Cardiff vs Hillsborough

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Hillsborough, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Hillsborough: a median of $1.12 million, against $875,000 in Cardiff, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Cardiff tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Hillsborough suits 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

Cardiff

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)
  • But Hillsborough is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Cardiff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($875,000 vs $1,117,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cardiff

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($375/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Cardiff

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 52/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (114 min vs 120 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cardiff

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 52/100)

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

Investors

Cardiff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.4% vs -1.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cardiff Hillsborough
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.

Cardiff Hillsborough
Walkability 88 / 52
Cardiff — Walkability: 88/100 Hillsborough — Walkability: 52/100
Low fire risk 100 / 84
Cardiff — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hillsborough — Low fire risk: 84/100

Demographics

Cardiff has more residents (6,318 vs 641); Hillsborough has higher household incomes ($102,440 vs $78,624).

Cardiff Hillsborough
Population 6,318
+90% vs other
 641
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.4% -1.7%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $78,624/yr $102,440/yr
+30% vs other
Median weekly rent $375/wk $420/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cardiff Hillsborough
0-4 6.3% / 5.1%
Cardiff — 0-4: 6.3% Hillsborough — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 11.4% / 12.3%
Cardiff — 5-14: 11.4% Hillsborough — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.4% / 6.4%
Cardiff — 15-19: 5.4% Hillsborough — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.5% / 6.1%
Cardiff — 20-24: 6.5% Hillsborough — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 15.3% / 12.9%
Cardiff — 25-34: 15.3% Hillsborough — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 14.2% / 10.1%
Cardiff — 35-44: 14.2% Hillsborough — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 11.9% / 14.4%
Cardiff — 45-54: 11.9% Hillsborough — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 10.5% / 11.9%
Cardiff — 55-64: 10.5% Hillsborough — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 9.5% / 10.0%
Cardiff — 65-74: 9.5% Hillsborough — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 6.9% / 6.7%
Cardiff — 75-84: 6.9% Hillsborough — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 2.2% / 0.6%
Cardiff — 85+: 2.2% Hillsborough — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cardiff 34.8% couple families
Cardiff — Couple Families: 34.8% Cardiff — Lone Person: 39.1% Cardiff — One Parent Families: 19.4% Cardiff — Group Household: 5.0% Cardiff — Other Families: 1.7%
Hillsborough 51.2% couple families
Hillsborough — Couple Families: 51.2% Hillsborough — Lone Person: 27.2% Hillsborough — One Parent Families: 19.1% Hillsborough — Group Household: 2.5% Hillsborough — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cardiff 31.7% renting
Cardiff — Owned Outright: 30.7% Cardiff — Mortgage: 37.6% Cardiff — Renting: 31.7%
Hillsborough 14.2% renting
Hillsborough — Owned Outright: 38.8% Hillsborough — Mortgage: 47.0% Hillsborough — Renting: 14.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cardiff Hillsborough
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 22.5%
Cardiff — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Hillsborough — Certificate III & IV: 22.5%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 9.8%
Cardiff — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Hillsborough — Bachelor Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 9.5%
Cardiff — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Hillsborough — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 0.8%
Cardiff — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Hillsborough — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 0.9%
Cardiff — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Hillsborough — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.5%).

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.

Cardiff Hillsborough
England 2.1% / 1.9%
Cardiff — England: 2.1% Hillsborough — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.1% / 2.5%
Cardiff — New Zealand: 1.1% Hillsborough — New Zealand: 2.5%
Italy 0.4% / 0.5%
Cardiff — Italy: 0.4% Hillsborough — Italy: 0.5%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.6%
Cardiff — Scotland: 0.3% Hillsborough — Scotland: 0.6%
India 0.8% / —
Cardiff — India: 0.8% Hillsborough — India: not among its largest
Philippines 0.6% / —
Cardiff — Philippines: 0.6% Hillsborough — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 0.6% / —
Cardiff — Germany: 0.6% Hillsborough — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cardiff 82.7% houses
Cardiff — Houses: 82.7% Cardiff — Townhouses: 11.0% Cardiff — Flats / Apartments: 6.3%
Hillsborough 96.2% houses
Hillsborough — Houses: 96.2% Hillsborough — Townhouses: 0.0% Hillsborough — Flats / Apartments: 3.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cardiff Hillsborough
Median house price $875,000 $1,117,500
Median unit price $757,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 43 sales
 17 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Cardiff has more industrially zoned land (28% vs 0%); Hillsborough has more land zoned for conservation (16% vs 1%).

Cardiff Hillsborough
Residential 55% 16%
Parks and recreation 10% 49%
Industrial 28% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 17%
Environmental 1% 16%
Rural and farming 0% 2%
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

Cardiff Hillsborough
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Cardiff Hillsborough
Houses 4.3%
$700/wk on $837K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cardiff Hillsborough
House price Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Schools Higher than 58% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 88% of NSW —

Liveability

Cardiff is more walkable (88 vs 52); Hillsborough scores higher overall (59 vs 51).

Cardiff Hillsborough
Grade B
same for both
Score 51/100 59/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Hillsborough carries more bushfire risk (16 vs 0).

Cardiff Hillsborough
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
16/100
Crime High
87/100
 —
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 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Cardiff Hillsborough
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.9 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 1.9%

Schools in Cardiff

  • St Kevin's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Cardiff High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Cardiff North Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Cardiff Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Hillsborough

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

Amenities in the suburb

Cardiff Hillsborough
Supermarkets 2 0
Parks & reserves 4 1
Childcare 8 0
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 7
same for both

Mobility

Cardiff Hillsborough
Walkability score 88/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 150.8 km 149.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 114 min 120 min
Public transport score 87/100
Rail · Bus
 35/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 262.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 6 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2285
 0.9%
postcode 2290
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 2285
 37
postcode 2290

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.

Cardiff Hillsborough
Car (driver) 70.4% / 69.9%
Cardiff — Car (driver): 70.4% Hillsborough — Car (driver): 69.9%
Worked from Home 21.9% / 24.2%
Cardiff — Worked from Home: 21.9% Hillsborough — Worked from Home: 24.2%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 4.8%
Cardiff — Car (passenger): 4.2% Hillsborough — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus 1.3% / 1.1%
Cardiff — Bus: 1.3% Hillsborough — Bus: 1.1%
Walked Only 1.2% / —
Cardiff — Walked Only: 1.2% Hillsborough — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.4%).

Setting

Cardiff Hillsborough
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.6 km 5.2 km

NBN connectivity

Cardiff Hillsborough
Connectivity score 66/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
3,699 premises
 57%
248 premises

Climate

Cardiff Hillsborough
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cardiff Hillsborough
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Cardiff Hillsborough
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Cardiff Hillsborough
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cardiff Hillsborough
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cardiff

Parks River Transport Hub

Hillsborough

Acreage River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cardiff

Cardiff vs Macquarie Hills Cardiff vs Glendale Cardiff vs Cardiff South Cardiff vs Garden Suburb Cardiff vs Boolaroo Cardiff vs Cardiff Heights

Other comparisons with Hillsborough

Hillsborough vs Charlestown Hillsborough vs Warners Bay Hillsborough vs Mount Hutton Hillsborough vs Cardiff South Hillsborough vs Garden Suburb
Full data on Cardiff Full data on Hillsborough
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or