Kembla Grange vs Dapto

Kembla Grange is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 39 in Dapto. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Kembla Grange, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Kembla Grange: a median of $2 million, against $858,000 in Dapto, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Kembla Grange tends to suit young adults, families with children, and couples, while Dapto suits people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Dapto

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (75/100 vs 85/100)
  • But Kembla Grange is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 61%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Kembla Grange leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 29%)
  • Dapto has cheaper houses ($858,500 vs $2,000,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Kembla Grange leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 27%)
  • Dapto has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $570/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Kembla Grange sits closer to the CBD (94.3 km vs 97.3 km)
  • Dapto is more walkable (59/100 vs 8/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Dapto

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 8/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Kembla Grange

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (476.2% vs 2.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kembla Grange Dapto
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.

Kembla Grange Dapto
Walkability 8 / 59
Kembla Grange — Walkability: 8/100 Dapto — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 15 / 25
Kembla Grange — Safety: 15/100 Dapto — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kembla Grange — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dapto — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Dapto has more residents (10,954 vs 1,452); Kembla Grange has higher household incomes ($133,848 vs $76,700).

Kembla Grange Dapto
Population 1,452 10,954
+654% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +476.2% +2.1%
Median age 29 39
Median household income $133,848/yr
+43% vs other
 $76,700/yr
Median weekly rent $570/wk
+30% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kembla Grange Dapto
0-4 13.1% / 6.1%
Kembla Grange — 0-4: 13.1% Dapto — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 13.9% / 12.1%
Kembla Grange — 5-14: 13.9% Dapto — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 5.7% / 6.4%
Kembla Grange — 15-19: 5.7% Dapto — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.9% / 6.5%
Kembla Grange — 20-24: 5.9% Dapto — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 22.9% / 13.4%
Kembla Grange — 25-34: 22.9% Dapto — 25-34: 13.4%
35-44 16.9% / 12.1%
Kembla Grange — 35-44: 16.9% Dapto — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 8.4% / 12.2%
Kembla Grange — 45-54: 8.4% Dapto — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 6.5% / 11.1%
Kembla Grange — 55-64: 6.5% Dapto — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 4.5% / 10.0%
Kembla Grange — 65-74: 4.5% Dapto — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 1.5% / 7.3%
Kembla Grange — 75-84: 1.5% Dapto — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 0.3% / 2.8%
Kembla Grange — 85+: 0.3% Dapto — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kembla Grange 65.9% couple families
Kembla Grange — Couple Families: 65.9% Kembla Grange — Lone Person: 16.5% Kembla Grange — One Parent Families: 12.2% Kembla Grange — Group Household: 2.8% Kembla Grange — Other Families: 2.6%
Dapto 40.9% couple families
Dapto — Couple Families: 40.9% Dapto — Lone Person: 33.6% Dapto — One Parent Families: 20.4% Dapto — Group Household: 3.3% Dapto — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kembla Grange 21.7% renting
Kembla Grange — Owned Outright: 12.8% Kembla Grange — Mortgage: 65.5% Kembla Grange — Renting: 21.7%
Dapto 25.4% renting
Dapto — Owned Outright: 35.6% Dapto — Mortgage: 39.0% Dapto — Renting: 25.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kembla Grange Dapto
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 21.1%
Kembla Grange — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Dapto — Certificate III & IV: 21.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.8% / 6.3%
Kembla Grange — Bachelor Degree: 12.8% Dapto — Bachelor Degree: 6.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 7.1%
Kembla Grange — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Dapto — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 1.8%
Kembla Grange — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Dapto — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.1%
Kembla Grange — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Dapto — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Kembla Grange Dapto
England 2.2% / 5.3%
Kembla Grange — England: 2.2% Dapto — England: 5.3%
India 2.4% / 0.3%
Kembla Grange — India: 2.4% Dapto — India: 0.3%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.0%
Kembla Grange — New Zealand: 1.0% Dapto — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.7%
Kembla Grange — Philippines: 0.3% Dapto — Philippines: 0.7%
Ireland 0.8% / —
Kembla Grange — Ireland: 0.8% Dapto — Ireland: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.8%
Kembla Grange — Scotland: not among its largest Dapto — Scotland: 0.8%
Thailand 0.7% / —
Kembla Grange — Thailand: 0.7% Dapto — Thailand: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.5%
Kembla Grange — Germany: not among its largest Dapto — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kembla Grange 81.1% houses
Kembla Grange — Houses: 81.1% Kembla Grange — Townhouses: 20.0% Kembla Grange — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Dapto 84.7% houses
Dapto — Houses: 84.7% Dapto — Townhouses: 12.8% Dapto — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kembla Grange Dapto
Median house price $2,000,000 $858,500
Median unit price — $690,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 20 days
from 90 sales

Zoning mix

Kembla Grange has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 5%); Kembla Grange has more land zoned for conservation (31% vs 15%).

Kembla Grange Dapto
Residential 12% 56%
Environmental 31% 15%
Industrial 24% 5%
Parks and recreation 17% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 11%
Rural and farming 7% 2%
Commercial 0% 2%
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

Kembla Grange Dapto
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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.

Kembla Grange Dapto
Houses — 3.9%
$655/wk on $882K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Kembla Grange Dapto
House price Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
Income Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 57% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 66% of NSW

Liveability

Dapto is more walkable (59 vs 8).

Kembla Grange Dapto
Grade B C
Score 50/100 48/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Kembla Grange carries more crime risk (85 vs 75).

Kembla Grange Dapto
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
85/100
 High
75/100
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 8
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Kembla Grange Dapto
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 9.1 km
 None

Schools in Kembla Grange

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

Schools in Dapto

  • Lakelands Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Dapto High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Mount Brown Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St John's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kembla Grange Dapto
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 4 6
Childcare 1 15
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Dapto sits further from the CBD (97.3 km vs 94.3 km).

Kembla Grange Dapto
Walkability score 8/100 59/100
Distance to Sydney 94.3 km 97.3 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 87 min 88 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 48.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 219.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2526
 0.7%
postcode 2530
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2526
 54
postcode 2530

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.

Kembla Grange Dapto
Car (driver) 68.4% / 72.8%
Kembla Grange — Car (driver): 68.4% Dapto — Car (driver): 72.8%
Worked from Home 27.4% / 18.9%
Kembla Grange — Worked from Home: 27.4% Dapto — Worked from Home: 18.9%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 4.4%
Kembla Grange — Car (passenger): 2.2% Dapto — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 2.0% / 1.6%
Kembla Grange — Walked Only: 2.0% Dapto — Walked Only: 1.6%
Train — / 1.3%
Kembla Grange — Train: not among its largest Dapto — Train: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.8%).

Setting

Kembla Grange Dapto
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.7 km 7.6 km

NBN connectivity

Kembla Grange Dapto
Connectivity score 94/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 90%
951 premises
 100%
5,237 premises

Climate

Kembla Grange Dapto
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kembla Grange Dapto
PM2.5 5.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 19.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.45 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Kembla Grange Dapto
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Kembla Grange Dapto
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kembla Grange Dapto
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kembla Grange

Family Premium Townhouses Young Families

Dapto

Regional Centre

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kembla Grange

Kembla Grange vs Berkeley Kembla Grange vs Kanahooka Kembla Grange vs Unanderra Kembla Grange vs Farmborough Heights Kembla Grange vs Brownsville Kembla Grange vs Dombarton

Other comparisons with Dapto

Dapto vs Horsley Dapto vs Kanahooka Dapto vs Koonawarra Dapto vs Avondale Dapto vs Brownsville Dapto vs Yallah
Full data on Kembla Grange Full data on Dapto
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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