Federal vs Goonengerry

Federal is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 51 in Goonengerry. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Goonengerry, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Goonengerry tends to suit people living alone.

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

Goonengerry

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 33/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Federal is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 45%)

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

First-home buyers

Federal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 36%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Goonengerry

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($358/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Federal

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (30/100 vs 17/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (494 min vs 503 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (763.4 km vs 769.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Federal is more walkable (30/100 vs 17/100)
  • Goonengerry carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 33/100)

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

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

Federal Goonengerry
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.

Federal Goonengerry
Walkability 30 / 17
Federal — Walkability: 30/100 Goonengerry — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 67 / 84
Federal — Safety: 67/100 Goonengerry — Safety: 84/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Federal — Low fire risk: 100/100 Goonengerry — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Federal has more residents (784 vs 422); Federal has higher household incomes ($99,320 vs $67,600).

Federal Goonengerry
Population 784
+46% vs other
 422
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.0% +15.3%
Median age 47 51
Median household income $99,320/yr
+32% vs other
 $67,600/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+20% vs other
 $358/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Federal Goonengerry
0-4 4.1% / 4.3%
Federal — 0-4: 4.1% Goonengerry — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 12.1% / 10.2%
Federal — 5-14: 12.1% Goonengerry — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 5.9% / 3.8%
Federal — 15-19: 5.9% Goonengerry — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 2.7% / 3.6%
Federal — 20-24: 2.7% Goonengerry — 20-24: 3.6%
25-34 9.9% / 9.2%
Federal — 25-34: 9.9% Goonengerry — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 13.5% / 11.6%
Federal — 35-44: 13.5% Goonengerry — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 14.5% / 13.7%
Federal — 45-54: 14.5% Goonengerry — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 19.9% / 23.0%
Federal — 55-64: 19.9% Goonengerry — 55-64: 23.0%
65-74 14.5% / 15.9%
Federal — 65-74: 14.5% Goonengerry — 65-74: 15.9%
75-84 3.2% / 3.8%
Federal — 75-84: 3.2% Goonengerry — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 1.1% / 0.7%
Federal — 85+: 1.1% Goonengerry — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Federal 35.1% lone person
Federal — Lone Person: 35.1% Federal — Couple Families: 43.1% Federal — One Parent Families: 15.4% Federal — Group Household: 6.4%
Goonengerry 45.5% lone person
Goonengerry — Lone Person: 45.5% Goonengerry — Couple Families: 32.3% Goonengerry — One Parent Families: 13.1% Goonengerry — Group Household: 9.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Federal 22.1% renting
Federal — Owned Outright: 42.3% Federal — Mortgage: 35.6% Federal — Renting: 22.1%
Goonengerry 23.2% renting
Goonengerry — Owned Outright: 53.5% Goonengerry — Mortgage: 23.2% Goonengerry — Renting: 23.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Federal Goonengerry
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 18.0%
Federal — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Goonengerry — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 10.9%
Federal — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Goonengerry — Certificate III & IV: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 8.5%
Federal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Goonengerry — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 5.9%
Federal — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Goonengerry — Postgraduate Degree: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 1.9%
Federal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Goonengerry — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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.

Federal Goonengerry
England 4.6% / 4.3%
Federal — England: 4.6% Goonengerry — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.4%
Federal — New Zealand: 2.3% Goonengerry — New Zealand: 2.4%
Germany 1.3% / 2.1%
Federal — Germany: 1.3% Goonengerry — Germany: 2.1%
South Africa 1.9% / —
Federal — South Africa: 1.9% Goonengerry — South Africa: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.9% / 0.7%
Federal — Netherlands: 0.9% Goonengerry — Netherlands: 0.7%
France 0.8% / 0.7%
Federal — France: 0.8% Goonengerry — France: 0.7%
Japan 0.9% / —
Federal — Japan: 0.9% Goonengerry — Japan: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Federal 99.3% houses
Federal — Houses: 99.3% Federal — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Goonengerry 98.0% houses
Goonengerry — Houses: 98.0% Goonengerry — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Federal Goonengerry
Median house price $1,640,000 $1,550,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $2,350,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 77 days
from 13 sales
 29 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Goonengerry has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 4%); Federal has more rural and farming land (91% vs 59%).

Federal Goonengerry
Rural and farming 91% 59%
Environmental 4% 40%
Residential 5% 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

Federal Goonengerry
New dwellings approved 129
across Byron
same for both
Approvals change year on year -65%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Federal Goonengerry
House price Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Federal is more walkable (30 vs 17).

Federal Goonengerry
Grade B —
Score 60/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Federal carries more crime risk (33 vs 16).

Federal Goonengerry
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
33/100
 Low
16/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Federal Goonengerry
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Federal

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Goonengerry

  • Goonengerry Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Federal Goonengerry
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 1 0
Waterways 6 8

Mobility

Goonengerry sits further from the CBD (769.2 km vs 763.4 km).

Federal Goonengerry
Walkability score 30/100 17/100
Distance to Sydney 763.4 km 769.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 494 min 503 min
Public transport score 25/100
Bus
 21/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 2.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2480
 1.5%
postcode 2482
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 2480
 89
postcode 2482

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.

Federal Goonengerry
Car (driver) 53.5% / 51.8%
Federal — Car (driver): 53.5% Goonengerry — Car (driver): 51.8%
Worked from Home 38.3% / 39.0%
Federal — Worked from Home: 38.3% Goonengerry — Worked from Home: 39.0%
Walked Only 7.3% / 2.8%
Federal — Walked Only: 7.3% Goonengerry — Walked Only: 2.8%
Car (passenger) 0.9% / 4.3%
Federal — Car (passenger): 0.9% Goonengerry — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Bus — / 2.1%
Federal — Bus: not among its largest Goonengerry — Bus: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.5%).

Setting

Federal Goonengerry
Elevation 153 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 175 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.1 km 13.4 km

NBN connectivity

Federal Goonengerry
Connectivity score 30/100 28/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
324 premises
 0%
184 premises

Climate

Federal Goonengerry
Annual rainfall 1,569 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Federal Goonengerry
Average residential rate $1,577/yr
same for both
Council Byron
same for both

Federal electorate

Federal Goonengerry
Division Richmond
same for both
Member Justine Elliot
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Federal Goonengerry
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Federal

Acreage Professionals Quiet River

Goonengerry

Professionals Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Federal

Federal vs Coorabell Federal vs Rosebank Federal vs Eureka Federal vs Possum Creek Federal vs Binna Burra Federal vs Repentance Creek

Other comparisons with Goonengerry

Goonengerry vs Coorabell Goonengerry vs Wilsons Creek Goonengerry vs Repentance Creek Goonengerry vs Upper Coopers Creek Goonengerry vs Montecollum Goonengerry vs Wanganui
Full data on Federal Full data on Goonengerry
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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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