Dapto vs Horsley

Horsley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 39 in Dapto. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Horsley, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Horsley: a median of $995,000, against $858,000 in Dapto, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Dapto tends to suit people living alone, while Horsley suits 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

Horsley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 75/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 61%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 85%)
  • But Dapto has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

  • Dapto has cheaper houses ($858,500 vs $995,000)
  • Horsley leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Dapto

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Dapto

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (15% vs 5%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 12%)
  • But Horsley carries lower crime risk (30/100 vs 75/100)

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

Investors

Horsley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.8% vs 2.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dapto Horsley
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.

Dapto Horsley
Walkability 59 / 55
Dapto — Walkability: 59/100 Horsley — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 25 / 70
Dapto — Safety: 25/100 Horsley — Safety: 70/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Dapto — Low fire risk: 100/100 Horsley — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Horsley has higher household incomes ($112,528 vs $76,700); Horsley rents higher ($500/wk vs $400/wk).

Dapto Horsley
Population 10,954
+14% vs other
 9,437
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.1% +14.8%
Median age 39 36
Median household income $76,700/yr $112,528/yr
+47% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $500/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dapto Horsley
0-4 6.1% / 6.4%
Dapto — 0-4: 6.1% Horsley — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 12.1% / 16.1%
Dapto — 5-14: 12.1% Horsley — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 6.4% / 7.4%
Dapto — 15-19: 6.4% Horsley — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 6.5% / 6.3%
Dapto — 20-24: 6.5% Horsley — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 13.4% / 11.7%
Dapto — 25-34: 13.4% Horsley — 25-34: 11.7%
35-44 12.1% / 15.2%
Dapto — 35-44: 12.1% Horsley — 35-44: 15.2%
45-54 12.2% / 13.2%
Dapto — 45-54: 12.2% Horsley — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 11.1% / 11.4%
Dapto — 55-64: 11.1% Horsley — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 10.0% / 7.4%
Dapto — 65-74: 10.0% Horsley — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 7.3% / 3.8%
Dapto — 75-84: 7.3% Horsley — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 2.8% / 1.2%
Dapto — 85+: 2.8% Horsley — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dapto 40.9% couple families
Dapto — Couple Families: 40.9% Dapto — Lone Person: 33.6% Dapto — One Parent Families: 20.4% Dapto — Group Household: 3.3% Dapto — Other Families: 1.7%
Horsley 60.9% couple families
Horsley — Couple Families: 60.9% Horsley — Lone Person: 17.6% Horsley — One Parent Families: 18.7% Horsley — Group Household: 2.2% Horsley — 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.

Dapto 25.4% renting
Dapto — Owned Outright: 35.6% Dapto — Mortgage: 39.0% Dapto — Renting: 25.4%
Horsley 17.2% renting
Horsley — Owned Outright: 29.7% Horsley — Mortgage: 53.1% Horsley — Renting: 17.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dapto Horsley
Certificate III & IV 21.1% / 19.8%
Dapto — Certificate III & IV: 21.1% Horsley — Certificate III & IV: 19.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 8.2%
Dapto — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Horsley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Bachelor Degree 6.3% / 8.7%
Dapto — Bachelor Degree: 6.3% Horsley — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 2.7%
Dapto — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Horsley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.3%
Dapto — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Horsley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Dapto Horsley
England 5.3% / 4.1%
Dapto — England: 5.3% Horsley — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.0%
Dapto — New Zealand: 1.0% Horsley — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.9%
Dapto — Philippines: 0.7% Horsley — Philippines: 0.9%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.7%
Dapto — Scotland: 0.8% Horsley — Scotland: 0.7%
India 0.3% / 1.2%
Dapto — India: 0.3% Horsley — India: 1.2%
China — / 0.8%
Dapto — China: not among its largest Horsley — China: 0.8%
Germany 0.5% / —
Dapto — Germany: 0.5% Horsley — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dapto 84.7% houses
Dapto — Houses: 84.7% Dapto — Townhouses: 12.8% Dapto — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Horsley 95.4% houses
Horsley — Houses: 95.4% Horsley — Townhouses: 4.1% Horsley — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Dapto Horsley
Median house price $858,500 $995,000
Median unit price $690,000 —
Median land price — $560,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 90 sales
 27 days
from 108 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.

Dapto Horsley
3 bed $843K / $875K
Dapto — 3 bed: $843K (101 sales) Horsley — 3 bed: $875K (65 sales)

101 vs 65 sales

4 bed $940K / $1.05M
Dapto — 4 bed: $940K (53 sales) Horsley — 4 bed: $1.05M (101 sales)

53 vs 101 sales

5 bed $1.05M / $1.17M
Dapto — 5 bed: $1.05M (15 sales) Horsley — 5 bed: $1.17M (21 sales)

15 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Dapto Horsley
Residential 56% 63%
Environmental 15% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 1%
Parks and recreation 8% 10%
Industrial 5% 0%
Commercial 2% 0%
Rural and farming 2%
same for both
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

Dapto Horsley
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.

Dapto Horsley
Houses 3.9%
$655/wk on $882K
 3.7%
$750/wk on $1.06M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Dapto Horsley
House price Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Schools Higher than 57% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW

Liveability

Horsley scores higher overall (65 vs 48).

Dapto Horsley
Grade C B
Score 48/100 65/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Dapto carries more crime risk (75 vs 30).

Dapto Horsley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
75/100
 Low
30/100
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 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Dapto Horsley
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Dapto

  • Lakelands Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Dapto High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Mount Brown Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St John's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Horsley

  • Dapto Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dapto Horsley
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 6
same for both
Childcare 15 4
GPs 6 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Dapto Horsley
Walkability score 59/100 55/100
Distance to Sydney 97.3 km 98.4 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 88 min 90 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 219.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 168.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2530
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2530
same for both

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.

Dapto Horsley
Car (driver) 72.8% / 68.1%
Dapto — Car (driver): 72.8% Horsley — Car (driver): 68.1%
Worked from Home 18.9% / 26.3%
Dapto — Worked from Home: 18.9% Horsley — Worked from Home: 26.3%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.7%
Dapto — Car (passenger): 4.4% Horsley — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only 1.6% / 0.5%
Dapto — Walked Only: 1.6% Horsley — Walked Only: 0.5%
Train 1.3% / 0.8%
Dapto — Train: 1.3% Horsley — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.8%).

Setting

Dapto Horsley
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.6 km 10.1 km

NBN connectivity

Dapto Horsley
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
5,237 premises
 100%
3,554 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Dapto Horsley
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

Dapto Horsley
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Dapto Horsley
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dapto Horsley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dapto

Regional Centre

Horsley

Family Quiet Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dapto

Dapto vs Kanahooka Dapto vs Koonawarra Dapto vs Avondale Dapto vs Kembla Grange Dapto vs Brownsville Dapto vs Yallah

Other comparisons with Horsley

Horsley vs Wongawilli Horsley vs Huntley
Full data on Dapto Full data on Horsley
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