Figtree vs Unanderra

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Figtree, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Figtree: a median of $1.18 million, against $950,000 in Unanderra, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Figtree tends to suit couples, while Unanderra suits people living alone and 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

Figtree

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 86/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 53%)
  • But Unanderra has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Figtree

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 37%)
  • has cheaper units ($630,000 vs $760,000)
  • But Unanderra has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,180,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Unanderra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($285/wk vs $430/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

  • Figtree sits closer to the CBD (87.8 km vs 91.5 km)
  • Unanderra is more walkable (89/100 vs 48/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Unanderra

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 48/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 19%)
  • But Figtree carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 86/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Figtree is growing faster (6.7% vs 0.8%)
  • Unanderra returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Figtree Unanderra
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.

Figtree Unanderra
Walkability 48 / 89
Figtree — Walkability: 48/100 Unanderra — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 57 / 14
Figtree — Safety: 57/100 Unanderra — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 36 / 100
Figtree — Low fire risk: 36/100 Unanderra — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Figtree has more residents (12,335 vs 5,476); Figtree has higher household incomes ($106,184 vs $62,972).

Figtree Unanderra
Population 12,335
+56% vs other
 5,476
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.7% +0.8%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $106,184/yr
+41% vs other
 $62,972/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+34% vs other
 $285/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Figtree Unanderra
0-4 5.9% / 5.8%
Figtree — 0-4: 5.9% Unanderra — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 13.8% / 11.1%
Figtree — 5-14: 13.8% Unanderra — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 7.1% / 5.9%
Figtree — 15-19: 7.1% Unanderra — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.3% / 5.6%
Figtree — 20-24: 6.3% Unanderra — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 10.2% / 13.1%
Figtree — 25-34: 10.2% Unanderra — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 13.2% / 11.3%
Figtree — 35-44: 13.2% Unanderra — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 13.7% / 10.9%
Figtree — 45-54: 13.7% Unanderra — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 10.9% / 11.1%
Figtree — 55-64: 10.9% Unanderra — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 9.7% / 10.8%
Figtree — 65-74: 9.7% Unanderra — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 6.6% / 8.3%
Figtree — 75-84: 6.6% Unanderra — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 2.6% / 5.8%
Figtree — 85+: 2.6% Unanderra — 85+: 5.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Figtree 55.0% couple families
Figtree — Couple Families: 55.0% Figtree — Lone Person: 26.7% Figtree — One Parent Families: 13.7% Figtree — Group Household: 3.4% Figtree — Other Families: 1.1%
Unanderra 31.3% couple families
Unanderra — Couple Families: 31.3% Unanderra — Lone Person: 41.7% Unanderra — One Parent Families: 21.6% Unanderra — Group Household: 3.4% Unanderra — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Figtree 17.9% renting
Figtree — Owned Outright: 41.7% Figtree — Mortgage: 40.5% Figtree — Renting: 17.9%
Unanderra 44.4% renting
Unanderra — Owned Outright: 29.1% Unanderra — Mortgage: 26.5% Unanderra — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Figtree Unanderra
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 17.2%
Figtree — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% Unanderra — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Bachelor Degree 14.6% / 8.3%
Figtree — Bachelor Degree: 14.6% Unanderra — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 6.2%
Figtree — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Unanderra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 2.0%
Figtree — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Unanderra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.0%
Figtree — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Unanderra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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.

Figtree Unanderra
England 3.3% / 3.7%
Figtree — England: 3.3% Unanderra — England: 3.7%
Italy 1.1% / 1.5%
Figtree — Italy: 1.1% Unanderra — Italy: 1.5%
India 1.3% / 0.8%
Figtree — India: 1.3% Unanderra — India: 0.8%
China 1.6% / 0.3%
Figtree — China: 1.6% Unanderra — China: 0.3%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.9%
Figtree — New Zealand: 1.0% Unanderra — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.2%
Figtree — Philippines: 0.6% Unanderra — Philippines: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Figtree 82.4% houses
Figtree — Houses: 82.4% Figtree — Flats / Apartments: 7.9% Figtree — Townhouses: 9.7%
Unanderra 78.0% houses
Unanderra — Houses: 78.0% Unanderra — Flats / Apartments: 12.5% Unanderra — Townhouses: 9.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Figtree Unanderra
Median house price $1,180,000 $950,000
Median unit price $630,000 $760,000
Median land price $1,300,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 116 sales
 19 days
from 21 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.

