Katoomba vs Leura

Katoomba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 55 in Leura. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Katoomba, about half of households are people living alone. In Leura, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Leura: a median of $1.18 million, against $900,000 in Katoomba, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Katoomba tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Leura suits older residents.

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

Katoomba

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 20)
  • But Leura carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 82/100)

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

First-home buyers

Katoomba

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($900,000 vs $1,180,000)
  • has cheaper land ($375,000 vs $437,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Katoomba

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Leura

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 42/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (99.7 km vs 102.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Leura

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 82/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (34% vs 24%)
  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 42/100)
  • But Katoomba has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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

Investors

Katoomba

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (3.8% vs -3.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Katoomba Leura
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.

Katoomba Leura
Walkability 42 / 60
Katoomba — Walkability: 42/100 Leura — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 18 / 50
Katoomba — Safety: 18/100 Leura — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 20 / 6
Katoomba — Low fire risk: 20/100 Leura — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Katoomba has more residents (8,268 vs 4,503); Leura rents higher ($430/wk vs $350/wk).

Katoomba Leura
Population 8,268
+46% vs other
 4,503
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.8% -3.0%
Median age 48 55
Median household income $60,892/yr $71,188/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $430/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Katoomba Leura
0-4 3.8% / 3.3%
Katoomba — 0-4: 3.8% Leura — 0-4: 3.3%
5-14 10.0% / 8.7%
Katoomba — 5-14: 10.0% Leura — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 5.0% / 4.8%
Katoomba — 15-19: 5.0% Leura — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 4.4% / 3.4%
Katoomba — 20-24: 4.4% Leura — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 10.4% / 6.8%
Katoomba — 25-34: 10.4% Leura — 25-34: 6.8%
35-44 12.5% / 9.4%
Katoomba — 35-44: 12.5% Leura — 35-44: 9.4%
45-54 15.4% / 13.2%
Katoomba — 45-54: 15.4% Leura — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 15.2% / 16.3%
Katoomba — 55-64: 15.2% Leura — 55-64: 16.3%
65-74 15.5% / 18.8%
Katoomba — 65-74: 15.5% Leura — 65-74: 18.8%
75-84 6.3% / 11.1%
Katoomba — 75-84: 6.3% Leura — 75-84: 11.1%
85+ 1.7% / 4.4%
Katoomba — 85+: 1.7% Leura — 85+: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Katoomba 52.5% lone person
Katoomba — Lone Person: 52.5% Katoomba — Couple Families: 23.5% Katoomba — One Parent Families: 16.2% Katoomba — Group Household: 6.7% Katoomba — Other Families: 1.1%
Leura 55.1% lone person
Leura — Lone Person: 55.1% Leura — Couple Families: 26.4% Leura — One Parent Families: 13.2% Leura — Group Household: 4.4% Leura — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Katoomba 34.5% renting
Katoomba — Owned Outright: 36.2% Katoomba — Mortgage: 29.3% Katoomba — Renting: 34.5%
Leura 21.7% renting
Leura — Owned Outright: 49.6% Leura — Mortgage: 28.7% Leura — Renting: 21.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Katoomba Leura
Bachelor Degree 16.5% / 19.0%
Katoomba — Bachelor Degree: 16.5% Leura — Bachelor Degree: 19.0%
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 10.2%
Katoomba — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Leura — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 10.8%
Katoomba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Leura — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.8%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 10.5%
Katoomba — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Leura — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.7%
Katoomba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Leura — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

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.

Katoomba Leura
England 5.6% / 6.8%
Katoomba — England: 5.6% Leura — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.2%
Katoomba — New Zealand: 2.0% Leura — New Zealand: 2.2%
Germany 1.0% / 1.0%
Katoomba — Germany: 1.0% Leura — Germany: 1.0%
China 1.0% / 0.7%
Katoomba — China: 1.0% Leura — China: 0.7%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.9%
Katoomba — Scotland: 0.6% Leura — Scotland: 0.9%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.5%
Katoomba — Philippines: 0.9% Leura — Philippines: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Katoomba 81.8% houses
Katoomba — Houses: 81.8% Katoomba — Flats / Apartments: 12.5% Katoomba — Townhouses: 5.7%
Leura 83.9% houses
Leura — Houses: 83.9% Leura — Flats / Apartments: 8.1% Leura — Townhouses: 7.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Katoomba Leura
Median house price $900,000 $1,180,000
Median unit price $600,000 $582,500
Median land price $375,000 $437,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 142 sales
 34 days
from 73 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.

