Hornsby vs Dural

Hornsby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 45 in Dural. In both, most households own their home. In Hornsby, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. In Dural, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Dural: a median of $2.28 million, against $1.8 million in Hornsby, and rent is higher there too. Hornsby is closer to the city centre: 28.4 km, against 38.3 km. On these figures, Hornsby tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Dural suits couples.

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 5 things we measure here

  • Hornsby has more parks and reserves (21 vs 10)
  • Dural has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 35%)

Weighs schools, house stock, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Hornsby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,800,000 vs $2,280,000)

Weighs house prices, unit 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 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $600/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 1%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 26/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (28.4 km vs 38.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hornsby

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (15 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 26/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 20%)
  • But Dural has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 15%)

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

Investors

Hornsby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.8% vs 3.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.8% vs 2.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Hornsby and Dural 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 Dural
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 Dural
Walkability 96 / 26
Hornsby — Walkability: 96/100 Dural — Walkability: 26/100
Low fire risk 35 / 71
Hornsby — Low fire risk: 35/100 Dural — Low fire risk: 71/100

Demographics

Hornsby has more residents (22,462 vs 7,900); Dural rents higher ($600/wk vs $440/wk).

Hornsby Dural
Population 22,462
+65% vs other
 7,900
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +4.4%
Median age 38 45
Median household income $101,504/yr $129,428/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk $600/wk
+36% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Dural
0-4 6.0% / 4.1%
Hornsby — 0-4: 6.0% Dural — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 11.6% / 13.3%
Hornsby — 5-14: 11.6% Dural — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 4.6% / 7.1%
Hornsby — 15-19: 4.6% Dural — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.0% / 6.0%
Hornsby — 20-24: 6.0% Dural — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 15.3% / 7.8%
Hornsby — 25-34: 15.3% Dural — 25-34: 7.8%
35-44 17.8% / 10.1%
Hornsby — 35-44: 17.8% Dural — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 13.5% / 15.3%
Hornsby — 45-54: 13.5% Dural — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 10.6% / 13.9%
Hornsby — 55-64: 10.6% Dural — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 8.5% / 10.3%
Hornsby — 65-74: 8.5% Dural — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 4.2% / 8.0%
Hornsby — 75-84: 4.2% Dural — 75-84: 8.0%
85+ 1.9% / 3.8%
Hornsby — 85+: 1.9% Dural — 85+: 3.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Dural 61.3% couple families
Dural — Couple Families: 61.3% Dural — Lone Person: 23.4% Dural — One Parent Families: 12.5% Dural — Group Household: 1.8% Dural — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hornsby 44.1% renting
Hornsby — Owned Outright: 23.4% Hornsby — Mortgage: 32.5% Hornsby — Renting: 44.1%
Dural 15.2% renting
Dural — Owned Outright: 46.2% Dural — Mortgage: 38.5% Dural — Renting: 15.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hornsby Dural
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 18.3%
Hornsby — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Dural — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 7.1%
Hornsby — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Dural — Postgraduate Degree: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 10.3%
Hornsby — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Dural — Certificate III & IV: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 8.9%
Hornsby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Dural — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.9%
Hornsby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Dural — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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 Dural
China 12.6% / 4.1%
Hornsby — China: 12.6% Dural — China: 4.1%
India 5.7% / 3.0%
Hornsby — India: 5.7% Dural — India: 3.0%
England 2.8% / 4.0%
Hornsby — England: 2.8% Dural — England: 4.0%
Nepal 4.4% / —
Hornsby — Nepal: 4.4% Dural — Nepal: not among its largest
Philippines 2.8% / —
Hornsby — Philippines: 2.8% Dural — Philippines: not among its largest
Malaysia 1.2% / 1.6%
Hornsby — Malaysia: 1.2% Dural — Malaysia: 1.6%
South Africa — / 2.0%
Hornsby — South Africa: not among its largest Dural — South Africa: 2.0%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hornsby 35.3% houses
Hornsby — Houses: 35.3% Hornsby — Flats / Apartments: 59.3% Hornsby — Townhouses: 5.4%
Dural 80.3% houses
Dural — Houses: 80.3% Dural — Flats / Apartments: 10.5% Dural — Townhouses: 9.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hornsby Dural
Median house price $1,800,000 $2,280,000
Median unit price $720,000 $699,500
Median land price — $3,850,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 103 sales
 26 days
from 58 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 Dural
3 bed $1.6M / $1.7M
Hornsby — 3 bed: $1.6M (49 sales) Dural — 3 bed: $1.7M (16 sales)