Figtree Unanderra
3 bed $1.1M / $912K
Figtree — 3 bed: $1.1M (83 sales) Unanderra — 3 bed: $912K (30 sales)

83 vs 30 sales

4 bed $1.29M / $1.1M
Figtree — 4 bed: $1.29M (89 sales) Unanderra — 4 bed: $1.1M (9 sales)

89 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Unanderra has more industrially zoned land (46% vs 0%); Figtree has more land zoned for conservation (28% vs 2%).

Figtree Unanderra
Residential 50% 30%
Industrial 0% 46%
Environmental 28% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 13%
Parks and recreation 10% 8%
Rural and farming 7% 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

Figtree Unanderra
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.

Figtree Unanderra
Houses 3.5%
$800/wk on $1.19M
 4.1%
$750/wk on $955K
Units 4.7%
$470/wk on $519K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Figtree Unanderra
House price Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Schools Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 53% of NSW —

Liveability

Unanderra is more walkable (89 vs 48); Figtree scores higher overall (51 vs 38).

Figtree Unanderra
Grade B C
Score 51/100 38/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Figtree carries more bushfire risk (64 vs 0); Unanderra carries more crime risk (86 vs 43).

Figtree Unanderra
Bushfire Moderate
64/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
43/100
 High
86/100
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 12
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Figtree Unanderra
Inside the suburb 4 6
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 4.1 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 1.0%

Schools in Figtree

  • Figtree Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Figtree High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Nareena Hills Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Figtree Heights Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Unanderra

  • Cedars Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Farmborough Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Pius X Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Aspect South Coast School, Farmborough Heights Independent · Combined · Special school
  • Aspect South Coast School, Unanderra Independent · Primary · Special school
  • Cedars Christian College - Aspire Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Figtree Unanderra
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 6 1
Parks & reserves 5 6
Childcare 6 5
GPs 3
same for both
Pharmacies 2 3
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 1
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 14 22

Mobility

Unanderra sits further from the CBD (91.5 km vs 87.8 km).

Figtree Unanderra
Walkability score 48/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 87.8 km 91.5 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 83 min 87 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 220.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 186.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2525
 1.1%
postcode 2526
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2525
 47
postcode 2526

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.

Figtree Unanderra
Car (driver) 58.8% / 66.6%
Figtree — Car (driver): 58.8% Unanderra — Car (driver): 66.6%
Worked from Home 34.1% / 22.9%
Figtree — Worked from Home: 34.1% Unanderra — Worked from Home: 22.9%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 5.7%
Figtree — Car (passenger): 4.3% Unanderra — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.9%
Figtree — Walked Only: 1.2% Unanderra — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 0.6% / 2.0%
Figtree — Bus: 0.6% Unanderra — Bus: 2.0%
Train 0.7% / 0.8%
Figtree — Train: 0.7% Unanderra — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.6%).

Setting

Figtree Unanderra
Elevation 68 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km
4.9 km to a named beach
 3.9 km

NBN connectivity

Figtree Unanderra
Connectivity score 74/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
5,004 premises
 41%
3,480 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Figtree Unanderra
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³ 5.9 µg/m³
PM10 18.2 µg/m³ 19.8 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.66 pphm 0.45 pphm

Council rates

Figtree Unanderra
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Figtree Unanderra
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Figtree Unanderra
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Figtree

Regional Centre River

Unanderra

River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Figtree

Figtree vs West Wollongong Figtree vs Cordeaux Heights Figtree vs Mangerton Figtree vs Mount Keira Figtree vs Mount Saint Thomas Figtree vs Mount Kembla

Other comparisons with Unanderra

Unanderra vs Berkeley Unanderra vs Cordeaux Heights Unanderra vs Farmborough Heights Unanderra vs Cringila Unanderra vs Kembla Grange Unanderra vs Spring Hill
Full data on Figtree Full data on Unanderra
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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