Fountaindale vs Glenning Valley

Glenning Valley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Fountaindale. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Fountaindale: a median of $2.27 million, against $1.2 million in Glenning Valley, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Fountaindale tends to suit couples, while Glenning Valley 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

Fountaindale

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (87% vs 74%)
  • But Glenning Valley carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 55/100)

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

First-home buyers

Glenning Valley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $2,265,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,605,000 vs $2,100,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Glenning Valley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($460/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Fountaindale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (76 min vs 81 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (87.8 km vs 91.4 km)
  • But Glenning Valley is more walkable (34/100 vs 26/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Glenning Valley

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 55/100)
  • is more walkable (34/100 vs 26/100)

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

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

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
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.

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Walkability 26 / 34
Fountaindale — Walkability: 26/100 Glenning Valley — Walkability: 34/100
Safety 45 / 66
Fountaindale — Safety: 45/100 Glenning Valley — Safety: 66/100
Low fire risk 100 / 26
Fountaindale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Glenning Valley — Low fire risk: 26/100

Demographics

Glenning Valley has more residents (2,023 vs 726); Fountaindale has higher household incomes ($150,956 vs $117,104).

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Population 726 2,023
+179% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.7% +0.2%
Median age 46 41
Median household income $150,956/yr
+22% vs other
 $117,104/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+8% vs other
 $460/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
0-4 4.0% / 6.2%
Fountaindale — 0-4: 4.0% Glenning Valley — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 14.7% / 13.3%
Fountaindale — 5-14: 14.7% Glenning Valley — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 7.6% / 6.1%
Fountaindale — 15-19: 7.6% Glenning Valley — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 7.9% / 4.5%
Fountaindale — 20-24: 7.9% Glenning Valley — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 5.2% / 12.3%
Fountaindale — 25-34: 5.2% Glenning Valley — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 10.2% / 13.7%
Fountaindale — 35-44: 10.2% Glenning Valley — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 17.8% / 15.0%
Fountaindale — 45-54: 17.8% Glenning Valley — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 17.4% / 14.6%
Fountaindale — 55-64: 17.4% Glenning Valley — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 11.4% / 9.6%
Fountaindale — 65-74: 11.4% Glenning Valley — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 3.2% / 3.5%
Fountaindale — 75-84: 3.2% Glenning Valley — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ — / 0.9%
Fountaindale — 85+: not among its largest Glenning Valley — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fountaindale 77.8% couple families
Fountaindale — Couple Families: 77.8% Fountaindale — Lone Person: 11.1% Fountaindale — One Parent Families: 9.0% Fountaindale — Group Household: 2.1% Fountaindale — Other Families: 0.0%
Glenning Valley 59.8% couple families
Glenning Valley — Couple Families: 59.8% Glenning Valley — Lone Person: 22.3% Glenning Valley — One Parent Families: 14.3% Glenning Valley — Group Household: 2.6% Glenning Valley — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fountaindale 3.4% renting
Fountaindale — Owned Outright: 42.7% Fountaindale — Mortgage: 53.9% Fountaindale — Renting: 3.4%
Glenning Valley 13.2% renting
Glenning Valley — Owned Outright: 33.6% Glenning Valley — Mortgage: 53.2% Glenning Valley — Renting: 13.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 18.4%
Fountaindale — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Glenning Valley — Certificate III & IV: 18.4%
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 13.6%
Fountaindale — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Glenning Valley — Bachelor Degree: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.0%
Fountaindale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Glenning Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 2.9%
Fountaindale — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Glenning Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.9%
Fountaindale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Glenning Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.4%).

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.

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
England 6.3% / 4.4%
Fountaindale — England: 6.3% Glenning Valley — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.4%
Fountaindale — New Zealand: 0.8% Glenning Valley — New Zealand: 1.4%
South Africa 0.4% / 1.1%
Fountaindale — South Africa: 0.4% Glenning Valley — South Africa: 1.1%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Fountaindale — Scotland: 0.7% Glenning Valley — Scotland: 0.5%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Fountaindale — Philippines: not among its largest Glenning Valley — Philippines: 0.8%
Sri Lanka 0.7% / —
Fountaindale — Sri Lanka: 0.7% Glenning Valley — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
India — / 0.6%
Fountaindale — India: not among its largest Glenning Valley — India: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fountaindale 96.3% houses
Fountaindale — Houses: 96.3% Fountaindale — Flats / Apartments: 3.7% Fountaindale — Townhouses: 0.0%
Glenning Valley 96.8% houses
Glenning Valley — Houses: 96.8% Glenning Valley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Glenning Valley — Townhouses: 3.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Median house price $2,265,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $2,100,000 $1,605,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 33 days
from 28 sales

Zoning mix

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Environmental 96% 87%
Residential 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
Industrial 2% 0%
Parks and recreation 0% 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

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Houses — 4.5%
$1,100/wk on $1.27M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 90% of NSW

Liveability

Fountaindale scores higher overall (65 vs 47); Glenning Valley is more walkable (34 vs 26).

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Grade B C
Score 65/100 47/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Glenning Valley carries more bushfire risk (74 vs 0); Fountaindale carries more crime risk (55 vs 34).

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
74/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Low
34/100
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 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 7.3 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 1.5%

Schools in Fountaindale

  • Central Coast Steiner School Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Glenning Valley

  • Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Berkeley Vale Campus Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 3 2
Waterways 5 12

Mobility

Glenning Valley sits further from the CBD (91.4 km vs 87.8 km).

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Walkability score 26/100 34/100
Distance to Sydney 87.8 km 91.4 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 76 min 81 min
Public transport score 45/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 17.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2258
 0.6%
postcode 2261
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2258
 33
postcode 2261

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.

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Car (driver) 55.8% / 61.4%
Fountaindale — Car (driver): 55.8% Glenning Valley — Car (driver): 61.4%
Worked from Home 38.1% / 33.9%
Fountaindale — Worked from Home: 38.1% Glenning Valley — Worked from Home: 33.9%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 3.2%
Fountaindale — Car (passenger): 4.3% Glenning Valley — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 1.8% / 0.9%
Fountaindale — Walked Only: 1.8% Glenning Valley — Walked Only: 0.9%
Train — / 0.6%
Fountaindale — Train: not among its largest Glenning Valley — Train: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.4%).

Setting

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Elevation 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.5 km 6.7 km

NBN connectivity

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Connectivity score 61/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
317 premises
 100%
780 premises

Climate

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fountaindale Glenning Valley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Fountaindale

Acreage Premium

Glenning Valley

Acreage

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Full data on Fountaindale Full data on Glenning Valley
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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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