Cronulla vs Kurnell

Kurnell is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 43 in Cronulla. In both, most households own their home. In Cronulla, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. In Kurnell, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Cronulla: a median of $3.3 million, against $1.82 million in Kurnell, though rent is higher in Kurnell. Cronulla is closer to the city centre: 30.5 km, against 33.9 km. On these figures, Cronulla tends to suit people living alone, while Kurnell suits 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

Kurnell

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 20%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 41%)
  • But Cronulla has more childcare (8 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Kurnell

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,825,000 vs $3,300,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cronulla

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Cronulla

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 26/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (30.5 km vs 33.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cronulla

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (80% vs 5%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 26/100)

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

Investors

Kurnell

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.5% vs -0.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cronulla Kurnell
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.

Cronulla Kurnell
Walkability 95 / 26
Cronulla — Walkability: 95/100 Kurnell — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 38 / 40
Cronulla — Safety: 38/100 Kurnell — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 100 / 43
Cronulla — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kurnell — Low fire risk: 43/100

Demographics

Cronulla has more residents (17,899 vs 2,528); Cronulla skews older (43 vs 38).

Cronulla Kurnell
Population 17,899
+86% vs other
 2,528
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.9% +11.5%
Median age 43 38
Median household income $107,016/yr $112,372/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $550/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cronulla Kurnell
0-4 4.6% / 7.7%
Cronulla — 0-4: 4.6% Kurnell — 0-4: 7.7%
5-14 7.3% / 16.0%
Cronulla — 5-14: 7.3% Kurnell — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 4.0% / 7.9%
Cronulla — 15-19: 4.0% Kurnell — 15-19: 7.9%
20-24 5.7% / 4.4%
Cronulla — 20-24: 5.7% Kurnell — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 18.0% / 9.6%
Cronulla — 25-34: 18.0% Kurnell — 25-34: 9.6%
35-44 12.2% / 14.3%
Cronulla — 35-44: 12.2% Kurnell — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 12.3% / 14.6%
Cronulla — 45-54: 12.3% Kurnell — 45-54: 14.6%
55-64 14.4% / 11.7%
Cronulla — 55-64: 14.4% Kurnell — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 12.4% / 8.3%
Cronulla — 65-74: 12.4% Kurnell — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 6.0% / 4.7%
Cronulla — 75-84: 6.0% Kurnell — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 3.1% / 1.4%
Cronulla — 85+: 3.1% Kurnell — 85+: 1.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cronulla 29.3% couple families
Cronulla — Couple Families: 29.3% Cronulla — Lone Person: 50.6% Cronulla — One Parent Families: 11.9% Cronulla — Group Household: 6.9% Cronulla — Other Families: 1.4%
Kurnell 58.5% couple families
Kurnell — Couple Families: 58.5% Kurnell — Lone Person: 20.4% Kurnell — One Parent Families: 17.9% Kurnell — Group Household: 2.6% Kurnell — Other Families: 0.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cronulla 41.9% renting
Cronulla — Owned Outright: 34.1% Cronulla — Mortgage: 24.0% Cronulla — Renting: 41.9%
Kurnell 16.9% renting
Kurnell — Owned Outright: 34.5% Kurnell — Mortgage: 48.5% Kurnell — Renting: 16.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cronulla Kurnell
Certificate III & IV 15.6% / 20.8%
Cronulla — Certificate III & IV: 15.6% Kurnell — Certificate III & IV: 20.8%
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 7.1%
Cronulla — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Kurnell — Bachelor Degree: 7.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 9.7%
Cronulla — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Kurnell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 1.2%
Cronulla — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Kurnell — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 1.1%
Cronulla — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Kurnell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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.

Cronulla Kurnell
England 3.6% / 3.3%
Cronulla — England: 3.6% Kurnell — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.6%
Cronulla — New Zealand: 1.6% Kurnell — New Zealand: 1.6%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.4%
Cronulla — South Africa: 0.6% Kurnell — South Africa: 0.4%
Brazil 0.7% / —
Cronulla — Brazil: 0.7% Kurnell — Brazil: not among its largest
Italy 0.6% / —
Cronulla — Italy: 0.6% Kurnell — Italy: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.4%
Cronulla — Scotland: not among its largest Kurnell — Scotland: 0.4%
China — / 0.3%
Cronulla — China: not among its largest Kurnell — China: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cronulla 20.5% houses
Cronulla — Houses: 20.5% Cronulla — Flats / Apartments: 73.5% Cronulla — Townhouses: 6.1%
Kurnell 95.2% houses
Kurnell — Houses: 95.2% Kurnell — Flats / Apartments: 2.0% Kurnell — Townhouses: 2.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cronulla Kurnell
Median house price $3,300,000 $1,825,000
Median unit price $1,053,000 $1,150,000
Median land price — $1,100,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 64 sales
 28 days
from 13 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.

