Hornsby Heights vs Hornsby

Hornsby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Hornsby Heights. In both, most households own their home. In Hornsby Heights, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Hornsby, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. Hornsby is closer to the city centre: 28.4 km, against 33.2 km. On these figures, Hornsby Heights tends to suit couples, while Hornsby suits people living alone.

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

  • Hornsby Heights carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 70/100)
  • Hornsby has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 1)

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

Hornsby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 9%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $620/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hornsby

ahead on 4 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 39/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (37 min vs 44 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hornsby

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (15 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 39/100)
  • But Hornsby Heights carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 70/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Hornsby Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Hornsby Heights and Hornsby 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 Hornsby
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 Hornsby
Walkability 39 / 96
Hornsby Heights — Walkability: 39/100 Hornsby — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 79 / 30
Hornsby Heights — Safety: 79/100 Hornsby — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 53 / 35
Hornsby Heights — Low fire risk: 53/100 Hornsby — Low fire risk: 35/100

Demographics

Hornsby has more residents (22,462 vs 6,354); Hornsby Heights rents higher ($620/wk vs $440/wk).

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Population 6,354 22,462
+254% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.8% +1.3%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $140,348/yr
+28% vs other
 $101,504/yr
Median weekly rent $620/wk
+29% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
0-4 5.2% / 6.0%
Hornsby Heights — 0-4: 5.2% Hornsby — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 15.9% / 11.6%
Hornsby Heights — 5-14: 15.9% Hornsby — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 7.3% / 4.6%
Hornsby Heights — 15-19: 7.3% Hornsby — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 5.9% / 6.0%
Hornsby Heights — 20-24: 5.9% Hornsby — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 6.9% / 15.3%
Hornsby Heights — 25-34: 6.9% Hornsby — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 13.6% / 17.8%
Hornsby Heights — 35-44: 13.6% Hornsby — 35-44: 17.8%
45-54 16.4% / 13.5%
Hornsby Heights — 45-54: 16.4% Hornsby — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 13.5% / 10.6%
Hornsby Heights — 55-64: 13.5% Hornsby — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 9.6% / 8.5%
Hornsby Heights — 65-74: 9.6% Hornsby — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 4.8% / 4.2%
Hornsby Heights — 75-84: 4.8% Hornsby — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.2% / 1.9%
Hornsby Heights — 85+: 1.2% Hornsby — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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%
Hornsby 45.0% couple families
Hornsby — Couple Families: 45.0% Hornsby — Lone Person: 34.7% Hornsby — One Parent Families: 13.6% Hornsby — Group Household: 4.7% Hornsby — Other Families: 2.0%
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%
Hornsby 44.1% renting
Hornsby — Owned Outright: 23.4% Hornsby — Mortgage: 32.5% Hornsby — Renting: 44.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 23.5%
Hornsby Heights — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Hornsby — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 12.0%
Hornsby Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Hornsby — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 7.4%
Hornsby Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Hornsby — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.7%
Hornsby Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Hornsby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.3%
Hornsby Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Hornsby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

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 Hornsby
China 3.7% / 12.6%
Hornsby Heights — China: 3.7% Hornsby — China: 12.6%
England 5.6% / 2.8%
Hornsby Heights — England: 5.6% Hornsby — England: 2.8%
India 2.4% / 5.7%
Hornsby Heights — India: 2.4% Hornsby — India: 5.7%
Nepal — / 4.4%
Hornsby Heights — Nepal: not among its largest Hornsby — Nepal: 4.4%
Philippines 1.1% / 2.8%
Hornsby Heights — Philippines: 1.1% Hornsby — Philippines: 2.8%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.3%
Hornsby Heights — New Zealand: 1.7% Hornsby — New Zealand: 1.3%
South Africa 1.4% / —
Hornsby Heights — South Africa: 1.4% Hornsby — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.6%).

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%
Hornsby 35.3% houses
Hornsby — Houses: 35.3% Hornsby — Flats / Apartments: 59.3% Hornsby — Townhouses: 5.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Median house price $1,740,000 $1,800,000
Median unit price — $720,000
Median land price $1,020,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 38 sales
 23 days
from 103 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 Hornsby
3 bed $1.51M / $1.6M
Hornsby Heights — 3 bed: $1.51M (20 sales) Hornsby — 3 bed: $1.6M (49 sales)

20 vs 49 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.82M
Hornsby Heights — 4 bed: $1.75M (51 sales) Hornsby — 4 bed: $1.82M (41 sales)

51 vs 41 sales

5 bed $1.9M / $1.92M
Hornsby Heights — 5 bed: $1.9M (21 sales) Hornsby — 5 bed: $1.92M (15 sales)

21 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Hornsby Heights has more land zoned for conservation (64% vs 10%).

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Environmental 64% 10%
Residential 26% 59%
Parks and recreation 8% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 6%
Industrial 0% 4%
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 Hornsby
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 Hornsby
Houses 3.6%
$900/wk on $1.3M
 2.8%
$875/wk on $1.6M
Units — 4.8%
$660/wk on $712K

Ranking within NSW

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
House price Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 61% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 59% of NSW

Liveability

Hornsby is more walkable (96 vs 39); Hornsby Heights scores higher overall (69 vs 58).

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Grade B
same for both
Score 69/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Hornsby carries more crime risk (70 vs 21); Hornsby carries more bushfire risk (65 vs 47).

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Bushfire Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
65/100
Crime Low
21/100
 High
70/100
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
same for both

Schools

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Inside the suburb 1 7
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km None 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.6 km

Schools in Hornsby Heights

  • Hornsby Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Hornsby

  • Hornsby Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Hornsby North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Hornsby South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Barker College Independent · Secondary below peers
  • Blue Gum Community School Independent · Primary
  • Clarke Road School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Supermarkets 0 9
Cafes & restaurants 1 49
Parks & reserves 8 21
Childcare 3 20
GPs 0 15
Pharmacies 1 10
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 9
Fuel stations 1 4
Waterways 10 29

Mobility

Hornsby Heights sits further from the CBD (33.2 km vs 28.4 km).

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Walkability score 39/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 33.2 km
+14% vs other
 28.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 44 min 37 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 207.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 386.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2077
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2077
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.

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Worked from Home 52.5% / 47.7%
Hornsby Heights — Worked from Home: 52.5% Hornsby — Worked from Home: 47.7%
Car (driver) 40.1% / 31.8%
Hornsby Heights — Car (driver): 40.1% Hornsby — Car (driver): 31.8%
Train 3.4% / 10.6%
Hornsby Heights — Train: 3.4% Hornsby — Train: 10.6%
Walked Only 1.1% / 6.1%
Hornsby Heights — Walked Only: 1.1% Hornsby — Walked Only: 6.1%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.9%
Hornsby Heights — Car (passenger): 2.2% Hornsby — Car (passenger): 2.9%

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

Setting

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Elevation 192 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.9 km 18.4 km

NBN connectivity

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
2,182 premises
 14%
12,291 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Hornsby Heights Hornsby
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

Hornsby

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hornsby Heights

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

Other comparisons with Hornsby

Hornsby vs Wahroonga Hornsby vs Thornleigh Hornsby vs Dural Hornsby vs Waitara Hornsby vs Mount Colah Hornsby vs Asquith
Full data on Hornsby Heights Full data on Hornsby
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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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