Lake Illawarra vs Mount Warrigal

In Lake Illawarra, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Mount Warrigal, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Lake Illawarra tends to suit renters and people living alone.

Lake Illawarra and Mount Warrigal are neighbouring suburbs with notably different income profiles. Mount Warrigal has a median household income of $70,980 compared to Lake Illawarra's $55,588, and its rental market is stronger, with weekly rents at $405 versus $328. Lake Illawarra stands out for walkability, scoring 81 against Mount Warrigal's 64, making it more pedestrian-friendly despite a higher crime risk rating of 77. Both suburbs sit around 100 km from the CBD with no bushfire or flood risk, so your choice largely depends on whether you prioritise walkable neighbourhoods or access to higher-income communities.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Mount Warrigal

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 50%)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 7)
  • is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 44%)

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

First-home buyers

Lake Illawarra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($717,500 vs $845,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lake Illawarra

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($328/wk vs $405/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Lake Illawarra

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 64/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (94 min vs 99 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (99.8 km vs 103.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Lake Illawarra

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (50% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Mount Warrigal carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Mount Warrigal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
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.

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Walkability 81 / 64
Lake Illawarra — Walkability: 81/100 Mount Warrigal — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 20 / 36
Lake Illawarra — Safety: 20/100 Mount Warrigal — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lake Illawarra — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Warrigal — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mount Warrigal has more residents (4,880 vs 3,288); Mount Warrigal has higher household incomes ($70,980 vs $55,588).

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Population 3,288 4,880
+48% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.0% -0.6%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $55,588/yr $70,980/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $328/wk $405/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
0-4 5.6% / 5.9%
Lake Illawarra — 0-4: 5.6% Mount Warrigal — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 10.2% / 12.6%
Lake Illawarra — 5-14: 10.2% Mount Warrigal — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 4.9% / 5.6%
Lake Illawarra — 15-19: 4.9% Mount Warrigal — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 6.5% / 5.9%
Lake Illawarra — 20-24: 6.5% Mount Warrigal — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 13.1% / 11.5%
Lake Illawarra — 25-34: 13.1% Mount Warrigal — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 11.1% / 10.8%
Lake Illawarra — 35-44: 11.1% Mount Warrigal — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 11.6% / 11.9%
Lake Illawarra — 45-54: 11.6% Mount Warrigal — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 16.1% / 12.6%
Lake Illawarra — 55-64: 16.1% Mount Warrigal — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 11.2% / 12.0%
Lake Illawarra — 65-74: 11.2% Mount Warrigal — 65-74: 12.0%
75-84 6.9% / 8.9%
Lake Illawarra — 75-84: 6.9% Mount Warrigal — 75-84: 8.9%
85+ 2.9% / 2.5%
Lake Illawarra — 85+: 2.9% Mount Warrigal — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lake Illawarra 49.8% lone person
Lake Illawarra — Lone Person: 49.8% Lake Illawarra — Couple Families: 23.7% Lake Illawarra — One Parent Families: 20.6% Lake Illawarra — Group Household: 4.1% Lake Illawarra — Other Families: 1.8%
Mount Warrigal 29.9% lone person
Mount Warrigal — Lone Person: 29.9% Mount Warrigal — Couple Families: 40.5% Mount Warrigal — One Parent Families: 25.6% Mount Warrigal — Group Household: 2.4% Mount Warrigal — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lake Illawarra 50.3% renting
Lake Illawarra — Owned Outright: 27.8% Lake Illawarra — Mortgage: 21.9% Lake Illawarra — Renting: 50.3%
Mount Warrigal 26.4% renting
Mount Warrigal — Owned Outright: 43.4% Mount Warrigal — Mortgage: 30.2% Mount Warrigal — Renting: 26.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Certificate III & IV 19.0% / 19.1%
Lake Illawarra — Certificate III & IV: 19.0% Mount Warrigal — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 6.8%
Lake Illawarra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Mount Warrigal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.6% / 6.4%
Lake Illawarra — Bachelor Degree: 5.6% Mount Warrigal — Bachelor Degree: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 1.3%
Lake Illawarra — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Mount Warrigal — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.1%
Lake Illawarra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Mount Warrigal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
England 4.7% / 3.8%
Lake Illawarra — England: 4.7% Mount Warrigal — England: 3.8%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.6%
Lake Illawarra — New Zealand: 1.2% Mount Warrigal — New Zealand: 1.6%
Germany 0.6% / 1.0%
Lake Illawarra — Germany: 0.6% Mount Warrigal — Germany: 1.0%
Italy 0.6% / 1.0%
Lake Illawarra — Italy: 0.6% Mount Warrigal — Italy: 1.0%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.5%
Lake Illawarra — Philippines: 0.9% Mount Warrigal — Philippines: 0.5%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Lake Illawarra — Scotland: 0.7% Mount Warrigal — Scotland: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lake Illawarra 49.9% houses
Lake Illawarra — Houses: 49.9% Lake Illawarra — Townhouses: 26.6% Lake Illawarra — Flats / Apartments: 23.5%
Mount Warrigal 98.3% houses
Mount Warrigal — Houses: 98.3% Mount Warrigal — Townhouses: 1.2% Mount Warrigal — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Median house price $907,500 $940,000
Median unit price $717,500 $845,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 16 sales
 20 days
from 29 sales

Zoning mix

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Residential 63% 83%
Parks and recreation 27% 14%
Environmental 5% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 2%
Commercial 2% 0%
Industrial 2% 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

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
New dwellings approved 883
across Shellharbour
same for both
Approvals change year on year +25%
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.

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Houses 3.6%
$650/wk on $950K
 4.4%
$780/wk on $928K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
House price Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Income Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 30% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW

Liveability

Lake Illawarra is more walkable (81 vs 64).

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Grade C
same for both
Score 44/100 48/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Lake Illawarra carries more crime risk (80 vs 64).

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 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 1
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lake Illawarra

  • Lake Illawarra High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Lake Illawarra South Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mount Warrigal

  • Mount Warrigal Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 7 12
Childcare 1 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Mount Warrigal sits further from the CBD (103.3 km vs 99.8 km).

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Walkability score 81/100 64/100
Distance to Sydney 99.8 km 103.3 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 94 min 99 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 62.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 2528
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2528
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.

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Car (driver) 73.6% / 72.0%
Lake Illawarra — Car (driver): 73.6% Mount Warrigal — Car (driver): 72.0%
Worked from Home 18.3% / 18.8%
Lake Illawarra — Worked from Home: 18.3% Mount Warrigal — Worked from Home: 18.8%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 5.8%
Lake Illawarra — Car (passenger): 5.0% Mount Warrigal — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Bus 1.4% / 1.4%
Lake Illawarra — Bus: 1.4% Mount Warrigal — Bus: 1.4%
Walked Only 1.5% / 0.9%
Lake Illawarra — Walked Only: 1.5% Mount Warrigal — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.6%).

Setting

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Elevation 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 412 m
3.2 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Connectivity score 64/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
1,831 premises
 55%
1,992 premises

Climate

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
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

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Average residential rate $1,788/yr
same for both
Council Shellharbour
same for both

Federal electorate

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lake Illawarra Mount Warrigal
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lake Illawarra

Coastal Parks Townhouses

Mount Warrigal

Coastal Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lake Illawarra

Lake Illawarra vs Warilla

Other comparisons with Mount Warrigal

Mount Warrigal vs Oak Flats Mount Warrigal vs Warilla Mount Warrigal vs Barrack Heights
Full data on Lake Illawarra Full data on Mount Warrigal
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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