Hornsby Heights vs Galston

Hornsby Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Galston. 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 Galston: a median of $2.33 million, against $1.74 million in Hornsby Heights, though rent is higher in Hornsby Heights. Hornsby Heights is closer to the city centre: 33.2 km, against 40.1 km. On these figures, Hornsby Heights tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget, while Galston suits older residents.

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

Hornsby Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 35/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (81% vs 67%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 84%)
  • But Galston 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

Hornsby Heights

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,020,000 vs $3,238,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,740,000 vs $2,335,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Galston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($495/wk vs $620/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hornsby Heights

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (39/100 vs 12/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (33.2 km vs 40.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Galston

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 16%)
  • But Hornsby Heights is more walkable (39/100 vs 12/100)

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

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

Hornsby Heights Galston
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.

Hornsby Heights Galston
Walkability 39 / 12
Hornsby Heights — Walkability: 39/100 Galston — Walkability: 12/100
Safety 79 / 65
Hornsby Heights — Safety: 79/100 Galston — Safety: 65/100
Low fire risk 53 / 57
Hornsby Heights — Low fire risk: 53/100 Galston — Low fire risk: 57/100

Demographics

Hornsby Heights has more residents (6,354 vs 3,195); Hornsby Heights rents higher ($620/wk vs $495/wk).

Hornsby Heights Galston
Population 6,354
+50% vs other
 3,195
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.8% +1.8%
Median age 41 46
Median household income $140,348/yr
+15% vs other
 $119,340/yr
Median weekly rent $620/wk
+20% vs other
 $495/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights Galston
0-4 5.2% / 4.0%
Hornsby Heights — 0-4: 5.2% Galston — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 15.9% / 13.5%
Hornsby Heights — 5-14: 15.9% Galston — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 7.3% / 7.4%
Hornsby Heights — 15-19: 7.3% Galston — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 5.9% / 4.8%
Hornsby Heights — 20-24: 5.9% Galston — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 6.9% / 7.9%
Hornsby Heights — 25-34: 6.9% Galston — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 13.6% / 10.2%
Hornsby Heights — 35-44: 13.6% Galston — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 16.4% / 13.9%
Hornsby Heights — 45-54: 16.4% Galston — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 13.5% / 13.9%
Hornsby Heights — 55-64: 13.5% Galston — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 9.6% / 11.3%
Hornsby Heights — 65-74: 9.6% Galston — 65-74: 11.3%
75-84 4.8% / 8.3%
Hornsby Heights — 75-84: 4.8% Galston — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 1.2% / 4.6%
Hornsby Heights — 85+: 1.2% Galston — 85+: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights 67.3% couple families
Hornsby Heights — Couple Families: 67.3% Hornsby Heights — Lone Person: 16.9% Hornsby Heights — One Parent Families: 13.3% Hornsby Heights — Group Household: 1.4% Hornsby Heights — Other Families: 1.1%
Galston 55.4% couple families
Galston — Couple Families: 55.4% Galston — Lone Person: 28.5% Galston — One Parent Families: 11.6% Galston — Group Household: 3.8% Galston — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights 9.2% renting
Hornsby Heights — Owned Outright: 40.6% Hornsby Heights — Mortgage: 50.2% Hornsby Heights — Renting: 9.2%
Galston 13.3% renting
Galston — Owned Outright: 48.0% Galston — Mortgage: 38.7% Galston — Renting: 13.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hornsby Heights Galston
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 16.2%
Hornsby Heights — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Galston — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 14.6%
Hornsby Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Galston — Certificate III & IV: 14.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.5%
Hornsby Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Galston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 5.7%
Hornsby Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Galston — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 1.7%
Hornsby Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Galston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

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.

