Kembla Grange vs Dombarton

Kembla Grange is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 54 in Dombarton. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. On these figures, Kembla Grange tends to suit young adults and families with children, while Dombarton suits share households and 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

Dombarton

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (15/100 vs 85/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 81%)
  • But Kembla Grange has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Kembla Grange

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 29%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Dombarton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $570/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Kembla Grange

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (87 min vs 95 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (94.3 km vs 99.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Dombarton

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (15/100 vs 85/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 6%)
  • But Kembla Grange is more walkable (8/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs 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 -11.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Kembla Grange and Dombarton 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 Dombarton
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 Dombarton
Walkability 8 / 0
Kembla Grange — Walkability: 8/100 Dombarton — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 15 / 85
Kembla Grange — Safety: 15/100 Dombarton — Safety: 85/100
Low fire risk 100 / 9
Kembla Grange — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dombarton — Low fire risk: 9/100

Demographics

Kembla Grange has more residents (1,452 vs 130); Kembla Grange rents higher ($570/wk vs $300/wk).

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Population 1,452
+91% vs other
 130
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +476.2% -11.0%
Median age 29 54
Median household income $133,848/yr
+19% vs other
 $108,888/yr
Median weekly rent $570/wk
+47% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kembla Grange Dombarton
0-4 13.1% / —
Kembla Grange — 0-4: 13.1% Dombarton — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 13.9% / 7.7%
Kembla Grange — 5-14: 13.9% Dombarton — 5-14: 7.7%
15-19 5.7% / 6.9%
Kembla Grange — 15-19: 5.7% Dombarton — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 5.9% / 5.4%
Kembla Grange — 20-24: 5.9% Dombarton — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 22.9% / 7.7%
Kembla Grange — 25-34: 22.9% Dombarton — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 16.9% / 11.5%
Kembla Grange — 35-44: 16.9% Dombarton — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 8.4% / 10.0%
Kembla Grange — 45-54: 8.4% Dombarton — 45-54: 10.0%
55-64 6.5% / 25.4%
Kembla Grange — 55-64: 6.5% Dombarton — 55-64: 25.4%
65-74 4.5% / 20.0%
Kembla Grange — 65-74: 4.5% Dombarton — 65-74: 20.0%
75-84 1.5% / 4.6%
Kembla Grange — 75-84: 1.5% Dombarton — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 0.3% / —
Kembla Grange — 85+: 0.3% Dombarton — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kembla Grange 65.9% couple families
Kembla Grange — Couple Families: 65.9% Kembla Grange — One Parent Families: 12.2% Kembla Grange — Lone Person: 16.5% Kembla Grange — Group Household: 2.8% Kembla Grange — Other Families: 2.6%
Dombarton 62.1% couple families
Dombarton — Couple Families: 62.1% Dombarton — One Parent Families: 17.2% Dombarton — Lone Person: 10.3% Dombarton — Group Household: 10.3% Dombarton — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person 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%
Dombarton 12.8% renting
Dombarton — Owned Outright: 69.2% Dombarton — Mortgage: 17.9% Dombarton — Renting: 12.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Dombarton
England 2.2% / 9.2%
Kembla Grange — England: 2.2% Dombarton — England: 9.2%
New Zealand 1.0% / 2.3%
Kembla Grange — New Zealand: 1.0% Dombarton — New Zealand: 2.3%
India 2.4% / —
Kembla Grange — India: 2.4% Dombarton — India: not among its largest
Ireland 0.8% / —
Kembla Grange — Ireland: 0.8% Dombarton — Ireland: not among its largest
Thailand 0.7% / —
Kembla Grange — Thailand: 0.7% Dombarton — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

Qualifications

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

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Certificate III & IV 17.1% / 20.0%
Kembla Grange — Certificate III & IV: 17.1% Dombarton — Certificate III & IV: 20.0%
Bachelor Degree 12.8% / 11.5%
Kembla Grange — Bachelor Degree: 12.8% Dombarton — Bachelor Degree: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 9.2%
Kembla Grange — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Dombarton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 8.5%
Kembla Grange — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Dombarton — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / —
Kembla Grange — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Dombarton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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%
Dombarton 100.0% houses
Dombarton — Houses: 100.0% Dombarton — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses

Property market

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Median house price $2,000,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Dombarton has more land zoned for conservation (91% vs 31%); Kembla Grange has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 0%).

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Environmental 31% 91%
Industrial 24% 0%
Parks and recreation 17% 0%
Residential 12% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 6%
Rural and farming 7% 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

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

Ranking within NSW

Kembla Grange Dombarton
House price Higher than 85% of NSW —
Income Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 34% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW

Liveability

Kembla Grange is more walkable (8 vs 0).

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Grade B —
Score 50/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Dombarton carries more bushfire risk (91 vs 0); Kembla Grange carries more crime risk (85 vs 15).

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
91/100
Crime High
85/100
 Low
15/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

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

Amenities in the suburb

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 4 0
Childcare 1
same for both
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Dombarton sits further from the CBD (99.2 km vs 94.3 km).

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Walkability score 8/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 94.3 km 99.2 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 87 min 95 min
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 Dombarton
Car (driver) 68.4% / 66.7%
Kembla Grange — Car (driver): 68.4% Dombarton — Car (driver): 66.7%
Worked from Home 27.4% / 33.3%
Kembla Grange — Worked from Home: 27.4% Dombarton — Worked from Home: 33.3%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / —
Kembla Grange — Car (passenger): 2.2% Dombarton — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 2.0% / —
Kembla Grange — Walked Only: 2.0% Dombarton — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.4%).

Setting

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 193 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.7 km 11.3 km

NBN connectivity

Kembla Grange Dombarton
Connectivity score 94/100 32/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 90%
951 premises
 2%
41 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Kembla Grange Dombarton
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

Dombarton

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kembla Grange

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

Other comparisons with Dombarton

Dombarton vs Wongawilli Dombarton vs Kembla Heights
Full data on Kembla Grange Full data on Dombarton
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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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