Oatley vs Illawong

In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Oatley: a median of $2.61 million, against $1.96 million in Illawong, though rent is higher in Illawong. Oatley is closer to the city centre: 28.9 km, against 35.2 km. On these figures, Illawong tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Oatley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 7)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 4)
  • But Illawong has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 71%)

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

First-home buyers

Illawong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,955,000 vs $2,612,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Oatley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (21% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($490/wk vs $650/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Oatley

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 62/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (28.9 km vs 35.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Oatley

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 7%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 62/100)

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

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

Oatley Illawong
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.

Oatley Illawong
Walkability 92 / 62
Oatley — Walkability: 92/100 Illawong — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 72 / 76
Oatley — Safety: 72/100 Illawong — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 100 / 14
Oatley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Illawong — Low fire risk: 14/100

Demographics

Oatley has more residents (10,664 vs 7,427); Illawong rents higher ($650/wk vs $490/wk).

Oatley Illawong
Population 10,664
+30% vs other
 7,427
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.7% +2.1%
Median age 43 44
Median household income $131,924/yr $144,456/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $490/wk $650/wk
+33% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Oatley Illawong
0-4 5.0% / 5.2%
Oatley — 0-4: 5.0% Illawong — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 13.6% / 12.3%
Oatley — 5-14: 13.6% Illawong — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 6.3% / 6.7%
Oatley — 15-19: 6.3% Illawong — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 5.5% / 5.9%
Oatley — 20-24: 5.5% Illawong — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 8.7% / 9.8%
Oatley — 25-34: 8.7% Illawong — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 13.4% / 11.3%
Oatley — 35-44: 13.4% Illawong — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 13.9% / 12.5%
Oatley — 45-54: 13.9% Illawong — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 13.5% / 16.2%
Oatley — 55-64: 13.5% Illawong — 55-64: 16.2%
65-74 11.3% / 13.3%
Oatley — 65-74: 11.3% Illawong — 65-74: 13.3%
75-84 6.2% / 5.1%
Oatley — 75-84: 6.2% Illawong — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 2.7% / 1.6%
Oatley — 85+: 2.7% Illawong — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Oatley 57.9% couple families
Oatley — Couple Families: 57.9% Oatley — Lone Person: 26.4% Oatley — One Parent Families: 12.8% Oatley — Group Household: 2.0% Oatley — Other Families: 1.0%
Illawong 70.8% couple families
Illawong — Couple Families: 70.8% Illawong — Lone Person: 14.3% Illawong — One Parent Families: 12.7% Illawong — Group Household: 1.2% Illawong — 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.

Oatley 20.8% renting
Oatley — Owned Outright: 46.2% Oatley — Mortgage: 33.1% Oatley — Renting: 20.8%
Illawong 8.1% renting
Illawong — Owned Outright: 50.2% Illawong — Mortgage: 41.8% Illawong — Renting: 8.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Oatley Illawong
Bachelor Degree 22.1% / 17.4%
Oatley — Bachelor Degree: 22.1% Illawong — Bachelor Degree: 17.4%
Certificate III & IV 8.9% / 13.8%
Oatley — Certificate III & IV: 8.9% Illawong — Certificate III & IV: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 9.4%
Oatley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Illawong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 5.2%
Oatley — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Illawong — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 1.8%
Oatley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Illawong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

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.

Oatley Illawong
China 6.6% / 2.4%
Oatley — China: 6.6% Illawong — China: 2.4%
England 2.6% / 2.6%
Oatley — England: 2.6% Illawong — England: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
Oatley — New Zealand: 1.0% Illawong — New Zealand: 1.2%
Lebanon — / 2.2%
Oatley — Lebanon: not among its largest Illawong — Lebanon: 2.2%
Greece 0.8% / 1.2%
Oatley — Greece: 0.8% Illawong — Greece: 1.2%
Malaysia 0.9% / —
Oatley — Malaysia: 0.9% Illawong — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Oatley 70.8% houses
Oatley — Houses: 70.8% Oatley — Flats / Apartments: 17.9% Oatley — Townhouses: 11.3%
Illawong 92.6% houses
Illawong — Houses: 92.6% Illawong — Flats / Apartments: 2.4% Illawong — Townhouses: 5.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Oatley Illawong
Median house price $2,612,500 $1,955,000
Median unit price $977,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 95 sales
 29 days
from 33 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.

