Hornsby Heights vs Mount Colah

Comparing Hornsby Heights and Mount Colah, NSW: Mount Colah carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 47); Hornsby Heights scores higher overall (69 vs 58); and Hornsby Heights rents higher ($620/wk vs $525/wk).

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 has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 84%)
  • Mount Colah has more childcare (6 vs 3)

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

Mount Colah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($525/wk vs $620/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Colah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (31.2 km vs 33.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Colah

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Hornsby Heights returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.9%)
  • Mount Colah is growing faster (10.2% vs 0.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Hornsby Heights and Mount Colah 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 Mount Colah
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 Mount Colah
Walkability 39 / 45
Hornsby Heights — Walkability: 39/100 Mount Colah — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 79 / 82
Hornsby Heights — Safety: 79/100 Mount Colah — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 53 / 13
Hornsby Heights — Low fire risk: 53/100 Mount Colah — Low fire risk: 13/100

Demographics

Hornsby Heights rents higher ($620/wk vs $525/wk).

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Population 6,354 7,816
+23% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.8% +10.2%
Median age 41 40
Median household income $140,348/yr
+7% vs other
 $130,260/yr
Median weekly rent $620/wk
+15% vs other
 $525/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
0-4 5.2% / 5.9%
Hornsby Heights — 0-4: 5.2% Mount Colah — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 15.9% / 13.9%
Hornsby Heights — 5-14: 15.9% Mount Colah — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 7.3% / 6.8%
Hornsby Heights — 15-19: 7.3% Mount Colah — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 5.9% / 5.3%
Hornsby Heights — 20-24: 5.9% Mount Colah — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 6.9% / 10.7%
Hornsby Heights — 25-34: 6.9% Mount Colah — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 13.6% / 14.7%
Hornsby Heights — 35-44: 13.6% Mount Colah — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 16.4% / 15.3%
Hornsby Heights — 45-54: 16.4% Mount Colah — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 13.5% / 13.9%
Hornsby Heights — 55-64: 13.5% Mount Colah — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 9.6% / 7.9%
Hornsby Heights — 65-74: 9.6% Mount Colah — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 4.8% / 4.2%
Hornsby Heights — 75-84: 4.8% Mount Colah — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.2% / 1.2%
Hornsby Heights — 85+: 1.2% Mount Colah — 85+: 1.2%

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%
Mount Colah 62.9% couple families
Mount Colah — Couple Families: 62.9% Mount Colah — Lone Person: 20.3% Mount Colah — One Parent Families: 13.5% Mount Colah — Group Household: 2.0% Mount Colah — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
Mount Colah 17.9% renting
Mount Colah — Owned Outright: 33.3% Mount Colah — Mortgage: 48.8% Mount Colah — Renting: 17.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 19.7%
Hornsby Heights — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Mount Colah — Bachelor Degree: 19.7%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 11.2%
Hornsby Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Mount Colah — Certificate III & IV: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.1%
Hornsby Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Mount Colah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 7.7%
Hornsby Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Mount Colah — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.8%
Hornsby Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Mount Colah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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 Mount Colah
England 5.6% / 4.1%
Hornsby Heights — England: 5.6% Mount Colah — England: 4.1%
China 3.7% / 3.2%
Hornsby Heights — China: 3.7% Mount Colah — China: 3.2%
India 2.4% / 3.7%
Hornsby Heights — India: 2.4% Mount Colah — India: 3.7%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.7%
Hornsby Heights — New Zealand: 1.7% Mount Colah — New Zealand: 1.7%
Philippines 1.1% / 2.0%
Hornsby Heights — Philippines: 1.1% Mount Colah — Philippines: 2.0%
Iran 1.2% / 1.9%
Hornsby Heights — Iran: 1.2% Mount Colah — Iran: 1.9%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.3%
Hornsby Heights — South Africa: 1.4% Mount Colah — South Africa: 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%
Mount Colah 83.9% houses
Mount Colah — Houses: 83.9% Mount Colah — Flats / Apartments: 12.3% Mount Colah — Townhouses: 3.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Median house price $1,740,000 $1,671,175
Median unit price — $630,000
Median land price $1,020,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 38 sales
 23 days
from 67 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 Mount Colah
3 bed $1.51M / $1.54M
Hornsby Heights — 3 bed: $1.51M (20 sales) Mount Colah — 3 bed: $1.54M (42 sales)

20 vs 42 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.77M
Hornsby Heights — 4 bed: $1.75M (51 sales) Mount Colah — 4 bed: $1.77M (44 sales)

51 vs 44 sales

5 bed $1.9M / $1.9M
Hornsby Heights — 5 bed: $1.9M (21 sales) Mount Colah — 5 bed: $1.9M (21 sales)

21 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Environmental 64% 67%
Residential 26% 24%
Parks and recreation 8% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 6%
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 Mount Colah
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 Mount Colah
Houses 3.6%
$900/wk on $1.3M
 2.9%
$990/wk on $1.8M
Units — 5.4%
$660/wk on $638K

Ranking within NSW

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Hornsby Heights scores higher overall (69 vs 58).

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

Risk profile

Mount Colah carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 47).

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Bushfire Moderate
47/100
 High
87/100
Crime Low
21/100
 Low
18/100
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 Mount Colah
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
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 Mount Colah

  • Mount Colah Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Parks & reserves 8
same for both
Childcare 3 6
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 10 11

Mobility

Hornsby Heights sits further from the CBD (33.2 km vs 31.2 km).

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Walkability score 39/100 45/100
Distance to Sydney 33.2 km
+6% vs other
 31.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 44 min 46 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 207.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 177.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2077
 1.7%
postcode 2079
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2077
 40
postcode 2079

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 Mount Colah
Worked from Home 52.5% / 48.3%
Hornsby Heights — Worked from Home: 52.5% Mount Colah — Worked from Home: 48.3%
Car (driver) 40.1% / 42.7%
Hornsby Heights — Car (driver): 40.1% Mount Colah — Car (driver): 42.7%
Train 3.4% / 4.3%
Hornsby Heights — Train: 3.4% Mount Colah — Train: 4.3%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.8%
Hornsby Heights — Car (passenger): 2.2% Mount Colah — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.5%
Hornsby Heights — Walked Only: 1.1% Mount Colah — Walked Only: 1.5%

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

Setting

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Elevation 192 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 140 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.9 km 13.9 km

NBN connectivity

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
Connectivity score 75/100 84/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
2,182 premises
 34%
2,951 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Hornsby Heights Mount Colah
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

Mount Colah

Easy Commute Outer Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hornsby Heights

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

Other comparisons with Mount Colah

Mount Colah vs Hornsby Mount Colah vs Asquith Mount Colah vs North Turramurra Mount Colah vs Mount Kuring-Gai
Full data on Hornsby Heights Full data on Mount Colah
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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