49 vs 16 sales

4 bed $1.82M / $2.23M
Hornsby — 4 bed: $1.82M (41 sales) Dural — 4 bed: $2.23M (30 sales)

41 vs 30 sales

5 bed $1.92M / $2.45M
Hornsby — 5 bed: $1.92M (15 sales) Dural — 5 bed: $2.45M (23 sales)

15 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Dural has more rural and farming land (57% vs 0%); Dural has more land zoned for conservation (31% vs 10%).

Hornsby Dural
Residential 59% 4%
Rural and farming 0% 57%
Environmental 10% 31%
Parks and recreation 20% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 2%
Industrial 4% 1%
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 Dural
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 Dural
Houses 2.8%
$875/wk on $1.6M
 2.3%
$1,100/wk on $2.5M
Units 4.8%
$660/wk on $712K
 3.3%
$600/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Hornsby Dural
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW

Liveability

Hornsby is more walkable (96 vs 26); Dural scores higher overall (69 vs 58).

Hornsby Dural
Grade B A
Score 58/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Hornsby carries more bushfire risk (65 vs 29).

Hornsby Dural
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 Low
29/100
Crime 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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Hornsby Dural
Inside the suburb 7 6
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.6 km
 None

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

Schools in Dural

  • Dural Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lorien Novalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education Independent · Combined above peers
  • Pacific Hills Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Redfield College Independent · Combined at peers
  • New Hope Christian School Independent · Combined · Special school
  • Warrah Specialist School Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Hornsby Dural
Supermarkets 9 3
Cafes & restaurants 49 3
Parks & reserves 21 10
Childcare 20 13
GPs 15 3
Pharmacies 10 2
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 3
Fuel stations 4
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 29 22

Mobility

Dural sits further from the CBD (38.3 km vs 28.4 km).

Hornsby Dural
Walkability score 96/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 28.4 km 38.3 km
+35% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 44 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 386.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 292.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2077
 2.1%
postcode 2158
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2077
 45
postcode 2158

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 Dural
Worked from Home 47.7% / 50.6%
Hornsby — Worked from Home: 47.7% Dural — Worked from Home: 50.6%
Car (driver) 31.8% / 42.8%
Hornsby — Car (driver): 31.8% Dural — Car (driver): 42.8%
Train 10.6% / 1.0%
Hornsby — Train: 10.6% Dural — Train: 1.0%
Walked Only 6.1% / 2.4%
Hornsby — Walked Only: 6.1% Dural — Walked Only: 2.4%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 2.6%
Hornsby — Car (passenger): 2.9% Dural — Car (passenger): 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.6%).

Setting

Hornsby Dural
Elevation 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 197 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.4 km 21.1 km

NBN connectivity

Hornsby Dural
Connectivity score 76/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
12,291 premises
 52%
3,490 premises

Climate

Hornsby Dural
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm 1,021 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 28.4°C
Winter min (Jul) — 7.2°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Hornsby

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Professionals Transport Hub

Dural

Easy Commute Outer Premium Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hornsby

Hornsby vs Wahroonga Hornsby vs Thornleigh Hornsby vs Waitara Hornsby vs Mount Colah Hornsby vs Hornsby Heights Hornsby vs Asquith

Other comparisons with Dural

Dural vs Castle Hill Dural vs Cherrybrook Dural vs Glenhaven Dural vs Hornsby Heights Dural vs Kenthurst Dural vs Westleigh
Full data on Hornsby Full data on Dural
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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