Cronulla Kurnell
3 bed $3.11M / $1.88M
Cronulla — 3 bed: $3.11M (26 sales) Kurnell — 3 bed: $1.88M (19 sales)

26 vs 19 sales

4 bed $3.45M / $1.8M
Cronulla — 4 bed: $3.45M (31 sales) Kurnell — 4 bed: $1.8M (20 sales)

31 vs 20 sales

5 bed $3.79M / $3.05M
Cronulla — 5 bed: $3.79M (12 sales) Kurnell — 5 bed: $3.05M (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Kurnell has more land zoned for conservation (62% vs 13%); Kurnell has more industrially zoned land (20% vs 0%).

Cronulla Kurnell
Environmental 13% 62%
Residential 55% 0%
Parks and recreation 22% 4%
Industrial 0% 20%
Other and special use 0% 11%
Commercial 6% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 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

Cronulla Kurnell
New dwellings approved 1,449
across Sutherland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +117%
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.

Cronulla Kurnell
Houses 3.6%
$1,975/wk on $2.83M
 —
Units 4.1%
$798/wk on $1.02M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Cronulla Kurnell
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Schools Higher than 28% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 52% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 26% of NSW —

Liveability

Cronulla is more walkable (95 vs 26); Cronulla scores higher overall (64 vs 45).

Cronulla Kurnell
Grade B C
Score 64/100 45/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Kurnell carries more bushfire risk (57 vs 0).

Cronulla Kurnell
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
57/100
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
83/100
 High
79/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Cronulla Kurnell
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Cronulla

  • Cronulla Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Cronulla South Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Kurnell

  • Kurnell Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Kamay Botany Bay Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Cronulla Kurnell
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 39 3
Parks & reserves 13 15
Childcare 8 3
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 3 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 4 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Kurnell sits further from the CBD (33.9 km vs 30.5 km).

Cronulla Kurnell
Walkability score 95/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 30.5 km 33.9 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 42 min 45 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus · Ferry
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 197.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2230
 0.7%
postcode 2231
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 2230
 43
postcode 2231

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.

Cronulla Kurnell
Car (driver) 46.4% / 63.6%
Cronulla — Car (driver): 46.4% Kurnell — Car (driver): 63.6%
Worked from Home 43.9% / 29.3%
Cronulla — Worked from Home: 43.9% Kurnell — Worked from Home: 29.3%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.1%
Cronulla — Walked Only: 3.4% Kurnell — Walked Only: 2.1%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 2.8%
Cronulla — Car (passenger): 2.1% Kurnell — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Train 3.4% / 0.9%
Cronulla — Train: 3.4% Kurnell — Train: 0.9%
Bicycle 0.6% / 1.0%
Cronulla — Bicycle: 0.6% Kurnell — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.6%).

Setting

Cronulla Kurnell
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 146 m
469 m to a named beach
 277 m
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cronulla Kurnell
Connectivity score 75/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
11,217 premises
 41%
1,088 premises

Climate

Cronulla Kurnell
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cronulla Kurnell
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³ 6.1 µg/m³
PM10 16.1 µg/m³ 16.8 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.79 pphm 0.64 pphm

Council rates

Cronulla Kurnell
Average residential rate $1,552/yr
same for both
Council Sutherland
same for both

Federal electorate

Cronulla Kurnell
Division Cook
same for both
Member Simon Kennedy
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cronulla Kurnell
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cronulla

Apartments Beach Beachfront Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Outer Parks Urban

Kurnell

Acreage Coastal Family Middle-Ring Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cronulla

Cronulla vs Woolooware Cronulla vs Burraneer Cronulla vs Bundeena Cronulla vs Greenhills Beach

Other comparisons with Kurnell

Kurnell vs Caringbah Kurnell vs Woolooware Kurnell vs Taren Point Kurnell vs Greenhills Beach
Full data on Cronulla Full data on Kurnell
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