Cowan vs Mooney Mooney

Cowan is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 52 in Mooney Mooney. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Cowan, most households are couple families. In Mooney Mooney, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mooney Mooney: a median of $1.9 million, against $1.23 million in Cowan, though rent is higher in Cowan. On these figures, Cowan tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Cowan

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 82/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 68%)

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

First-home buyers

Cowan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,230,000 vs $1,896,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mooney Mooney

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $515/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 23%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Cowan sits closer to the CBD (46.1 km vs 49.4 km)
  • Mooney Mooney has a shorter drive in (48 min vs 57 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Cowan carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 82/100)
  • Mooney Mooney has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 18%)

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

Investors

Mooney Mooney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.9% vs -2.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cowan Mooney Mooney
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.

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Walkability 10 / 12
Cowan — Walkability: 10/100 Mooney Mooney — Walkability: 12/100
Safety 43 / 18
Cowan — Safety: 43/100 Mooney Mooney — Safety: 18/100
Low fire risk 24 / 4
Cowan — Low fire risk: 24/100 Mooney Mooney — Low fire risk: 4/100

Demographics

Cowan has more residents (631 vs 350); Cowan rents higher ($515/wk vs $300/wk).

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Population 631
+45% vs other
 350
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.8% +12.9%
Median age 41 52
Median household income $117,000/yr
+12% vs other
 $102,856/yr
Median weekly rent $515/wk
+42% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cowan Mooney Mooney
0-4 5.2% / 3.7%
Cowan — 0-4: 5.2% Mooney Mooney — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 14.7% / 8.3%
Cowan — 5-14: 14.7% Mooney Mooney — 5-14: 8.3%
15-19 9.4% / 3.4%
Cowan — 15-19: 9.4% Mooney Mooney — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 6.5% / 4.3%
Cowan — 20-24: 6.5% Mooney Mooney — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 7.6% / 6.3%
Cowan — 25-34: 7.6% Mooney Mooney — 25-34: 6.3%
35-44 11.9% / 11.1%
Cowan — 35-44: 11.9% Mooney Mooney — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 15.5% / 14.3%
Cowan — 45-54: 15.5% Mooney Mooney — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 14.7% / 20.0%
Cowan — 55-64: 14.7% Mooney Mooney — 55-64: 20.0%
65-74 10.8% / 16.3%
Cowan — 65-74: 10.8% Mooney Mooney — 65-74: 16.3%
75-84 5.7% / 7.4%
Cowan — 75-84: 5.7% Mooney Mooney — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 1.0% / 1.1%
Cowan — 85+: 1.0% Mooney Mooney — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cowan 62.8% couple families
Cowan — Couple Families: 62.8% Cowan — Lone Person: 19.9% Cowan — One Parent Families: 17.3% Cowan — Other Families: 0.0%
Mooney Mooney 48.6% couple families
Mooney Mooney — Couple Families: 48.6% Mooney Mooney — Lone Person: 27.8% Mooney Mooney — One Parent Families: 19.4% Mooney Mooney — Other Families: 4.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cowan 10.3% renting
Cowan — Owned Outright: 39.0% Cowan — Mortgage: 50.7% Cowan — Renting: 10.3%
Mooney Mooney 27.0% renting
Mooney Mooney — Owned Outright: 34.1% Mooney Mooney — Mortgage: 38.9% Mooney Mooney — Renting: 27.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Certificate III & IV 17.7% / 18.0%
Cowan — Certificate III & IV: 17.7% Mooney Mooney — Certificate III & IV: 18.0%
Bachelor Degree 16.8% / 16.0%
Cowan — Bachelor Degree: 16.8% Mooney Mooney — Bachelor Degree: 16.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 10.3%
Cowan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Mooney Mooney — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 5.7%
Cowan — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Mooney Mooney — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.4%
Cowan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Mooney Mooney — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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.

Cowan Mooney Mooney
England 3.5% / 5.7%
Cowan — England: 3.5% Mooney Mooney — England: 5.7%
New Zealand 1.4% / 2.3%
Cowan — New Zealand: 1.4% Mooney Mooney — New Zealand: 2.3%
Philippines 1.3% / 1.4%
Cowan — Philippines: 1.3% Mooney Mooney — Philippines: 1.4%
South Africa 1.6% / —
Cowan — South Africa: 1.6% Mooney Mooney — South Africa: not among its largest
China — / 1.1%
Cowan — China: not among its largest Mooney Mooney — China: 1.1%
Scotland — / 1.1%
Cowan — Scotland: not among its largest Mooney Mooney — Scotland: 1.1%
Iran 1.0% / —
Cowan — Iran: 1.0% Mooney Mooney — Iran: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cowan 98.1% houses
Cowan — Houses: 98.1% Cowan — Townhouses: 1.4% Cowan — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Mooney Mooney 100.0% houses
Mooney Mooney — Houses: 100.0% Mooney Mooney — Townhouses: 2.2% Mooney Mooney — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Median house price $1,230,000 $1,896,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 125 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Cowan has more land zoned for conservation (88% vs 48%).

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Environmental 88% 48%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 36%
Parks and recreation 4% 8%
Residential 1% 8%
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

Cowan Mooney Mooney
New dwellings approved 260
across Hornsby
 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
Approvals change year on year -79% +67%

Ranking within NSW

Cowan Mooney Mooney
House price Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW

Liveability

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Grade C —
Score 40/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Mooney Mooney carries more crime risk (82 vs 57); Mooney Mooney carries more bushfire risk (96 vs 76).

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Bushfire High
76/100
 High
96/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 High
82/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Cowan

  • Cowan Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Mooney Mooney

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

Amenities in the suburb

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Mooney Mooney sits further from the CBD (49.4 km vs 46.1 km).

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Walkability score 10/100 12/100
Distance to Sydney 46.1 km 49.4 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 57 min 48 min
Public transport score 48/100
Rail · Bus
 27/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 5.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 7.5 min
scheduled, not actual
 8 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2081
 1.1%
postcode 2083
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2081
 36
postcode 2083

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.

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Worked from Home 42.2% / 50.0%
Cowan — Worked from Home: 42.2% Mooney Mooney — Worked from Home: 50.0%
Car (driver) 47.0% / 40.6%
Cowan — Car (driver): 47.0% Mooney Mooney — Car (driver): 40.6%
Train 5.2% / 2.3%
Cowan — Train: 5.2% Mooney Mooney — Train: 2.3%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.1%
Cowan — Car (passenger): 4.1% Mooney Mooney — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Walked Only 1.5% / 3.9%
Cowan — Walked Only: 1.5% Mooney Mooney — Walked Only: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.0%).

Setting

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Elevation 59 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km 2.9 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Connectivity score 78/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 60%
239 premises
 0%
161 premises

Climate

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cowan Mooney Mooney
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Average residential rate $1,488/yr $1,409/yr
Council Hornsby Central Coast (NSW)

Federal electorate

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Division Berowra Robertson
Member Julian Leeser Gordon Reid
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Cowan Mooney Mooney
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cowan

Outer Trains

Mooney Mooney

Acreage Coastal Outer Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cowan

Cowan vs Berowra Heights Cowan vs Berowra Cowan vs Brooklyn Cowan vs Canoelands Cowan vs Berowra Waters Cowan vs Bar Point

Other comparisons with Mooney Mooney

Mooney Mooney vs Brooklyn Mooney Mooney vs Bar Point Mooney Mooney vs Cheero Point
Full data on Cowan Full data on Mooney Mooney
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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