Hornsby Heights Galston
England 5.6% / 5.1%
Hornsby Heights — England: 5.6% Galston — England: 5.1%
China 3.7% / 0.9%
Hornsby Heights — China: 3.7% Galston — China: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.3%
Hornsby Heights — New Zealand: 1.7% Galston — New Zealand: 1.3%
India 2.4% / 0.5%
Hornsby Heights — India: 2.4% Galston — India: 0.5%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.5%
Hornsby Heights — South Africa: 1.4% Galston — South Africa: 1.5%
Italy — / 1.3%
Hornsby Heights — Italy: not among its largest Galston — Italy: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights 97.9% houses
Hornsby Heights — Houses: 97.9% Hornsby Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.1% Hornsby Heights — Townhouses: 1.9%
Galston 83.6% houses
Galston — Houses: 83.6% Galston — Flats / Apartments: 9.7% Galston — Townhouses: 6.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hornsby Heights Galston
Median house price $1,740,000 $2,335,000
Median unit price — $900,000
Median land price $1,020,000 $3,238,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 38 sales
 32 days
from 20 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Hornsby Heights Galston
3 bed $1.51M / $1.7M
Hornsby Heights — 3 bed: $1.51M (20 sales) Galston — 3 bed: $1.7M (11 sales)

20 vs 11 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $2.15M
Hornsby Heights — 4 bed: $1.75M (51 sales) Galston — 4 bed: $2.15M (18 sales)

51 vs 18 sales

5 bed $1.9M / $2.64M
Hornsby Heights — 5 bed: $1.9M (21 sales) Galston — 5 bed: $2.64M (8 sales)

21 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Galston has more rural and farming land (46% vs 0%); Hornsby Heights has more land zoned for conservation (64% vs 38%).

Hornsby Heights Galston
Environmental 64% 38%
Rural and farming 0% 46%
Residential 26% 2%
Parks and recreation 8% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 2%
same for both
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

Hornsby Heights Galston
New dwellings approved 260
across Hornsby
same for both
Approvals change year on year -79%
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.

Hornsby Heights Galston
Houses 3.6%
$900/wk on $1.3M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Hornsby Heights Galston
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of NSW —

Liveability

Hornsby Heights is more walkable (39 vs 12); Hornsby Heights scores higher overall (69 vs 60).

Hornsby Heights Galston
Grade B
same for both
Score 69/100 60/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Galston carries more crime risk (35 vs 21).

Hornsby Heights Galston
Bushfire Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
43/100
Crime Low
21/100
 Low
35/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Hornsby Heights Galston
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Hornsby Heights

  • Hornsby Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Galston

  • Galston Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Galston High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Hornsby Heights Galston
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 6
Parks & reserves 8 12
Childcare 3 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 10 18

Mobility

Galston sits further from the CBD (40.1 km vs 33.2 km).

Hornsby Heights Galston
Walkability score 39/100 12/100
Distance to Sydney 33.2 km 40.1 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 44 min 46 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 207.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 54.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2077
 1.4%
postcode 2159
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2077
 53
postcode 2159

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.

Hornsby Heights Galston
Worked from Home 52.5% / 44.0%
Hornsby Heights — Worked from Home: 52.5% Galston — Worked from Home: 44.0%
Car (driver) 40.1% / 50.2%
Hornsby Heights — Car (driver): 40.1% Galston — Car (driver): 50.2%
Train 3.4% / 1.0%
Hornsby Heights — Train: 3.4% Galston — Train: 1.0%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.0%
Hornsby Heights — Car (passenger): 2.2% Galston — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.1% / 2.2%
Hornsby Heights — Walked Only: 1.1% Galston — Walked Only: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.5%).

Setting

Hornsby Heights Galston
Elevation 192 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 189 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.9 km 16.8 km

NBN connectivity

Hornsby Heights Galston
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
2,182 premises
 44%
1,478 premises

Climate

Hornsby Heights Galston
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Hornsby Heights Galston
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Hornsby Heights Galston
Average residential rate $1,488/yr
same for both
Council Hornsby
same for both

Federal electorate

Hornsby Heights Galston
Division Berowra
same for both
Member Julian Leeser
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hornsby Heights Galston
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hornsby Heights

Large Blocks Outer Professionals River

Galston

Outer Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hornsby Heights

Hornsby Heights vs Hornsby Hornsby Heights vs Dural Hornsby Heights vs Mount Colah Hornsby Heights vs Mount Kuring-Gai Hornsby Heights vs Berrilee

Other comparisons with Galston

Galston vs Dural Galston vs Arcadia Galston vs Middle Dural Galston vs Berrilee
Full data on Hornsby Heights Full data on Galston
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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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