Tongarra vs Robertson

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tongarra, most households are couple families. In Robertson, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Robertson: a median of $1.2 million, against $950,000 in Tongarra, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Tongarra tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget, while Robertson suits people living alone, families with children, and older residents.

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

  • Tongarra is already more of a family suburb (90% vs 62%)
  • Robertson has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Tongarra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Tongarra

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (12% vs 26%)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $443/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Tongarra

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (112.9 km vs 143.7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (103 min vs 120 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Tongarra is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • Robertson has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Tongarra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (31.8% vs 8.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Tongarra Robertson
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.

Tongarra Robertson
Walkability 10 / 0
Tongarra — Walkability: 10/100 Robertson — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 55 / 57
Tongarra — Safety: 55/100 Robertson — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 87 / 56
Tongarra — Low fire risk: 87/100 Robertson — Low fire risk: 56/100

Demographics

Robertson has more residents (2,017 vs 141); Tongarra has higher household incomes ($158,132 vs $90,272).

Tongarra Robertson
Population 141 2,017
+1330% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +31.8% +8.2%
Median age 46 47
Median household income $158,132/yr
+43% vs other
 $90,272/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk $443/wk
+27% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tongarra Robertson
0-4 2.1% / 5.3%
Tongarra — 0-4: 2.1% Robertson — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 6.4% / 13.0%
Tongarra — 5-14: 6.4% Robertson — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 9.2% / 6.7%
Tongarra — 15-19: 9.2% Robertson — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 11.3% / 3.0%
Tongarra — 20-24: 11.3% Robertson — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 9.2% / 8.8%
Tongarra — 25-34: 9.2% Robertson — 25-34: 8.8%
35-44 10.6% / 9.9%
Tongarra — 35-44: 10.6% Robertson — 35-44: 9.9%
45-54 19.9% / 15.6%
Tongarra — 45-54: 19.9% Robertson — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 18.4% / 15.5%
Tongarra — 55-64: 18.4% Robertson — 55-64: 15.5%
65-74 8.5% / 15.4%
Tongarra — 65-74: 8.5% Robertson — 65-74: 15.4%
75-84 5.7% / 5.9%
Tongarra — 75-84: 5.7% Robertson — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ — / 1.3%
Tongarra — 85+: not among its largest Robertson — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Tongarra 72.4% couple families
Tongarra — Couple Families: 72.4% Tongarra — Lone Person: 10.3% Tongarra — One Parent Families: 17.2% Tongarra — Group Household: 0.0% Tongarra — Other Families: 0.0%
Robertson 46.4% couple families
Robertson — Couple Families: 46.4% Robertson — Lone Person: 34.1% Robertson — One Parent Families: 15.4% Robertson — Group Household: 3.1% Robertson — 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.

Tongarra 26.7% renting
Tongarra — Owned Outright: 28.9% Tongarra — Mortgage: 44.4% Tongarra — Renting: 26.7%
Robertson 14.1% renting
Robertson — Owned Outright: 47.2% Robertson — Mortgage: 38.7% Robertson — Renting: 14.1%
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.

Tongarra Robertson
England 2.1% / 5.7%
Tongarra — England: 2.1% Robertson — England: 5.7%
South Africa 4.3% / 0.8%
Tongarra — South Africa: 4.3% Robertson — South Africa: 0.8%
Scotland 4.3% / 0.8%
Tongarra — Scotland: 4.3% Robertson — Scotland: 0.8%
New Zealand — / 1.5%
Tongarra — New Zealand: not among its largest Robertson — New Zealand: 1.5%
Germany — / 0.8%
Tongarra — Germany: not among its largest Robertson — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

Qualifications

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

Tongarra Robertson
Certificate III & IV 25.5% / 17.2%
Tongarra — Certificate III & IV: 25.5% Robertson — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 17.7% / 9.6%
Tongarra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 17.7% Robertson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Bachelor Degree 9.9% / 13.3%
Tongarra — Bachelor Degree: 9.9% Robertson — Bachelor Degree: 13.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 5.1%
Tongarra — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Robertson — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.3% / 2.2%
Tongarra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.3% Robertson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tongarra 100.0% houses
Tongarra — Houses: 100.0% Tongarra — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Robertson 98.9% houses
Robertson — Houses: 98.9% Robertson — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Tongarra Robertson
Median house price $950,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,362,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 66 days
from 27 sales

Zoning mix

Tongarra has more rural and farming land (27% vs 2%); Robertson has more land zoned for conservation (94% vs 72%).

Tongarra Robertson
Environmental 72% 94%
Rural and farming 27% 2%
Residential 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
same for both
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

Tongarra Robertson
New dwellings approved 883
across Shellharbour
 335
across Wingecarribee
Approvals change year on year +25% +6%

Ranking within NSW

Tongarra Robertson
House price Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW
Income Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW

Liveability

Tongarra is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Tongarra Robertson
Grade — C
Score — 45/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Robertson carries more bushfire risk (44 vs 13).

Tongarra Robertson
Bushfire Low
13/100
 Moderate
44/100
Crime Moderate
45/100
 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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Tongarra Robertson
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Tongarra

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

Schools in Robertson

  • Robertson Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tongarra Robertson
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 0 4
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3 22

Mobility

Robertson sits further from the CBD (143.7 km vs 112.9 km).

Tongarra Robertson
Walkability score 10/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 112.9 km 143.7 km
+27% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min 120 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2527
 0.9%
postcode 2577
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 2527
 56
postcode 2577

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.

Tongarra Robertson
Car (driver) 64.6% / 60.5%
Tongarra — Car (driver): 64.6% Robertson — Car (driver): 60.5%
Worked from Home 21.5% / 30.3%
Tongarra — Worked from Home: 21.5% Robertson — Worked from Home: 30.3%
Car (passenger) 10.1% / 4.2%
Tongarra — Car (passenger): 10.1% Robertson — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 3.8% / 4.6%
Tongarra — Walked Only: 3.8% Robertson — Walked Only: 4.6%
Bicycle — / 0.4%
Tongarra — Bicycle: not among its largest Robertson — Bicycle: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.6%).

Setting

Tongarra Robertson
Elevation 138 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 684 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.1 km 23.2 km

NBN connectivity

Tongarra Robertson
Connectivity score 21/100 57/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
45 premises
 31%
981 premises

Climate

Tongarra Robertson
Annual rainfall 974 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Tongarra Robertson
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.37 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Tongarra Robertson
Average residential rate $1,788/yr $2,072/yr
Council Shellharbour Wingecarribee

Federal electorate

Tongarra Robertson
Division Whitlam
same for both
Member Carol Berry
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Tongarra Robertson
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Tongarra

Rural Students

Robertson

Acreage River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tongarra

Tongarra vs Calderwood Tongarra vs Tullimbar

Other comparisons with Robertson

Robertson vs Burrawang Robertson vs Wildes Meadow Robertson vs Barrengarry Robertson vs Kangaloon Robertson vs Upper Kangaroo River Robertson vs East Kangaloon
Full data on Tongarra Full data on Robertson
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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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