Dapto vs Kanahooka

Dapto is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 48 in Kanahooka. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Kanahooka: a median of $960,000, against $858,000 in Dapto, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Kanahooka tends to suit older residents.

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

Dapto

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Kanahooka carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 75/100)

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

First-home buyers

Dapto

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($690,000 vs $820,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($858,500 vs $960,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Dapto

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (25% vs 13%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (27% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $450/wk)

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

  • Dapto is more walkable (59/100 vs 48/100)
  • Kanahooka sits closer to the CBD (94.9 km vs 97.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Dapto has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • Kanahooka carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 75/100)

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

Dapto and Kanahooka 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 Kanahooka
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 Kanahooka
Walkability 59 / 48
Dapto — Walkability: 59/100 Kanahooka — Walkability: 48/100
Safety 25 / 58
Dapto — Safety: 25/100 Kanahooka — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 72
Dapto — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kanahooka — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Dapto has more residents (10,954 vs 5,698); Kanahooka skews older (48 vs 39).

Dapto Kanahooka
Population 10,954
+48% vs other
 5,698
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.1% +2.2%
Median age 39 48
Median household income $76,700/yr
+5% vs other
 $72,748/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk $450/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dapto Kanahooka
0-4 6.1% / 5.0%
Dapto — 0-4: 6.1% Kanahooka — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 12.1% / 11.0%
Dapto — 5-14: 12.1% Kanahooka — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 6.4% / 5.3%
Dapto — 15-19: 6.4% Kanahooka — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.5% / 4.6%
Dapto — 20-24: 6.5% Kanahooka — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 13.4% / 9.4%
Dapto — 25-34: 13.4% Kanahooka — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 12.1% / 10.7%
Dapto — 35-44: 12.1% Kanahooka — 35-44: 10.7%
45-54 12.2% / 11.8%
Dapto — 45-54: 12.2% Kanahooka — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 11.1% / 11.2%
Dapto — 55-64: 11.1% Kanahooka — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 10.0% / 14.5%
Dapto — 65-74: 10.0% Kanahooka — 65-74: 14.5%
75-84 7.3% / 11.5%
Dapto — 75-84: 7.3% Kanahooka — 75-84: 11.5%
85+ 2.8% / 4.8%
Dapto — 85+: 2.8% Kanahooka — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

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%
Kanahooka 43.3% couple families
Kanahooka — Couple Families: 43.3% Kanahooka — Lone Person: 38.2% Kanahooka — One Parent Families: 15.5% Kanahooka — Group Household: 2.2% Kanahooka — Other Families: 0.8%
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%
Kanahooka 12.6% renting
Kanahooka — Owned Outright: 52.2% Kanahooka — Mortgage: 35.2% Kanahooka — Renting: 12.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dapto Kanahooka
Certificate III & IV 21.1% / 19.8%
Dapto — Certificate III & IV: 21.1% Kanahooka — Certificate III & IV: 19.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 7.5%
Dapto — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Kanahooka — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Bachelor Degree 6.3% / 7.9%
Dapto — Bachelor Degree: 6.3% Kanahooka — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 2.4%
Dapto — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Kanahooka — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.6%
Dapto — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Kanahooka — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

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 Kanahooka
England 5.3% / 6.9%
Dapto — England: 5.3% Kanahooka — England: 6.9%
Scotland 0.8% / 1.3%
Dapto — Scotland: 0.8% Kanahooka — Scotland: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.9%
Dapto — New Zealand: 1.0% Kanahooka — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines 0.7% / 1.0%
Dapto — Philippines: 0.7% Kanahooka — Philippines: 1.0%
Germany 0.5% / 1.2%
Dapto — Germany: 0.5% Kanahooka — Germany: 1.2%
Italy 0.4% / 0.9%
Dapto — Italy: 0.4% Kanahooka — Italy: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

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%
Kanahooka 84.0% houses
Kanahooka — Houses: 84.0% Kanahooka — Townhouses: 14.7% Kanahooka — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Dapto Kanahooka
Median house price $858,500 $960,000
Median unit price $690,000 $820,000
Median land price — $420,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 90 sales
 23 days
from 31 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 Kanahooka
2 bed $750K / $780K
Dapto — 2 bed: $750K (5 sales) Kanahooka — 2 bed: $780K (10 sales)

5 vs 10 sales

3 bed $843K / $933K
Dapto — 3 bed: $843K (101 sales) Kanahooka — 3 bed: $933K (39 sales)

101 vs 39 sales

4 bed $940K / $1.07M
Dapto — 4 bed: $940K (53 sales) Kanahooka — 4 bed: $1.07M (31 sales)

53 vs 31 sales

5 bed $1.05M / $1.14M
Dapto — 5 bed: $1.05M (15 sales) Kanahooka — 5 bed: $1.14M (15 sales)

15 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Dapto Kanahooka
Residential 56% 59%
Environmental 15% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 9%
Parks and recreation 8% 9%
Industrial 5% 0%
Rural and farming 2% 4%
Commercial 2% 0%
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 Kanahooka
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 Kanahooka
Houses 3.9%
$655/wk on $882K
 4.2%
$700/wk on $870K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Dapto Kanahooka
House price Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Schools Higher than 57% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Dapto is more walkable (59 vs 48).

Dapto Kanahooka
Grade C B
Score 48/100 51/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Kanahooka carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 0); Dapto carries more crime risk (75 vs 42).

Dapto Kanahooka
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
28/100
Crime High
75/100
 Moderate
42/100
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 Kanahooka
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0 2

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 Kanahooka

  • Hayes Park Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Kanahooka High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Dapto sits further from the CBD (97.3 km vs 94.9 km).

Dapto Kanahooka
Walkability score 59/100 48/100
Distance to Sydney 97.3 km
+2% vs other
 94.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 88 min 86 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 219.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 57.5
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 Kanahooka
Car (driver) 72.8% / 70.8%
Dapto — Car (driver): 72.8% Kanahooka — Car (driver): 70.8%
Worked from Home 18.9% / 23.3%
Dapto — Worked from Home: 18.9% Kanahooka — Worked from Home: 23.3%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.6%
Dapto — Car (passenger): 4.4% Kanahooka — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 1.3% / 1.1%
Dapto — Train: 1.3% Kanahooka — Train: 1.1%
Walked Only 1.6% / 0.3%
Dapto — Walked Only: 1.6% Kanahooka — Walked Only: 0.3%
Bicycle 0.3% / 0.5%
Dapto — Bicycle: 0.3% Kanahooka — Bicycle: 0.5%

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

Setting

Dapto Kanahooka
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.6 km 6.5 km

NBN connectivity

Dapto Kanahooka
Connectivity score 100/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
5,237 premises
 96%
2,640 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Dapto

Regional Centre

Kanahooka

Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dapto

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

Other comparisons with Kanahooka

Kanahooka vs Berkeley Kanahooka vs Koonawarra Kanahooka vs Kembla Grange Kanahooka vs Brownsville
Full data on Dapto Full data on Kanahooka
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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