Goulburn vs Tarlo

Goulburn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 53 in Tarlo. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tarlo, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Tarlo: a median of $1.44 million, against $670,000 in Goulburn, though rent is higher in Goulburn. On these figures, Goulburn tends to suit people living alone, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Tarlo suits 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

  • Goulburn has more parks and reserves (32 vs 0)
  • Tarlo carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 81/100)

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

First-home buyers

Goulburn

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($670,000 vs $1,437,500)
  • has cheaper land ($455,000 vs $786,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tarlo

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($260/wk vs $320/wk)
  • But Goulburn has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 8%)

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

Commuting to the city

Goulburn

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (129 min vs 141 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (193 km vs 207.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Goulburn

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • But Tarlo carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 81/100)

Weighs 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

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

Goulburn Tarlo
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.

Goulburn Tarlo
Walkability 81 / 0
Goulburn — Walkability: 81/100 Tarlo — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 19 / 61
Goulburn — Safety: 19/100 Tarlo — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 74 / 29
Goulburn — Low fire risk: 74/100 Tarlo — Low fire risk: 29/100

Demographics

Goulburn has more residents (23,963 vs 171); Tarlo skews older (53 vs 40).

Goulburn Tarlo
Population 23,963
+99% vs other
 171
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.9% +4.3%
Median age 40 53
Median household income $73,060/yr $81,224/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+19% vs other
 $260/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Goulburn Tarlo
0-4 6.0% / 2.3%
Goulburn — 0-4: 6.0% Tarlo — 0-4: 2.3%
5-14 12.3% / 8.2%
Goulburn — 5-14: 12.3% Tarlo — 5-14: 8.2%
15-19 5.2% / 4.7%
Goulburn — 15-19: 5.2% Tarlo — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 5.8% / 6.4%
Goulburn — 20-24: 5.8% Tarlo — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 14.0% / 7.6%
Goulburn — 25-34: 14.0% Tarlo — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 11.7% / 7.0%
Goulburn — 35-44: 11.7% Tarlo — 35-44: 7.0%
45-54 11.8% / 15.8%
Goulburn — 45-54: 11.8% Tarlo — 45-54: 15.8%
55-64 12.3% / 20.5%
Goulburn — 55-64: 12.3% Tarlo — 55-64: 20.5%
65-74 10.9% / 15.2%
Goulburn — 65-74: 10.9% Tarlo — 65-74: 15.2%
75-84 6.9% / 8.2%
Goulburn — 75-84: 6.9% Tarlo — 75-84: 8.2%
85+ 3.0% / —
Goulburn — 85+: 3.0% Tarlo — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Goulburn 32.8% couple families
Goulburn — Couple Families: 32.8% Goulburn — Lone Person: 44.5% Goulburn — One Parent Families: 17.7% Goulburn — Group Household: 3.8% Goulburn — Other Families: 1.3%
Tarlo 47.1% couple families
Tarlo — Couple Families: 47.1% Tarlo — Lone Person: 26.5% Tarlo — One Parent Families: 17.6% Tarlo — Group Household: 8.8% Tarlo — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Goulburn 35.1% renting
Goulburn — Owned Outright: 33.8% Goulburn — Mortgage: 31.1% Goulburn — Renting: 35.1%
Tarlo 7.5% renting
Tarlo — Owned Outright: 58.5% Tarlo — Mortgage: 34.0% Tarlo — Renting: 7.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Goulburn Tarlo
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 15.2%
Goulburn — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Tarlo — Certificate III & IV: 15.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.6% / 14.6%
Goulburn — Bachelor Degree: 7.6% Tarlo — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 8.8%
Goulburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Tarlo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 4.7%
Goulburn — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Tarlo — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.8%
Goulburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Tarlo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

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.

