Berkeley vs Kanahooka

Berkeley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 48 in Kanahooka. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Kanahooka: a median of $960,000, against $858,000 in Berkeley, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Kanahooka tends to suit older residents.

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

Berkeley

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Kanahooka carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 78/100)

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

First-home buyers

Berkeley

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($256,800 vs $420,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($857,500 vs $960,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Berkeley

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $450/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Berkeley

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 48/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (92.4 km vs 94.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Kanahooka

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 78/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 18%)
  • But Berkeley is more walkable (70/100 vs 48/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Berkeley Kanahooka
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.

Berkeley Kanahooka
Walkability 70 / 48
Berkeley — Walkability: 70/100 Kanahooka — Walkability: 48/100
Safety 22 / 58
Berkeley — Safety: 22/100 Kanahooka — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 72
Berkeley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kanahooka — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Kanahooka rents higher ($450/wk vs $290/wk); Berkeley has more residents (7,798 vs 5,698).

Berkeley Kanahooka
Population 7,798
+27% vs other
 5,698
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.5% +2.2%
Median age 40 48
Median household income $63,284/yr $72,748/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $450/wk
+55% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Berkeley Kanahooka
0-4 5.6% / 5.0%
Berkeley — 0-4: 5.6% Kanahooka — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 13.3% / 11.0%
Berkeley — 5-14: 13.3% Kanahooka — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 5.9% / 5.3%
Berkeley — 15-19: 5.9% Kanahooka — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.2% / 4.6%
Berkeley — 20-24: 6.2% Kanahooka — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 12.5% / 9.4%
Berkeley — 25-34: 12.5% Kanahooka — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 11.8% / 10.7%
Berkeley — 35-44: 11.8% Kanahooka — 35-44: 10.7%
45-54 12.7% / 11.8%
Berkeley — 45-54: 12.7% Kanahooka — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 13.7% / 11.2%
Berkeley — 55-64: 13.7% Kanahooka — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 9.8% / 14.5%
Berkeley — 65-74: 9.8% Kanahooka — 65-74: 14.5%
75-84 5.5% / 11.5%
Berkeley — 75-84: 5.5% Kanahooka — 75-84: 11.5%
85+ 2.8% / 4.8%
Berkeley — 85+: 2.8% Kanahooka — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Berkeley 35.7% couple families
Berkeley — Couple Families: 35.7% Berkeley — Lone Person: 35.4% Berkeley — One Parent Families: 23.8% Berkeley — Group Household: 3.9% Berkeley — Other Families: 1.2%
Kanahooka 43.3% couple families
Kanahooka — Couple Families: 43.3% Kanahooka — Lone Person: 38.2% Kanahooka — One Parent Families: 15.5% Kanahooka — Group Household: 2.2% Kanahooka — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Berkeley 39.2% renting
Berkeley — Owned Outright: 32.6% Berkeley — Mortgage: 28.2% Berkeley — Renting: 39.2%
Kanahooka 12.6% renting
Kanahooka — Owned Outright: 52.2% Kanahooka — Mortgage: 35.2% Kanahooka — Renting: 12.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Berkeley Kanahooka
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 19.8%
Berkeley — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Kanahooka — Certificate III & IV: 19.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.9% / 7.9%
Berkeley — Bachelor Degree: 5.9% Kanahooka — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 7.5%
Berkeley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Kanahooka — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 2.4%
Berkeley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Kanahooka — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.6%
Berkeley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Kanahooka — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

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.

Berkeley Kanahooka
England 3.1% / 6.9%
Berkeley — England: 3.1% Kanahooka — England: 6.9%
Scotland 0.7% / 1.3%
Berkeley — Scotland: 0.7% Kanahooka — Scotland: 1.3%
Philippines 0.9% / 1.0%
Berkeley — Philippines: 0.9% Kanahooka — Philippines: 1.0%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.9%
Berkeley — New Zealand: 0.9% Kanahooka — New Zealand: 0.9%
Germany 0.6% / 1.2%
Berkeley — Germany: 0.6% Kanahooka — Germany: 1.2%
Italy 0.8% / 0.9%
Berkeley — Italy: 0.8% Kanahooka — Italy: 0.9%
Lebanon 1.0% / —
Berkeley — Lebanon: 1.0% Kanahooka — Lebanon: not among its largest
Vietnam 0.9% / —
Berkeley — Vietnam: 0.9% Kanahooka — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Berkeley 88.8% houses
Berkeley — Houses: 88.8% Berkeley — Townhouses: 2.7% Berkeley — Flats / Apartments: 8.5%
Kanahooka 84.0% houses
Kanahooka — Houses: 84.0% Kanahooka — Townhouses: 14.7% Kanahooka — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Berkeley Kanahooka
Median house price $857,500 $960,000
Median unit price $867,500 $820,000
Median land price $256,800 $420,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 45 sales
 23 days
from 31 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.

