Hornsby vs Waitara
The verdict
Hornsby is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.85M versus $2.43M in Waitara. Waitara has a shorter estimated CBD commute (49 vs 52 min). On the separate residential safety score, Waitara rates higher (97 vs 88/100 in Hornsby).
Scores
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 96 |
| Transport | 95 | 94 |
| Education | 93 | 94 |
| Liveability | 100 | 100 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,462 | 7,837 |
| Median age | 38 | 36 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,952 | $2,106 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 61.8% | 69.7% |
| Born in Australia | 44.7% | 31.4% |
| Avg household size | 2.5 | 2.4 |
Growth: Hornsby High Growth · Waitara Moderate Growth
Property
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.85M | $2.43M |
| Median unit price | $723K | $746K |
| House price YoY | 5.7% | Data not available |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $830 | $830 |
| Rental yield (house) | 2.3% | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | 38 | 31 |
Median price history
Safety
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 88 | 97 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 116 | 102 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 80 | 64 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 276 | 191 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 11,593 | 2,654 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 6 | 2 |
| Government | 4 | 0 |
| Independent | 2 | 1 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,124 | 1,150 |
Transport
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 95 | 94 |
| Train stations | 2 | 1 |
| Bus stops | 114 | 9 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 52 | 49 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 600 m | 200 m |
Liveability
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 25.5°C | 25.5°C |
| Winter max temp | 16.5°C | 16.5°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,300 | 1,300 |
| Supermarkets | 9 | 1 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 49 | 6 |
| Parks | 18 | 5 |
| Playgrounds | 14 | 4 |
| Swimming pools | 92 | 16 |
| Medical GPs | 15 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 16.4 km | 15.9 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 22.0 km | 20.5 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 1.6 km | 940 m |
Population & growth
| Hornsby | Waitara | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 22,462 | 7,837 |
| Estimated 2025 | 22,833 | 8,266 |
| Projected 2041 | 31,230 | 8,680 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.41% | 1.34% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Hornsby or Waitara?
Waitara has the higher residential safety score (Hornsby 88/100 vs Waitara 97/100).
Which is more affordable, Hornsby or Waitara?
Hornsby is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.85M versus $2.43M.
Which has better schools, Hornsby or Waitara?
Waitara has a higher average school ICSEA (Hornsby 1124 vs Waitara 1150; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Hornsby or Waitara?
Hornsby has the higher transport score (Hornsby 95/100 vs Waitara 94/100).
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