Moving to Helensburgh NSW 2508
What the official numbers say about living in Helensburgh — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $535 a week, against a median household income of $2,490 a week.
About 84% of homes are owner-occupied and 15% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Helensburgh grew 10% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (5,996 → 6,576 people).
Around 84% of households are families, averaging 2.9 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, German, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Helensburgh sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (56% of workers), while 40% work from home.
Nearest train station: Helensburgh, 1.8 km north-east.
Nearest airport: Bankstown Airport, 29.5 km north.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 41 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 4 schools · 1 cafe or restaurant · 1 supermarket · 4 parks · 2 beaches — see them all on the Helensburgh profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Holy Cross Catholic Parish Primary School 550 m · Helensburgh Public School 800 m · Otford Public School 2.9 km · Stanwell Park Public School 4.3 km
Groceries: Coles 200 m
Parks and reserves: Charles Harper Park 250 m · Old Quarry Park 900 m · Norm O'Brien Park 1.4 km · Otford Park 2.8 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Helensburgh, most often seen first: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Little Wattlebird · Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Magpie · Crimson Rosella · Lewin's Honeyeater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Helensburgh, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helensburgh here | 6,576 | — | 9/10 | 67% |
| Stanwell Park | 1,532 | — | 10/10 | 67% |
| Coledale | 1,372 | — | 10/10 | 59% |
| Heathcote | 6,148 | — | 9/10 | 76% |
| Austinmer | 2,725 | — | 10/10 | 62% |
| Engadine | 17,736 | — | 9/10 | 44% |
| Thirroul | 6,348 | — | 10/10 | 51% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Wollongong — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Cunningham — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2508 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Helensburgh profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $535 a week, and about 15% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 10% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 5,996 people to 6,576. It sits about 41 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Helensburgh station is roughly 1.8 km away. Local government is Wollongong council, and the federal seat is Cunningham.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Helensburgh vs Heathcote.
Nearby guides: Stanwell Park · Coledale · Heathcote · Austinmer · Engadine · Thirroul.
Keep an eye on Helensburgh
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