Median house price
$905k
+11% change
NSW · Wollongong Council
Horsley, 2530
Est. population · Jun 2025
11,462
Growth (1 yr)
+4.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+31.5%
Median age
36
Median income
$2,164/wk
Employment rate
66.1%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$905,000
Languages at home
12.3%non-English
Most common: Macedonian, Italian, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Horsley is a practical established suburb in Wollongong Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with family life visible on every street.
Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer schools and education, plus safety compared with similar metro suburbs, though community and employment, plus growth momentum remain brighter spots.
At a glance
Horsley snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$700/wk
Houses $730 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
11,462
+4.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
1.5%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#112
among Metro Sydney · Growth area
Safety
30th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
98th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
42nd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 50.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2165th in Australia
- State rank
- 648th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #112 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #470 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $730
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 156
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $905,000
- Median price change
- +10.5%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
11,462(June 2025)
+4.6% annual · +31.5% over 5 years · 98th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +4.6%
- 5-year growth
- +31.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +506
- Change in 5 years
- +2,745
- Growth rank in NSW
- 98th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~14,400), extrapolated at +4.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 9,437
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $2,164
- Dwelling vacancy
- 1.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 47 of 3,109
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 66.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,924 / 127 / 10
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 569
- Against the person
- 154
- Against property
- 219
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 49.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 61 residents
- State safety percentile
- 29.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.2%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order123
- Domestic Violence Related Assault129
- Fraud127
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment174
- Malicious Damage To Property153
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 987
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 42th
School list
- Dapto Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1006 · 50th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 790 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Dapto High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 968 · 33th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 988 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Sierra VIllage Early Learning CentreBong Bong Roadkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
140 public transport stops in this suburb
- Bong Bong Rd Opp Horsley Dr
- Bong Bong Rd Opp Parkdale Av
- Denham Dr At Timms Pl
- Reed Park, Bong Bong Rd
- Throsby Av Before Lucas Dr
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
84 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 supermarkets · 7 playgrounds · 8 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Great for outdoor family life — 11 parks mapped in suburb, 7 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 140 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 16 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 57/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.11
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.11
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.17
Food & drink(1)
- Two Nine FiveCafe
Unit 1 84 Bong Bong Road, Horsley
Shopping(1)
- Horsely Convenience CentreSupermarket
Unit 2 84 Bong Bong Road, Horsley
Community(3)
- Horsley Community CentreCommunity centre
- Sierra VIllage Early Learning CentreKindergarten
97 Bong Bong Road, Horsley
- Dapto Primary SchoolSchool
48-66 Sierra Drive, Horsley
Sport & outdoors(26)
- Dimond Brothers ParkPark
- Gerringulli ParkPark
- Horsley Drive ParkPark
- Karrara ParkPark
- Park (5)
- Reed ParkPark
- Gerringulli PlaygroundPlayground
- Playground (6)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (8)
Transport(41)
41 bus stops
Other(7)
- Horsley CellarsAlcohol
Unit 1 84 Bong Bong Road, Horsley
- Wollongong CouncilFitness Station
- Tinka HairHairdresser
Unit 9 84 Bong Bong Road, Horsley
- Parking (6)
- Shelter
- HammondCare At HomeSocial Facility
- Dimond Brothers Local TrackTrack
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
6 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Dimond Brothers ParkPark
- Emu ParkPark
- Gerringulli ParkPark
- Horsley Drive ParkPark
- Karrara ParkPark
- Reed ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 15
- Parks (OSM)
- 11
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Figtree Private Hospital (8.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 455
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 39.7
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 21 proposals
August 2026
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia19 KARARA AVENUE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
July 2026
- Centre-based child care; Hours of operation and trading40 ESCARPMENT PLACE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool38 BONG BONG ROAD HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
- Subdivision21 BARHAM PLACE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 OMAROO PLACE HORSLEY 2530Determined
May 2026
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Bee keeping21 BARHAM PLACE HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
April 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 BARLYN COURT HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 HOPBUSH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool34 ACLAND DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision18 SUNDEW STREET HORSLEY 2530Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure11 EUODIA STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 AMANDA PLACE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development14 BRINDABELLA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision144 HORSLEY DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Additional Information Requested
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 HONEYCOMB STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool64 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure66 HONEYCOMB STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 WARRIGAL STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WOLLONYUH CRESCENT HORSLEY 2530Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 AYSHIRE STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development17 ALKIRA CIRCUIT HORSLEY 2530Determined
2025· 21 proposals
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure7 HOPBUSH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool5 PAROO STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah10 HOMESTEAD DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool49 ACLAND DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure37 MALLON AVENUE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation305 BONG BONG ROAD HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WOLLONYUH CRESCENT HORSLEY 2530Determined
July 2025
- Subdivision2 LUKE PLACE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 SIERRA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure64 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces5 PAROO STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space31 BRINDABELLA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 WARRIGAL STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
June 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation61 SIERRA DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)13 GREYLEIGH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)54 GREENVIEW DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
April 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling9 GREYLEIGH STREET HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Air-conditioning units; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Hot water systems; Letterboxes; Rainwater tanks29 BLUEGUM STREET HORSLEY 2530Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Landscaping structures64 Shone Avenue and 20 Iredell Road, HorsleyDetermined
March 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure24 PASTURE WAY HORSLEY 2530Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 ROBINS CREEK DRIVE HORSLEY 2530Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Horsley HomesteadBong Bong Road, DaptoSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Whitlam
- Member of Parliament
- Carol BERRY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 130,093
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -2.1 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 43.8%Labor 56.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.7 km away).
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
5.2 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -3.6 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- HorsleyLabor 61.3% · Coalition 38.7% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- Horsley SouthLabor 62.3% · Coalition 37.7% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
- DaptoLabor 59.4% · Coalition 40.6% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- Dapto EastLabor 66.8% · Coalition 33.2% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- BrownsvilleLabor 57.5% · Coalition 42.5% TPP (2025)2.7 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Wollongong Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.