability read is below average, pulled by softer parks and green space, plus community and employment compared with similar metro suburbs, though schools and education, plus growth momentum remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Booker Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$615/wk
Houses $650 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
1,349
0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.5%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#122
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
28th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
12th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
6/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
64th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 30.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5561st in Australia
- State rank
- 1795th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #122 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #830 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $615
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 246
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,340,000
- Median price change
- +9.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
1,349(June 2025)
0.0% annual · +0.8% over 5 years · 12th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- 0.0%
- 5-year growth
- +0.8%
- Change in 1 year
- 0
- Change in 5 years
- +10
- Growth rank in NSW
- 12th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~1,400), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,442
- Median age
- 54
- Median household income / week
- $1,218
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 101 of 749
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 39.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 335 / 261 / 37 (+ 20 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 64
- Against the person
- 21
- Against property
- 26
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 47.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 69 residents
- State safety percentile
- 27.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order132
- Domestic Violence Related Assault138
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment178
- Malicious Damage To Property174
- Other Offences94
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,039
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 64th
School list
- Ettalong Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 975 · 35th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 490 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Pretty Beach Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1102 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 154 students · Top SEA quarter 41% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Empire Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1039 · 64th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 426 students · Top SEA quarter 19% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
29 public transport stops in this suburb
- Booker Bay Rd At Bogan Rd
- Booker Bay Rd At Davis St
- Booker Bay Rd At Telopea St
- Booker Bay Rd Opp Mareela Av
- Rip Bridge, Maitland Bay Dr
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
18 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 29 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.69
Sport & outdoors(1)
- Park
Transport(17)
17 bus stops
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Central Coast Day Hospital (9.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 38
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 28.2
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 5 proposals
August 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation181 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Under Assessment
June 2026
- Demolition; Wharf or boating facility154 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)70 MURRAY STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure42 MURRAY STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached)15 Telopea Street Booker Bay NSW 2257Determined
2025· 18 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses139 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 DAVIS STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation166 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
November 2025
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Marina5-7 Bilba Avenue, Booker BayUnder Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)131 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 DAVIS STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation166 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Manufactured home123 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Supporting Development35 DAVIS STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure39 DAVIS STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure175 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Additional Information Requested
May 2025
- Subdivision35 WEBB ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached)15 Telopea Street Booker Bay NSW 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences272 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 MURRAY STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation166 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences; Letterboxes332 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)14 Webb Road Booker Bay 2257Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Subdivision141 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation338 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation340 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure36 BOGAN ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home9 WEBB ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure135 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Subdivision264-266 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation394 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Withdrawn
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure236 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool30 DAVIS STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool9 DAVIS STREET BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation340 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
April 2024
- Subdivision; Residential Accommodation83 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 WEBB ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure; Mooring Pen2 54 BOOKER BAY ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
January 2024
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure1 40 BOGAN ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
2023· 2 proposals
September 2023
- Subdivision45 WEBB ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision of land48 WEBB ROAD BOOKER BAY 2257Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Robertson
- Member of Parliament
- Gordon REID (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 114,922
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +7.1 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.6%Labor 59.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.7 km away).
Coalition 44.6%Labor 55.4%
4.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Booker BayLabor 51.9% · Coalition 48.1% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- Ettalong CentralLabor 65.0% · Coalition 35.0% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- EttalongLabor 66.3% · Coalition 33.7% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Hardys BayLabor 72.8% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- Empire BayLabor 60.8% · Coalition 39.2% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Central Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.