Jamberoo vs Kiama

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Jamberoo, most households are couple families. On these figures, Jamberoo tends to suit couples, while Kiama suits people living alone.

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

  • Jamberoo carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 59/100)
  • Kiama has more childcare (6 vs 1)

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

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Jamberoo leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 30%)
  • Kiama has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 11%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Jamberoo sits closer to the CBD (115.3 km vs 123 km)
  • Kiama is more walkable (84/100 vs 13/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Kiama

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (45% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 13/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • But Jamberoo carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 59/100)

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

Jamberoo and Kiama drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Jamberoo Kiama
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.

Jamberoo Kiama
Walkability 13 / 84
Jamberoo — Walkability: 13/100 Kiama — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 73 / 41
Jamberoo — Safety: 73/100 Kiama — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 43 / 100
Jamberoo — Low fire risk: 43/100 Kiama — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kiama has more residents (7,904 vs 1,910); Jamberoo has higher household incomes ($110,812 vs $81,744).

Jamberoo Kiama
Population 1,910 7,904
+314% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.7% +14.9%
Median age 50 52
Median household income $110,812/yr
+26% vs other
 $81,744/yr
Median weekly rent $498/wk
+4% vs other
 $478/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Jamberoo Kiama
0-4 5.9% / 4.4%
Jamberoo — 0-4: 5.9% Kiama — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 10.5% / 10.1%
Jamberoo — 5-14: 10.5% Kiama — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 6.1% / 4.5%
Jamberoo — 15-19: 6.1% Kiama — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 4.2% / 3.8%
Jamberoo — 20-24: 4.2% Kiama — 20-24: 3.8%
25-34 7.3% / 9.1%
Jamberoo — 25-34: 7.3% Kiama — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 8.6% / 10.0%
Jamberoo — 35-44: 8.6% Kiama — 35-44: 10.0%
45-54 13.5% / 10.9%
Jamberoo — 45-54: 13.5% Kiama — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 16.2% / 14.9%
Jamberoo — 55-64: 16.2% Kiama — 55-64: 14.9%
65-74 16.0% / 16.5%
Jamberoo — 65-74: 16.0% Kiama — 65-74: 16.5%
75-84 8.8% / 11.0%
Jamberoo — 75-84: 8.8% Kiama — 75-84: 11.0%
85+ 2.2% / 4.9%
Jamberoo — 85+: 2.2% Kiama — 85+: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Jamberoo 59.2% couple families
Jamberoo — Couple Families: 59.2% Jamberoo — Lone Person: 26.6% Jamberoo — One Parent Families: 9.1% Jamberoo — Group Household: 1.9% Jamberoo — Other Families: 3.1%
Kiama 37.5% couple families
Kiama — Couple Families: 37.5% Kiama — Lone Person: 44.7% Kiama — One Parent Families: 12.9% Kiama — Group Household: 3.4% Kiama — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Jamberoo 10.8% renting
Jamberoo — Owned Outright: 55.2% Jamberoo — Mortgage: 34.0% Jamberoo — Renting: 10.8%
Kiama 24.0% renting
Kiama — Owned Outright: 48.6% Kiama — Mortgage: 27.4% Kiama — Renting: 24.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Jamberoo Kiama
Bachelor Degree 16.5% / 16.6%
Jamberoo — Bachelor Degree: 16.5% Kiama — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 14.7%
Jamberoo — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Kiama — Certificate III & IV: 14.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 10.5%
Jamberoo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Kiama — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 6.0%
Jamberoo — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Kiama — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 3.3%
Jamberoo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Kiama — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Jamberoo Kiama
England 5.9% / 6.3%
Jamberoo — England: 5.9% Kiama — England: 6.3%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.4%
Jamberoo — New Zealand: 0.9% Kiama — New Zealand: 1.4%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.8%
Jamberoo — Scotland: 0.4% Kiama — Scotland: 0.8%
Germany 0.4% / 0.7%
Jamberoo — Germany: 0.4% Kiama — Germany: 0.7%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.5%
Jamberoo — Netherlands: 0.5% Kiama — Netherlands: 0.5%
China — / 0.6%
Jamberoo — China: not among its largest Kiama — China: 0.6%
India 0.5% / —
Jamberoo — India: 0.5% Kiama — India: not among its largest
Italy 0.4% / —
Jamberoo — Italy: 0.4% Kiama — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Jamberoo 95.5% houses
Jamberoo — Houses: 95.5% Jamberoo — Townhouses: 3.0% Jamberoo — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Kiama 55.4% houses
Kiama — Houses: 55.4% Kiama — Townhouses: 24.1% Kiama — Flats / Apartments: 20.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Jamberoo Kiama
Median house price $1,565,000 $1,595,000
Median unit price — $905,000
Median land price — $870,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 64 days
from 15 sales
 33 days
from 77 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.

