Woy Woy
The name Woy Woy is said to come from an Aboriginal word meaning “big lagoon” or “much water”, a fitting nod to the Brisbane Water that surrounds the suburb. Woy Woy is on the NSW Central Coast, about 41 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, and offers a waterfront lifestyle with a train station and town centre close by.
At a glance
- Population: 11,072
- Area size: 15.98 km²
- Median weekly household income: $1,284
- Median monthly mortgage repayments: $2,240
Living on the Central Coast
What it's like to live in Woy Woy
Woy Woy is home to 11,072 people across 15.98 square kilometres. Population has grown at every Census since 2001, from 9,891 to 11,072 in 2021, and with an average of 2.2 people per household it is a suburb of smaller households, with plenty of couples and singles.
Woy Woy Population & Household Growth Over Time
| 2001 | 2006 | 2011 | 2016 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,891 | 9,985 | 10,114 | 10,643 | 11,072 |
| Median weekly household income | No data | $635 | $795 | $947 | $1,151 |
| Medial Monthly Mortgage Repayments | No Data | $1,430 | $1,733 | $1,700 | $1,900 |
| Percentage of Owner Occupier | 63% | 59% | 62% | 60% | 58% |
| Percentage of Renter | 37% | 42% | 38% | 40% | 42% |
| Total Dwellings | 4,718 | 4,828 | 4,945 | 5,151 | 5,350 |
| Average People per Household | No Data | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.6 |
Owner-occupiers make up 58% of households and renters 42%. About 63% of dwellings are separate houses, 29% are townhouses and 7% are flats or apartments. The leading occupations are Professionals (19%), Technicians and Trades Workers (15%) and Clerical and Administrative Workers (14%), and the top employing industries are Hospitals, Aged Care Residential Services, and Other Social Assistance Services.
Crime sits low here too. A score of 22 out of 100, where a higher number means more crime. Often one of the first things families check before deciding to move.
Housing options for owner-occupiers
Woy Woy offers a diverse range of homes, from free-standing houses for families to townhouses and units for buyers wanting low-maintenance living, along with some charming older houses that add character to the suburb. There are also some pockets of social housing within the suburb.
Woy Woy Snapshot - August 2026
| Metric | Houses | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Median Price | $1,100,000 | $800,000 |
| Median Rent (per week) | $650 | $580 |
| Typical time to sell | 32 | 30 |
| Gross rental yield | 3.07% | 3.77% |
How Prices Have Moved Over Time (Houses)
| Period | Change |
|---|---|
| 3 Months | -1.87% (-$21,000) |
| 12 Months | 11.68% ($115,000) |
| 3 Years | 19.57% ($180,000) |
| 5 Years | 31.74% ($265,000) |
| 5-year average annual growth | 5.67% |
| 10-year average annual growth | 5.46% |
| 20-year average annual growth | 6.21% |
| 30-year average annual growth | 7.22% |
Renting in Woy Woy
Median rent for a house in Woy Woy is $650 a week, unchanged over the past quarter but up 8.33% over the past year and 22.64% over three years. Units rent for $580 a week, up 5.45% over the year and 23.40% over three years. The vacancy rate is 1.33%, well under the 3% generally considered a healthy balance between tenants and owners, so well-priced rentals tend to go quickly.
Schools and childcare
Woy Woy is home to two government primary schools, Woy Woy Public School and Woy Woy South Public School, and the Woy Woy Campus of Brisbane Water Secondary College for high school.
For early learning and care, the suburb has 16 child care centres, including Aussie Kindies Early Learning Woy Woy on Ocean Beach Road, Goodstart Early Learning Woy Woy on Trafalgar Avenue, Diocese of Broken Bay Early Learning Centre Woy Woy on Dulkara Road and Little Giggles Early Learning Centre on Edward Street, plus Peninsula before and after school care on McMasters Road. commute.
Health and everyday amenities
Woy Woy has two hospitals, Woy Woy Public Hospital on Kathleen Street and Brisbane Waters Private Hospital on Vidler Avenue, and hospitals (4.7%), aged care (4.5%) and other social assistance services (3.5%) are the top employing industries for residents. The redeveloped Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf and The Boulevard waterfront sit beside the town centre.
An affordable waterfront community
Woy Woy's SEIFA advantage score (the ABS's measure of relative socio-economic advantage) has sat at 2 or 3 out of 10 at every Census since 2001, well below the midpoint of 5, consistent with a more affordable community with a high share of renters (42%) and lower household incomes. Median weekly household income has risen from $635 in 2006 to $1,151 at the 2021 Census, with the current estimate now $1,284 a week, and houses are up 31.74% over five years. Public and community housing makes up 7.72% of dwellings (413 dwellings), a small proportion that sits alongside the suburb's private housing.
Getting around
Woy Woy railway station has direct trains to Sydney and Newcastle on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line, making the suburb a commuter hub, and the entry to the M1 motorway is about a 15 minute drive away. Local bus routes also service the area. For a day on the water, Central Coast Ferries runs from the Woy Woy Town Centre Wharf to Empire Bay via Saratoga and Davistown, through the Brisbane Water channels.
Our local favourite
For seafood on the waterfront, we like Woy Woy Fishermen's Wharf on The Boulevard, a seafood restaurant and takeaway, with fresh seafood to cook at home as well.
Are you ready to call Woy Woy home? Let Sharp Property Buyers, your trusted Central Coast Buyers Agent, guide you in finding the right property in this waterfront suburb. Contact us today, and together, we'll make your move to Woy Woy a reality.
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