Normanhurst vs Hornsby

Hornsby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Normanhurst. In both, most households own their home. In Normanhurst, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Hornsby, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Normanhurst tends to suit couples, while Hornsby suits people living alone.

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

Normanhurst

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (79% vs 35%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 70/100)
  • But Hornsby has more childcare (20 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Hornsby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($720,000 vs $1,630,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hornsby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hornsby

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 5%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 77/100)
  • But Normanhurst sits closer to the CBD (26.4 km vs 28.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hornsby

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (15 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 21%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 77/100)
  • But Normanhurst carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 70/100)

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

Normanhurst and Hornsby drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Normanhurst Hornsby
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.

Normanhurst Hornsby
Walkability 77 / 96
Normanhurst — Walkability: 77/100 Hornsby — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 53 / 30
Normanhurst — Safety: 53/100 Hornsby — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 35
Normanhurst — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hornsby — Low fire risk: 35/100

Demographics

Hornsby has more residents (22,462 vs 5,387); Normanhurst has higher household incomes ($134,680 vs $101,504).

Normanhurst Hornsby
Population 5,387 22,462
+317% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +1.3%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $134,680/yr
+25% vs other
 $101,504/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+20% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst Hornsby
0-4 5.2% / 6.0%
Normanhurst — 0-4: 5.2% Hornsby — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 14.9% / 11.6%
Normanhurst — 5-14: 14.9% Hornsby — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 7.5% / 4.6%
Normanhurst — 15-19: 7.5% Hornsby — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 5.5% / 6.0%
Normanhurst — 20-24: 5.5% Hornsby — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 7.3% / 15.3%
Normanhurst — 25-34: 7.3% Hornsby — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 14.3% / 17.8%
Normanhurst — 35-44: 14.3% Hornsby — 35-44: 17.8%
45-54 14.5% / 13.5%
Normanhurst — 45-54: 14.5% Hornsby — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 12.3% / 10.6%
Normanhurst — 55-64: 12.3% Hornsby — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 8.7% / 8.5%
Normanhurst — 65-74: 8.7% Hornsby — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 6.4% / 4.2%
Normanhurst — 75-84: 6.4% Hornsby — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 3.5% / 1.9%
Normanhurst — 85+: 3.5% Hornsby — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst 63.1% couple families
Normanhurst — Couple Families: 63.1% Normanhurst — Lone Person: 22.4% Normanhurst — One Parent Families: 12.1% Normanhurst — Group Household: 2.1% Normanhurst — Other Families: 0.2%
Hornsby 45.0% couple families
Hornsby — Couple Families: 45.0% Hornsby — Lone Person: 34.7% Hornsby — One Parent Families: 13.6% Hornsby — Group Household: 4.7% Hornsby — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst 19.5% renting
Normanhurst — Owned Outright: 35.2% Normanhurst — Mortgage: 45.2% Normanhurst — Renting: 19.5%
Hornsby 44.1% renting
Hornsby — Owned Outright: 23.4% Hornsby — Mortgage: 32.5% Hornsby — Renting: 44.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Normanhurst Hornsby
Bachelor Degree 21.7% / 23.5%
Normanhurst — Bachelor Degree: 21.7% Hornsby — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 11.4% / 12.0%
Normanhurst — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4% Hornsby — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.7%
Normanhurst — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Hornsby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 7.4%
Normanhurst — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Hornsby — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 2.3%
Normanhurst — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Hornsby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

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.

Normanhurst Hornsby
China 7.1% / 12.6%
Normanhurst — China: 7.1% Hornsby — China: 12.6%
India 4.4% / 5.7%
Normanhurst — India: 4.4% Hornsby — India: 5.7%
England 4.3% / 2.8%
Normanhurst — England: 4.3% Hornsby — England: 2.8%
Nepal — / 4.4%
Normanhurst — Nepal: not among its largest Hornsby — Nepal: 4.4%
Philippines 1.4% / 2.8%
Normanhurst — Philippines: 1.4% Hornsby — Philippines: 2.8%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.3%
Normanhurst — New Zealand: 1.5% Hornsby — New Zealand: 1.3%
South Africa 1.4% / —
Normanhurst — South Africa: 1.4% Hornsby — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Normanhurst 78.8% houses
Normanhurst — Houses: 78.8% Normanhurst — Flats / Apartments: 6.3% Normanhurst — Townhouses: 14.9%
Hornsby 35.3% houses
Hornsby — Houses: 35.3% Hornsby — Flats / Apartments: 59.3% Hornsby — Townhouses: 5.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Normanhurst Hornsby
Median house price $1,925,000 $1,800,000
Median unit price $1,630,000 $720,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 40 sales
 23 days
from 103 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.

