Mount Keira vs Mount Ousley

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Mount Keira, most households are couple families. In Mount Ousley, about half of households are couple families.

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 Keira

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Ousley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (66/100 vs 26/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Ousley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (66/100 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 Ousley 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 Ousley
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 Ousley
Walkability 26 / 66
Mount Keira — Walkability: 26/100 Mount Ousley — Walkability: 66/100
Safety 66 / 59
Mount Keira — Safety: 66/100 Mount Ousley — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 18 / 100
Mount Keira — Low fire risk: 18/100 Mount Ousley — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mount Ousley rents higher ($500/wk vs $420/wk); Mount Ousley skews older (42 vs 40).

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Population 1,691
+5% vs other
 1,611
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +0.6%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $128,752/yr
+7% vs other
 $119,236/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk $500/wk
+19% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
0-4 5.0% / 5.3%
Mount Keira — 0-4: 5.0% Mount Ousley — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 14.3% / 12.5%
Mount Keira — 5-14: 14.3% Mount Ousley — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 7.3% / 6.5%
Mount Keira — 15-19: 7.3% Mount Ousley — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 7.4% / 7.2%
Mount Keira — 20-24: 7.4% Mount Ousley — 20-24: 7.2%
25-34 9.5% / 10.0%
Mount Keira — 25-34: 9.5% Mount Ousley — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 13.1% / 12.1%
Mount Keira — 35-44: 13.1% Mount Ousley — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 14.8% / 13.4%
Mount Keira — 45-54: 14.8% Mount Ousley — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 12.7% / 13.6%
Mount Keira — 55-64: 12.7% Mount Ousley — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 9.7% / 8.9%
Mount Keira — 65-74: 9.7% Mount Ousley — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 4.8% / 6.0%
Mount Keira — 75-84: 4.8% Mount Ousley — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 1.8% / 4.4%
Mount Keira — 85+: 1.8% Mount Ousley — 85+: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

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 Ousley 53.1% couple families
Mount Ousley — Couple Families: 53.1% Mount Ousley — Lone Person: 26.1% Mount Ousley — One Parent Families: 14.3% Mount Ousley — Group Household: 4.8% Mount Ousley — Other Families: 1.8%
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 Ousley 14.7% renting
Mount Ousley — Owned Outright: 48.8% Mount Ousley — Mortgage: 36.6% Mount Ousley — Renting: 14.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 16.0%
Mount Keira — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Mount Ousley — Bachelor Degree: 16.0%
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 13.1%
Mount Keira — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Mount Ousley — Certificate III & IV: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 8.4%
Mount Keira — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Mount Ousley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 7.6%
Mount Keira — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Mount Ousley — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 3.2%
Mount Keira — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Mount Ousley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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.

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
England 3.7% / 2.4%
Mount Keira — England: 3.7% Mount Ousley — England: 2.4%
India 1.8% / 1.1%
Mount Keira — India: 1.8% Mount Ousley — India: 1.1%
China 0.5% / 2.2%
Mount Keira — China: 0.5% Mount Ousley — China: 2.2%
Italy 1.2% / 1.4%
Mount Keira — Italy: 1.2% Mount Ousley — Italy: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.1%
Mount Keira — New Zealand: 1.3% Mount Ousley — New Zealand: 1.1%
Scotland 0.8% / —
Mount Keira — Scotland: 0.8% Mount Ousley — Scotland: not among its largest

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

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 Ousley 93.6% houses
Mount Ousley — Houses: 93.6% Mount Ousley — Flats / Apartments: 2.4% Mount Ousley — Townhouses: 4.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Median house price $1,245,500 $1,167,500
Median unit price — $740,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 10 sales
 21 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 Ousley
3 bed $1.17M / $1.06M
Mount Keira — 3 bed: $1.17M (18 sales) Mount Ousley — 3 bed: $1.06M (17 sales)

18 vs 17 sales

4 bed $1.23M / $1.4M
Mount Keira — 4 bed: $1.23M (9 sales) Mount Ousley — 4 bed: $1.4M (6 sales)

9 vs 6 sales

5 bed $1.97M / $1.26M
Mount Keira — 5 bed: $1.97M (7 sales) Mount Ousley — 5 bed: $1.26M (5 sales)

7 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Keira has more land zoned for conservation (85% vs 2%).

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Environmental 85% 2%
Residential 8% 69%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 17%
Parks and recreation 1% 12%
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 Ousley
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 Ousley
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW

Liveability

Mount Ousley is more walkable (66 vs 26); Mount Ousley scores higher overall (74 vs 48).

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Grade C A
Score 48/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mount Keira carries more bushfire risk (82 vs 0).

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Bushfire High
82/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
34/100
 Moderate
41/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
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, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 4.5%

Schools in Mount Keira

  • Mount Keira Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Mount Ousley

  • Elonera Montessori School Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 0 2
Waterways 2 4

Mobility

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Walkability score 26/100 66/100
Distance to Sydney 80.6 km 82 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min
same for both
Public transport score 67/100
Bus
 24/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 26.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2500
 1.3%
postcode 2519
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 2500
 30
postcode 2519

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 Ousley
Car (driver) 56.6% / 54.1%
Mount Keira — Car (driver): 56.6% Mount Ousley — Car (driver): 54.1%
Worked from Home 35.6% / 39.2%
Mount Keira — Worked from Home: 35.6% Mount Ousley — Worked from Home: 39.2%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 3.8%
Mount Keira — Car (passenger): 4.6% Mount Ousley — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.3%
Mount Keira — Walked Only: 1.1% Mount Ousley — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bicycle 1.0% / 1.0%
Mount Keira — Bicycle: 1.0% Mount Ousley — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.6%).

Setting

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Elevation 382 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km
4.7 km to a named beach
 2.1 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
Connectivity score 100/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
617 premises
 56%
610 premises

Climate

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
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 Ousley
PM2.5 6.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.66 pphm
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Mount Keira Mount Ousley
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 Ousley
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 Ousley

Coastal Parks Professionals Quiet River

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 Pleasant

Other comparisons with Mount Ousley

Mount Ousley vs Fairy Meadow Mount Ousley vs Keiraville Mount Ousley vs North Wollongong Mount Ousley vs Mount Pleasant
Full data on Mount Keira Full data on Mount Ousley
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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