Oatley Illawong
3 bed $2.25M / $1.96M
Oatley — 3 bed: $2.25M (35 sales) Illawong — 3 bed: $1.96M (11 sales)

35 vs 11 sales

4 bed $2.54M / $1.87M
Oatley — 4 bed: $2.54M (46 sales) Illawong — 4 bed: $1.87M (24 sales)

46 vs 24 sales

5 bed $3.27M / $2.24M
Oatley — 5 bed: $3.27M (37 sales) Illawong — 5 bed: $2.24M (15 sales)

37 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Illawong has more land zoned for conservation (91% vs 2%).

Oatley Illawong
Environmental 2% 91%
Residential 70% 2%
Parks and recreation 21% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 3%
Commercial 1% 0%
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

Oatley Illawong
New dwellings approved 920
across Georges River
 1,449
across Sutherland
Approvals change year on year +91% +117%

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.

Oatley Illawong
Houses 3.1%
$1,200/wk on $2M
 3.2%
$1,250/wk on $2.05M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Oatley Illawong
House price Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Schools Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW

Liveability

Oatley is more walkable (92 vs 62); Oatley scores higher overall (88 vs 62).

Oatley Illawong
Grade A+ B
Score 88/100 62/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Illawong carries more bushfire risk (86 vs 0).

Oatley Illawong
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
86/100
Crime Low
28/100
 Low
24/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Oatley Illawong
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 8.0 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 8.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.0%

Schools in Oatley

  • Oatley West Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Oatley Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Illawong

  • Menai High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Illawong Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Tharawal Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Oatley Illawong
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 28 7
Childcare 8 4
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Illawong sits further from the CBD (35.2 km vs 28.9 km).

Oatley Illawong
Walkability score 92/100 62/100
Distance to Sydney 28.9 km 35.2 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 36 min 37 min
Public transport score 80/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 174.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2223
 1.4%
postcode 2234
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 2223
 48
postcode 2234

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.

Oatley Illawong
Worked from Home 59.6% / 46.3%
Oatley — Worked from Home: 59.6% Illawong — Worked from Home: 46.3%
Car (driver) 32.4% / 47.9%
Oatley — Car (driver): 32.4% Illawong — Car (driver): 47.9%
Train 3.4% / 2.0%
Oatley — Train: 3.4% Illawong — Train: 2.0%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 2.6%
Oatley — Car (passenger): 2.4% Illawong — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 1.7% / 0.9%
Oatley — Walked Only: 1.7% Illawong — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.6%).

Setting

Oatley Illawong
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.7 km 8.0 km

NBN connectivity

Oatley Illawong
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
4,310 premises
 1%
2,545 premises

Climate

Oatley Illawong
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm 1,038 mm
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C —
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Oatley Illawong
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Oatley Illawong
Average residential rate $1,381/yr $1,552/yr
Council Georges River Sutherland

Federal electorate

Oatley Illawong
Division Banks Hughes
Member Zhi Soon David Moncrieff
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Oatley Illawong
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Oatley

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Trains Transport Hub

Illawong

Large Blocks Outer Parks Premium Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Oatley

Oatley vs Penshurst Oatley vs Mortdale Oatley vs Lugarno Oatley vs Oyster Bay Oatley vs Como Oatley vs Connells Point

Other comparisons with Illawong

Illawong vs Menai Illawong vs Lugarno Illawong vs Bangor Illawong vs Como Illawong vs Alfords Point Illawong vs Bonnet Bay
Full data on Oatley Full data on Illawong
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