Medlow Bath vs Megalong Valley

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Medlow Bath, about half of households are people living alone. In Megalong Valley, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Megalong Valley: a median of $1.3 million, against $858,000 in Medlow Bath, though rent is higher in Medlow Bath. On these figures, Medlow Bath tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Megalong Valley suits couples.

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

Megalong Valley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 37%)
  • carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 64/100)

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

First-home buyers

Medlow Bath

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($857,500 vs $1,300,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Megalong Valley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper rent ($280/wk vs $398/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Medlow Bath

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (100 min vs 137 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (111.1 km vs 132.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Medlow Bath has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 20%)
  • Megalong Valley carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Megalong Valley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (-0.7% vs -6.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
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.

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Walkability 4 / 0
Medlow Bath — Walkability: 4/100 Megalong Valley — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 36 / 47
Medlow Bath — Safety: 36/100 Megalong Valley — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 4 / 11
Medlow Bath — Low fire risk: 4/100 Megalong Valley — Low fire risk: 11/100

Demographics

Medlow Bath has more residents (569 vs 148); Megalong Valley has higher household incomes ($106,184 vs $68,224).

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Population 569
+74% vs other
 148
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.9% -0.7%
Median age 52
same for both
Median household income $68,224/yr $106,184/yr
+56% vs other
Median weekly rent $398/wk
+30% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
0-4 1.9% / —
Medlow Bath — 0-4: 1.9% Megalong Valley — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 6.5% / 13.5%
Medlow Bath — 5-14: 6.5% Megalong Valley — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 4.7% / 6.8%
Medlow Bath — 15-19: 4.7% Megalong Valley — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 3.9% / 4.1%
Medlow Bath — 20-24: 3.9% Megalong Valley — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 10.5% / 4.1%
Medlow Bath — 25-34: 10.5% Megalong Valley — 25-34: 4.1%
35-44 10.9% / 6.8%
Medlow Bath — 35-44: 10.9% Megalong Valley — 35-44: 6.8%
45-54 12.8% / 20.9%
Medlow Bath — 45-54: 12.8% Megalong Valley — 45-54: 20.9%
55-64 18.6% / 24.3%
Medlow Bath — 55-64: 18.6% Megalong Valley — 55-64: 24.3%
65-74 16.3% / 12.8%
Medlow Bath — 65-74: 16.3% Megalong Valley — 65-74: 12.8%
75-84 8.6% / 6.8%
Medlow Bath — 75-84: 8.6% Megalong Valley — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 2.6% / —
Medlow Bath — 85+: 2.6% Megalong Valley — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath 22.3% couple families
Medlow Bath — Couple Families: 22.3% Medlow Bath — Lone Person: 53.7% Medlow Bath — One Parent Families: 14.3% Medlow Bath — Group Household: 5.7% Medlow Bath — Other Families: 4.0%
Megalong Valley 60.0% couple families
Megalong Valley — Couple Families: 60.0% Megalong Valley — Lone Person: 20.0% Megalong Valley — One Parent Families: 20.0% Megalong Valley — Group Household: 0.0% Megalong Valley — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath 15.2% renting
Medlow Bath — Owned Outright: 48.0% Medlow Bath — Mortgage: 36.8% Medlow Bath — Renting: 15.2%
Megalong Valley 12.5% renting
Megalong Valley — Owned Outright: 62.5% Megalong Valley — Mortgage: 25.0% Megalong Valley — Renting: 12.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 18.9%
Medlow Bath — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Megalong Valley — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 10.8%
Medlow Bath — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% Megalong Valley — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.7% / 7.4%
Medlow Bath — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.7% Megalong Valley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 7.9% / 6.1%
Medlow Bath — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9% Megalong Valley — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 4.1%
Medlow Bath — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Megalong Valley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

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.

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
England 4.7% / 5.4%
Medlow Bath — England: 4.7% Megalong Valley — England: 5.4%
Germany 0.9% / 2.0%
Medlow Bath — Germany: 0.9% Megalong Valley — Germany: 2.0%
Vietnam 2.3% / —
Medlow Bath — Vietnam: 2.3% Megalong Valley — Vietnam: not among its largest
Philippines 2.3% / —
Medlow Bath — Philippines: 2.3% Megalong Valley — Philippines: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.6% / —
Medlow Bath — New Zealand: 1.6% Megalong Valley — New Zealand: not among its largest
South Africa 1.1% / —
Medlow Bath — South Africa: 1.1% Megalong Valley — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Medlow Bath 99.2% houses
Medlow Bath — Houses: 99.2% Medlow Bath — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Megalong Valley 100.0% houses
Megalong Valley — Houses: 100.0% Megalong Valley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Median house price $857,500 $1,300,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $380,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 5 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Megalong Valley has more rural and farming land (84% vs 1%); Medlow Bath has more land zoned for conservation (93% vs 15%).

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Environmental 93% 15%
Rural and farming 1% 84%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 0%
Parks and recreation 1%
same for both
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

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
New dwellings approved 123
across Blue Mountains
same for both
Approvals change year on year +14%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
House price Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Income Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW

Liveability

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Grade D —
Score 28/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Medlow Bath carries more crime risk (64 vs 53).

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Bushfire High
96/100
 High
89/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
53/100
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

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Medlow Bath

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

Schools in Megalong Valley

  • Megalong Public School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Cafes & restaurants 6 1
Parks & reserves 1 7
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 3 26

Mobility

Megalong Valley sits further from the CBD (132.1 km vs 111.1 km).

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Walkability score 4/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 111.1 km 132.1 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 100 min 137 min
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2780
 1.5%
postcode 2785
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 32
postcode 2780
 39
postcode 2785

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.

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Worked from Home 43.4% / 50.9%
Medlow Bath — Worked from Home: 43.4% Megalong Valley — Worked from Home: 50.9%
Car (driver) 42.0% / 41.8%
Medlow Bath — Car (driver): 42.0% Megalong Valley — Car (driver): 41.8%
Walked Only 3.4% / 7.3%
Medlow Bath — Walked Only: 3.4% Megalong Valley — Walked Only: 7.3%
Train 5.9% / —
Medlow Bath — Train: 5.9% Megalong Valley — Train: not among its largest
Car (passenger) 5.4% / —
Medlow Bath — Car (passenger): 5.4% Megalong Valley — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.9%).

Setting

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Elevation 938 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 774 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Connectivity score 53/100 18/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
347 premises
 0%
57 premises

Climate

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Medlow Bath Megalong Valley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Medlow Bath

Acreage Retirees Trains

Megalong Valley

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Medlow Bath

Medlow Bath vs Katoomba Medlow Bath vs Blackheath

Other comparisons with Megalong Valley

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