Helensburgh vs Otford

Comparing Helensburgh and Otford, NSW: Helensburgh has more residents (6,576 vs 396); Helensburgh is more walkable (58 vs 33); and Otford carries more crime risk (50 vs 37).

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

Helensburgh

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 50/100)
  • But Otford has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Helensburgh

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 33/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (63 min vs 69 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (57.2 km vs 61.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Helensburgh

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (58/100 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

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

Helensburgh Otford
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.

Helensburgh Otford
Walkability 58 / 33
Helensburgh — Walkability: 58/100 Otford — Walkability: 33/100
Safety 63 / 50
Helensburgh — Safety: 63/100 Otford — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 9 / 9
Helensburgh — Low fire risk: 9/100 Otford — Low fire risk: 9/100

Demographics

Helensburgh has more residents (6,576 vs 396); Otford has higher household incomes ($143,000 vs $129,480).

Helensburgh Otford
Population 6,576
+94% vs other
 396
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +7.3%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $129,480/yr $143,000/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $535/wk $550/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Helensburgh Otford
0-4 7.7% / 7.6%
Helensburgh — 0-4: 7.7% Otford — 0-4: 7.6%
5-14 14.8% / 14.6%
Helensburgh — 5-14: 14.8% Otford — 5-14: 14.6%
15-19 6.6% / 3.3%
Helensburgh — 15-19: 6.6% Otford — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 5.8% / 4.3%
Helensburgh — 20-24: 5.8% Otford — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 11.3% / 10.6%
Helensburgh — 25-34: 11.3% Otford — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 14.7% / 16.7%
Helensburgh — 35-44: 14.7% Otford — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 14.2% / 15.2%
Helensburgh — 45-54: 14.2% Otford — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 12.3% / 16.7%
Helensburgh — 55-64: 12.3% Otford — 55-64: 16.7%
65-74 7.6% / 7.3%
Helensburgh — 65-74: 7.6% Otford — 65-74: 7.3%
75-84 4.0% / 2.3%
Helensburgh — 75-84: 4.0% Otford — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 1.2% / —
Helensburgh — 85+: 1.2% Otford — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Helensburgh 64.6% couple families
Helensburgh — Couple Families: 64.6% Helensburgh — Lone Person: 19.2% Helensburgh — One Parent Families: 13.9% Helensburgh — Group Household: 1.5% Helensburgh — Other Families: 0.8%
Otford 64.9% couple families
Otford — Couple Families: 64.9% Otford — Lone Person: 23.4% Otford — One Parent Families: 4.3% Otford — Group Household: 7.4% Otford — 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.

Helensburgh 15.1% renting
Helensburgh — Owned Outright: 31.0% Helensburgh — Mortgage: 53.9% Helensburgh — Renting: 15.1%
Otford 11.9% renting
Otford — Owned Outright: 38.1% Otford — Mortgage: 50.0% Otford — Renting: 11.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Helensburgh Otford
Certificate III & IV 18.6% / 13.6%
Helensburgh — Certificate III & IV: 18.6% Otford — Certificate III & IV: 13.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 15.2%
Helensburgh — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Otford — Bachelor Degree: 15.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.1%
Helensburgh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Otford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 12.6%
Helensburgh — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Otford — Postgraduate Degree: 12.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.5%
Helensburgh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Otford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Helensburgh Otford
England 4.5% / 6.8%
Helensburgh — England: 4.5% Otford — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.8%
Helensburgh — New Zealand: 1.1% Otford — New Zealand: 0.8%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.8%
Helensburgh — Scotland: 0.6% Otford — Scotland: 0.8%
South Africa 0.4% / 1.0%
Helensburgh — South Africa: 0.4% Otford — South Africa: 1.0%
Germany 0.3% / 0.8%
Helensburgh — Germany: 0.3% Otford — Germany: 0.8%
India 0.4% / —
Helensburgh — India: 0.4% Otford — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Helensburgh 82.2% houses
Helensburgh — Houses: 82.2% Helensburgh — Flats / Apartments: 14.9% Helensburgh — Townhouses: 2.8%
Otford 99.2% houses
Otford — Houses: 99.2% Otford — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Otford — Townhouses: 4.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Helensburgh Otford
Median house price $1,400,000
same for both
Median unit price $790,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 39 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Otford has more land zoned for conservation (93% vs 67%).

Helensburgh Otford
Environmental 67% 93%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 5%
Residential 11% 0%
Rural and farming 5% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
Industrial 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Helensburgh and 99% of Otford. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Helensburgh Otford
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Helensburgh Otford
House price Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 64% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 85% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW

Liveability

Helensburgh is more walkable (58 vs 33).

Helensburgh Otford
Grade B —
Score 49/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Otford carries more crime risk (50 vs 37).

Helensburgh Otford
Bushfire High
91/100
same for both
Crime Low
37/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
60/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Helensburgh Otford
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Helensburgh

  • Helensburgh Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Otford

  • Otford Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Helensburgh Otford
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 7 1
Childcare 6 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 30 6

Mobility

Otford sits further from the CBD (61.8 km vs 57.2 km).

Helensburgh Otford
Walkability score 58/100 33/100
Distance to Sydney 57.2 km 61.8 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 63 min 69 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 35/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 86.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 20 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 2508
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 2508
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.

Helensburgh Otford
Worked from Home 39.3% / 53.4%
Helensburgh — Worked from Home: 39.3% Otford — Worked from Home: 53.4%
Car (driver) 52.9% / 38.8%
Helensburgh — Car (driver): 52.9% Otford — Car (driver): 38.8%
Walked Only 2.3% / 4.5%
Helensburgh — Walked Only: 2.3% Otford — Walked Only: 4.5%
Train 2.7% / 1.7%
Helensburgh — Train: 2.7% Otford — Train: 1.7%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 1.7%
Helensburgh — Car (passenger): 2.5% Otford — Car (passenger): 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.4%).

Setting

Helensburgh Otford
Elevation 242 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 173 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.2 km
4.2 km to a named beach
 1.1 km
1.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Helensburgh Otford
Connectivity score 72/100 47/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
2,526 premises
 5%
148 premises

Climate

Helensburgh Otford
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Helensburgh Otford
PM2.5 5.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.97 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Helensburgh Otford
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Helensburgh Otford
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Helensburgh Otford
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Helensburgh

Family Outer River

Otford

Acreage Beach Coastal Family Outer Professionals Quiet River Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Helensburgh

Helensburgh vs Waterfall Helensburgh vs Stanwell Tops Helensburgh vs Darkes Forest

Other comparisons with Otford

Otford vs Stanwell Tops
Full data on Helensburgh Full data on Otford
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or