Mount Keira vs Mount Kembla

Comparing Mount Keira and Mount Kembla, NSW: Mount Keira has more residents (1,691 vs 1,083); Mount Kembla is more walkable (40 vs 26); and Mount Keira carries more bushfire risk (82 vs 68).

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 Keira

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)

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

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

Mount Keira

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (77 min vs 87 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (80.6 km vs 90.5 km)
  • But Mount Kembla is more walkable (40/100 vs 26/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Kembla

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 26/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Mount Keira and Mount Kembla 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 Keira Mount Kembla
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 Keira Mount Kembla
Walkability 26 / 40
Mount Keira — Walkability: 26/100 Mount Kembla — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 66 / 73
Mount Keira — Safety: 66/100 Mount Kembla — Safety: 73/100
Low fire risk 18 / 32
Mount Keira — Low fire risk: 18/100 Mount Kembla — Low fire risk: 32/100

Demographics

Mount Keira has more residents (1,691 vs 1,083); Mount Kembla has higher household incomes ($146,848 vs $128,752).

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Population 1,691
+36% vs other
 1,083
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +1.4%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $128,752/yr $146,848/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk $440/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
0-4 5.0% / 3.9%
Mount Keira — 0-4: 5.0% Mount Kembla — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 14.3% / 16.6%
Mount Keira — 5-14: 14.3% Mount Kembla — 5-14: 16.6%
15-19 7.3% / 7.2%
Mount Keira — 15-19: 7.3% Mount Kembla — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 7.4% / 5.7%
Mount Keira — 20-24: 7.4% Mount Kembla — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 9.5% / 7.6%
Mount Keira — 25-34: 9.5% Mount Kembla — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 13.1% / 12.1%
Mount Keira — 35-44: 13.1% Mount Kembla — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 14.8% / 14.0%
Mount Keira — 45-54: 14.8% Mount Kembla — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 12.7% / 15.8%
Mount Keira — 55-64: 12.7% Mount Kembla — 55-64: 15.8%
65-74 9.7% / 9.6%
Mount Keira — 65-74: 9.7% Mount Kembla — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 4.8% / 5.0%
Mount Keira — 75-84: 4.8% Mount Kembla — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 1.8% / 1.3%
Mount Keira — 85+: 1.8% Mount Kembla — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Keira 57.8% couple families
Mount Keira — Couple Families: 57.8% Mount Keira — Lone Person: 23.0% Mount Keira — One Parent Families: 14.1% Mount Keira — Group Household: 4.3% Mount Keira — Other Families: 0.7%
Mount Kembla 66.5% couple families
Mount Kembla — Couple Families: 66.5% Mount Kembla — Lone Person: 19.9% Mount Kembla — One Parent Families: 11.6% Mount Kembla — Group Household: 2.0% Mount Kembla — 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 Keira 15.5% renting
Mount Keira — Owned Outright: 43.3% Mount Keira — Mortgage: 41.2% Mount Keira — Renting: 15.5%
Mount Kembla 7.2% renting
Mount Kembla — Owned Outright: 53.0% Mount Kembla — Mortgage: 39.8% Mount Kembla — Renting: 7.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 18.1%
Mount Keira — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Mount Kembla — Bachelor Degree: 18.1%
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 13.9%
Mount Keira — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Mount Kembla — Certificate III & IV: 13.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 7.3%
Mount Keira — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Mount Kembla — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 6.6%
Mount Keira — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Mount Kembla — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 3.6%
Mount Keira — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Mount Kembla — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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.

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
England 3.7% / 4.7%
Mount Keira — England: 3.7% Mount Kembla — England: 4.7%
India 1.8% / 1.2%
Mount Keira — India: 1.8% Mount Kembla — India: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Mount Keira — New Zealand: 1.3% Mount Kembla — New Zealand: 1.5%
Italy 1.2% / 0.6%
Mount Keira — Italy: 1.2% Mount Kembla — Italy: 0.6%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.6%
Mount Keira — Scotland: 0.8% Mount Kembla — Scotland: 0.6%
Ireland — / 0.8%
Mount Keira — Ireland: not among its largest Mount Kembla — Ireland: 0.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Keira 91.8% houses
Mount Keira — Houses: 91.8% Mount Keira — Flats / Apartments: 5.5% Mount Keira — Townhouses: 2.7%
Mount Kembla 98.0% houses
Mount Kembla — Houses: 98.0% Mount Kembla — Flats / Apartments: 0.6% Mount Kembla — Townhouses: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Median house price $1,245,500 $1,217,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 10 sales
 26 days
from 7 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 Keira Mount Kembla
3 bed $1.17M / $1.11M
Mount Keira — 3 bed: $1.17M (18 sales) Mount Kembla — 3 bed: $1.11M (9 sales)

18 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.23M / $1.24M
Mount Keira — 4 bed: $1.23M (9 sales) Mount Kembla — 4 bed: $1.24M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Kembla has more rural and farming land (14% vs 0%).

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Environmental 85% 82%
Rural and farming 0% 14%
Residential 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 2%
Parks and recreation 1% 2%
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 Keira Mount Kembla
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW

Liveability

Mount Kembla is more walkable (40 vs 26); Mount Kembla scores higher overall (55 vs 48).

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Grade C B
Score 48/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mount Keira carries more bushfire risk (82 vs 68).

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Bushfire High
82/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Low
34/100
 Low
27/100
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
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 4.6 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 6.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 2.1%

Schools in Mount Keira

  • Mount Keira Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mount Kembla

  • Mount Kembla Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 0 1
Waterways 2 5

Mobility

Mount Kembla sits further from the CBD (90.5 km vs 80.6 km).

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Walkability score 26/100 40/100
Distance to Sydney 80.6 km 90.5 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min 87 min
Public transport score 67/100
Bus
 38/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 26.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 10.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2500
 1.1%
postcode 2526
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 2500
 47
postcode 2526

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 Keira Mount Kembla
Car (driver) 56.6% / 56.8%
Mount Keira — Car (driver): 56.6% Mount Kembla — Car (driver): 56.8%
Worked from Home 35.6% / 40.5%
Mount Keira — Worked from Home: 35.6% Mount Kembla — Worked from Home: 40.5%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 2.0%
Mount Keira — Car (passenger): 4.6% Mount Kembla — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.1% / 0.7%
Mount Keira — Walked Only: 1.1% Mount Kembla — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bicycle 1.0% / —
Mount Keira — Bicycle: 1.0% Mount Kembla — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.8%).

Setting

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Elevation 382 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km
4.7 km to a named beach
 6.8 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Connectivity score 100/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
617 premises
 64%
375 premises

Climate

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³ 5.9 µg/m³
PM10 18.2 µg/m³ 19.8 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.66 pphm 0.45 pphm

Council rates

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Keira Mount Kembla
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Keira

Acreage Professionals Quiet

Mount Kembla

Acreage Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Keira

Mount Keira vs Figtree Mount Keira vs Balgownie Mount Keira vs West Wollongong Mount Keira vs Keiraville Mount Keira vs Tarrawanna Mount Keira vs Mount Ousley

Other comparisons with Mount Kembla

Mount Kembla vs Figtree Mount Kembla vs Cordeaux Heights Mount Kembla vs Farmborough Heights Mount Kembla vs Kembla Heights
Full data on Mount Keira Full data on Mount Kembla
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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