Wahroonga vs Waitara

Waitara is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 44 in Wahroonga. In Wahroonga, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In Waitara, about half of households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wahroonga: a median of $2.77 million, against $2 million in Waitara, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wahroonga tends to suit couples and older residents, while Waitara suits renters, people living alone, 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

Wahroonga

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (31 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 9%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Waitara

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($780,000 vs $1,172,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,997,500 vs $2,770,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Waitara

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (51% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($490/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Waitara

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 86/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Wahroonga

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 13%)
  • carries lower crime risk (25/100 vs 35/100)
  • But Waitara has more units and townhouses to downsize into (91% vs 26%)

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

Investors

Waitara

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (31.9% vs 2.8%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wahroonga Waitara
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.

Wahroonga Waitara
Walkability 86 / 96
Wahroonga — Walkability: 86/100 Waitara — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 75 / 65
Wahroonga — Safety: 75/100 Waitara — Safety: 65/100
Low fire risk 44 / 100
Wahroonga — Low fire risk: 44/100 Waitara — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wahroonga has more residents (17,853 vs 7,837); Wahroonga has higher household incomes ($155,896 vs $109,512).

Wahroonga Waitara
Population 17,853
+56% vs other
 7,837
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +31.9%
Median age 44 36
Median household income $155,896/yr
+30% vs other
 $109,512/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+18% vs other
 $490/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wahroonga Waitara
0-4 4.5% / 7.7%
Wahroonga — 0-4: 4.5% Waitara — 0-4: 7.7%
5-14 14.2% / 13.6%
Wahroonga — 5-14: 14.2% Waitara — 5-14: 13.6%
15-19 7.6% / 2.8%
Wahroonga — 15-19: 7.6% Waitara — 15-19: 2.8%
20-24 5.4% / 3.5%
Wahroonga — 20-24: 5.4% Waitara — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 6.6% / 16.2%
Wahroonga — 25-34: 6.6% Waitara — 25-34: 16.2%
35-44 12.6% / 26.0%
Wahroonga — 35-44: 12.6% Waitara — 35-44: 26.0%
45-54 15.1% / 9.9%
Wahroonga — 45-54: 15.1% Waitara — 45-54: 9.9%
55-64 11.7% / 7.0%
Wahroonga — 55-64: 11.7% Waitara — 55-64: 7.0%
65-74 9.3% / 6.4%
Wahroonga — 65-74: 9.3% Waitara — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 7.6% / 4.2%
Wahroonga — 75-84: 7.6% Waitara — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 5.3% / 2.4%
Wahroonga — 85+: 5.3% Waitara — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wahroonga 62.6% couple families
Wahroonga — Couple Families: 62.6% Wahroonga — Lone Person: 22.7% Wahroonga — One Parent Families: 12.0% Wahroonga — Group Household: 1.8% Wahroonga — Other Families: 0.9%
Waitara 48.1% couple families
Waitara — Couple Families: 48.1% Waitara — Lone Person: 34.9% Waitara — One Parent Families: 12.3% Waitara — Group Household: 3.0% Waitara — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wahroonga 18.6% renting
Wahroonga — Owned Outright: 40.1% Wahroonga — Mortgage: 41.3% Wahroonga — Renting: 18.6%
Waitara 51.3% renting
Waitara — Owned Outright: 18.9% Waitara — Mortgage: 29.9% Waitara — Renting: 51.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wahroonga Waitara
Bachelor Degree 25.1% / 26.6%
Wahroonga — Bachelor Degree: 25.1% Waitara — Bachelor Degree: 26.6%
Postgraduate Degree 12.7% / 15.6%
Wahroonga — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7% Waitara — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 7.1%
Wahroonga — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Waitara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 4.5% / 4.6%
Wahroonga — Certificate III & IV: 4.5% Waitara — Certificate III & IV: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.4%
Wahroonga — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Waitara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.6%).

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.

