Mount Keira vs West Wollongong.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,183,504 and $1,159,000. West Wollongong edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
West Wollongong (median $1,159,000) is roughly 2% cheaper to buy into than Mount Keira ($1,183,504). Over the past year, West Wollongong (+11.7%) ran 9.2 percentage points ahead of Mount Keira (+2.5%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Mount Keira (1067) sits above West Wollongong (1061). Mount Keira skews owner-occupied (83%), West Wollongong runs more rental-dense (62% owner).
For buyers
West Wollongong is the lower entry point at $1,159,000 median, 2% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
West Wollongong carries both higher gross yield (3.36% vs 3.30%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Mount Keira edges out on average school ICSEA (1067 vs 1061). Mount Keira also has a higher family-household share (80% vs 65%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Mount Keira or West Wollongong cheaper to buy in?
West Wollongong has the lower median house price at $1,159,000, roughly 2% below Mount Keira ($1,183,504). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Mount Keira or West Wollongong?
Over the past 12 months, West Wollongong grew +11.7% vs +2.5% in Mount Keira, a gap of 9.2 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 Mount Keira or West Wollongong have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Mount Keira scores 1067 vs 1061 in West Wollongong. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Mount Keira or West Wollongong?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.36% in West Wollongong vs 3.30% in Mount Keira. 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 Mount Keira against another suburb