Barrack Heights vs Mount Warrigal

Comparing Barrack Heights and Mount Warrigal, NSW: Mount Warrigal scores higher overall (48 vs 38).

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Barrack Heights

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • But Mount Warrigal has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 88%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Barrack Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($560,000 vs $845,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Mount Warrigal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Barrack Heights and Mount Warrigal drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Walkability 67 / 64
Barrack Heights — Walkability: 67/100 Mount Warrigal — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 31 / 36
Barrack Heights — Safety: 31/100 Mount Warrigal — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Barrack Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Warrigal — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Population 6,003
+19% vs other
 4,880
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.7% -0.6%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $69,680/yr $70,980/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $405/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
0-4 5.4% / 5.9%
Barrack Heights — 0-4: 5.4% Mount Warrigal — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 12.9% / 12.6%
Barrack Heights — 5-14: 12.9% Mount Warrigal — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 6.5% / 5.6%
Barrack Heights — 15-19: 6.5% Mount Warrigal — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 5.5% / 5.9%
Barrack Heights — 20-24: 5.5% Mount Warrigal — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 12.2% / 11.5%
Barrack Heights — 25-34: 12.2% Mount Warrigal — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 12.3% / 10.8%
Barrack Heights — 35-44: 12.3% Mount Warrigal — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 11.9% / 11.9%
Barrack Heights — 45-54: 11.9% Mount Warrigal — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 12.6% / 12.6%
Barrack Heights — 55-64: 12.6% Mount Warrigal — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 11.4% / 12.0%
Barrack Heights — 65-74: 11.4% Mount Warrigal — 65-74: 12.0%
75-84 7.0% / 8.9%
Barrack Heights — 75-84: 7.0% Mount Warrigal — 75-84: 8.9%
85+ 2.2% / 2.5%
Barrack Heights — 85+: 2.2% Mount Warrigal — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Barrack Heights 36.5% couple families
Barrack Heights — Couple Families: 36.5% Barrack Heights — Lone Person: 32.5% Barrack Heights — One Parent Families: 26.7% Barrack Heights — Group Household: 2.5% Barrack Heights — Other Families: 1.8%
Mount Warrigal 40.5% couple families
Mount Warrigal — Couple Families: 40.5% Mount Warrigal — Lone Person: 29.9% Mount Warrigal — One Parent Families: 25.6% Mount Warrigal — Group Household: 2.4% Mount Warrigal — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Barrack Heights 33.8% renting
Barrack Heights — Owned Outright: 37.1% Barrack Heights — Mortgage: 29.1% Barrack Heights — Renting: 33.8%
Mount Warrigal 26.4% renting
Mount Warrigal — Owned Outright: 43.4% Mount Warrigal — Mortgage: 30.2% Mount Warrigal — Renting: 26.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
England 4.5% / 3.8%
Barrack Heights — England: 4.5% Mount Warrigal — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.6%
Barrack Heights — New Zealand: 0.8% Mount Warrigal — New Zealand: 1.6%
Germany 0.7% / 1.0%
Barrack Heights — Germany: 0.7% Mount Warrigal — Germany: 1.0%
Italy 0.7% / 1.0%
Barrack Heights — Italy: 0.7% Mount Warrigal — Italy: 1.0%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.5%
Barrack Heights — Scotland: 0.8% Mount Warrigal — Scotland: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Certificate III & IV 19.4% / 19.1%
Barrack Heights — Certificate III & IV: 19.4% Mount Warrigal — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 6.8%
Barrack Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Mount Warrigal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.5% / 6.4%
Barrack Heights — Bachelor Degree: 5.5% Mount Warrigal — Bachelor Degree: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.2% / 1.3%
Barrack Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2% Mount Warrigal — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.7% / 1.1%
Barrack Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7% Mount Warrigal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Barrack Heights 88.3% houses
Barrack Heights — Houses: 88.3% Barrack Heights — Flats / Apartments: 10.6% Barrack Heights — Townhouses: 1.1%
Mount Warrigal 98.3% houses
Mount Warrigal — Houses: 98.3% Mount Warrigal — Flats / Apartments: 0.6% Mount Warrigal — Townhouses: 1.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Median house price $937,500 $940,000
Median unit price $560,000 $845,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 49 sales
 20 days
from 29 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
3 bed $875K / $920K
Barrack Heights — 3 bed: $875K (59 sales) Mount Warrigal — 3 bed: $920K (47 sales)

59 vs 47 sales

4 bed $1.14M / $965K
Barrack Heights — 4 bed: $1.14M (20 sales) Mount Warrigal — 4 bed: $965K (30 sales)

20 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Residential 77% 83%
Parks and recreation 15% 14%
Industrial 4% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2%
same for both
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
New dwellings approved 883
across Shellharbour
same for both
Approvals change year on year +25%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Houses 3.9%
$720/wk on $949K
 4.4%
$780/wk on $928K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
House price Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Income Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
Schools Higher than 10% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 30% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW

Liveability

Mount Warrigal scores higher overall (48 vs 38).

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Grade C
same for both
Score 38/100 48/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Barrack Heights

  • Barrack Heights Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Warilla High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Aspect South Coast School, Barrack Heights Independent · Primary · Special school

Schools in Mount Warrigal

  • Mount Warrigal Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 11 12
Childcare 5 2
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Walkability score 67/100 64/100
Distance to Sydney 102.6 km 103.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 98 min 99 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 47.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 62.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2528
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2528
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Car (driver) 74.6% / 72.0%
Barrack Heights — Car (driver): 74.6% Mount Warrigal — Car (driver): 72.0%
Worked from Home 17.5% / 18.8%
Barrack Heights — Worked from Home: 17.5% Mount Warrigal — Worked from Home: 18.8%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 5.8%
Barrack Heights — Car (passenger): 4.8% Mount Warrigal — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Walked Only 1.7% / 0.9%
Barrack Heights — Walked Only: 1.7% Mount Warrigal — Walked Only: 0.9%
Bus 0.7% / 1.4%
Barrack Heights — Bus: 0.7% Mount Warrigal — Bus: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.6%).

Setting

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.3 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Connectivity score 73/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
2,681 premises
 55%
1,992 premises

Climate

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.37 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Average residential rate $1,788/yr
same for both
Council Shellharbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Barrack Heights Mount Warrigal
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Barrack Heights

Beach Coastal Parks

Mount Warrigal

Coastal Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Barrack Heights

Barrack Heights vs Oak Flats Barrack Heights vs Warilla Barrack Heights vs Shellharbour Barrack Heights vs Blackbutt Barrack Heights vs Barrack Point Barrack Heights vs Shellharbour City Centre

Other comparisons with Mount Warrigal

Mount Warrigal vs Oak Flats Mount Warrigal vs Warilla Mount Warrigal vs Lake Illawarra
Full data on Barrack Heights Full data on Mount Warrigal
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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