Mount Saint Thomas vs Figtree

Mount Saint Thomas is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Figtree. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Figtree, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Figtree: a median of $1.18 million, against $915,000 in Mount Saint Thomas, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mount Saint Thomas tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Figtree 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

Figtree

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Saint Thomas

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($915,000 vs $1,180,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Saint Thomas

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Saint Thomas

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 48/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Figtree

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 55/100)
  • But Mount Saint Thomas is more walkable (75/100 vs 48/100)

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

Where they sit

Mount Saint Thomas and Figtree 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 Saint Thomas Figtree
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 Saint Thomas Figtree
Walkability 75 / 48
Mount Saint Thomas — Walkability: 75/100 Figtree — Walkability: 48/100
Safety 45 / 57
Mount Saint Thomas — Safety: 45/100 Figtree — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 36
Mount Saint Thomas — Low fire risk: 100/100 Figtree — Low fire risk: 36/100

Demographics

Figtree has more residents (12,335 vs 1,449); Figtree rents higher ($430/wk vs $300/wk).

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Population 1,449 12,335
+751% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +6.7%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $95,420/yr $106,184/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $430/wk
+43% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
0-4 6.8% / 5.9%
Mount Saint Thomas — 0-4: 6.8% Figtree — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 12.6% / 13.8%
Mount Saint Thomas — 5-14: 12.6% Figtree — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 6.0% / 7.1%
Mount Saint Thomas — 15-19: 6.0% Figtree — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.3% / 6.3%
Mount Saint Thomas — 20-24: 6.3% Figtree — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 13.7% / 10.2%
Mount Saint Thomas — 25-34: 13.7% Figtree — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 14.6% / 13.2%
Mount Saint Thomas — 35-44: 14.6% Figtree — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 12.9% / 13.7%
Mount Saint Thomas — 45-54: 12.9% Figtree — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 13.0% / 10.9%
Mount Saint Thomas — 55-64: 13.0% Figtree — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 8.0% / 9.7%
Mount Saint Thomas — 65-74: 8.0% Figtree — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 4.5% / 6.6%
Mount Saint Thomas — 75-84: 4.5% Figtree — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 1.6% / 2.6%
Mount Saint Thomas — 85+: 1.6% Figtree — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Saint Thomas 43.8% couple families
Mount Saint Thomas — Couple Families: 43.8% Mount Saint Thomas — Lone Person: 32.7% Mount Saint Thomas — One Parent Families: 17.3% Mount Saint Thomas — Group Household: 4.1% Mount Saint Thomas — Other Families: 2.2%
Figtree 55.0% couple families
Figtree — Couple Families: 55.0% Figtree — Lone Person: 26.7% Figtree — One Parent Families: 13.7% Figtree — Group Household: 3.4% Figtree — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mount Saint Thomas 27.5% renting
Mount Saint Thomas — Owned Outright: 29.0% Mount Saint Thomas — Mortgage: 43.5% Mount Saint Thomas — Renting: 27.5%
Figtree 17.9% renting
Figtree — Owned Outright: 41.7% Figtree — Mortgage: 40.5% Figtree — Renting: 17.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 15.1%
Mount Saint Thomas — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Figtree — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.9% / 14.6%
Mount Saint Thomas — Bachelor Degree: 12.9% Figtree — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.5%
Mount Saint Thomas — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Figtree — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 5.7%
Mount Saint Thomas — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% Figtree — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.2%
Mount Saint Thomas — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Figtree — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

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

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 Saint Thomas Figtree
England 3.5% / 3.3%
Mount Saint Thomas — England: 3.5% Figtree — England: 3.3%
Italy 1.8% / 1.1%
Mount Saint Thomas — Italy: 1.8% Figtree — Italy: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.0%
Mount Saint Thomas — New Zealand: 1.1% Figtree — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 0.4% / 1.3%
Mount Saint Thomas — India: 0.4% Figtree — India: 1.3%
China — / 1.6%
Mount Saint Thomas — China: not among its largest Figtree — China: 1.6%
Thailand 1.0% / —
Mount Saint Thomas — Thailand: 1.0% Figtree — Thailand: not among its largest
Myanmar 0.8% / —
Mount Saint Thomas — Myanmar: 0.8% Figtree — Myanmar: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Saint Thomas 92.3% houses
Mount Saint Thomas — Houses: 92.3% Mount Saint Thomas — Townhouses: 6.6% Mount Saint Thomas — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Figtree 82.4% houses
Figtree — Houses: 82.4% Figtree — Townhouses: 9.7% Figtree — Flats / Apartments: 7.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Median house price $915,000 $1,180,000
Median unit price — $630,000
Median land price — $1,300,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 24 days
from 116 sales

Zoning mix

Figtree has more land zoned for conservation (28% vs 0%).

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Residential 83% 50%
Environmental 0% 28%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 4%
Parks and recreation 2% 10%
Rural and farming 0% 7%
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 Saint Thomas Figtree
New dwellings approved 1,476
across Wollongong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -31%
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 Saint Thomas Figtree
Houses — 3.5%
$800/wk on $1.19M
Units — 4.7%
$470/wk on $519K

Ranking within NSW

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
House price Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 51% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 45% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Mount Saint Thomas is more walkable (75 vs 48); Mount Saint Thomas scores higher overall (64 vs 51).

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 51/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Figtree carries more bushfire risk (64 vs 0); Mount Saint Thomas carries more crime risk (55 vs 43).

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
64/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
43/100
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 16
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 2.4 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 3.0%

Schools in Mount Saint Thomas

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

Schools in Figtree

  • Figtree Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Figtree High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Nareena Hills Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Figtree Heights Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 1 6
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 0 14

Mobility

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Walkability score 75/100 48/100
Distance to Sydney 86.8 km 87.8 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 82 min 83 min
Public transport score 63/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 21.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 220.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2500
 1.6%
postcode 2525
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 2500
 41
postcode 2525

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 Saint Thomas Figtree
Car (driver) 57.5% / 58.8%
Mount Saint Thomas — Car (driver): 57.5% Figtree — Car (driver): 58.8%
Worked from Home 36.7% / 34.1%
Mount Saint Thomas — Worked from Home: 36.7% Figtree — Worked from Home: 34.1%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 4.3%
Mount Saint Thomas — Car (passenger): 3.8% Figtree — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Walked Only 0.5% / 1.2%
Mount Saint Thomas — Walked Only: 0.5% Figtree — Walked Only: 1.2%
Train 0.9% / 0.7%
Mount Saint Thomas — Train: 0.9% Figtree — Train: 0.7%
Bus 0.5% / 0.6%
Mount Saint Thomas — Bus: 0.5% Figtree — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.8%).

Setting

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Elevation 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 68 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
2.7 km to a named beach
 4.6 km
4.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Connectivity score 100/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
589 premises
 52%
5,004 premises

Climate

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
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 Saint Thomas Figtree
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Saint Thomas Figtree
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Saint Thomas

Coastal Parks Quiet

Figtree

Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Saint Thomas

Mount Saint Thomas vs Mangerton Mount Saint Thomas vs Coniston Mount Saint Thomas vs Spring Hill

Other comparisons with Figtree

Figtree vs Unanderra Figtree vs West Wollongong Figtree vs Cordeaux Heights Figtree vs Mangerton Figtree vs Mount Keira Figtree vs Mount Kembla
Full data on Mount Saint Thomas Full data on Figtree
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or