Berkeley vs Unanderra

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Unanderra: a median of $950,000, against $858,000 in Berkeley.

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 rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 78%)
  • But Unanderra has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Berkeley has cheaper houses ($857,500 vs $950,000)
  • Unanderra has cheaper units ($760,000 vs $867,500)

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

Unanderra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 70/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Unanderra

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 11%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 18%)

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 Unanderra 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 Unanderra
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 Unanderra
Walkability 70 / 89
Berkeley — Walkability: 70/100 Unanderra — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 22 / 14
Berkeley — Safety: 22/100 Unanderra — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Berkeley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Unanderra — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Berkeley has more residents (7,798 vs 5,476); Unanderra skews older (42 vs 40).

Berkeley Unanderra
Population 7,798
+30% vs other
 5,476
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.5% +0.8%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $63,284/yr $62,972/yr
Median weekly rent $290/wk
+2% vs other
 $285/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Berkeley Unanderra
0-4 5.6% / 5.8%
Berkeley — 0-4: 5.6% Unanderra — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 13.3% / 11.1%
Berkeley — 5-14: 13.3% Unanderra — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 5.9% / 5.9%
Berkeley — 15-19: 5.9% Unanderra — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.2% / 5.6%
Berkeley — 20-24: 6.2% Unanderra — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 12.5% / 13.1%
Berkeley — 25-34: 12.5% Unanderra — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 11.8% / 11.3%
Berkeley — 35-44: 11.8% Unanderra — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 12.7% / 10.9%
Berkeley — 45-54: 12.7% Unanderra — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 13.7% / 11.1%
Berkeley — 55-64: 13.7% Unanderra — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 9.8% / 10.8%
Berkeley — 65-74: 9.8% Unanderra — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 5.5% / 8.3%
Berkeley — 75-84: 5.5% Unanderra — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 2.8% / 5.8%
Berkeley — 85+: 2.8% Unanderra — 85+: 5.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Berkeley 35.4% lone person
Berkeley — Lone Person: 35.4% Berkeley — Couple Families: 35.7% Berkeley — One Parent Families: 23.8% Berkeley — Group Household: 3.9% Berkeley — Other Families: 1.2%
Unanderra 41.7% lone person
Unanderra — Lone Person: 41.7% Unanderra — Couple Families: 31.3% Unanderra — One Parent Families: 21.6% Unanderra — Group Household: 3.4% Unanderra — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Unanderra 44.4% renting
Unanderra — Owned Outright: 29.1% Unanderra — Mortgage: 26.5% Unanderra — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Berkeley Unanderra
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 17.2%
Berkeley — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Unanderra — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Bachelor Degree 5.9% / 8.3%
Berkeley — Bachelor Degree: 5.9% Unanderra — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 6.2%
Berkeley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Unanderra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 2.0%
Berkeley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Unanderra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.0%
Berkeley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Unanderra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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 Unanderra
England 3.1% / 3.7%
Berkeley — England: 3.1% Unanderra — England: 3.7%
Italy 0.8% / 1.5%
Berkeley — Italy: 0.8% Unanderra — Italy: 1.5%
Philippines 0.9% / 1.2%
Berkeley — Philippines: 0.9% Unanderra — Philippines: 1.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.9%
Berkeley — New Zealand: 0.9% Unanderra — New Zealand: 0.9%
Lebanon 1.0% / —
Berkeley — Lebanon: 1.0% Unanderra — Lebanon: not among its largest
Vietnam 0.9% / —
Berkeley — Vietnam: 0.9% Unanderra — Vietnam: not among its largest
India — / 0.8%
Berkeley — India: not among its largest Unanderra — India: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Berkeley 88.8% houses
Berkeley — Houses: 88.8% Berkeley — Flats / Apartments: 8.5% Berkeley — Townhouses: 2.7%
Unanderra 78.0% houses
Unanderra — Houses: 78.0% Unanderra — Flats / Apartments: 12.5% Unanderra — Townhouses: 9.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Berkeley Unanderra
Median house price $857,500 $950,000
Median unit price $867,500 $760,000
Median land price $256,800 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 45 sales
 19 days
from 21 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 Unanderra
3 bed $838K / $912K
Berkeley — 3 bed: $838K (78 sales) Unanderra — 3 bed: $912K (30 sales)

78 vs 30 sales

4 bed $950K / $1.1M
Berkeley — 4 bed: $950K (30 sales) Unanderra — 4 bed: $1.1M (9 sales)

30 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Unanderra has more industrially zoned land (46% vs 2%); Berkeley has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 2%).

Berkeley Unanderra
Industrial 2% 46%
Residential 38% 30%
Environmental 33% 2%
Parks and recreation 18% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 13%
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 Unanderra
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 Unanderra
Houses 4.1%
$690/wk on $875K
 4.1%
$750/wk on $955K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Berkeley Unanderra
House price Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Schools Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW

Liveability

Berkeley scores higher overall (49 vs 38); Unanderra is more walkable (89 vs 70).

Berkeley Unanderra
Grade B C
Score 49/100 38/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Berkeley Unanderra
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
86/100
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
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Berkeley Unanderra
Inside the suburb 3 6
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 7.3 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.1% 1.0%

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 Unanderra

  • Cedars Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Farmborough Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Pius X Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Aspect South Coast School, Farmborough Heights Independent · Combined · Special school
  • Aspect South Coast School, Unanderra Independent · Primary · Special school
  • Cedars Christian College - Aspire Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Berkeley Unanderra
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 5 6
Childcare 4 5
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 5 22

Mobility

Berkeley Unanderra
Walkability score 70/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 92.4 km 91.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 87 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 155.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 186.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Unanderra
Car (driver) 73.3% / 66.6%
Berkeley — Car (driver): 73.3% Unanderra — Car (driver): 66.6%
Worked from Home 17.4% / 22.9%
Berkeley — Worked from Home: 17.4% Unanderra — Worked from Home: 22.9%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 5.7%
Berkeley — Car (passenger): 5.7% Unanderra — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Bus 1.5% / 2.0%
Berkeley — Bus: 1.5% Unanderra — Bus: 2.0%
Walked Only 0.8% / 1.9%
Berkeley — Walked Only: 0.8% Unanderra — Walked Only: 1.9%
Train 1.1% / 0.8%
Berkeley — Train: 1.1% Unanderra — Train: 0.8%

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

Setting

Berkeley Unanderra
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km 3.9 km

NBN connectivity

Berkeley Unanderra
Connectivity score 74/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
3,328 premises
 41%
3,480 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

Berkeley Unanderra
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Berkeley

Large Blocks

Unanderra

River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Berkeley

Berkeley vs Kanahooka Berkeley vs Lake Heights Berkeley vs Cringila Berkeley vs Kembla Grange Berkeley vs Brownsville

Other comparisons with Unanderra

Unanderra vs Figtree Unanderra vs Cordeaux Heights Unanderra vs Farmborough Heights Unanderra vs Cringila Unanderra vs Kembla Grange Unanderra vs Spring Hill
Full data on Berkeley Full data on Unanderra
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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