Hornsby vs Mount Colah

In both, most households own their home. In Hornsby, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. In Mount Colah, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. On these figures, Hornsby tends to suit people living alone, while Mount Colah 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 6 things we measure here

  • Hornsby has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 2)
  • Mount Colah carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 70/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Colah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($630,000 vs $720,000)

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 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $525/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 4%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 45/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (37 min vs 46 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 GPs (15 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 45/100)
  • But Mount Colah carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 70/100)

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

Investors

Mount Colah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.2% vs 1.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 4.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Hornsby 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 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 Mount Colah
Walkability 96 / 45
Hornsby — Walkability: 96/100 Mount Colah — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 30 / 82
Hornsby — Safety: 30/100 Mount Colah — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 35 / 13
Hornsby — Low fire risk: 35/100 Mount Colah — Low fire risk: 13/100

Demographics

Hornsby has more residents (22,462 vs 7,816); Mount Colah has higher household incomes ($130,260 vs $101,504).

Hornsby Mount Colah
Population 22,462
+65% vs other
 7,816
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +10.2%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $101,504/yr $130,260/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk $525/wk
+19% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Mount Colah
0-4 6.0% / 5.9%
Hornsby — 0-4: 6.0% Mount Colah — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 11.6% / 13.9%
Hornsby — 5-14: 11.6% Mount Colah — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 4.6% / 6.8%
Hornsby — 15-19: 4.6% Mount Colah — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 6.0% / 5.3%
Hornsby — 20-24: 6.0% Mount Colah — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 15.3% / 10.7%
Hornsby — 25-34: 15.3% Mount Colah — 25-34: 10.7%
35-44 17.8% / 14.7%
Hornsby — 35-44: 17.8% Mount Colah — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 13.5% / 15.3%
Hornsby — 45-54: 13.5% Mount Colah — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 10.6% / 13.9%
Hornsby — 55-64: 10.6% Mount Colah — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 8.5% / 7.9%
Hornsby — 65-74: 8.5% Mount Colah — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 4.2% / 4.2%
Hornsby — 75-84: 4.2% Mount Colah — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.9% / 1.2%
Hornsby — 85+: 1.9% Mount Colah — 85+: 1.2%

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%
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 44.1% renting
Hornsby — Owned Outright: 23.4% Hornsby — Mortgage: 32.5% Hornsby — Renting: 44.1%
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 Mount Colah
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 19.7%
Hornsby — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Mount Colah — Bachelor Degree: 19.7%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 7.7%
Hornsby — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Mount Colah — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 11.2%
Hornsby — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Mount Colah — Certificate III & IV: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 9.1%
Hornsby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Mount Colah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.8%
Hornsby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Mount Colah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

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 Mount Colah
China 12.6% / 3.2%
Hornsby — China: 12.6% Mount Colah — China: 3.2%
India 5.7% / 3.7%
Hornsby — India: 5.7% Mount Colah — India: 3.7%
England 2.8% / 4.1%
Hornsby — England: 2.8% Mount Colah — England: 4.1%
Philippines 2.8% / 2.0%
Hornsby — Philippines: 2.8% Mount Colah — Philippines: 2.0%
Nepal 4.4% / —
Hornsby — Nepal: 4.4% Mount Colah — Nepal: not among its largest
Iran 1.7% / 1.9%
Hornsby — Iran: 1.7% Mount Colah — Iran: 1.9%

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%
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 Mount Colah
Median house price $1,800,000 $1,671,175
Median unit price $720,000 $630,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 103 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 Mount Colah
3 bed $1.6M / $1.54M
Hornsby — 3 bed: $1.6M (49 sales) Mount Colah — 3 bed: $1.54M (42 sales)

49 vs 42 sales

4 bed $1.82M / $1.77M
Hornsby — 4 bed: $1.82M (41 sales) Mount Colah — 4 bed: $1.77M (44 sales)

41 vs 44 sales

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

15 vs 21 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Hornsby Mount Colah
1 bed $570K / $540K
Hornsby — 1 bed: $570K (42 sales) Mount Colah — 1 bed: $540K (13 sales)

42 vs 13 sales

2 bed $725K / $635K
Hornsby — 2 bed: $725K (269 sales) Mount Colah — 2 bed: $635K (29 sales)

269 vs 29 sales

3 bed $950K / $1.22M
Hornsby — 3 bed: $950K (31 sales) Mount Colah — 3 bed: $1.22M (5 sales)

31 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Colah has more land zoned for conservation (67% vs 10%).

Hornsby Mount Colah
Environmental 10% 67%
Residential 59% 24%
Parks and recreation 20% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 6%
same for both
Industrial 4% 0%
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 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 Mount Colah
Houses 2.8%
$875/wk on $1.6M
 2.9%
$990/wk on $1.8M
Units 4.8%
$660/wk on $712K
 5.4%
$660/wk on $638K

Ranking within NSW

Hornsby Mount Colah
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Income Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools Higher than 61% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Hornsby is more walkable (96 vs 45).

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

Risk profile

Hornsby carries more crime risk (70 vs 18); Mount Colah carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 65).

Hornsby Mount Colah
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 High
87/100
Crime High
70/100
 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 Mount Colah
Inside the suburb 7 2
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
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 Mount Colah

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

Amenities in the suburb

Hornsby Mount Colah
Supermarkets 9 0
Cafes & restaurants 49 3
Parks & reserves 21 8
Childcare 20 6
GPs 15 2
Pharmacies 10 1
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 1
Fuel stations 4 1
Waterways 29 11

Mobility

Mount Colah sits further from the CBD (31.2 km vs 28.4 km).

Hornsby Mount Colah
Walkability score 96/100 45/100
Distance to Sydney 28.4 km 31.2 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 46 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 386.2
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 Mount Colah
Worked from Home 47.7% / 48.3%
Hornsby — Worked from Home: 47.7% Mount Colah — Worked from Home: 48.3%
Car (driver) 31.8% / 42.7%
Hornsby — Car (driver): 31.8% Mount Colah — Car (driver): 42.7%
Train 10.6% / 4.3%
Hornsby — Train: 10.6% Mount Colah — Train: 4.3%
Walked Only 6.1% / 1.5%
Hornsby — Walked Only: 6.1% Mount Colah — Walked Only: 1.5%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 2.8%
Hornsby — Car (passenger): 2.9% Mount Colah — Car (passenger): 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.3%).

Setting

Hornsby Mount Colah
Elevation 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 140 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.4 km 13.9 km

NBN connectivity

Hornsby Mount Colah
Connectivity score 76/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
12,291 premises
 34%
2,951 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Hornsby Mount Colah
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

Mount Colah

Easy Commute Outer Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hornsby

Hornsby vs Wahroonga Hornsby vs Thornleigh Hornsby vs Dural Hornsby vs Waitara Hornsby vs Hornsby Heights Hornsby vs Asquith

Other comparisons with Mount Colah

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