Hardys Bay vs Ettalong Beach.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,087,500 and $1,315,000. Ettalong Beach edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Ettalong Beach (median $1,315,000) is roughly 59% cheaper to buy into than Hardys Bay ($2,087,500). Over the past year, Ettalong Beach (+16.9%) ran 32.7 percentage points ahead of Hardys Bay (-15.8%) on house-price growth.
Ettalong Beach scores higher on walkability (4/100 vs 30/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Ettalong Beach (1037) sits above Hardys Bay (1036). Hardys Bay skews owner-occupied (83%), Ettalong Beach runs more rental-dense (59% owner).
For buyers
Ettalong Beach is the lower entry point at $1,315,000 median, 59% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Ettalong Beach carries both higher gross yield (2.75% vs 1.73%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Ettalong Beach edges out on average school ICSEA (1037 vs 1036). Hardys Bay also has a higher family-household share (78% vs 54%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Hardys Bay or Ettalong Beach cheaper to buy in?
Ettalong Beach has the lower median house price at $1,315,000, roughly 59% below Hardys Bay ($2,087,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Hardys Bay or Ettalong Beach?
Over the past 12 months, Ettalong Beach grew +16.9% vs -15.8% in Hardys Bay, a gap of 32.7 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Hardys Bay or Ettalong Beach have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Ettalong Beach scores 1037 vs 1036 in Hardys Bay. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Hardys Bay or Ettalong Beach?
Ettalong Beach scores 30/100 on walkability vs 4/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Hardys Bay or Ettalong Beach?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.75% in Ettalong Beach vs 1.73% in Hardys Bay. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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