Jamberoo Kiama
3 bed $1.3M / $1.23M
Jamberoo — 3 bed: $1.3M (15 sales) Kiama — 3 bed: $1.23M (43 sales)

15 vs 43 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $1.7M
Jamberoo — 4 bed: $1.6M (19 sales) Kiama — 4 bed: $1.7M (53 sales)

19 vs 53 sales

Zoning mix

Jamberoo has more land zoned for conservation (50% vs 11%); Jamberoo has more rural and farming land (48% vs 35%).

Jamberoo Kiama
Environmental 50% 11%
Rural and farming 48% 35%
Residential 1% 34%
Parks and recreation 0% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 6%
Commercial 0% 3%
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

Jamberoo Kiama
New dwellings approved 159
across Kiama
same for both
Approvals change year on year -35%
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.

Jamberoo Kiama
Houses — 2.6%
$850/wk on $1.68M
Units — 3.3%
$675/wk on $1.05M

Ranking within NSW

Jamberoo Kiama
House price Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 18% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 9% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 8% of NSW

Liveability

Kiama is more walkable (84 vs 13).

Jamberoo Kiama
Grade B
same for both
Score 53/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Jamberoo carries more bushfire risk (57 vs 0); Kiama carries more crime risk (59 vs 27).

Jamberoo Kiama
Bushfire Moderate
57/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
26/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Jamberoo Kiama
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 3

Schools in Jamberoo

  • Jamberoo Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Kiama

  • Kiama High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Kiama Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Jamberoo Kiama
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 2 40
Parks & reserves 3 17
Childcare 1 6
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 0 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 0 3
Waterways 23 9

Mobility

Kiama sits further from the CBD (123 km vs 115.3 km).

Jamberoo Kiama
Walkability score 13/100 84/100
Distance to Sydney 115.3 km 123 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 107 min 106 min
Public transport score 27/100
Bus
 81/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 57.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2533
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2533
same for both

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.

Jamberoo Kiama
Car (driver) 56.0% / 59.1%
Jamberoo — Car (driver): 56.0% Kiama — Car (driver): 59.1%
Worked from Home 35.9% / 32.3%
Jamberoo — Worked from Home: 35.9% Kiama — Worked from Home: 32.3%
Walked Only 4.4% / 4.1%
Jamberoo — Walked Only: 4.4% Kiama — Walked Only: 4.1%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 2.8%
Jamberoo — Car (passenger): 2.5% Kiama — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Train 0.4% / 1.0%
Jamberoo — Train: 0.4% Kiama — Train: 1.0%
Bicycle 0.8% / 0.3%
Jamberoo — Bicycle: 0.8% Kiama — Bicycle: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.1%).

Setting

Jamberoo Kiama
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.2 km 986 m
976 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Jamberoo Kiama
Connectivity score 76/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 66%
821 premises
 100%
4,900 premises

Climate

Jamberoo Kiama
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Jamberoo Kiama
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.37 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Jamberoo Kiama
Average residential rate $1,898/yr
same for both
Council Kiama
same for both

Federal electorate

Jamberoo Kiama
Division Gilmore
same for both
Member Fiona Phillips
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Jamberoo Kiama
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Jamberoo

Acreage Retirees River

Kiama

Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Professionals Retirees Townhouses Transport Hub Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Jamberoo

Jamberoo vs Kiama Downs Jamberoo vs Dunmore Jamberoo vs Curramore Jamberoo vs Foxground Jamberoo vs Jerrara Jamberoo vs Croom

Other comparisons with Kiama

Kiama vs Kiama Downs Kiama vs Kiama Heights Kiama vs Bombo Kiama vs Jerrara Kiama vs Saddleback Mountain
Full data on Jamberoo Full data on Kiama
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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