Berkeley Kanahooka
2 bed $750K / $780K
Berkeley — 2 bed: $750K (11 sales) Kanahooka — 2 bed: $780K (10 sales)

11 vs 10 sales

3 bed $838K / $933K
Berkeley — 3 bed: $838K (78 sales) Kanahooka — 3 bed: $933K (39 sales)

78 vs 39 sales

4 bed $950K / $1.07M
Berkeley — 4 bed: $950K (30 sales) Kanahooka — 4 bed: $1.07M (31 sales)

30 vs 31 sales

5 bed $1.02M / $1.14M
Berkeley — 5 bed: $1.02M (9 sales) Kanahooka — 5 bed: $1.14M (15 sales)

9 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Berkeley has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 19%).

Berkeley Kanahooka
Residential 38% 59%
Environmental 33% 19%
Parks and recreation 18% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 9%
Rural and farming 0% 4%
Industrial 2% 0%
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

Berkeley Kanahooka
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Berkeley Kanahooka
Houses 4.1%
$690/wk on $875K
 4.2%
$700/wk on $870K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Berkeley Kanahooka
House price Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Schools Higher than 63% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Berkeley is more walkable (70 vs 48).

Berkeley Kanahooka
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 51/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Kanahooka carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 0); Berkeley carries more crime risk (78 vs 42).

Berkeley Kanahooka
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
28/100
Crime High
78/100
 Moderate
42/100
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 14
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Berkeley Kanahooka
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 7.3 km
 None

Schools in Berkeley

  • Berkeley West Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Berkeley Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Illawarra Sports High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Kanahooka

  • Hayes Park Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Kanahooka High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Berkeley Kanahooka
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 4 2
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Kanahooka sits further from the CBD (94.9 km vs 92.4 km).

Berkeley Kanahooka
Walkability score 70/100 48/100
Distance to Sydney 92.4 km 94.9 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 86 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 155.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 57.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2506
 0.7%
postcode 2530
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2506
 54
postcode 2530

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.

Berkeley Kanahooka
Car (driver) 73.3% / 70.8%
Berkeley — Car (driver): 73.3% Kanahooka — Car (driver): 70.8%
Worked from Home 17.4% / 23.3%
Berkeley — Worked from Home: 17.4% Kanahooka — Worked from Home: 23.3%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 3.6%
Berkeley — Car (passenger): 5.7% Kanahooka — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 1.1% / 1.1%
Berkeley — Train: 1.1% Kanahooka — Train: 1.1%
Bus 1.5% / 0.3%
Berkeley — Bus: 1.5% Kanahooka — Bus: 0.3%
Bicycle 0.2% / 0.5%
Berkeley — Bicycle: 0.2% Kanahooka — Bicycle: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.3%).

Setting

Berkeley Kanahooka
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km 6.5 km

NBN connectivity

Berkeley Kanahooka
Connectivity score 74/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
3,328 premises
 96%
2,640 premises

Climate

Berkeley Kanahooka
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Berkeley Kanahooka
PM2.5 5.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 19.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.45 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Berkeley Kanahooka
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Berkeley Kanahooka
Division Cunningham Whitlam
Member Alison Byrnes Carol Berry
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Berkeley Kanahooka
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Berkeley

Large Blocks

Kanahooka

Retirees

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Other comparisons with Kanahooka

Kanahooka vs Dapto Kanahooka vs Koonawarra Kanahooka vs Kembla Grange Kanahooka vs Brownsville
Full data on Berkeley Full data on Kanahooka
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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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