Mittagong vs Willow Vale

Willow Vale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 49 in Mittagong. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Mittagong, about half of households are people living alone. In Willow Vale, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Willow Vale: a median of $1.3 million, against $1.09 million in Mittagong, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mittagong tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Willow Vale 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

Mittagong

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Willow Vale is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 48%)

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

First-home buyers

Mittagong

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,050,000 vs $1,620,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,090,000 vs $1,305,000)
  • But Willow Vale leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mittagong

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $457/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Willow Vale

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 14/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (80 min vs 86 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (108.9 km vs 113.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mittagong

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 0%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 18%)
  • But Willow Vale is more walkable (22/100 vs 14/100)

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

Investors

Willow Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.2% vs 5.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mittagong Willow Vale
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.

Mittagong Willow Vale
Walkability 14 / 22
Mittagong — Walkability: 14/100 Willow Vale — Walkability: 22/100
Low fire risk 24 / 15
Mittagong — Low fire risk: 24/100 Willow Vale — Low fire risk: 15/100

Demographics

Mittagong has more residents (6,090 vs 826); Willow Vale has higher household incomes ($102,648 vs $74,100).

Mittagong Willow Vale
Population 6,090
+86% vs other
 826
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +15.2%
Median age 49 45
Median household income $74,100/yr $102,648/yr
+39% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $457/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mittagong Willow Vale
0-4 4.8% / 6.5%
Mittagong — 0-4: 4.8% Willow Vale — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 10.0% / 11.1%
Mittagong — 5-14: 10.0% Willow Vale — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 5.8% / 5.2%
Mittagong — 15-19: 5.8% Willow Vale — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 3.7% / 4.1%
Mittagong — 20-24: 3.7% Willow Vale — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 10.1% / 13.6%
Mittagong — 25-34: 10.1% Willow Vale — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 10.4% / 9.6%
Mittagong — 35-44: 10.4% Willow Vale — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 12.6% / 12.6%
Mittagong — 45-54: 12.6% Willow Vale — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 13.1% / 18.6%
Mittagong — 55-64: 13.1% Willow Vale — 55-64: 18.6%
65-74 14.4% / 11.9%
Mittagong — 65-74: 14.4% Willow Vale — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 10.5% / 5.6%
Mittagong — 75-84: 10.5% Willow Vale — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 4.6% / 0.7%
Mittagong — 85+: 4.6% Willow Vale — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mittagong 33.1% couple families
Mittagong — Couple Families: 33.1% Mittagong — Lone Person: 46.9% Mittagong — One Parent Families: 14.5% Mittagong — Group Household: 4.3% Mittagong — Other Families: 1.2%
Willow Vale 54.8% couple families
Willow Vale — Couple Families: 54.8% Willow Vale — Lone Person: 24.2% Willow Vale — One Parent Families: 13.4% Willow Vale — Group Household: 3.8% Willow Vale — Other Families: 3.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mittagong 28.8% renting
Mittagong — Owned Outright: 44.0% Mittagong — Mortgage: 27.2% Mittagong — Renting: 28.8%
Willow Vale 12.6% renting
Willow Vale — Owned Outright: 42.7% Willow Vale — Mortgage: 44.8% Willow Vale — Renting: 12.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mittagong Willow Vale
Certificate III & IV 13.0% / 20.5%
Mittagong — Certificate III & IV: 13.0% Willow Vale — Certificate III & IV: 20.5%
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 9.7%
Mittagong — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Willow Vale — Bachelor Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 9.6%
Mittagong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Willow Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 3.1%
Mittagong — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Willow Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.1%
Mittagong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Willow Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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.

