Mandalong vs Cooranbong

Cooranbong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 47 in Mandalong. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Mandalong, most households are couple families. In Cooranbong, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mandalong: a median of $1.77 million, against $950,000 in Cooranbong, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mandalong tends to suit couples, while Cooranbong suits families with children 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

Cooranbong

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Mandalong has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 85%)

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

First-home buyers

Cooranbong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,775,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Mandalong

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (116 km vs 129.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (88 min vs 96 min)
  • But Cooranbong is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cooranbong

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 18%)

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

Investors

Cooranbong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (29.9% vs 1.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mandalong Cooranbong
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.

Mandalong Cooranbong
Walkability 0 / 13
Mandalong — Walkability: 0/100 Cooranbong — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 40 / 45
Mandalong — Safety: 40/100 Cooranbong — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 47 / 53
Mandalong — Low fire risk: 47/100 Cooranbong — Low fire risk: 53/100

Demographics

Cooranbong has more residents (7,077 vs 433); Mandalong skews older (47 vs 39).

Mandalong Cooranbong
Population 433 7,077
+1534% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +29.9%
Median age 47 39
Median household income $99,112/yr
+14% vs other
 $85,228/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+7% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mandalong Cooranbong
0-4 2.5% / 6.8%
Mandalong — 0-4: 2.5% Cooranbong — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 10.9% / 13.2%
Mandalong — 5-14: 10.9% Cooranbong — 5-14: 13.2%
15-19 6.9% / 5.8%
Mandalong — 15-19: 6.9% Cooranbong — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 6.2% / 5.5%
Mandalong — 20-24: 6.2% Cooranbong — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 9.9% / 13.4%
Mandalong — 25-34: 9.9% Cooranbong — 25-34: 13.4%
35-44 10.2% / 11.0%
Mandalong — 35-44: 10.2% Cooranbong — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 18.7% / 10.9%
Mandalong — 45-54: 18.7% Cooranbong — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 16.4% / 10.8%
Mandalong — 55-64: 16.4% Cooranbong — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 9.7% / 10.4%
Mandalong — 65-74: 9.7% Cooranbong — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 6.2% / 7.6%
Mandalong — 75-84: 6.2% Cooranbong — 75-84: 7.6%
85+ 1.6% / 4.7%
Mandalong — 85+: 1.6% Cooranbong — 85+: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mandalong 65.5% couple families
Mandalong — Couple Families: 65.5% Mandalong — Lone Person: 25.0% Mandalong — One Parent Families: 4.8% Mandalong — Group Household: 4.8% Mandalong — Other Families: 0.0%
Cooranbong 47.7% couple families
Cooranbong — Couple Families: 47.7% Cooranbong — Lone Person: 32.6% Cooranbong — One Parent Families: 15.0% Cooranbong — Group Household: 3.9% Cooranbong — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mandalong 22.7% renting
Mandalong — Owned Outright: 42.2% Mandalong — Mortgage: 35.2% Mandalong — Renting: 22.7%
Cooranbong 23.3% renting
Cooranbong — Owned Outright: 31.8% Cooranbong — Mortgage: 44.9% Cooranbong — Renting: 23.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mandalong Cooranbong
Certificate III & IV 23.3% / 17.7%
Mandalong — Certificate III & IV: 23.3% Cooranbong — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 11.2%
Mandalong — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Cooranbong — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.4%
Mandalong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Cooranbong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 4.5%
Mandalong — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Cooranbong — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.6%
Mandalong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Cooranbong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.3%).

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.

Mandalong Cooranbong
New Zealand 2.3% / 3.7%
Mandalong — New Zealand: 2.3% Cooranbong — New Zealand: 3.7%
England 2.1% / 2.7%
Mandalong — England: 2.1% Cooranbong — England: 2.7%
Thailand 2.3% / —
Mandalong — Thailand: 2.3% Cooranbong — Thailand: not among its largest
Philippines 0.7% / 0.6%
Mandalong — Philippines: 0.7% Cooranbong — Philippines: 0.6%
South Africa — / 1.1%
Mandalong — South Africa: not among its largest Cooranbong — South Africa: 1.1%
Ireland 0.9% / —
Mandalong — Ireland: 0.9% Cooranbong — Ireland: not among its largest
India — / 0.6%
Mandalong — India: not among its largest Cooranbong — India: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mandalong 100.0% houses
Mandalong — Houses: 100.0% Mandalong — Townhouses: 0.0% Mandalong — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Cooranbong 85.4% houses
Cooranbong — Houses: 85.4% Cooranbong — Townhouses: 10.2% Cooranbong — Flats / Apartments: 4.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mandalong Cooranbong
Median house price $1,775,000 $950,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,105,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 31 days
from 95 sales

Zoning mix

Mandalong has more land zoned for conservation (64% vs 52%).

Mandalong Cooranbong
Environmental 64% 52%
Rural and farming 35% 37%
Residential 0% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
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

Mandalong Cooranbong
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Mandalong Cooranbong
Houses — 4.2%
$830/wk on $1.02M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Mandalong Cooranbong
House price Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Income Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 82% of NSW

Liveability

Cooranbong is more walkable (13 vs 0).

Mandalong Cooranbong
Grade — C
Score — 38/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Mandalong Cooranbong
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
47/100
Crime Moderate
60/100
 Moderate
55/100
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
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Mandalong Cooranbong
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Mandalong

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

Schools in Cooranbong

  • Avondale School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Cooranbong Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mandalong Cooranbong
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 0 3
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 17 14

Mobility

Cooranbong sits further from the CBD (129.2 km vs 116 km).

Mandalong Cooranbong
Walkability score 0/100 13/100
Distance to Sydney 116 km 129.2 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 88 min 96 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 2264
 0.9%
postcode 2265
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2264
 78
postcode 2265

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.

Mandalong Cooranbong
Car (driver) 67.7% / 67.5%
Mandalong — Car (driver): 67.7% Cooranbong — Car (driver): 67.5%
Worked from Home 29.0% / 25.7%
Mandalong — Worked from Home: 29.0% Cooranbong — Worked from Home: 25.7%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.7%
Mandalong — Car (passenger): 3.2% Cooranbong — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only — / 1.9%
Mandalong — Walked Only: not among its largest Cooranbong — Walked Only: 1.9%
Train — / 0.8%
Mandalong — Train: not among its largest Cooranbong — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.7%).

Setting

Mandalong Cooranbong
Elevation 35 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.3 km 16.9 km

NBN connectivity

Mandalong Cooranbong
Connectivity score 27/100 78/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
154 premises
 61%
3,709 premises

Climate

Mandalong Cooranbong
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mandalong Cooranbong
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.27 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mandalong Cooranbong
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Mandalong Cooranbong
Division Hunter
same for both
Member Dan Repacholi
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mandalong Cooranbong
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mandalong

Rural

Cooranbong

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mandalong

Mandalong vs Morisset Mandalong vs Wyee Mandalong vs Martinsville Mandalong vs Dooralong Mandalong vs Ravensdale Mandalong vs Lemon Tree

Other comparisons with Cooranbong

Cooranbong vs Morisset Cooranbong vs Dora Creek Cooranbong vs Awaba Cooranbong vs Martinsville Cooranbong vs Eraring Cooranbong vs Freemans Waterhole
Full data on Mandalong Full data on Cooranbong
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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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