Mount Colah vs Mount Kuring-Gai

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Mount Colah is closer to the city centre: 31.2 km, against 37.5 km.

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 Colah

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 33/100)
  • But Mount Kuring-Gai has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 84%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Colah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($525/wk vs $568/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Mount Colah sits closer to the CBD (31.2 km vs 37.5 km)
  • Mount Kuring-Gai has a shorter drive in (40 min vs 46 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Colah

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (16% vs 5%)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 33/100)

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

Investors

Mount Colah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.2% vs 3.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Mount Colah and Mount Kuring-Gai drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
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.

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Walkability 45 / 39
Mount Colah — Walkability: 45/100 Mount Kuring-Gai — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 82 / 67
Mount Colah — Safety: 82/100 Mount Kuring-Gai — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 13 / 27
Mount Colah — Low fire risk: 13/100 Mount Kuring-Gai — Low fire risk: 27/100

Demographics

Mount Colah has more residents (7,816 vs 1,766); Mount Kuring-Gai skews older (42 vs 40).

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Population 7,816
+77% vs other
 1,766
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.2% +3.4%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $130,260/yr
+3% vs other
 $126,256/yr
Median weekly rent $525/wk $568/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
0-4 5.9% / 4.8%
Mount Colah — 0-4: 5.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 13.9% / 16.1%
Mount Colah — 5-14: 13.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 6.8% / 7.0%
Mount Colah — 15-19: 6.8% Mount Kuring-Gai — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.3% / 5.0%
Mount Colah — 20-24: 5.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 10.7% / 8.1%
Mount Colah — 25-34: 10.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 14.7% / 13.5%
Mount Colah — 35-44: 14.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 15.3% / 16.1%
Mount Colah — 45-54: 15.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — 45-54: 16.1%
55-64 13.9% / 13.3%
Mount Colah — 55-64: 13.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 7.9% / 9.2%
Mount Colah — 65-74: 7.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 4.2% / 5.2%
Mount Colah — 75-84: 4.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 1.2% / 1.2%
Mount Colah — 85+: 1.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — 85+: 1.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Colah 62.9% couple families
Mount Colah — Couple Families: 62.9% Mount Colah — Lone Person: 20.3% Mount Colah — One Parent Families: 13.5% Mount Colah — Group Household: 2.0% Mount Colah — Other Families: 1.3%
Mount Kuring-Gai 65.1% couple families
Mount Kuring-Gai — Couple Families: 65.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Lone Person: 20.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — One Parent Families: 14.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Group Household: 0.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — 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.

Mount Colah 17.9% renting
Mount Colah — Owned Outright: 33.3% Mount Colah — Mortgage: 48.8% Mount Colah — Renting: 17.9%
Mount Kuring-Gai 12.9% renting
Mount Kuring-Gai — Owned Outright: 37.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — Mortgage: 49.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Renting: 12.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Bachelor Degree 19.7% / 16.0%
Mount Colah — Bachelor Degree: 19.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — Bachelor Degree: 16.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.2% / 12.0%
Mount Colah — Certificate III & IV: 11.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 9.7%
Mount Colah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 8.3%
Mount Colah — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.1%
Mount Colah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Mount Kuring-Gai — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
England 4.1% / 5.3%
Mount Colah — England: 4.1% Mount Kuring-Gai — England: 5.3%
India 3.7% / 3.1%
Mount Colah — India: 3.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — India: 3.1%
China 3.2% / 2.0%
Mount Colah — China: 3.2% Mount Kuring-Gai — China: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.5%
Mount Colah — New Zealand: 1.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines 2.0% / 1.1%
Mount Colah — Philippines: 2.0% Mount Kuring-Gai — Philippines: 1.1%
South Africa 1.3% / 1.5%
Mount Colah — South Africa: 1.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — South Africa: 1.5%
Iran 1.9% / —
Mount Colah — Iran: 1.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — Iran: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Colah 83.9% houses
Mount Colah — Houses: 83.9% Mount Colah — Flats / Apartments: 12.3% Mount Colah — Townhouses: 3.8%
Mount Kuring-Gai 94.9% houses
Mount Kuring-Gai — Houses: 94.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — Flats / Apartments: 0.9% Mount Kuring-Gai — Townhouses: 4.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Median house price $1,671,175 $1,600,000
Median unit price $630,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 67 sales
 23 days
from 11 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.

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
3 bed $1.54M / $1.45M
Mount Colah — 3 bed: $1.54M (42 sales) Mount Kuring-Gai — 3 bed: $1.45M (5 sales)

42 vs 5 sales

4 bed $1.77M / $1.58M
Mount Colah — 4 bed: $1.77M (44 sales) Mount Kuring-Gai — 4 bed: $1.58M (12 sales)

44 vs 12 sales

5 bed $1.9M / $1.8M
Mount Colah — 5 bed: $1.9M (21 sales) Mount Kuring-Gai — 5 bed: $1.8M (10 sales)

21 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Kuring-Gai has more land zoned for conservation (79% vs 67%).

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Environmental 67% 79%
Residential 24% 7%
Industrial 0% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 6%
same for both
Parks and recreation 3% 1%
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

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
New dwellings approved 260
across Hornsby
same for both
Approvals change year on year -79%
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.

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Houses 2.9%
$990/wk on $1.8M
 —
Units 5.4%
$660/wk on $638K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
House price Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 81% of NSW —

Liveability

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mount Kuring-Gai carries more crime risk (33 vs 18); Mount Colah carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 73).

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
73/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Low
33/100
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 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Mount Colah

  • Mount Colah Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Gibberagong Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Schools in Mount Kuring-Gai

  • Mount Kuring-gai Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 8 3
Childcare 6 1
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 11 9

Mobility

Mount Kuring-Gai sits further from the CBD (37.5 km vs 31.2 km).

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Walkability score 45/100 39/100
Distance to Sydney 31.2 km 37.5 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min 40 min
Public transport score 91/100
Rail · Bus
 77/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 177.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 22.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 2079
 1.9%
postcode 2080
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 2079
 45
postcode 2080

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.

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Worked from Home 48.3% / 46.3%
Mount Colah — Worked from Home: 48.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — Worked from Home: 46.3%
Car (driver) 42.7% / 45.6%
Mount Colah — Car (driver): 42.7% Mount Kuring-Gai — Car (driver): 45.6%
Train 4.3% / 4.7%
Mount Colah — Train: 4.3% Mount Kuring-Gai — Train: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.4%
Mount Colah — Car (passenger): 2.8% Mount Kuring-Gai — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Walked Only 1.5% / 0.9%
Mount Colah — Walked Only: 1.5% Mount Kuring-Gai — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.3%).

Setting

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Elevation 140 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 206 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.9 km 11.7 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Connectivity score 84/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
2,951 premises
 42%
1,021 premises

Climate

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Average residential rate $1,488/yr
same for both
Council Hornsby
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Division Berowra
same for both
Member Julian Leeser
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Colah Mount Kuring-Gai
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Colah

Easy Commute Outer Professionals River Transport Hub

Mount Kuring-Gai

Acreage Easy Commute Outer Professionals Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Colah

Mount Colah vs Hornsby Mount Colah vs Hornsby Heights Mount Colah vs Asquith Mount Colah vs North Turramurra

Other comparisons with Mount Kuring-Gai

Mount Kuring-Gai vs Hornsby Heights Mount Kuring-Gai vs Berowra Heights Mount Kuring-Gai vs Berowra Mount Kuring-Gai vs Berrilee
Full data on Mount Colah Full data on Mount Kuring-Gai
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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