Goulburn Tarlo
England 1.9% / 2.9%
Goulburn — England: 1.9% Tarlo — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 1.0% / 3.5%
Goulburn — New Zealand: 1.0% Tarlo — New Zealand: 3.5%
Philippines 0.7% / 2.9%
Goulburn — Philippines: 0.7% Tarlo — Philippines: 2.9%
Germany — / 1.8%
Goulburn — Germany: not among its largest Tarlo — Germany: 1.8%
India 0.9% / —
Goulburn — India: 0.9% Tarlo — India: not among its largest
Nepal 0.6% / —
Goulburn — Nepal: 0.6% Tarlo — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Goulburn 84.1% houses
Goulburn — Houses: 84.1% Goulburn — Townhouses: 11.1% Goulburn — Flats / Apartments: 4.9%
Tarlo 100.0% houses
Tarlo — Houses: 100.0% Tarlo — Townhouses: 0.0% Tarlo — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Goulburn Tarlo
Median house price $670,000 $1,437,500
Median unit price $429,000 —
Median land price $455,000 $786,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 184 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Tarlo has more rural and farming land (77% vs 22%); Tarlo has more land zoned for conservation (23% vs 13%).

Goulburn Tarlo
Rural and farming 22% 77%
Residential 31% 0%
Environmental 13% 23%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 0%
Parks and recreation 12% 0%
Industrial 8% 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

Goulburn Tarlo
New dwellings approved 332
across Goulburn Mulwaree
 44
across Upper Lachlan
Approvals change year on year -1% +175%

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.

Goulburn Tarlo
Houses 3.7%
$520/wk on $730K
 —
Units 4.2%
$345/wk on $424K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Goulburn Tarlo
House price Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Income Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Schools Higher than 36% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 57% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of NSW —

Liveability

Goulburn is more walkable (81 vs 0).

Goulburn Tarlo
Grade C —
Score 38/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Tarlo carries more bushfire risk (71 vs 26); Goulburn carries more crime risk (81 vs 39).

Goulburn Tarlo
Bushfire Low
26/100
 High
71/100
Crime High
81/100
 Low
39/100
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 6
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Goulburn Tarlo
Inside the suburb 15 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 6 0
Rated below peers 6 0

Schools in Goulburn

  • Goulburn East Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Tambelin Independent School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Goulburn West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mulwaree High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • OneSchool Global NSW - Goulburn Independent · Combined at peers
  • Saints Peter and Paul's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Tarlo

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

Amenities in the suburb

Goulburn Tarlo
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 26 0
Parks & reserves 32 0
Childcare 19 0
GPs 7 0
Pharmacies 5 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 13 0
EV chargers 6 0
Waterways 7 8

Mobility

Tarlo sits further from the CBD (207.4 km vs 193 km).

Goulburn Tarlo
Walkability score 81/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 193 km 207.4 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 129 min 141 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2580
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2580
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.

Goulburn Tarlo
Car (driver) 80.3% / 83.9%
Goulburn — Car (driver): 80.3% Tarlo — Car (driver): 83.9%
Worked from Home 7.9% / 16.1%
Goulburn — Worked from Home: 7.9% Tarlo — Worked from Home: 16.1%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / —
Goulburn — Car (passenger): 7.1% Tarlo — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 3.8% / —
Goulburn — Walked Only: 3.8% Tarlo — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 0.4% / —
Goulburn — Bus: 0.4% Tarlo — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (83.9%).

Setting

Goulburn Tarlo
Elevation 642 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 715 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Goulburn Tarlo
Connectivity score 69/100 15/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
13,036 premises
 0%
59 premises

Climate

Goulburn Tarlo
Annual rainfall 658 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 2.7°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Goulburn Tarlo
PM2.5 4.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.4 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Goulburn Tarlo
Average residential rate $1,370/yr $636/yr
Council Goulburn Mulwaree Upper Lachlan

Federal electorate

Goulburn Tarlo
Division Eden-monaro Riverina
Member Kristy Mcbain Michael Mccormack
Party Australian Labor Party The Nationals

First Home Owner Grant

Goulburn Tarlo
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Goulburn

Affordable Parks Regional Centre

Tarlo

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Goulburn

Goulburn vs Run-O-Waters Goulburn vs Middle Arm Goulburn vs Baw Baw Goulburn vs Boxers Creek Goulburn vs Tirrannaville Goulburn vs Kingsdale

Other comparisons with Tarlo

Tarlo vs Middle Arm Tarlo vs Greenwich Park Tarlo vs Towrang Tarlo vs Chatsbury
Full data on Goulburn Full data on Tarlo
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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