Berkeley vs Kembla Grange

Kembla Grange is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 40 in Berkeley. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Kembla Grange, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Kembla Grange: a median of $2 million, against $858,000 in Berkeley, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Berkeley tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Kembla Grange suits young adults, families with children, and couples.

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 schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • But Kembla Grange is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 60%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Berkeley has cheaper houses ($857,500 vs $2,000,000)
  • Kembla Grange leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Berkeley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($290/wk vs $570/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Berkeley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 8/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Berkeley

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 8/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Kembla Grange

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (476.2% vs 2.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Berkeley and Kembla Grange 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 Kembla Grange
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 Kembla Grange
Walkability 70 / 8
Berkeley — Walkability: 70/100 Kembla Grange — Walkability: 8/100
Safety 22 / 15
Berkeley — Safety: 22/100 Kembla Grange — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Berkeley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kembla Grange — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Berkeley has more residents (7,798 vs 1,452); Kembla Grange has higher household incomes ($133,848 vs $63,284).

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Population 7,798
+81% vs other
 1,452
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.5% +476.2%
Median age 40 29
Median household income $63,284/yr $133,848/yr
+112% vs other
Median weekly rent $290/wk $570/wk
+97% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Berkeley Kembla Grange
0-4 5.6% / 13.1%
Berkeley — 0-4: 5.6% Kembla Grange — 0-4: 13.1%
5-14 13.3% / 13.9%
Berkeley — 5-14: 13.3% Kembla Grange — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 5.9% / 5.7%
Berkeley — 15-19: 5.9% Kembla Grange — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 6.2% / 5.9%
Berkeley — 20-24: 6.2% Kembla Grange — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 12.5% / 22.9%
Berkeley — 25-34: 12.5% Kembla Grange — 25-34: 22.9%
35-44 11.8% / 16.9%
Berkeley — 35-44: 11.8% Kembla Grange — 35-44: 16.9%
45-54 12.7% / 8.4%
Berkeley — 45-54: 12.7% Kembla Grange — 45-54: 8.4%
55-64 13.7% / 6.5%
Berkeley — 55-64: 13.7% Kembla Grange — 55-64: 6.5%
65-74 9.8% / 4.5%
Berkeley — 65-74: 9.8% Kembla Grange — 65-74: 4.5%
75-84 5.5% / 1.5%
Berkeley — 75-84: 5.5% Kembla Grange — 75-84: 1.5%
85+ 2.8% / 0.3%
Berkeley — 85+: 2.8% Kembla Grange — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

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%
Kembla Grange 65.9% couple families
Kembla Grange — Couple Families: 65.9% Kembla Grange — Lone Person: 16.5% Kembla Grange — One Parent Families: 12.2% Kembla Grange — Group Household: 2.8% Kembla Grange — Other Families: 2.6%
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%
Kembla Grange 21.7% renting
Kembla Grange — Owned Outright: 12.8% Kembla Grange — Mortgage: 65.5% Kembla Grange — Renting: 21.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 17.1%
Berkeley — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Kembla Grange — Certificate III & IV: 17.1%
Bachelor Degree 5.9% / 12.8%
Berkeley — Bachelor Degree: 5.9% Kembla Grange — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 8.6%
Berkeley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Kembla Grange — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 3.2%
Berkeley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Kembla Grange — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.7%
Berkeley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Kembla Grange — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

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 Kembla Grange
England 3.1% / 2.2%
Berkeley — England: 3.1% Kembla Grange — England: 2.2%
India — / 2.4%
Berkeley — India: not among its largest Kembla Grange — India: 2.4%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.0%
Berkeley — New Zealand: 0.9% Kembla Grange — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.3%
Berkeley — Philippines: 0.9% Kembla Grange — Philippines: 0.3%
Lebanon 1.0% / —
Berkeley — Lebanon: 1.0% Kembla Grange — Lebanon: not among its largest
Vietnam 0.9% / —
Berkeley — Vietnam: 0.9% Kembla Grange — Vietnam: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.8%
Berkeley — Ireland: not among its largest Kembla Grange — Ireland: 0.8%
Thailand — / 0.7%
Berkeley — Thailand: not among its largest Kembla Grange — Thailand: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

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%
Kembla Grange 81.1% houses
Kembla Grange — Houses: 81.1% Kembla Grange — Townhouses: 20.0% Kembla Grange — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Median house price $857,500 $2,000,000
Median unit price $867,500 —
Median land price $256,800 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 45 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Kembla Grange has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 2%).

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Residential 38% 12%
Environmental 33% 31%
Industrial 2% 24%
Parks and recreation 18% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 8%
same for both
Rural and farming 0% 7%
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 Kembla Grange
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 Kembla Grange
Houses 4.1%
$690/wk on $875K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Berkeley Kembla Grange
House price Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Schools Higher than 63% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of NSW —

Liveability

Berkeley is more walkable (70 vs 8).

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 50/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
85/100
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
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 7.3 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 1.7%

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 Kembla Grange

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 5 4
Childcare 4 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 5 4

Mobility

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Walkability score 70/100 8/100
Distance to Sydney 92.4 km 94.3 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 87 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 155.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 48.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2506
 1.1%
postcode 2526
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2506
 47
postcode 2526

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 Kembla Grange
Car (driver) 73.3% / 68.4%
Berkeley — Car (driver): 73.3% Kembla Grange — Car (driver): 68.4%
Worked from Home 17.4% / 27.4%
Berkeley — Worked from Home: 17.4% Kembla Grange — Worked from Home: 27.4%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 2.2%
Berkeley — Car (passenger): 5.7% Kembla Grange — Car (passenger): 2.2%
Walked Only 0.8% / 2.0%
Berkeley — Walked Only: 0.8% Kembla Grange — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 1.5% / —
Berkeley — Bus: 1.5% Kembla Grange — Bus: not among its largest
Train 1.1% / —
Berkeley — Train: 1.1% Kembla Grange — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km 7.7 km

NBN connectivity

Berkeley Kembla Grange
Connectivity score 74/100 94/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
3,328 premises
 90%
951 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Berkeley

Large Blocks

Kembla Grange

Family Premium Townhouses Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Berkeley

Berkeley vs Kanahooka Berkeley vs Unanderra Berkeley vs Lake Heights Berkeley vs Cringila Berkeley vs Brownsville

Other comparisons with Kembla Grange

Kembla Grange vs Dapto Kembla Grange vs Kanahooka Kembla Grange vs Unanderra Kembla Grange vs Farmborough Heights Kembla Grange vs Brownsville Kembla Grange vs Dombarton
Full data on Berkeley Full data on Kembla Grange
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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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