Hornsby vs Wahroonga.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,850,000 and $2,990,000. Hornsby edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Hornsby (median $1,850,000) is roughly 38% cheaper to buy into than Wahroonga ($2,990,000). Over the past year, Hornsby (+3.8%) ran 0.7 percentage points ahead of Wahroonga (+3.1%) on house-price growth.
Hornsby scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 50/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Wahroonga (1143) sits above Hornsby (1126). Wahroonga skews owner-occupied (78%), Hornsby runs more rental-dense (55% owner).
For buyers
Hornsby is the lower entry point at $1,850,000 median, 38% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Hornsby carries both higher gross yield (2.50% vs 1.87%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Wahroonga edges out on average school ICSEA (1143 vs 1126). Wahroonga also has a higher family-household share (82% vs 70%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Hornsby or Wahroonga cheaper to buy in?
Hornsby has the lower median house price at $1,850,000, roughly 38% below Wahroonga ($2,990,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Hornsby or Wahroonga?
Over the past 12 months, Hornsby grew +3.8% vs +3.1% in Wahroonga, a gap of 0.7 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Hornsby or Wahroonga have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Wahroonga scores 1143 vs 1126 in Hornsby. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Hornsby or Wahroonga?
Hornsby scores 100/100 on walkability vs 50/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Hornsby or Wahroonga?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.50% in Hornsby vs 1.87% in Wahroonga. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Hornsby against another suburb