Helensburgh vs Stanwell Tops

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 Stanwell Tops: a median of $1.53 million, against $1.4 million in Helensburgh, and rent is higher there too.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Stanwell Tops has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 82%)

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

Helensburgh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($535/wk vs $650/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Helensburgh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 41/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Helensburgh

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 1%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 41/100)

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 Stanwell Tops 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 Stanwell Tops
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 Stanwell Tops
Walkability 58 / 41
Helensburgh — Walkability: 58/100 Stanwell Tops — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 63 / 66
Helensburgh — Safety: 63/100 Stanwell Tops — Safety: 66/100
Low fire risk 9 / 8
Helensburgh — Low fire risk: 9/100 Stanwell Tops — Low fire risk: 8/100

Demographics

Helensburgh has more residents (6,576 vs 517); Stanwell Tops rents higher ($650/wk vs $535/wk).

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Population 6,576
+92% vs other
 517
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +4.4%
Median age 38
same for both
Median household income $129,480/yr $138,476/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $535/wk $650/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
0-4 7.7% / 7.5%
Helensburgh — 0-4: 7.7% Stanwell Tops — 0-4: 7.5%
5-14 14.8% / 15.7%
Helensburgh — 5-14: 14.8% Stanwell Tops — 5-14: 15.7%
15-19 6.6% / 5.2%
Helensburgh — 15-19: 6.6% Stanwell Tops — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 5.8% / 6.2%
Helensburgh — 20-24: 5.8% Stanwell Tops — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 11.3% / 10.1%
Helensburgh — 25-34: 11.3% Stanwell Tops — 25-34: 10.1%
35-44 14.7% / 13.2%
Helensburgh — 35-44: 14.7% Stanwell Tops — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 14.2% / 14.5%
Helensburgh — 45-54: 14.2% Stanwell Tops — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 12.3% / 13.2%
Helensburgh — 55-64: 12.3% Stanwell Tops — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 7.6% / 11.4%
Helensburgh — 65-74: 7.6% Stanwell Tops — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 4.0% / 3.7%
Helensburgh — 75-84: 4.0% Stanwell Tops — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 1.2% / 0.8%
Helensburgh — 85+: 1.2% Stanwell Tops — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

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%
Stanwell Tops 67.5% couple families
Stanwell Tops — Couple Families: 67.5% Stanwell Tops — Lone Person: 21.1% Stanwell Tops — One Parent Families: 11.4% Stanwell Tops — Group Household: 0.0% Stanwell Tops — 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%
Stanwell Tops 14.9% renting
Stanwell Tops — Owned Outright: 42.9% Stanwell Tops — Mortgage: 42.2% Stanwell Tops — Renting: 14.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Certificate III & IV 18.6% / 16.6%
Helensburgh — Certificate III & IV: 18.6% Stanwell Tops — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 14.7%
Helensburgh — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Stanwell Tops — Bachelor Degree: 14.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 10.6%
Helensburgh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Stanwell Tops — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 4.8%
Helensburgh — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Stanwell Tops — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.5%
Helensburgh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Stanwell Tops — 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 Stanwell Tops
England 4.5% / 4.3%
Helensburgh — England: 4.5% Stanwell Tops — England: 4.3%
Canada 0.3% / 1.0%
Helensburgh — Canada: 0.3% Stanwell Tops — Canada: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.1% / —
Helensburgh — New Zealand: 1.1% Stanwell Tops — New Zealand: not among its largest
Germany 0.3% / 0.8%
Helensburgh — Germany: 0.3% Stanwell Tops — Germany: 0.8%
Ireland — / 0.8%
Helensburgh — Ireland: not among its largest Stanwell Tops — Ireland: 0.8%
Scotland 0.6% / —
Helensburgh — Scotland: 0.6% Stanwell Tops — Scotland: not among its largest
South Africa 0.4% / —
Helensburgh — South Africa: 0.4% Stanwell Tops — South Africa: not among its largest
India 0.4% / —
Helensburgh — India: 0.4% Stanwell Tops — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

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%
Stanwell Tops 98.8% houses
Stanwell Tops — Houses: 98.8% Stanwell Tops — Flats / Apartments: 1.2% Stanwell Tops — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Median house price $1,400,000 $1,530,000
Median unit price $790,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 39 sales
 11 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Stanwell Tops has more land zoned for conservation (90% vs 67%).

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Environmental 67% 90%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 5%
Residential 11% 3%
Rural and farming 5% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 1%
Industrial 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Helensburgh and 99% of Stanwell Tops. 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 Stanwell Tops
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
House price Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 85% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW

Liveability

Helensburgh is more walkable (58 vs 41).

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Bushfire High
91/100
 High
92/100
Crime Low
37/100
 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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
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 Stanwell Tops

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

Amenities in the suburb

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 7 2
Childcare 6 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 30 8

Mobility

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Walkability score 58/100 41/100
Distance to Sydney 57.2 km 56.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 63 min 62 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 40/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 86.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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 Stanwell Tops
Car (driver) 52.9% / 46.2%
Helensburgh — Car (driver): 52.9% Stanwell Tops — Car (driver): 46.2%
Worked from Home 39.3% / 47.6%
Helensburgh — Worked from Home: 39.3% Stanwell Tops — Worked from Home: 47.6%
Walked Only 2.3% / 3.8%
Helensburgh — Walked Only: 2.3% Stanwell Tops — Walked Only: 3.8%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 2.4%
Helensburgh — Car (passenger): 2.5% Stanwell Tops — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Train 2.7% / —
Helensburgh — Train: 2.7% Stanwell Tops — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.9%).

Setting

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Elevation 242 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 264 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.2 km
4.2 km to a named beach
 1.9 km
3.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
Connectivity score 72/100 54/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
2,526 premises
 17%
181 premises

Climate

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
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 Stanwell Tops
PM2.5 5.8 µg/m³ 6.2 µg/m³
PM10 14.8 µg/m³ 18.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.97 pphm 0.66 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Helensburgh Stanwell Tops
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

Stanwell Tops

Acreage Coastal Family Outer River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Helensburgh

Helensburgh vs Waterfall Helensburgh vs Otford Helensburgh vs Darkes Forest

Other comparisons with Stanwell Tops

Stanwell Tops vs Stanwell Park Stanwell Tops vs Otford Stanwell Tops vs Darkes Forest
Full data on Helensburgh Full data on Stanwell Tops
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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