Fountaindale vs Ourimbah

Ourimbah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 46 in Fountaindale. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Fountaindale, the large majority of households are couple families. In Ourimbah, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Fountaindale: a median of $2.27 million, against $1.03 million in Ourimbah, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Fountaindale tends to suit couples, while Ourimbah 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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 83/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (87% vs 67%)
  • But Ourimbah has more parks and reserves (9 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Ourimbah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,030,000 vs $2,265,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,577,500 vs $2,100,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ourimbah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 3%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Fountaindale

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (26/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (76 min vs 90 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (87.8 km vs 96 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Fountaindale is more walkable (26/100 vs 0/100)
  • Ourimbah has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 4%)

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 Ourimbah 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 Ourimbah
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 Ourimbah
Walkability 26 / 0
Fountaindale — Walkability: 26/100 Ourimbah — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 45 / 17
Fountaindale — Safety: 45/100 Ourimbah — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 44
Fountaindale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ourimbah — Low fire risk: 44/100

Demographics

Ourimbah has more residents (4,019 vs 726); Fountaindale has higher household incomes ($150,956 vs $100,880).

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Population 726 4,019
+454% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.7% +1.7%
Median age 46 39
Median household income $150,956/yr
+33% vs other
 $100,880/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+20% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fountaindale Ourimbah
0-4 4.0% / 5.6%
Fountaindale — 0-4: 4.0% Ourimbah — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 14.7% / 12.9%
Fountaindale — 5-14: 14.7% Ourimbah — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 7.6% / 7.1%
Fountaindale — 15-19: 7.6% Ourimbah — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 7.9% / 6.1%
Fountaindale — 20-24: 7.9% Ourimbah — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 5.2% / 12.5%
Fountaindale — 25-34: 5.2% Ourimbah — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 10.2% / 13.4%
Fountaindale — 35-44: 10.2% Ourimbah — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 17.8% / 13.7%
Fountaindale — 45-54: 17.8% Ourimbah — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 17.4% / 14.3%
Fountaindale — 55-64: 17.4% Ourimbah — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 11.4% / 8.6%
Fountaindale — 65-74: 11.4% Ourimbah — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 3.2% / 4.3%
Fountaindale — 75-84: 3.2% Ourimbah — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ — / 1.3%
Fountaindale — 85+: not among its largest Ourimbah — 85+: 1.3%

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%
Ourimbah 48.8% couple families
Ourimbah — Couple Families: 48.8% Ourimbah — Lone Person: 27.4% Ourimbah — One Parent Families: 17.8% Ourimbah — Group Household: 4.3% Ourimbah — 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.

Fountaindale 3.4% renting
Fountaindale — Owned Outright: 42.7% Fountaindale — Mortgage: 53.9% Fountaindale — Renting: 3.4%
Ourimbah 23.6% renting
Ourimbah — Owned Outright: 32.4% Ourimbah — Mortgage: 43.9% Ourimbah — Renting: 23.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 18.4%
Fountaindale — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Ourimbah — Certificate III & IV: 18.4%
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 12.6%
Fountaindale — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Ourimbah — Bachelor Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.8%
Fountaindale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Ourimbah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 3.3%
Fountaindale — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Ourimbah — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.9%
Fountaindale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Ourimbah — 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 Ourimbah
England 6.3% / 4.6%
Fountaindale — England: 6.3% Ourimbah — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.9%
Fountaindale — New Zealand: 0.8% Ourimbah — New Zealand: 1.9%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Fountaindale — Scotland: 0.7% Ourimbah — Scotland: 0.5%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.6%
Fountaindale — South Africa: 0.4% Ourimbah — South Africa: 0.6%
China — / 0.8%
Fountaindale — China: not among its largest Ourimbah — China: 0.8%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Fountaindale — Philippines: not among its largest Ourimbah — Philippines: 0.8%
Sri Lanka 0.7% / —
Fountaindale — Sri Lanka: 0.7% Ourimbah — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

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 — Townhouses: 0.0% Fountaindale — Flats / Apartments: 3.7%
Ourimbah 75.9% houses
Ourimbah — Houses: 75.9% Ourimbah — Townhouses: 22.7% Ourimbah — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Median house price $2,265,000 $1,030,000
Median unit price — $655,000
Median land price $2,100,000 $1,577,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 20 days
from 30 sales

Zoning mix

Fountaindale has more land zoned for conservation (96% vs 56%); Ourimbah has more rural and farming land (39% vs 0%).

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Environmental 96% 56%
Rural and farming 0% 39%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
Industrial 2% 0%
Residential 0% 1%
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 Ourimbah
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 Ourimbah
Houses — 3.6%
$750/wk on $1.07M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Fountaindale Ourimbah
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 52% of NSW

Liveability

Fountaindale is more walkable (26 vs 0); Fountaindale scores higher overall (65 vs 30).

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Grade B C
Score 65/100 30/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Ourimbah carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0); Ourimbah carries more crime risk (83 vs 55).

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 High
83/100
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
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 7.3 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Central Coast), 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 2.1%

Schools in Fountaindale

  • Central Coast Steiner School Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Ourimbah

  • Ourimbah Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 1 9
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 5 26

Mobility

Ourimbah sits further from the CBD (96 km vs 87.8 km).

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Walkability score 26/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 87.8 km 96 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 76 min 90 min
Public transport score 45/100
Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 17.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 100.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2258
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2258
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.

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Car (driver) 55.8% / 62.1%
Fountaindale — Car (driver): 55.8% Ourimbah — Car (driver): 62.1%
Worked from Home 38.1% / 30.7%
Fountaindale — Worked from Home: 38.1% Ourimbah — Worked from Home: 30.7%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 3.3%
Fountaindale — Car (passenger): 4.3% Ourimbah — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.1%
Fountaindale — Walked Only: 1.8% Ourimbah — Walked Only: 1.1%
Train — / 2.2%
Fountaindale — Train: not among its largest Ourimbah — Train: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.1%).

Setting

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Elevation 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 177 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.5 km 15.5 km

NBN connectivity

Fountaindale Ourimbah
Connectivity score 61/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
317 premises
 33%
1,629 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fountaindale

Acreage Premium

Ourimbah

Rural Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fountaindale

Fountaindale vs Berkeley Vale Fountaindale vs Glenning Valley Fountaindale vs Kangy Angy

Other comparisons with Ourimbah

Ourimbah vs Tumbi Umbi Ourimbah vs Lisarow Ourimbah vs Mardi Ourimbah vs Niagara Park Ourimbah vs Glenning Valley Ourimbah vs Somersby
Full data on Fountaindale Full data on Ourimbah
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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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