Fairy Meadow vs Mount Pleasant

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Mount Pleasant, most households are couple families. On these figures, Fairy Meadow tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and share households, while Mount Pleasant 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Fairy Meadow has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)
  • Mount Pleasant carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 77/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Pleasant

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 36%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fairy Meadow

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 6%)
  • has cheaper rent ($390/wk vs $550/wk)
  • But Mount Pleasant leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairy Meadow

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 53/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fairy Meadow

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (43% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 53/100)
  • But Mount Pleasant carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
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.

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Walkability 89 / 53
Fairy Meadow — Walkability: 89/100 Mount Pleasant — Walkability: 53/100
Safety 23 / 80
Fairy Meadow — Safety: 23/100 Mount Pleasant — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 100 / 15
Fairy Meadow — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Pleasant — Low fire risk: 15/100

Demographics

Fairy Meadow has more residents (7,512 vs 1,397); Mount Pleasant has higher household incomes ($148,824 vs $73,164).

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Population 7,512
+81% vs other
 1,397
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +2.0%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $73,164/yr $148,824/yr
+103% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $550/wk
+41% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
0-4 4.6% / 7.2%
Fairy Meadow — 0-4: 4.6% Mount Pleasant — 0-4: 7.2%
5-14 10.4% / 16.3%
Fairy Meadow — 5-14: 10.4% Mount Pleasant — 5-14: 16.3%
15-19 5.1% / 6.0%
Fairy Meadow — 15-19: 5.1% Mount Pleasant — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 10.5% / 4.9%
Fairy Meadow — 20-24: 10.5% Mount Pleasant — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 14.8% / 8.1%
Fairy Meadow — 25-34: 14.8% Mount Pleasant — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 11.6% / 14.5%
Fairy Meadow — 35-44: 11.6% Mount Pleasant — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 12.0% / 14.0%
Fairy Meadow — 45-54: 12.0% Mount Pleasant — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 11.4% / 11.9%
Fairy Meadow — 55-64: 11.4% Mount Pleasant — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 9.4% / 8.3%
Fairy Meadow — 65-74: 9.4% Mount Pleasant — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 7.2% / 6.7%
Fairy Meadow — 75-84: 7.2% Mount Pleasant — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 3.1% / 1.9%
Fairy Meadow — 85+: 3.1% Mount Pleasant — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fairy Meadow 31.3% couple families
Fairy Meadow — Couple Families: 31.3% Fairy Meadow — Lone Person: 39.9% Fairy Meadow — One Parent Families: 16.7% Fairy Meadow — Group Household: 10.3% Fairy Meadow — Other Families: 1.8%
Mount Pleasant 61.2% couple families
Mount Pleasant — Couple Families: 61.2% Mount Pleasant — Lone Person: 21.2% Mount Pleasant — One Parent Families: 11.8% Mount Pleasant — Group Household: 4.1% Mount Pleasant — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fairy Meadow 42.3% renting
Fairy Meadow — Owned Outright: 35.3% Fairy Meadow — Mortgage: 22.4% Fairy Meadow — Renting: 42.3%
Mount Pleasant 5.7% renting
Mount Pleasant — Owned Outright: 45.2% Mount Pleasant — Mortgage: 49.1% Mount Pleasant — Renting: 5.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Bachelor Degree 13.1% / 19.8%
Fairy Meadow — Bachelor Degree: 13.1% Mount Pleasant — Bachelor Degree: 19.8%
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 10.4%
Fairy Meadow — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Mount Pleasant — Certificate III & IV: 10.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 10.7%
Fairy Meadow — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Mount Pleasant — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 8.0%
Fairy Meadow — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Mount Pleasant — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.4%
Fairy Meadow — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Mount Pleasant — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

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.