Mittagong Willow Vale
England 5.4% / 5.3%
Mittagong — England: 5.4% Willow Vale — England: 5.3%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.0%
Mittagong — New Zealand: 1.6% Willow Vale — New Zealand: 1.0%
Nepal 2.2% / —
Mittagong — Nepal: 2.2% Willow Vale — Nepal: not among its largest
India 2.0% / —
Mittagong — India: 2.0% Willow Vale — India: not among its largest
Thailand — / 1.0%
Mittagong — Thailand: not among its largest Willow Vale — Thailand: 1.0%
Philippines 0.9% / —
Mittagong — Philippines: 0.9% Willow Vale — Philippines: not among its largest
Fiji — / 0.8%
Mittagong — Fiji: not among its largest Willow Vale — Fiji: 0.8%
Netherlands — / 0.7%
Mittagong — Netherlands: not among its largest Willow Vale — Netherlands: 0.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mittagong 83.6% houses
Mittagong — Houses: 83.6% Mittagong — Flats / Apartments: 8.8% Mittagong — Townhouses: 7.6%
Willow Vale 99.7% houses
Willow Vale — Houses: 99.7% Willow Vale — Flats / Apartments: 0.3% Willow Vale — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mittagong Willow Vale
Median house price $1,090,000 $1,305,000
Median unit price $710,000 —
Median land price $1,050,000 $1,620,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 47 sales
 120 days
from 10 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Mittagong Willow Vale
3 bed $975K / $1M
Mittagong — 3 bed: $975K (39 sales) Willow Vale — 3 bed: $1M (5 sales)

39 vs 5 sales

4 bed $1.22M / $1.2M
Mittagong — 4 bed: $1.22M (27 sales) Willow Vale — 4 bed: $1.2M (15 sales)

27 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Mittagong has more land zoned for conservation (82% vs 33%).

Mittagong Willow Vale
Environmental 82% 33%
Residential 11% 58%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 4%
Rural and farming 3% 2%
Industrial 1% 2%
Parks and recreation 1% 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

Mittagong Willow Vale
New dwellings approved 335
across Wingecarribee
same for both
Approvals change year on year +6%
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.

Mittagong Willow Vale
Houses 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.21M
 —
Units 3.6%
$550/wk on $785K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Mittagong Willow Vale
House price Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Income Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Schools Higher than 57% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 72% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 31% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 14% of NSW —

Liveability

Willow Vale is more walkable (22 vs 14); Mittagong scores higher overall (37 vs 30).

Mittagong Willow Vale
Grade C D
Score 37/100 30/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mittagong Willow Vale
Bushfire High
76/100
 High
85/100
Crime Moderate
68/100
 —
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
same for both

Schools

Mittagong Willow Vale
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Mittagong

  • St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Frensham Junior School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Frensham School Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Mittagong Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Willow Vale

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

Amenities in the suburb

Mittagong Willow Vale
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 19 0
Parks & reserves 9 0
Childcare 5 0
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 18 0

Mobility

Mittagong sits further from the CBD (113.6 km vs 108.9 km).

Mittagong Willow Vale
Walkability score 14/100 22/100
Distance to Sydney 113.6 km
+4% vs other
 108.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 80 min
Public transport score 77/100
Rail · Bus
 24/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 61.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2575
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 2575
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.

Mittagong Willow Vale
Car (driver) 61.7% / 73.2%
Mittagong — Car (driver): 61.7% Willow Vale — Car (driver): 73.2%
Worked from Home 27.5% / 19.2%
Mittagong — Worked from Home: 27.5% Willow Vale — Worked from Home: 19.2%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 6.8%
Mittagong — Car (passenger): 5.3% Willow Vale — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Walked Only 4.3% / 0.8%
Mittagong — Walked Only: 4.3% Willow Vale — Walked Only: 0.8%
Train 1.0% / —
Mittagong — Train: 1.0% Willow Vale — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.2%).

Setting

Mittagong Willow Vale
Elevation 620 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 629 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 35.8 km 38.2 km

NBN connectivity

Mittagong Willow Vale
Connectivity score 61/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
3,572 premises
 46%
312 premises

Climate

Mittagong Willow Vale
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Mittagong Willow Vale
Average residential rate $2,072/yr
same for both
Council Wingecarribee
same for both

Federal electorate

Mittagong Willow Vale
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mittagong Willow Vale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mittagong

Retirees

Willow Vale

Large Blocks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mittagong

Mittagong vs Bowral Mittagong vs Colo Vale Mittagong vs Renwick Mittagong vs Welby Mittagong vs Balaclava Mittagong vs Woodlands

Other comparisons with Willow Vale

Willow Vale vs Colo Vale Willow Vale vs Braemar Willow Vale vs Balaclava
Full data on Mittagong Full data on Willow Vale
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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