Mount Tarcoola vs Wandina

Wandina is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 39 in Mount Tarcoola. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wandina, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wandina: a median of $742,000, against $600,000 in Mount Tarcoola, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mount Tarcoola tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Wandina suits families with children and couples.

Mount Tarcoola and Wandina are both outer Perth suburbs with notably different profiles. Wandina has higher household incomes ($116,376 versus $93,184) and sits in a stronger socio-economic decile (7 versus 5), though it carries a bushfire risk rating of 33 compared to Mount Tarcoola's zero, and a significantly higher crime risk (77 versus 54). Mount Tarcoola offers a better liveability score (58 versus 50) and stronger rental yield (5.0% versus 4.6%), making it potentially more appealing to investors or those prioritising safety and community amenity. Wandina suits buyers drawn to higher incomes and socio-economic standing, despite the trade-offs in risk and cost—median house prices are $740,500 there against $595,000 in Mount Tarcoola.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Mount Tarcoola has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Wandina has more parks and reserves (10 vs 7)

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

First-home buyers

Mount Tarcoola

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($600,000 vs $741,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Tarcoola

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $340/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Tarcoola

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 12%)
  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Mount Tarcoola and Wandina 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 Tarcoola Wandina
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 Tarcoola Wandina
Walkability 56 / 53
Mount Tarcoola — Walkability: 56/100 Wandina — Walkability: 53/100
Safety 46 / 23
Mount Tarcoola — Safety: 46/100 Wandina — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 67
Mount Tarcoola — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wandina — Low fire risk: 67/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Mount Tarcoola — Low flood risk: 100/100 Wandina — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wandina has more residents (4,375 vs 3,257); Wandina has higher household incomes ($116,376 vs $93,184).

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Population 3,257 4,375
+34% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +5.1%
Median age 39 34
Median household income $93,184/yr $116,376/yr
+25% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $340/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
0-4 5.9% / 7.5%
Mount Tarcoola — 0-4: 5.9% Wandina — 0-4: 7.5%
5-14 14.6% / 18.6%
Mount Tarcoola — 5-14: 14.6% Wandina — 5-14: 18.6%
15-19 6.7% / 7.2%
Mount Tarcoola — 15-19: 6.7% Wandina — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 5.5% / 4.4%
Mount Tarcoola — 20-24: 5.5% Wandina — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 12.0% / 12.3%
Mount Tarcoola — 25-34: 12.0% Wandina — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 12.2% / 15.6%
Mount Tarcoola — 35-44: 12.2% Wandina — 35-44: 15.6%
45-54 13.8% / 13.5%
Mount Tarcoola — 45-54: 13.8% Wandina — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 12.3% / 9.3%
Mount Tarcoola — 55-64: 12.3% Wandina — 55-64: 9.3%
65-74 10.3% / 6.4%
Mount Tarcoola — 65-74: 10.3% Wandina — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 5.1% / 4.1%
Mount Tarcoola — 75-84: 5.1% Wandina — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.6% / 1.0%
Mount Tarcoola — 85+: 1.6% Wandina — 85+: 1.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Tarcoola 42.3% couple families
Mount Tarcoola — Couple Families: 42.3% Mount Tarcoola — Lone Person: 33.4% Mount Tarcoola — One Parent Families: 19.1% Mount Tarcoola — Group Household: 3.9% Mount Tarcoola — Other Families: 1.3%
Wandina 58.9% couple families
Wandina — Couple Families: 58.9% Wandina — Lone Person: 21.0% Wandina — One Parent Families: 16.0% Wandina — Group Household: 3.1% Wandina — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mount Tarcoola 25.7% renting
Mount Tarcoola — Owned Outright: 31.8% Mount Tarcoola — Mortgage: 42.5% Mount Tarcoola — Renting: 25.7%
Wandina 31.2% renting
Wandina — Owned Outright: 23.7% Wandina — Mortgage: 45.1% Wandina — Renting: 31.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Tarcoola Wandina
England 2.8% / 3.9%
Mount Tarcoola — England: 2.8% Wandina — England: 3.9%
South Africa 1.5% / 2.3%
Mount Tarcoola — South Africa: 1.5% Wandina — South Africa: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.8%
Mount Tarcoola — New Zealand: 1.7% Wandina — New Zealand: 1.8%
India 0.8% / 2.1%
Mount Tarcoola — India: 0.8% Wandina — India: 2.1%
Philippines 1.9% / 1.0%
Mount Tarcoola — Philippines: 1.9% Wandina — Philippines: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

