Towradgi vs Fernhill

Towradgi is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Fernhill. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Towradgi, most households own their home. In Fernhill, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Towradgi: a median of $1.43 million, against $1.29 million in Fernhill, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Fernhill tends to suit renters.

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

Towradgi

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Towradgi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($575,000 vs $940,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (34% vs 45%)
  • But Fernhill has cheaper houses ($1,292,500 vs $1,430,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fernhill

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($190/wk vs $350/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 33%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fernhill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fernhill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Towradgi carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 80/100)

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

Where they sit

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

Towradgi Fernhill
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.

Towradgi Fernhill
Walkability 72 / 81
Towradgi — Walkability: 72/100 Fernhill — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 35 / 20
Towradgi — Safety: 35/100 Fernhill — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Towradgi — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fernhill — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Towradgi has more residents (3,241 vs 987); Towradgi rents higher ($350/wk vs $190/wk).

Towradgi Fernhill
Population 3,241
+70% vs other
 987
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% —
Median age 42 45
Median household income $81,744/yr
+30% vs other
 $57,564/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+46% vs other
 $190/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Towradgi Fernhill
0-4 4.8% / 6.7%
Towradgi — 0-4: 4.8% Fernhill — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 10.5% / 9.4%
Towradgi — 5-14: 10.5% Fernhill — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 6.5% / 5.3%
Towradgi — 15-19: 6.5% Fernhill — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 7.0% / 6.4%
Towradgi — 20-24: 7.0% Fernhill — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 11.9% / 9.8%
Towradgi — 25-34: 11.9% Fernhill — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 11.6% / 12.0%
Towradgi — 35-44: 11.6% Fernhill — 35-44: 12.0%
45-54 13.1% / 12.4%
Towradgi — 45-54: 13.1% Fernhill — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 13.7% / 12.6%
Towradgi — 55-64: 13.7% Fernhill — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 10.2% / 15.3%
Towradgi — 65-74: 10.2% Fernhill — 65-74: 15.3%
75-84 7.4% / 8.5%
Towradgi — 75-84: 7.4% Fernhill — 75-84: 8.5%
85+ 2.7% / 2.6%
Towradgi — 85+: 2.7% Fernhill — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Towradgi 40.3% lone person
Towradgi — Lone Person: 40.3% Towradgi — Couple Families: 37.6% Towradgi — One Parent Families: 13.8% Towradgi — Group Household: 7.0% Towradgi — Other Families: 1.2%
Fernhill 46.7% lone person
Fernhill — Lone Person: 46.7% Fernhill — Couple Families: 27.8% Fernhill — One Parent Families: 19.5% Fernhill — Group Household: 4.2% Fernhill — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Towradgi 33.2% renting
Towradgi — Owned Outright: 37.6% Towradgi — Mortgage: 29.2% Towradgi — Renting: 33.2%
Fernhill 52.4% renting
Fernhill — Owned Outright: 25.1% Fernhill — Mortgage: 22.6% Fernhill — Renting: 52.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Towradgi Fernhill
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 16.1%
Towradgi — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Fernhill — Certificate III & IV: 16.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.9% / 10.2%
Towradgi — Bachelor Degree: 12.9% Fernhill — Bachelor Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 7.0%
Towradgi — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Fernhill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 4.3%
Towradgi — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Fernhill — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.9%
Towradgi — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Fernhill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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.

Towradgi Fernhill
England 4.1% / 3.5%
Towradgi — England: 4.1% Fernhill — England: 3.5%
Italy 2.3% / 1.9%
Towradgi — Italy: 2.3% Fernhill — Italy: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.9%
Towradgi — New Zealand: 0.8% Fernhill — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.9%
Towradgi — Scotland: 0.6% Fernhill — Scotland: 0.9%
Philippines 0.6% / 0.6%
Towradgi — Philippines: 0.6% Fernhill — Philippines: 0.6%
India — / 0.9%
Towradgi — India: not among its largest Fernhill — India: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Towradgi 72.1% houses
Towradgi — Houses: 72.1% Towradgi — Townhouses: 21.0% Towradgi — Flats / Apartments: 6.9%
Fernhill 65.1% houses
Fernhill — Houses: 65.1% Fernhill — Townhouses: 23.8% Fernhill — Flats / Apartments: 11.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Towradgi Fernhill
Median house price $1,430,000 $1,292,500
Median unit price $575,000 $940,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 13 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.

Towradgi Fernhill
3 bed $1.36M / $1.2M
Towradgi — 3 bed: $1.36M (16 sales) Fernhill — 3 bed: $1.2M (9 sales)

16 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.7M / $1.41M
Towradgi — 4 bed: $1.7M (12 sales) Fernhill — 4 bed: $1.41M (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Fernhill has more industrially zoned land (12% vs 0%).

Towradgi Fernhill
Residential 65% 84%
Parks and recreation 26% 4%
Industrial 0% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 1%
Planning zones cover 98% of Towradgi and 100% of Fernhill. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Towradgi Fernhill
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.

Towradgi Fernhill
Houses 3.2%
$1,050/wk on $1.71M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Towradgi Fernhill
House price Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Income Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 30% of NSW —

Liveability

Towradgi scores higher overall (61 vs 51); Fernhill is more walkable (81 vs 72).

Towradgi Fernhill
Grade B
same for both
Score 61/100 51/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Fernhill carries more crime risk (80 vs 65).

Towradgi Fernhill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
80/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
29/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Towradgi Fernhill
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UOW Wollongong, 5.0 km
 1
UOW Wollongong, 4.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 2.1%

Schools in Towradgi

  • Wollongong Flexible School Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers

Schools in Fernhill

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

Amenities in the suburb

Towradgi Fernhill
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 2 0
GPs 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Towradgi Fernhill
Walkability score 72/100 81/100
Distance to Sydney 78.2 km 78.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 79 min 81 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 42/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 40.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 9.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 2518
 1.3%
postcode 2519
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2518
 30
postcode 2519

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.

Towradgi Fernhill
Car (driver) 60.6% / 57.1%
Towradgi — Car (driver): 60.6% Fernhill — Car (driver): 57.1%
Worked from Home 30.8% / 34.4%
Towradgi — Worked from Home: 30.8% Fernhill — Worked from Home: 34.4%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 2.7%
Towradgi — Car (passenger): 3.8% Fernhill — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Train 1.8% / 1.7%
Towradgi — Train: 1.8% Fernhill — Train: 1.7%
Walked Only 0.8% / 2.7%
Towradgi — Walked Only: 0.8% Fernhill — Walked Only: 2.7%
Bicycle 1.3% / 1.4%
Towradgi — Bicycle: 1.3% Fernhill — Bicycle: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.6%).

Setting

Towradgi Fernhill
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 776 m
1.5 km to a named beach
 2.0 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Towradgi Fernhill
Connectivity score 75/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
1,638 premises
 100%
508 premises

Climate

Towradgi Fernhill
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Towradgi Fernhill
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

Towradgi Fernhill
Average residential rate $1,751/yr
same for both
Council Wollongong
same for both

Federal electorate

Towradgi Fernhill
Division Cunningham
same for both
Member Alison Byrnes
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Towradgi Fernhill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Towradgi

Coastal Townhouses

Fernhill

Coastal Parks Quiet Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Towradgi

Towradgi vs Fairy Meadow Towradgi vs Corrimal Towradgi vs East Corrimal

Other comparisons with Fernhill

Fernhill vs Fairy Meadow Fernhill vs Corrimal Fernhill vs Balgownie Fernhill vs Tarrawanna
Full data on Towradgi Full data on Fernhill
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.

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