Side by sideSuburb comparison

North Wahroonga vs Hornsby.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,330,000 and $1,850,000. Hornsby edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Hornsby (median $1,850,000) is roughly 26% cheaper to buy into than North Wahroonga ($2,330,000). Over the past year, Hornsby (+3.8%) ran 18.0 percentage points ahead of North Wahroonga (-14.2%) on house-price growth.

Hornsby scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Hornsby (1126) sits above North Wahroonga (1124). North Wahroonga skews owner-occupied (92%), Hornsby runs more rental-dense (55% owner).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Hornsby is the lower entry point at $1,850,000 median, 26% 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 2.40%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.

For families

Hornsby edges out on average school ICSEA (1126 vs 1124). North Wahroonga also has a higher family-household share (89% vs 70%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.

Common questionsNorth Wahroonga vs Hornsby

Common questions

Is North Wahroonga or Hornsby cheaper to buy in?

Hornsby has the lower median house price at $1,850,000, roughly 26% below North Wahroonga ($2,330,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, North Wahroonga or Hornsby?

Over the past 12 months, Hornsby grew +3.8% vs -14.2% in North Wahroonga, a gap of 18.0 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 North Wahroonga or Hornsby have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Hornsby scores 1126 vs 1124 in North Wahroonga. 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, North Wahroonga or Hornsby?

Hornsby scores 100/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, North Wahroonga or Hornsby?

Gross rental yield on houses is 2.50% in Hornsby vs 2.40% in North 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

North Wahroonga
Metric
Hornsby

Price & Market

$2,330,000
Median house
$1,850,000
$514,800
Median unit
$372,240
-14.2%
Annual growth (house)
+3.8%
Days on market

Rental

$1075/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$890/wk
$750/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$700/wk
92.0%
Owner occupied
55.0%
6.0%
Renter occupied
43.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

0
Walk score
100
0
Transit score
90
60
Bike score
100
2,100
Population
22,462
45
Median age
38

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1124
Avg ICSEA
1126

Climate

1302 mm
Annual rainfall
1302 mm
26.0°C
Mean max (Jan)
26.0°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).