Exeter vs Penrose

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Exeter, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Exeter: a median of $2.11 million, against $815,000 in Penrose. On these figures, Exeter tends to suit couples, while Penrose suits 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

Exeter

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 72/100)

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

First-home buyers

Penrose

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($815,000 vs $2,112,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Exeter

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Exeter

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (103 min vs 114 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (145.8 km vs 148.6 km)
  • But Penrose is more walkable (27/100 vs 14/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Exeter carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 72/100)
  • Penrose is more walkable (27/100 vs 14/100)

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

Investors

Exeter

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.5% vs 6.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Exeter Penrose
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.

Exeter Penrose
Walkability 14 / 27
Exeter — Walkability: 14/100 Penrose — Walkability: 27/100
Safety 60 / 28
Exeter — Safety: 60/100 Penrose — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 17 / 16
Exeter — Low fire risk: 17/100 Penrose — Low fire risk: 16/100

Demographics

Exeter has more residents (1,087 vs 263); Exeter has higher household incomes ($99,528 vs $56,732).

Exeter Penrose
Population 1,087
+76% vs other
 263
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.5% +6.5%
Median age 53 55
Median household income $99,528/yr
+43% vs other
 $56,732/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+2% vs other
 $390/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Exeter Penrose
0-4 5.1% / 4.9%
Exeter — 0-4: 5.1% Penrose — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 11.9% / 8.7%
Exeter — 5-14: 11.9% Penrose — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 3.7% / 11.0%
Exeter — 15-19: 3.7% Penrose — 15-19: 11.0%
20-24 2.9% / 3.4%
Exeter — 20-24: 2.9% Penrose — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 5.5% / 7.2%
Exeter — 25-34: 5.5% Penrose — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 9.5% / 9.9%
Exeter — 35-44: 9.5% Penrose — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 12.5% / 7.2%
Exeter — 45-54: 12.5% Penrose — 45-54: 7.2%
55-64 15.4% / 20.2%
Exeter — 55-64: 15.4% Penrose — 55-64: 20.2%
65-74 18.7% / 20.2%
Exeter — 65-74: 18.7% Penrose — 65-74: 20.2%
75-84 12.2% / 4.9%
Exeter — 75-84: 12.2% Penrose — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 1.5% / 3.8%
Exeter — 85+: 1.5% Penrose — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Exeter 38.5% lone person
Exeter — Lone Person: 38.5% Exeter — Couple Families: 47.1% Exeter — One Parent Families: 11.1% Exeter — Group Household: 2.0% Exeter — Other Families: 1.2%
Penrose 39.2% lone person
Penrose — Lone Person: 39.2% Penrose — Couple Families: 27.8% Penrose — One Parent Families: 29.1% Penrose — Group Household: 3.8% Penrose — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Exeter 11.0% renting
Exeter — Owned Outright: 55.3% Exeter — Mortgage: 33.7% Exeter — Renting: 11.0%
Penrose 11.4% renting
Penrose — Owned Outright: 62.9% Penrose — Mortgage: 25.7% Penrose — Renting: 11.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Exeter Penrose
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 16.3%
Exeter — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Penrose — Bachelor Degree: 16.3%
Certificate III & IV 12.1% / 14.1%
Exeter — Certificate III & IV: 12.1% Penrose — Certificate III & IV: 14.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.0% / 5.7%
Exeter — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0% Penrose — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7%
Postgraduate Degree 7.5% / 5.3%
Exeter — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5% Penrose — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 1.9%
Exeter — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Penrose — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

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.

Exeter Penrose
England 6.5% / 7.6%
Exeter — England: 6.5% Penrose — England: 7.6%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.1%
Exeter — New Zealand: 1.8% Penrose — New Zealand: 1.1%
Thailand — / 1.9%
Exeter — Thailand: not among its largest Penrose — Thailand: 1.9%
Germany 0.5% / 1.1%
Exeter — Germany: 0.5% Penrose — Germany: 1.1%
South Africa 0.7% / —
Exeter — South Africa: 0.7% Penrose — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.6% / —
Exeter — Scotland: 0.6% Penrose — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Exeter — Philippines: 0.5% Penrose — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Exeter 99.8% houses
Exeter — Houses: 99.8% Exeter — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Penrose 100.0% houses
Penrose — Houses: 100.0% Penrose — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Exeter Penrose
Median house price $2,112,500 $815,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,842,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 9 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Penrose has more rural and farming land (54% vs 23%); Exeter has more land zoned for conservation (73% vs 44%).

Exeter Penrose
Environmental 73% 44%
Rural and farming 23% 54%
Residential 3% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
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

Exeter Penrose
New dwellings approved 335
across Wingecarribee
same for both
Approvals change year on year +6%
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.

Exeter Penrose
Houses 3.1%
$1,300/wk on $2.19M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Exeter Penrose
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 40% of NSW
Income Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of NSW —

Liveability

Penrose is more walkable (27 vs 14).

Exeter Penrose
Grade C —
Score 43/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Penrose carries more crime risk (72 vs 40).

Exeter Penrose
Bushfire High
83/100
 High
84/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 High
72/100
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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Exeter Penrose
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Exeter

  • Exeter Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Penrose

  • Penrose Public School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Exeter Penrose
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 13 6

Mobility

Penrose sits further from the CBD (148.6 km vs 145.8 km).

Exeter Penrose
Walkability score 14/100 27/100
Distance to Sydney 145.8 km 148.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min 114 min
Public transport score 38/100
Rail · Bus
 28/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2579
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 65
postcode 2579
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.

Exeter Penrose
Car (driver) 54.8% / 62.7%
Exeter — Car (driver): 54.8% Penrose — Car (driver): 62.7%
Worked from Home 36.0% / 25.3%
Exeter — Worked from Home: 36.0% Penrose — Worked from Home: 25.3%
Walked Only 6.2% / 8.0%
Exeter — Walked Only: 6.2% Penrose — Walked Only: 8.0%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 4.0%
Exeter — Car (passenger): 3.0% Penrose — Car (passenger): 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.7%).

Setting

Exeter Penrose
Elevation 702 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 638 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Exeter Penrose
Connectivity score 32/100 29/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
556 premises
 0%
135 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Exeter Penrose
Average residential rate $2,072/yr
same for both
Council Wingecarribee
same for both

Federal electorate

Exeter Penrose
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Exeter Penrose
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Exeter

Acreage Premium Retirees

Penrose

Retirees Rural Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Exeter

Exeter vs Bundanoon Exeter vs Sutton Forest Exeter vs Werai

Other comparisons with Penrose

Penrose vs Bundanoon Penrose vs Wingello Penrose vs Sutton Forest Penrose vs Paddys River
Full data on Exeter Full data on Penrose
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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