Hornsby vs Westleigh

Hornsby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 45 in Westleigh. In both, most households own their home. In Hornsby, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. In Westleigh, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Westleigh: a median of $2.01 million, against $1.8 million in Hornsby, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Hornsby tends to suit people living alone, while Westleigh 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 childcare (20 vs 1)
  • Westleigh carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 70/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, 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 $2,010,000)

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 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $705/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hornsby

ahead on 2 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 55/100)

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 3%)
  • has more GPs (15 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 55/100)
  • But Westleigh carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 70/100)

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 and Westleigh 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 Westleigh
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 Westleigh
Walkability 96 / 55
Hornsby — Walkability: 96/100 Westleigh — Walkability: 55/100
Safety 30 / 88
Hornsby — Safety: 30/100 Westleigh — Safety: 88/100
Low fire risk 35 / 83
Hornsby — Low fire risk: 35/100 Westleigh — Low fire risk: 83/100

Demographics

Hornsby has more residents (22,462 vs 4,501); Westleigh rents higher ($705/wk vs $440/wk).

Hornsby Westleigh
Population 22,462
+80% vs other
 4,501
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +1.0%
Median age 38 45
Median household income $101,504/yr $157,092/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk $705/wk
+60% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hornsby Westleigh
0-4 6.0% / 3.9%
Hornsby — 0-4: 6.0% Westleigh — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 11.6% / 14.8%
Hornsby — 5-14: 11.6% Westleigh — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 4.6% / 7.2%
Hornsby — 15-19: 4.6% Westleigh — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 6.0% / 6.2%
Hornsby — 20-24: 6.0% Westleigh — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 15.3% / 5.0%
Hornsby — 25-34: 15.3% Westleigh — 25-34: 5.0%
35-44 17.8% / 12.4%
Hornsby — 35-44: 17.8% Westleigh — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 13.5% / 16.6%
Hornsby — 45-54: 13.5% Westleigh — 45-54: 16.6%
55-64 10.6% / 12.6%
Hornsby — 55-64: 10.6% Westleigh — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 8.5% / 11.7%
Hornsby — 65-74: 8.5% Westleigh — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 4.2% / 7.5%
Hornsby — 75-84: 4.2% Westleigh — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 1.9% / 1.9%
Hornsby — 85+: 1.9% Westleigh — 85+: 1.9%

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%
Westleigh 70.3% couple families
Westleigh — Couple Families: 70.3% Westleigh — Lone Person: 18.3% Westleigh — One Parent Families: 9.5% Westleigh — Group Household: 1.4% Westleigh — Other Families: 0.5%
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%
Westleigh 7.1% renting
Westleigh — Owned Outright: 45.7% Westleigh — Mortgage: 47.2% Westleigh — Renting: 7.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hornsby Westleigh
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 23.5%
Hornsby — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Westleigh — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 11.3%
Hornsby — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Westleigh — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 9.0%
Hornsby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Westleigh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 6.8%
Hornsby — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Westleigh — Certificate III & IV: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.2%
Hornsby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Westleigh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

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 Westleigh
China 12.6% / 4.8%
Hornsby — China: 12.6% Westleigh — China: 4.8%
India 5.7% / 2.8%
Hornsby — India: 5.7% Westleigh — India: 2.8%
England 2.8% / 5.6%
Hornsby — England: 2.8% Westleigh — England: 5.6%
Nepal 4.4% / —
Hornsby — Nepal: 4.4% Westleigh — Nepal: not among its largest
Philippines 2.8% / 0.7%
Hornsby — Philippines: 2.8% Westleigh — Philippines: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Hornsby — New Zealand: 1.3% Westleigh — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa — / 2.3%
Hornsby — South Africa: not among its largest Westleigh — South Africa: 2.3%

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%
Westleigh 96.9% houses
Westleigh — Houses: 96.9% Westleigh — Flats / Apartments: 0.4% Westleigh — Townhouses: 2.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hornsby Westleigh
Median house price $1,800,000 $2,010,000
Median unit price $720,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 103 sales
 23 days
from 47 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 Westleigh
3 bed $1.6M / $1.81M
Hornsby — 3 bed: $1.6M (49 sales) Westleigh — 3 bed: $1.81M (14 sales)

49 vs 14 sales

4 bed $1.82M / $2M
Hornsby — 4 bed: $1.82M (41 sales) Westleigh — 4 bed: $2M (51 sales)

41 vs 51 sales

5 bed $1.92M / $2.06M
Hornsby — 5 bed: $1.92M (15 sales) Westleigh — 5 bed: $2.06M (15 sales)

15 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Westleigh has more land zoned for conservation (48% vs 10%).

Hornsby Westleigh
Residential 59% 40%
Environmental 10% 48%
Parks and recreation 20% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 1%
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 Westleigh
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 Westleigh
Houses 2.8%
$875/wk on $1.6M
 —
Units 4.8%
$660/wk on $712K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Hornsby Westleigh
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Income Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Schools Higher than 61% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of NSW —

Liveability

Hornsby is more walkable (96 vs 55); Westleigh scores higher overall (84 vs 58).

Hornsby Westleigh
Grade B A
Score 58/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Hornsby carries more crime risk (70 vs 12); Hornsby carries more bushfire risk (65 vs 17).

Hornsby Westleigh
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 Low
17/100
Crime High
70/100
 Low
12/100
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 Westleigh
Inside the suburb 7 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.6 km
 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 4.1%

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 Westleigh

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Hornsby Westleigh
Walkability score 96/100 55/100
Distance to Sydney 28.4 km 29.7 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 36 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 386.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 109.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2077
 2.8%
postcode 2120
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2077
 33
postcode 2120

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 Westleigh
Worked from Home 47.7% / 60.3%
Hornsby — Worked from Home: 47.7% Westleigh — Worked from Home: 60.3%
Car (driver) 31.8% / 33.6%
Hornsby — Car (driver): 31.8% Westleigh — Car (driver): 33.6%
Train 10.6% / 2.7%
Hornsby — Train: 10.6% Westleigh — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 6.1% / 0.7%
Hornsby — Walked Only: 6.1% Westleigh — Walked Only: 0.7%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 1.7%
Hornsby — Car (passenger): 2.9% Westleigh — Car (passenger): 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.3%).

Setting

Hornsby Westleigh
Elevation 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 144 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.4 km 19.6 km

NBN connectivity

Hornsby Westleigh
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
12,291 premises
 8%
1,595 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Hornsby Westleigh
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

Westleigh

Large Blocks Outer Premium Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hornsby

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

Other comparisons with Westleigh

Westleigh vs Cherrybrook Westleigh vs Thornleigh Westleigh vs Dural Westleigh vs Pennant Hills
Full data on Hornsby Full data on Westleigh
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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