Katoomba vs Medlow Bath

Katoomba is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 52 in Medlow Bath. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are 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

Katoomba

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Medlow Bath carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 82/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house 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 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $398/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Katoomba

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (42/100 vs 4/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (89 min vs 100 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (102.9 km vs 111.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Katoomba

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 1%)
  • is more walkable (42/100 vs 4/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • But Medlow Bath carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 82/100)

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

Investors

Katoomba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.8% vs -6.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Katoomba and Medlow Bath 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 Medlow Bath
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 Medlow Bath
Walkability 42 / 4
Katoomba — Walkability: 42/100 Medlow Bath — Walkability: 4/100
Safety 18 / 36
Katoomba — Safety: 18/100 Medlow Bath — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 20 / 4
Katoomba — Low fire risk: 20/100 Medlow Bath — Low fire risk: 4/100

Demographics

Katoomba has more residents (8,268 vs 569); Medlow Bath rents higher ($398/wk vs $350/wk).

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Population 8,268
+93% vs other
 569
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.8% -6.9%
Median age 48 52
Median household income $60,892/yr $68,224/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $398/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Katoomba Medlow Bath
0-4 3.8% / 1.9%
Katoomba — 0-4: 3.8% Medlow Bath — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 10.0% / 6.5%
Katoomba — 5-14: 10.0% Medlow Bath — 5-14: 6.5%
15-19 5.0% / 4.7%
Katoomba — 15-19: 5.0% Medlow Bath — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 4.4% / 3.9%
Katoomba — 20-24: 4.4% Medlow Bath — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 10.4% / 10.5%
Katoomba — 25-34: 10.4% Medlow Bath — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 12.5% / 10.9%
Katoomba — 35-44: 12.5% Medlow Bath — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 15.4% / 12.8%
Katoomba — 45-54: 15.4% Medlow Bath — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 15.2% / 18.6%
Katoomba — 55-64: 15.2% Medlow Bath — 55-64: 18.6%
65-74 15.5% / 16.3%
Katoomba — 65-74: 15.5% Medlow Bath — 65-74: 16.3%
75-84 6.3% / 8.6%
Katoomba — 75-84: 6.3% Medlow Bath — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 1.7% / 2.6%
Katoomba — 85+: 1.7% Medlow Bath — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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%
Medlow Bath 53.7% lone person
Medlow Bath — Lone Person: 53.7% Medlow Bath — Couple Families: 22.3% Medlow Bath — One Parent Families: 14.3% Medlow Bath — Group Household: 5.7% Medlow Bath — Other Families: 4.0%
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%
Medlow Bath 15.2% renting
Medlow Bath — Owned Outright: 48.0% Medlow Bath — Mortgage: 36.8% Medlow Bath — Renting: 15.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Bachelor Degree 16.5% / 19.0%
Katoomba — Bachelor Degree: 16.5% Medlow Bath — Bachelor Degree: 19.0%
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 15.1%
Katoomba — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Medlow Bath — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 13.7%
Katoomba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Medlow Bath — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.7%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 7.9%
Katoomba — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Medlow Bath — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.7%
Katoomba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Medlow Bath — 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 Medlow Bath
England 5.6% / 4.7%
Katoomba — England: 5.6% Medlow Bath — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.6%
Katoomba — New Zealand: 2.0% Medlow Bath — New Zealand: 1.6%
Philippines 0.9% / 2.3%
Katoomba — Philippines: 0.9% Medlow Bath — Philippines: 2.3%
Vietnam 0.8% / 2.3%
Katoomba — Vietnam: 0.8% Medlow Bath — Vietnam: 2.3%
Germany 1.0% / 0.9%
Katoomba — Germany: 1.0% Medlow Bath — Germany: 0.9%
South Africa — / 1.1%
Katoomba — South Africa: not among its largest Medlow Bath — South Africa: 1.1%
China 1.0% / —
Katoomba — China: 1.0% Medlow Bath — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

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%
Medlow Bath 99.2% houses
Medlow Bath — Houses: 99.2% Medlow Bath — Flats / Apartments: 0.8% Medlow Bath — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Median house price $900,000 $857,500
Median unit price $600,000 —
Median land price $375,000 $380,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 142 sales
 19 days
from 5 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 Medlow Bath
2 bed $795K / $795K
Katoomba — 2 bed: $795K (53 sales) Medlow Bath — 2 bed: $795K (5 sales)

53 vs 5 sales

3 bed $895K / $835K
Katoomba — 3 bed: $895K (118 sales) Medlow Bath — 3 bed: $835K (9 sales)

118 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Medlow Bath has more land zoned for conservation (93% vs 73%).

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Environmental 73% 93%
Residential 11% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 5%
Parks and recreation 4% 1%
Industrial 3% 0%
Other and special use 1% 0%
Rural and farming 0% 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

Katoomba Medlow Bath
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 Medlow Bath
Houses 3.5%
$650/wk on $978K
 —
Units 4.7%
$500/wk on $549K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Katoomba Medlow Bath
House price Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Income Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Schools Higher than 85% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of NSW —

Liveability

Katoomba is more walkable (42 vs 4); Katoomba scores higher overall (42 vs 28).

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Grade C D
Score 42/100 28/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Katoomba carries more crime risk (82 vs 64); Medlow Bath carries more bushfire risk (96 vs 80).

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Bushfire High
80/100
 High
96/100
Crime High
82/100
 Moderate
64/100
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 Medlow Bath
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
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 Medlow Bath

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

Amenities in the suburb

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 54 6
Parks & reserves 29 1
Childcare 7 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 28 3

Mobility

Medlow Bath sits further from the CBD (111.1 km vs 102.9 km).

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Walkability score 42/100 4/100
Distance to Sydney 102.9 km 111.1 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 89 min 100 min
Public transport score 87/100
Rail · Bus
 41/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 175.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 6.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 7 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Medlow Bath
Car (driver) 46.7% / 42.0%
Katoomba — Car (driver): 46.7% Medlow Bath — Car (driver): 42.0%
Worked from Home 40.1% / 43.4%
Katoomba — Worked from Home: 40.1% Medlow Bath — Worked from Home: 43.4%
Walked Only 7.7% / 3.4%
Katoomba — Walked Only: 7.7% Medlow Bath — Walked Only: 3.4%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 5.4%
Katoomba — Car (passenger): 3.3% Medlow Bath — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Train 1.8% / 5.9%
Katoomba — Train: 1.8% Medlow Bath — Train: 5.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.7%).

Setting

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Elevation 1,033 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 938 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Katoomba Medlow Bath
Connectivity score 63/100 53/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
5,542 premises
 15%
347 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Katoomba Medlow Bath
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

Medlow Bath

Acreage Retirees Trains

More comparisons

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Katoomba vs Leura Katoomba vs Megalong Valley

Other comparisons with Medlow Bath

Medlow Bath vs Blackheath Medlow Bath vs Megalong Valley
Full data on Katoomba Full data on Medlow Bath
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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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