Katoomba Leura
2 bed $795K / $930K
Katoomba — 2 bed: $795K (53 sales) Leura — 2 bed: $930K (26 sales)

53 vs 26 sales

3 bed $895K / $1.1M
Katoomba — 3 bed: $895K (118 sales) Leura — 3 bed: $1.1M (67 sales)

118 vs 67 sales

4 bed $1.1M / $1.42M
Katoomba — 4 bed: $1.1M (47 sales) Leura — 4 bed: $1.42M (36 sales)

47 vs 36 sales

5 bed $1.18M / $1.28M
Katoomba — 5 bed: $1.18M (13 sales) Leura — 5 bed: $1.28M (14 sales)

13 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Katoomba Leura
Environmental 73% 75%
Other and special use 1% 15%
Residential 11% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 3%
Parks and recreation 4%
same for both
Industrial 3% 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

Katoomba Leura
New dwellings approved 123
across Blue Mountains
same for both
Approvals change year on year +14%
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.

Katoomba Leura
Houses 3.5%
$650/wk on $978K
 2.9%
$750/wk on $1.35M
Units 4.7%
$500/wk on $549K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Katoomba Leura
House price Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Income Higher than 23% of NSW —
Schools Higher than 85% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 38% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of NSW —

Liveability

Leura is more walkable (60 vs 42).

Katoomba Leura
Grade C
same for both
Score 42/100 43/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Katoomba carries more crime risk (82 vs 50); Leura carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 80).

Katoomba Leura
Bushfire High
80/100
 High
94/100
Crime High
82/100
 Moderate
50/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Katoomba Leura
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Katoomba

  • Katoomba North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Canice's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Katoomba High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Katoomba Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Leura

  • Leura Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Katoomba Leura
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 54 29
Parks & reserves 29 20
Childcare 7 3
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 28 11

Mobility

Katoomba sits further from the CBD (102.9 km vs 99.7 km).

Katoomba Leura
Walkability score 42/100 60/100
Distance to Sydney 102.9 km
+3% vs other
 99.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 89 min 86 min
Public transport score 87/100
Rail · Bus
 83/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 175.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 51.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2780
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 32
postcode 2780
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.

Katoomba Leura
Worked from Home 40.1% / 49.2%
Katoomba — Worked from Home: 40.1% Leura — Worked from Home: 49.2%
Car (driver) 46.7% / 41.4%
Katoomba — Car (driver): 46.7% Leura — Car (driver): 41.4%
Walked Only 7.7% / 3.3%
Katoomba — Walked Only: 7.7% Leura — Walked Only: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 3.9%
Katoomba — Car (passenger): 3.3% Leura — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Train 1.8% / 2.0%
Katoomba — Train: 1.8% Leura — Train: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.2%).

Setting

Katoomba Leura
Elevation 1,033 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 952 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Katoomba Leura
Connectivity score 63/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
5,542 premises
 29%
3,006 premises

Climate

Katoomba Leura
Annual rainfall 1,496 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 23.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Katoomba Leura
Average residential rate $2,080/yr
same for both
Council Blue Mountains
same for both

Federal electorate

Katoomba Leura
Division Macquarie
same for both
Member Susan Templeman
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Katoomba Leura
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Katoomba

Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

Leura

Parks Professionals Retirees Transport Hub

More comparisons

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Katoomba vs Medlow Bath Katoomba vs Megalong Valley

Other comparisons with Leura

Leura vs Wentworth Falls
Full data on Katoomba Full data on Leura
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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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