Hornsby Heights vs Mount Kuring-Gai

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 Hornsby Heights: a median of $1.74 million, against $1.6 million in Mount Kuring-Gai, and rent is higher there too. Hornsby Heights is closer to the city centre: 33.2 km, against 37.5 km.

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 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 33/100)

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 Kuring-Gai

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($568/wk vs $620/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hornsby Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (33.2 km vs 37.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hornsby Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 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

Hornsby Heights and Mount Kuring-Gai 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 Kuring-Gai
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 Kuring-Gai
Walkability 39 / 39
Hornsby Heights — Walkability: 39/100 Mount Kuring-Gai — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 79 / 67
Hornsby Heights — Safety: 79/100 Mount Kuring-Gai — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 53 / 27
Hornsby Heights — Low fire risk: 53/100 Mount Kuring-Gai — Low fire risk: 27/100

Demographics

Hornsby Heights has more residents (6,354 vs 1,766); Hornsby Heights has higher household incomes ($140,348 vs $126,256).

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Population 6,354
+72% vs other
 1,766
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.8% +3.4%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $140,348/yr
+10% vs other
 $126,256/yr
Median weekly rent $620/wk
+8% vs other
 $568/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
0-4 5.2% / 4.8%
Hornsby Heights — 0-4: 5.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 15.9% / 16.1%
Hornsby Heights — 5-14: 15.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 7.3% / 7.0%
Hornsby Heights — 15-19: 7.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.9% / 5.0%
Hornsby Heights — 20-24: 5.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 6.9% / 8.1%
Hornsby Heights — 25-34: 6.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 13.6% / 13.5%
Hornsby Heights — 35-44: 13.6% Mount Kuring-Gai — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 16.4% / 16.1%
Hornsby Heights — 45-54: 16.4% Mount Kuring-Gai — 45-54: 16.1%
55-64 13.5% / 13.3%
Hornsby Heights — 55-64: 13.5% Mount Kuring-Gai — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 9.6% / 9.2%
Hornsby Heights — 65-74: 9.6% Mount Kuring-Gai — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 4.8% / 5.2%
Hornsby Heights — 75-84: 4.8% Mount Kuring-Gai — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 1.2% / 1.2%
Hornsby Heights — 85+: 1.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — 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 Kuring-Gai 65.1% couple families
Mount Kuring-Gai — Couple Families: 65.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Lone Person: 20.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — One Parent Families: 14.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Group Household: 0.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — 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.

Hornsby Heights 9.2% renting
Hornsby Heights — Owned Outright: 40.6% Hornsby Heights — Mortgage: 50.2% Hornsby Heights — Renting: 9.2%
Mount Kuring-Gai 12.9% renting
Mount Kuring-Gai — Owned Outright: 37.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — Mortgage: 49.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Renting: 12.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Kuring-Gai
England 5.6% / 5.3%
Hornsby Heights — England: 5.6% Mount Kuring-Gai — England: 5.3%
China 3.7% / 2.0%
Hornsby Heights — China: 3.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — China: 2.0%
India 2.4% / 3.1%
Hornsby Heights — India: 2.4% Mount Kuring-Gai — India: 3.1%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.5%
Hornsby Heights — New Zealand: 1.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.5%
Hornsby Heights — South Africa: 1.4% Mount Kuring-Gai — South Africa: 1.5%

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

Qualifications

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

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 16.0%
Hornsby Heights — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — Bachelor Degree: 16.0%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 12.0%
Hornsby Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.7%
Hornsby Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 8.3%
Hornsby Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Mount Kuring-Gai — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.1%
Hornsby Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Mount Kuring-Gai — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Heights 97.9% houses
Hornsby Heights — Houses: 97.9% Hornsby Heights — Townhouses: 1.9% Hornsby Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Mount Kuring-Gai 94.9% houses
Mount Kuring-Gai — Houses: 94.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — Townhouses: 4.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Median house price $1,740,000 $1,600,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,020,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 38 sales
 23 days
from 11 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 Kuring-Gai
3 bed $1.51M / $1.45M
Hornsby Heights — 3 bed: $1.51M (20 sales) Mount Kuring-Gai — 3 bed: $1.45M (5 sales)

20 vs 5 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.58M
Hornsby Heights — 4 bed: $1.75M (51 sales) Mount Kuring-Gai — 4 bed: $1.58M (12 sales)

51 vs 12 sales

5 bed $1.9M / $1.8M
Hornsby Heights — 5 bed: $1.9M (21 sales) Mount Kuring-Gai — 5 bed: $1.8M (10 sales)

21 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Kuring-Gai has more land zoned for conservation (79% vs 64%).

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Environmental 64% 79%
Residential 26% 7%
Parks and recreation 8% 1%
Industrial 0% 7%
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 Kuring-Gai
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 Kuring-Gai
Houses 3.6%
$900/wk on $1.3M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 78% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of NSW —

Liveability

Hornsby Heights scores higher overall (69 vs 58).

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
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 Kuring-Gai carries more crime risk (33 vs 21); Mount Kuring-Gai carries more bushfire risk (73 vs 47).

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Bushfire Moderate
47/100
 High
73/100
Crime Low
21/100
 Low
33/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Hornsby Heights

  • Hornsby Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mount Kuring-Gai

  • Mount Kuring-gai Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 8 3
Childcare 3 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 10 9

Mobility

Mount Kuring-Gai sits further from the CBD (37.5 km vs 33.2 km).

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Walkability score 39/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 33.2 km 37.5 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 44 min 40 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 207.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 22.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2077
 1.9%
postcode 2080
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2077
 45
postcode 2080

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 Kuring-Gai
Worked from Home 52.5% / 46.3%
Hornsby Heights — Worked from Home: 52.5% Mount Kuring-Gai — Worked from Home: 46.3%
Car (driver) 40.1% / 45.6%
Hornsby Heights — Car (driver): 40.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Car (driver): 45.6%
Train 3.4% / 4.7%
Hornsby Heights — Train: 3.4% Mount Kuring-Gai — Train: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.4%
Hornsby Heights — Car (passenger): 2.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Walked Only 1.1% / 0.9%
Hornsby Heights — Walked Only: 1.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Walked Only: 0.9%

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

Setting

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Elevation 192 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 206 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.9 km 11.7 km

NBN connectivity

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Connectivity score 75/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
2,182 premises
 42%
1,021 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
Division Berowra
same for both
Member Julian Leeser
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai
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 Kuring-Gai

Acreage Easy Commute Outer Professionals Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hornsby Heights

Hornsby Heights vs Hornsby Hornsby Heights vs Dural Hornsby Heights vs Mount Colah Hornsby Heights vs Galston Hornsby Heights vs Berrilee

Other comparisons with Mount Kuring-Gai

Mount Kuring-Gai vs Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai vs Berowra Heights Mount Kuring-Gai vs Berowra Mount Kuring-Gai vs Berrilee
Full data on Hornsby Heights Full data on Mount Kuring-Gai
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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