NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Booker Bay, 2257
Current weather
16.5°CClear sky
58% humidity · 14.3 km/h wind · 22.1° / 14° today · 3.6 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Booker Bay is a practical smaller community in Central Coast (NSW), well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. 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.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drags compared with similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- 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)
- 56 / 261 / 37
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 · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
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 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 tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 71
- Against the person
- 24
- Against property
- 29
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 49.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 60 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.2th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +4.7%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
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 · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
115 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
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 2257Additional Information Requested
- 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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
17 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 138 Booker Bay RdBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd after Guyra StBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd at Bogan RdBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd at Davis StBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd at Telopea StBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd before Flathead RdBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd before Guyra StBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd before Mareela AvBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd opp Bilba AvBus stop
- Booker Bay Rd opp Bogan RdBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 · Period: current · Updated on site
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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 21.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6459th in Australia
- State rank
- 2016th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #135 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #858 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 138 Booker Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd after Guyra Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd at Bogan Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd at Davis Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd at Telopea Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd before Flathead Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd before Guyra Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd before Mareela Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd opp Bilba Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Booker Bay Rd opp Bogan Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Central Coast (NSW) Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.