Normanhurst Hornsby
3 bed $1.81M / $1.6M
Normanhurst — 3 bed: $1.81M (24 sales) Hornsby — 3 bed: $1.6M (49 sales)

24 vs 49 sales

4 bed $2M / $1.82M
Normanhurst — 4 bed: $2M (22 sales) Hornsby — 4 bed: $1.82M (41 sales)

22 vs 41 sales

Zoning mix

Normanhurst Hornsby
Residential 86% 59%
Parks and recreation 9% 20%
Environmental 1% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 6%
Industrial 0% 4%
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

Normanhurst Hornsby
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.

Normanhurst Hornsby
Houses — 2.8%
$875/wk on $1.6M
Units — 4.8%
$660/wk on $712K

Ranking within NSW

Normanhurst Hornsby
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Income Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Schools Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 16% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 59% of NSW

Liveability

Normanhurst scores higher overall (86 vs 58); Hornsby is more walkable (96 vs 77).

Normanhurst Hornsby
Grade A B
Score 86/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Hornsby carries more bushfire risk (65 vs 0); Hornsby carries more crime risk (70 vs 47).

Normanhurst Hornsby
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
65/100
Crime Moderate
47/100
 High
70/100
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 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Normanhurst Hornsby
Inside the suburb 3 7
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 6.9 km
 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 2.8%

Schools in Normanhurst

  • Loreto Normanhurst Independent · Combined above peers
  • Normanhurst Boys High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Normanhurst Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Hornsby

  • Hornsby Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Hornsby North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Hornsby South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Barker College Independent · Secondary below peers
  • Blue Gum Community School Independent · Primary
  • Clarke Road School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Normanhurst Hornsby
Supermarkets 0 9
Cafes & restaurants 0 49
Parks & reserves 7 21
Childcare 4 20
GPs 1 15
Pharmacies 1 10
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 9
Fuel stations 2 4
Waterways 7 29

Mobility

Hornsby sits further from the CBD (28.4 km vs 26.4 km).

Normanhurst Hornsby
Walkability score 77/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 26.4 km 28.4 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 37 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 82.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 386.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 2076
 1.7%
postcode 2077
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2076
 17
postcode 2077

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.

Normanhurst Hornsby
Worked from Home 59.1% / 47.7%
Normanhurst — Worked from Home: 59.1% Hornsby — Worked from Home: 47.7%
Car (driver) 31.0% / 31.8%
Normanhurst — Car (driver): 31.0% Hornsby — Car (driver): 31.8%
Train 4.9% / 10.6%
Normanhurst — Train: 4.9% Hornsby — Train: 10.6%
Walked Only 1.7% / 6.1%
Normanhurst — Walked Only: 1.7% Hornsby — Walked Only: 6.1%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.9%
Normanhurst — Car (passenger): 2.7% Hornsby — Car (passenger): 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.1%).

Setting

Normanhurst Hornsby
Elevation 183 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 158 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.9 km 18.4 km

NBN connectivity

Normanhurst Hornsby
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
2,146 premises
 14%
12,291 premises

Climate

Normanhurst Hornsby
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Normanhurst Hornsby
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

Normanhurst Hornsby
Average residential rate $1,488/yr
same for both
Council Hornsby
same for both

Federal electorate

Normanhurst Hornsby
Division Berowra
same for both
Member Julian Leeser
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Normanhurst Hornsby
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Normanhurst

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

Hornsby

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Normanhurst

Normanhurst vs Wahroonga Normanhurst vs Thornleigh

Other comparisons with Hornsby

Hornsby vs Wahroonga Hornsby vs Thornleigh Hornsby vs Dural Hornsby vs Waitara Hornsby vs Mount Colah Hornsby vs Hornsby Heights
Full data on Normanhurst Full data on Hornsby
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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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