Catherine Hill Bay

NSW 2281 · Lake Macquarie

943 (2021) → 990 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth

Part of the Lake Macquarie local government area (est. 222,310 residents)

Overall score

Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.

943

Population

$1.39M

Median house (2026)

Safety score

Transport score

Catherine Hill Bay is a moderate growth suburb in Lake Macquarie, NSW 2281, about 90km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.39M is more expensive than the NSW average. The suburb has no schools recorded, a transport score of 26/100, and is right by the coast. Catherine Hill Bay has an overall score of 32/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 40/100.

89.5 km

To Sydney CBD

750 m

To coast

$750/wk

Median rent (house)

13.3 km

To nearest station

Loading map…

Demographics

943

Population

Median age

2.9

Avg household

Age distribution

Lake Macquarie LGA population (est. 2025)222,310

Median household income (weekly)$2,628

vs NSW median+42.1%

Median taxable income (individual)$56,494/yr

vs national median ($59,576)↓ -5%

ATO 2023-24, postcode 2281 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.

Bachelor degree or higher32.8%

Born in Australia85.3%

Dwellings: house / unit / townhouse307 / 0 / 0

Top countries of birth: England (2.76%), New Zealand (2.12%), Italy (0.64%), Germany (0.53%), Singapore (0.53%)

Top languages: French (1.06%), Mandarin (0.64%), Spanish (0.64%), Hindi (0.42%), Portuguese (0.42%)

Source: ABS Census 2021

Property

$1.39M+24.3%

Median house (2026)

Data not available

Median unit (2026)

Median price history

Median rent — house / unit$750 / $560 wk

Rental yield (house)2.8%

Days on market (house)54 days

Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026

Residential Safety

Residential

Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.

Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:

Break & enter dwelling424/100k

Steal from dwelling0/100k

Motor vehicle theft530/100k

Domestic assault424/100k

Robbery0/100k

Non-domestic assault212/100k

Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.

Residential incidents over time

Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.

Area crime context

Total recorded incidents: 41 (all categories, latest year)4,348 per 100,000 residents2-yr5-yr

An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.

Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026

Schools

Limited school choices

Below average for school access — fewer schools nearby, and families may need to travel for preferred options.

Within 10km0 in suburb

Govt (suburb)

Catholic (suburb)

Indep. (suburb)

Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 983 (below the national average of 1000).

No schools inside the suburb boundary — the schools below are in adjoining suburbs (counted within 10km for the education score).

Nearby (within 10km)

Nords Wharf Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.2kmICSEA 1023
Gwandalan Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 4.2kmICSEA 953
Swansea High SchoolSecondary · Government · 5kmICSEA 972
Caves Beach Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.1kmICSEA 1019
St Patrick's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 5.8kmICSEA 1041
EOC Broken Bay - Lake MunmorahPrimary · Catholic · 6.3km
St Brendan's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 6.4kmICSEA 1005
St Brigid's Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 6.4kmICSEA 1006
Lake Munmorah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.5kmICSEA 950
Lake Munmorah High SchoolSecondary · Government · 6.5kmICSEA 925
Swansea Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 7.2kmICSEA 923
Mannering Park Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 8.3kmICSEA 945

Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025

Transport

18Bus

CBD commute (est.)233 min (bus)

Nearest train stationWyee (13.3 km)

Source: TfNSW GTFS

Employment & Economy

Unemployment rate4.1% · vs NSW avg 4.1% ≈

Top local industries

Health Care & Social Assistance

16.9%

Construction

13.0%

Education & Training

10.4%

Retail Trade

8.8%

Accommodation & Food Services

6.4%

Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census

Liveability

27.0°C

Summer max

18.0°C

Winter max

1,300mm

Rainfall/yr

6.8h

Sun/day

Amenities within 2–3km

Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.

00 in suburbSupermarkets

00 in suburbCafes/Rest.

33 in suburbParks

22 in suburbPlaygrounds

1Pools

00 in suburbGyms

0Dog parks

00 in suburbGPs

00 in suburbPharmacies

00 in suburbChildcare

00 in suburbLibraries

2Sports fields

0Vets

In this suburb

1Public toilets

Air qualityGood air quality (75/100, 2026-07-27)

Nearest beachCatherine Hill Bay Beach (740 m)

Nearest hospitalBelmont Hospital (13.9 km)

Nearest vet6.7 km

Nearest airportNewcastle (39.7 km)

Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap

Fitness

Few fitness options

Very few fitness facilities in and around this suburb.

Gyms

Leisure centres

Public pools

Sports fields

Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.

Source: OpenStreetMap

Outdoors

Some green space

Around the national average — a reasonable amount of parks and outdoor space nearby.

Parks

Nature reserves

Bike paths

Hiking trails

Dog parks

Picnic areas

Skate parks

Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.

Source: OpenStreetMap

Culture

No data

No cultural venues matched to this suburb.

Theatres

Cinemas

Museums

Galleries

Libraries

Arts centres

Landmarks

Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.

Source: OpenStreetMap

Entertainment Scene

Solid scene

Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.

Pubs & Hotels

Bars

Clubs RSL/Leagues

Dining & Licensed

Licensed venues per 1,000 residents1.06

View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →

Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024

Population & Growth

Moderate Growth

Annual growth rate1.22%

Projected population 20411,056

Projected households 2041Data not available

Source: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI

Nearby suburbs in Lake Macquarie

Cams Wharf$713K26transport Crangan Bay$1.25M25transport Caves Beach$1.68M44transport Mirrabooka$900K31transport Blacksmiths$1.75M43transport Brightwaters$928K33transport

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Catherine Hill Bay

Frequently asked questions about Catherine Hill Bay

Is Catherine Hill Bay safe?

Catherine Hill Bay has a residential safety score of 40/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 4,348 per 100,000 across all categories.

What are property prices in Catherine Hill Bay?

In Catherine Hill Bay, the median house price is $1.39M. Median weekly house rent is $750.

How far is Catherine Hill Bay from Sydney CBD?

Catherine Hill Bay is about 89.5 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 233 minutes by public transport.

What schools are in Catherine Hill Bay?

Catherine Hill Bay has 0 schools. Schools are listed factually, not ranked.

What is public transport like in Catherine Hill Bay?

Catherine Hill Bay has a transport score of 26/100 and 18 bus stops.