Ettalong Beach sits about 86 kilometres north of Sydney on the Woy Woy Peninsula, and for years it was a quiet, affordable beach pocket. That has changed. Domain’s House Price Report named Ettalong Beach Australia’s top performer for median unit growth: unit prices have climbed 191% in five years, from $304,000 to $887,500.
For an investor, that headline raises one practical question. Do you buy to rent it out and capture the income, or do you buy to hold for growth? Both paths have support here. Tenant demand is tight, rents are climbing, and price growth has been strong. The right call comes down to your timeframe and the property type you choose.
The Ettalong Beach market at a glance
Before the deeper dive, a quick look at the headline numbers.
- Median house price: around $1.26 million with 12.25% annual growth, through to $1.41 million
- Median unit price: $887,500 through to $1.03 million
- Overall median sale price: $730,000 across 1,380 recorded transactions for houses and units
- Median weekly rent: about $650 for houses and $645 for units
- Gross rental yield: roughly 2.9% to 3.0% for houses and about 3.5% for units
- Vacancy rate: around 1.03%, comfortably low
Prices and rents have both risen sharply, and buyers and tenants keep arriving.
The case for renting it out: a genuinely strong rental market
Ettalong Beach is a landlord’s market. The vacancy rate sits around 1.03%, and there were roughly 776 active rental bonds in the area at the start of 2026. The 2021 Census shows about 38.5% of households rent and around 61% are owner-occupied, so there is a large, established tenant base already in place.
Rents are moving too. The median sits at about $650 a week for houses and $645 for units, while AreaSearch records an overall median of around $600, up 3.4% over the year. OpenAgent, which averages new listings over the past 12 months, puts house rents up 7.9% to $680 a week and unit rents up 8.3% to $590 a week. Each portal measures the market its own way, but all three show rents climbing. For context, the median weekly rent at the 2021 Census was just $390, so today’s figures mark a steep climb in a short window.
Agents quoted in Domain’s report describe the rental market as the strongest around, with well-positioned units achieving $750 to $800 a week. That is real income growth for a landlord.
The tenant pool is deep and varied: retirees, sea-changers, families, and a steady stream of holiday and weekend visitors. On the yield side, units lead at about 3.5% gross, while houses sit around 2.9%. For investors who want more, short-stay and holiday positioning is a genuine lever, supported by the weekend markets, the Palm Beach ferry and the tourism trade that runs through the village every week.
The case for buying and holding: capital growth that leads the state
The growth side of the ledger is where Ettalong Beach stands out. Units have climbed 191% in five years, from a $304,000 median to $887,500. The long-run compounding backs it up: roughly 78.5% growth over ten years, with houses compounding at about 7.6% a year and attached dwellings up 74.5%.
Realestate.com.au puts annual compound growth at 7.0% for houses and 9.5% for units. In the most recent 12 months alone, OpenAgent records houses up 7.4% to around $1.32 million and units up 12% to about $960,000.
Buyer demand has shifted toward owner-occupiers, with downsizers chasing lock-and-leave apartments and a steady flow of weekend-home buyers. That depth shows up in recent sold prices: 18 Collareen Street at $1,400,000 in February 2026, 53 Palm Street at $1,320,000 in April 2026, and 51 Broken Bay Road at $2,850,000 in May 2026, alongside 402/237 Ocean View Road at $1,280,000 in May 2026 and 8/108 The Esplanade at $2,500,000 in July 2025. More than $200 million in town-centre investment and a run of new high-end apartments are pushing the unit median higher again.
What the numbers mean for an investor: the property-type playbook
For an investor, the numbers point to a clean playbook.
Units are the income play. They carry the highest yields at around 3.5%, hold strong lock-and-leave appeal for downsizers and holiday users, and still grew 12% over the past year. A newer two-bedroom apartment can pull $750 to $800 a week, which is why units suit investors who want cash flow first.
Houses and waterfront are the growth play. Price points stretch from the high $700,000s for entry-level homes into the $3 million-plus range for premium and waterfront homes, and this segment has delivered the strongest long-run appreciation. If your goal is equity over a decade, this is the end of the market to watch.
Townhouses sit in the middle. The median is around $1.1 million with a 2.86% yield and 29.4% two-year growth, a balance of rental income and capital gain. The 2021 Census shows the mix clearly: 1,292 separate houses, 885 semi-detached homes and townhouses, and 194 apartments, with new apartments still being added.
