Waterfall vs Helensburgh

Helensburgh is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Waterfall. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Waterfall is closer to the city centre: 43.8 km, against 57.2 km.

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

Helensburgh

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 89/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 3)
  • But Waterfall has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 82%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Waterfall

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (43.8 km vs 57.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (51 min vs 63 min)
  • But Helensburgh is more walkable (58/100 vs 36/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Helensburgh

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 6%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 89/100)

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

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

Waterfall Helensburgh
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.

Waterfall Helensburgh
Walkability 36 / 58
Waterfall — Walkability: 36/100 Helensburgh — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 11 / 63
Waterfall — Safety: 11/100 Helensburgh — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 9 / 9
Waterfall — Low fire risk: 9/100 Helensburgh — Low fire risk: 9/100

Demographics

Helensburgh has more residents (6,576 vs 522); Helensburgh has higher household incomes ($129,480 vs $116,064).

Waterfall Helensburgh
Population 522 6,576
+1160% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +3.0%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $116,064/yr $129,480/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $515/wk $535/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Waterfall Helensburgh
0-4 6.3% / 7.7%
Waterfall — 0-4: 6.3% Helensburgh — 0-4: 7.7%
5-14 15.1% / 14.8%
Waterfall — 5-14: 15.1% Helensburgh — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 7.5% / 6.6%
Waterfall — 15-19: 7.5% Helensburgh — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 7.3% / 5.8%
Waterfall — 20-24: 7.3% Helensburgh — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 8.0% / 11.3%
Waterfall — 25-34: 8.0% Helensburgh — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 12.1% / 14.7%
Waterfall — 35-44: 12.1% Helensburgh — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 18.6% / 14.2%
Waterfall — 45-54: 18.6% Helensburgh — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 10.0% / 12.3%
Waterfall — 55-64: 10.0% Helensburgh — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 10.3% / 7.6%
Waterfall — 65-74: 10.3% Helensburgh — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 4.6% / 4.0%
Waterfall — 75-84: 4.6% Helensburgh — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 1.3% / 1.2%
Waterfall — 85+: 1.3% Helensburgh — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Waterfall 56.0% couple families
Waterfall — Couple Families: 56.0% Waterfall — Lone Person: 21.6% Waterfall — One Parent Families: 20.1% Waterfall — Group Household: 2.2% Waterfall — Other Families: 0.0%
Helensburgh 64.6% couple families
Helensburgh — Couple Families: 64.6% Helensburgh — Lone Person: 19.2% Helensburgh — One Parent Families: 13.9% Helensburgh — Group Household: 1.5% Helensburgh — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Waterfall 14.5% renting
Waterfall — Owned Outright: 37.6% Waterfall — Mortgage: 47.9% Waterfall — Renting: 14.5%
Helensburgh 15.1% renting
Helensburgh — Owned Outright: 31.0% Helensburgh — Mortgage: 53.9% Helensburgh — Renting: 15.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Waterfall Helensburgh
Certificate III & IV 19.9% / 18.6%
Waterfall — Certificate III & IV: 19.9% Helensburgh — Certificate III & IV: 18.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.0% / 12.0%
Waterfall — Bachelor Degree: 10.0% Helensburgh — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.9%
Waterfall — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Helensburgh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 3.9%
Waterfall — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Helensburgh — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 2.0%
Waterfall — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Helensburgh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

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

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.

Waterfall Helensburgh
England 2.9% / 4.5%
Waterfall — England: 2.9% Helensburgh — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.1%
Waterfall — New Zealand: 1.5% Helensburgh — New Zealand: 1.1%
Philippines 2.5% / —
Waterfall — Philippines: 2.5% Helensburgh — Philippines: not among its largest
India 1.1% / 0.4%
Waterfall — India: 1.1% Helensburgh — India: 0.4%
Malaysia 0.6% / —
Waterfall — Malaysia: 0.6% Helensburgh — Malaysia: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.6%
Waterfall — Scotland: not among its largest Helensburgh — Scotland: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.4%
Waterfall — South Africa: not among its largest Helensburgh — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Waterfall 94.2% houses
Waterfall — Houses: 94.2% Waterfall — Flats / Apartments: 5.8% Waterfall — Townhouses: 0.0%
Helensburgh 82.2% houses
Helensburgh — Houses: 82.2% Helensburgh — Flats / Apartments: 14.9% Helensburgh — Townhouses: 2.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Waterfall Helensburgh
Median house price $1,330,000 $1,400,000
Median unit price — $790,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 7 sales
 24 days
from 39 sales

Zoning mix

Waterfall has more land zoned for conservation (94% vs 67%).

Waterfall Helensburgh
Environmental 94% 67%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 14%
Residential 0% 11%
Rural and farming 0% 5%
Parks and recreation 2%
same for both
Industrial 0% 1%
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

Waterfall Helensburgh
New dwellings approved 1,449
across Sutherland
 1,476
across Wollongong
Approvals change year on year +117% -31%

Ranking within NSW

Waterfall Helensburgh
House price Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Income Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW

Liveability

Helensburgh is more walkable (58 vs 36); Helensburgh scores higher overall (49 vs 37).

Waterfall Helensburgh
Grade C B
Score 37/100 49/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Waterfall carries more crime risk (89 vs 37).

Waterfall Helensburgh
Bushfire High
91/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 Low
37/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Waterfall Helensburgh
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Waterfall

  • Waterfall Public School Government · Primary

Schools in Helensburgh

  • Helensburgh Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Waterfall Helensburgh
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 3 7
Childcare 1 6
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 14 30

Mobility

Helensburgh sits further from the CBD (57.2 km vs 43.8 km).

Waterfall Helensburgh
Walkability score 36/100 58/100
Distance to Sydney 43.8 km 57.2 km
+31% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 51 min 63 min
Public transport score 50/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 8.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 7 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2233
 1.2%
postcode 2508
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 2233
 43
postcode 2508

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.

Waterfall Helensburgh
Car (driver) 53.6% / 52.9%
Waterfall — Car (driver): 53.6% Helensburgh — Car (driver): 52.9%
Worked from Home 32.1% / 39.3%
Waterfall — Worked from Home: 32.1% Helensburgh — Worked from Home: 39.3%
Train 7.6% / 2.7%
Waterfall — Train: 7.6% Helensburgh — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 3.6% / 2.3%
Waterfall — Walked Only: 3.6% Helensburgh — Walked Only: 2.3%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 2.5%
Waterfall — Car (passenger): 3.1% Helensburgh — Car (passenger): 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.6%).

Setting

Waterfall Helensburgh
Elevation 231 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 242 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.2 km 4.2 km
4.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Waterfall Helensburgh
Connectivity score 75/100 72/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
179 premises
 38%
2,526 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Waterfall Helensburgh
PM2.5 5.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.97 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Waterfall Helensburgh
Average residential rate $1,552/yr $1,751/yr
Council Sutherland Wollongong

Federal electorate

Waterfall Helensburgh
Division Hughes Cunningham
Member David Moncrieff Alison Byrnes
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Waterfall Helensburgh
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Waterfall

Acreage Outer River Trains

Helensburgh

Family Outer River

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Full data on Waterfall Full data on Helensburgh
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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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