Qualifications

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

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Certificate III & IV 18.7% / 16.5%
Mount Tarcoola — Certificate III & IV: 18.7% Wandina — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Bachelor Degree 8.5% / 9.3%
Mount Tarcoola — Bachelor Degree: 8.5% Wandina — Bachelor Degree: 9.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.2%
Mount Tarcoola — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Wandina — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 1.2% / 2.7%
Mount Tarcoola — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2% Wandina — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.8%
Mount Tarcoola — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Wandina — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Tarcoola 95.3% houses
Mount Tarcoola — Houses: 95.3% Mount Tarcoola — Townhouses: 4.8% Mount Tarcoola — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Wandina 89.9% houses
Wandina — Houses: 89.9% Wandina — Townhouses: 9.3% Wandina — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Median house price $600,000 $741,500
Median unit price $285,000 —
Median land price $190,000
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 42 sales
 36 days
from 32 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 Tarcoola Wandina
3 bed $580K / $640K
Mount Tarcoola — 3 bed: $580K (53 sales) Wandina — 3 bed: $640K (7 sales)

53 vs 7 sales

4 bed $650K / $745K
Mount Tarcoola — 4 bed: $650K (62 sales) Wandina — 4 bed: $745K (71 sales)

62 vs 71 sales

5 bed $650K / $780K
Mount Tarcoola — 5 bed: $650K (5 sales) Wandina — 5 bed: $780K (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
New dwellings approved 183
across Greater Geraldton
same for both
Approvals change year on year -30%
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 Tarcoola Wandina
Houses 5.0%
$655/wk on $688K
 4.6%
$700/wk on $789K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within WA

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 57% of WA Higher than 81% of WA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 8% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of WA Higher than 97% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of WA Higher than 67% of WA

Liveability

Mount Tarcoola scores higher overall (58 vs 50).

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 50/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Wandina carries more bushfire risk (33 vs 0); Wandina carries more crime risk (77 vs 54).

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
33/100
Crime Moderate
54/100
 High
77/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Mount Tarcoola

  • Mount Tarcoola Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Wandina

  • Wandina Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 7 10
Childcare 2
same for both
Pharmacies 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Walkability score 56/100 53/100
Distance to Perth 411.9 km 410.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 272 min 270 min
Public transport score 34/100
Bus
 36/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 8.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
same for both
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 6530
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 6530
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.

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Car (driver) 84.0% / 85.2%
Mount Tarcoola — Car (driver): 84.0% Wandina — Car (driver): 85.2%
Car (passenger) 7.8% / 7.1%
Mount Tarcoola — Car (passenger): 7.8% Wandina — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Worked from Home 4.3% / 4.6%
Mount Tarcoola — Worked from Home: 4.3% Wandina — Worked from Home: 4.6%
Bus 1.9% / 1.3%
Mount Tarcoola — Bus: 1.9% Wandina — Bus: 1.3%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.1%
Mount Tarcoola — Walked Only: 1.1% Wandina — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (85.2%).

Setting

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 936 m
1.5 km to a named beach
 1.1 km
3.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Connectivity score 100/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,462 premises
 96%
1,825 premises

Climate

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Annual rainfall 353 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Average residential rate $3,162/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geraldton
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Division Durack
same for both
Member Melissa Price
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Tarcoola Wandina
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Tarcoola

Affordable Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks

Wandina

Coastal Family Large Blocks Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Tarcoola

Mount Tarcoola vs Geraldton Mount Tarcoola vs Rangeway Mount Tarcoola vs Tarcoola Beach Mount Tarcoola vs Mahomets Flats Mount Tarcoola vs Karloo

Other comparisons with Wandina

Wandina vs Tarcoola Beach Wandina vs Cape Burney Wandina vs Karloo Wandina vs Rudds Gully
Full data on Mount Tarcoola Full data on Wandina
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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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