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
England 3.0% / 3.3%
Fairy Meadow — England: 3.0% Mount Pleasant — England: 3.3%
Italy 2.4% / 1.1%
Fairy Meadow — Italy: 2.4% Mount Pleasant — Italy: 1.1%
India 2.5% / 0.9%
Fairy Meadow — India: 2.5% Mount Pleasant — India: 0.9%
Vietnam 1.7% / —
Fairy Meadow — Vietnam: 1.7% Mount Pleasant — Vietnam: not among its largest
China 1.7% / —
Fairy Meadow — China: 1.7% Mount Pleasant — China: not among its largest
Scotland — / 1.0%
Fairy Meadow — Scotland: not among its largest Mount Pleasant — Scotland: 1.0%
Iran — / 0.9%
Fairy Meadow — Iran: not among its largest Mount Pleasant — Iran: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fairy Meadow 57.4% houses
Fairy Meadow — Houses: 57.4% Fairy Meadow — Flats / Apartments: 23.1% Fairy Meadow — Townhouses: 19.5%
Mount Pleasant 98.5% houses
Mount Pleasant — Houses: 98.5% Mount Pleasant — Flats / Apartments: 1.5% Mount Pleasant — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Median house price $1,360,000 $1,440,000
Median unit price $600,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 38 sales
 24 days
from 8 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.

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
3 bed $1.25M / $1.27M
Fairy Meadow — 3 bed: $1.25M (38 sales) Mount Pleasant — 3 bed: $1.27M (10 sales)

38 vs 10 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.54M
Fairy Meadow — 4 bed: $1.5M (28 sales) Mount Pleasant — 4 bed: $1.54M (18 sales)

28 vs 18 sales

5 bed $1.45M / $1.44M
Fairy Meadow — 5 bed: $1.45M (9 sales) Mount Pleasant — 5 bed: $1.44M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Fairy Meadow has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Residential 52% 72%
Parks and recreation 20% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 15%
Industrial 11% 0%
Environmental 0% 9%
Commercial 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Fairy Meadow and 100% of Mount Pleasant. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
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.

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Houses 2.9%
$765/wk on $1.35M
 —
Units 4.0%
$570/wk on $745K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
House price Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Income Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Schools Higher than 7% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of NSW —

Liveability

Fairy Meadow is more walkable (89 vs 53); Mount Pleasant scores higher overall (58 vs 48).

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Grade C B
Score 48/100 58/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Mount Pleasant carries more bushfire risk (85 vs 0); Fairy Meadow carries more crime risk (77 vs 20).

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
85/100
Crime High
77/100
 Low
20/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
17/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 3.8 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 4.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 2.6%

Schools in Fairy Meadow

  • Fairy Meadow Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Mount Ousley Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Towradgi Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mount Pleasant

  • Pleasant Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 8 1
Childcare 5 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 7 0

Mobility

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Walkability score 89/100 53/100
Distance to Sydney 83 km 82.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 79 min 77 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 39/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 256.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 13.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2519
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2519
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.

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Car (driver) 57.9% / 49.6%
Fairy Meadow — Car (driver): 57.9% Mount Pleasant — Car (driver): 49.6%
Worked from Home 30.8% / 43.3%
Fairy Meadow — Worked from Home: 30.8% Mount Pleasant — Worked from Home: 43.3%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.9%
Fairy Meadow — Car (passenger): 3.9% Mount Pleasant — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Walked Only 3.0% / 0.5%
Fairy Meadow — Walked Only: 3.0% Mount Pleasant — Walked Only: 0.5%
Bus 2.5% / 0.5%
Fairy Meadow — Bus: 2.5% Mount Pleasant — Bus: 0.5%
Train 1.2% / 1.4%
Fairy Meadow — Train: 1.2% Mount Pleasant — Train: 1.4%
Bicycle 0.7% / 0.8%
Fairy Meadow — Bicycle: 0.7% Mount Pleasant — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.9%).

Setting

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 136 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km
1.2 km to a named beach
 3.3 km
3.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Connectivity score 69/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
3,773 premises
 66%
524 premises

Climate

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm 974 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.66 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fairy Meadow Mount Pleasant
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Fairy Meadow

Beach Coastal Parks River

Mount Pleasant

Family Large Blocks Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fairy Meadow

Fairy Meadow vs Balgownie Fairy Meadow vs Towradgi Fairy Meadow vs North Wollongong Fairy Meadow vs Mount Ousley Fairy Meadow vs Fernhill

Other comparisons with Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant vs Balgownie Mount Pleasant vs Keiraville Mount Pleasant vs Mount Keira Mount Pleasant vs Mount Ousley
Full data on Fairy Meadow Full data on Mount Pleasant
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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