None of these is the wrong choice. It is simply income now versus growth later, and each property type lets you weight that balance to suit your plan.
Why demand keeps flowing here: the lifestyle engine
Demand keeps flowing into Ettalong Beach because the same amenities draw both tenants and buyers. The foreshore reserve runs along The Esplanade with BBQs, a café and a waterfront restaurant, and the shared path links the beach through to Ocean Beach and Umina. The weekend markets at The Galleria run Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 4pm, and the Ocean View Road strip is lined with cafés, boutiques and restaurants. The Ettalong Diggers club anchors the community, and the Palm Beach ferry makes the crossing in about 30 minutes.
For commuters and sea-changers, Woy Woy Station puts Sydney Central just over an hour away, and regular buses feed the village. Domain’s report describes the suburb as completely flat, you can walk to the beach, and there is free parking. That is the combination retirees, families and weekenders look for, and it draws both tenants and buyers.
Conclusion: your next step
Whichever path you choose, Ettalong Beach gives you a strong case. For income, you are looking at weekly rents around $650 with unit yields near 3.5% and a vacancy rate barely above 1%. For growth, you are looking at a suburb where units have run 191% over five years and houses compound at about 7.6% a year.
Both paths are well supported here, so the decision comes down to your timeframe and the property type that matches it. For street-by-street guidance on what to buy and what it will return, talk to Stone Real Estate Ettalong Beach. They work the local market daily and can point you to where income and growth are strongest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ettalong-beach better for rental income or capital growth?
Both are strong. Weekly rents around $650 with unit yields near 3.5% support the income path, while 191% five-year unit growth and a 7.6% house compounding rate support the growth path. The choice hinges on your timeframe and property type.
What is the median rent in ettalong-beach?
Houses rent for a median of about $650 a week and units about $645, with an overall median around $600. OpenAgent’s 12-month average puts house rents at $680 a week and unit rents at $590. Well-positioned units reach $750 to $800 a week. Rents have risen roughly 7% to 8% over the past year.
What rental yield can an investor expect in ettalong-beach?
Gross yields run around 2.9% to 3.0% for houses and about 3.5% for units. Short-stay and holiday positioning can lift returns further, given the weekend markets, the ferry and the year-round visitor trade.
How strong is tenant demand and vacancy in ettalong-beach?
Vacancy sits around 1.03% with roughly 776 active rental bonds. The 2021 Census shows about 38.5% of households rent and around 61% are owner-occupied. Demand comes steadily from retirees, sea-changers, families and holidaymakers.
What is the median house price in ettalong-beach and how fast has it grown?
The median house price runs from about $1.26 million to $1.41 million, with roughly 12% annual growth and a 7.6% ten-year compounding rate. Growth over the most recent 12 months is about 7.4%.
Why did unit prices rise 191% in five years in ettalong-beach?
The run came from pandemic-era discovery by Sydney buyers, a wave of new high-end apartment supply lifting the median, strong waterfront demand and the suburb’s lifestyle appeal. Domain’s House Price Report tracked the median from $304,000 to $887,500 over the five years.
Should an investor buy a unit or a house in ettalong-beach?
It depends on the goal. Units are the income play, with the highest yields around 3.5% and 12% growth over the past year. Houses and waterfront homes deliver the strongest long-run capital growth, with entry-level homes from the high $700,000s, and townhouses offer a balanced middle at around a $1.1 million median.
Is ettalong-beach good for short-term or holiday rentals?
Yes. The weekend markets at The Galleria, the Palm Beach ferry, the foreshore and the Ocean View Road dining strip draw consistent visitor demand, which supports strong short-stay returns for well-positioned properties.
How close is ettalong-beach to Sydney for tenants and commuters?
Woy Woy Station puts Sydney Central just over an hour away by train, and the Palm Beach ferry crosses in about 30 minutes. Regular buses feed the village, and the suburb is flat, walkable and parking-friendly.
Who typically rents and buys in ettalong-beach and where should an investor start?
Retirees and downsizers, sea-changers, families and weekend-home buyers drive both the rental and sales markets. The best starting point is Stone Real Estate Ettalong Beach for local, street-level guidance on where income and growth are strongest.