Wahroonga Waitara
China 8.2% / 14.7%
Wahroonga — China: 8.2% Waitara — China: 14.7%
India 2.9% / 16.2%
Wahroonga — India: 2.9% Waitara — India: 16.2%
England 4.9% / 1.9%
Wahroonga — England: 4.9% Waitara — England: 1.9%
Iran 1.2% / 3.4%
Wahroonga — Iran: 1.2% Waitara — Iran: 3.4%
Philippines — / 3.5%
Wahroonga — Philippines: not among its largest Waitara — Philippines: 3.5%
Nepal — / 3.1%
Wahroonga — Nepal: not among its largest Waitara — Nepal: 3.1%
South Africa 2.6% / —
Wahroonga — South Africa: 2.6% Waitara — South Africa: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.7% / —
Wahroonga — New Zealand: 1.7% Waitara — New Zealand: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wahroonga 19.8% flats / apartments
Wahroonga — Flats / Apartments: 19.8% Wahroonga — Houses: 74.5% Wahroonga — Townhouses: 5.7%
Waitara 89.5% flats / apartments
Waitara — Flats / Apartments: 89.5% Waitara — Houses: 8.8% Waitara — Townhouses: 1.7%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Wahroonga Waitara
Median house price $2,770,000 $1,997,500
Median unit price $1,172,500 $780,000
Median land price $1,457,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 201 sales
 27 days
from 17 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Wahroonga Waitara
2 bed $850K / $790K
Wahroonga — 2 bed: $850K (23 sales) Waitara — 2 bed: $790K (135 sales)

23 vs 135 sales

3 bed $1.38M / $1.13M
Wahroonga — 3 bed: $1.38M (29 sales) Waitara — 3 bed: $1.13M (17 sales)

29 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Wahroonga has more land zoned for conservation (27% vs 0%).

Wahroonga Waitara
Residential 63% 74%
Environmental 27% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 10%
Industrial 0% 8%
Parks and recreation 2% 6%
Commercial 1% 2%
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

Wahroonga Waitara
New dwellings approved 908
across Ku-ring-gai
 260
across Hornsby
Approvals change year on year +0% -79%

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.

Wahroonga Waitara
Houses 2.6%
$1,395/wk on $2.77M
 —
Units 5.0%
$728/wk on $755K
 5.4%
$728/wk on $700K

Ranking within NSW

Wahroonga Waitara
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Schools Higher than 60% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW

Liveability

Waitara scores higher overall (85 vs 74); Waitara is more walkable (96 vs 86).

Wahroonga Waitara
Grade A
same for both
Score 74/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Wahroonga carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0); Waitara carries more crime risk (35 vs 25).

Wahroonga Waitara
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
25/100
 Low
35/100
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

Wahroonga Waitara
Inside the suburb 15 2
Rated above peers 4 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 6.6 km
 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 8.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.4% 2.0%

Schools in Wahroonga

  • Abbotsleigh Independent · Combined above peers
  • Knox Grammar Preparatory School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Wahroonga Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Waitara Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Wahroonga Adventist School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Broken Bay Cross Campus Course Centre Catholic · Secondary below peers

Schools in Waitara

  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Barker College Junior School Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Wahroonga Waitara
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 13 6
Parks & reserves 31 2
Childcare 17 8
GPs 6 1
Pharmacies 5 0
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 28 0

Mobility

Wahroonga Waitara
Walkability score 86/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 24.5 km 26.2 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 31 min 34 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 323.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 40.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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.

Wahroonga Waitara
Worked from Home 60.5% / 57.3%
Wahroonga — Worked from Home: 60.5% Waitara — Worked from Home: 57.3%
Car (driver) 30.1% / 24.2%
Wahroonga — Car (driver): 30.1% Waitara — Car (driver): 24.2%
Train 3.6% / 11.0%
Wahroonga — Train: 3.6% Waitara — Train: 11.0%
Walked Only 2.5% / 4.9%
Wahroonga — Walked Only: 2.5% Waitara — Walked Only: 4.9%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.2%
Wahroonga — Car (passenger): 2.8% Waitara — Car (passenger): 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.5%).

Setting

Wahroonga Waitara
Elevation 185 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 179 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.7 km 17.2 km

NBN connectivity

Wahroonga Waitara
Connectivity score 74/100 71/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
7,074 premises
 14%
3,838 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Wahroonga Waitara
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

Wahroonga Waitara
Average residential rate $1,626/yr $1,488/yr
Council Ku-ring-gai Hornsby

Federal electorate

Wahroonga Waitara
Division Bradfield Berowra
Member Nicolette Boele Julian Leeser
Party Independent Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Wahroonga Waitara
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wahroonga

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub

Waitara

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wahroonga

Wahroonga vs Hornsby Wahroonga vs Turramurra Wahroonga vs Thornleigh Wahroonga vs Pennant Hills Wahroonga vs Normanhurst Wahroonga vs North Turramurra

Other comparisons with Waitara

Waitara vs Hornsby
Full data on Wahroonga Full data on Waitara
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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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