Malua Bay vs Tomakin.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $960,000 and $955,000. Tomakin edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Tomakin (median $955,000) is roughly 1% cheaper to buy into than Malua Bay ($960,000). Over the past year, Tomakin (+13%) ran 3.9 percentage points ahead of Malua Bay (+9.1%) on house-price growth.
Tomakin scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Tomakin (956) sits above Malua Bay (948).
For buyers
Tomakin is the lower entry point at $955,000 median, 1% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Tomakin carries both higher gross yield (3.27% vs 3.25%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Tomakin edges out on average school ICSEA (956 vs 948).
Common questions
Is Malua Bay or Tomakin cheaper to buy in?
Tomakin has the lower median house price at $955,000, roughly 1% below Malua Bay ($960,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Malua Bay or Tomakin?
Over the past 12 months, Tomakin grew +13% vs +9.1% in Malua Bay, a gap of 3.9 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 Malua Bay or Tomakin have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Tomakin scores 956 vs 948 in Malua 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, Malua Bay or Tomakin?
Tomakin scores 2/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Malua Bay or Tomakin?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.27% in Tomakin vs 3.25% in Malua 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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