Moving to Hornsby NSW 2077
What the official numbers say about living in Hornsby — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $440 a week, against a median household income of $1,952 a week.
About 55% of homes are owner-occupied and 44% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the apartment.
Who you'll be living with
Hornsby grew 14% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (19,723 → 22,462 people).
Around 70% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: China, India, Nepal; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Cantonese, Nepali.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Hornsby sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (36% of workers), while 49% work from home.
Nearest train station: Hornsby, 350 m south-west.
Nearest metro station: Cherrybrook, 7.5 km south-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Hillsbus Dural Depot, 6.4 km west.
Nearest airport: Rose Bay Seaplane Base, 24.1 km south-east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 21 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 35 schools · 67 cafes & restaurants · 13 supermarkets · 38 parks — see them all on the Hornsby profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Hornsby Girls High School 650 m · Hornsby High School 950 m · Barker College 1.1 km · Waitara Public School 1.3 km · Clarke Road School 1.3 km · Barker College Prepatory School 1.5 km · Hornsby South Public School 1.5 km · Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic Primary School 1.5 km
Groceries: Coles 300 m · Hornsby Mart 300 m · Hornsby Health Food Products and Video 300 m · Hornsby indian Bazaar 350 m · Hao De 400 m · Woolworths 450 m · Aldi 450 m · Tongli 500 m
Parks and reserves: Beatrice Thompson Park 300 m · Hornsby Park 400 m · Cenotaph Park 400 m · Holman Park 600 m · Willow Park 700 m · Orara Park 800 m · Crusher Plant 900 m · Lessing Park 900 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Hornsby, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Noisy Miner · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Magpie · Grey Butcherbird.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Hornsby, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornsby here | 22,462 | — | 9/10 | 39% |
| Waitara | 7,837 | — | 10/10 | 11% |
| Asquith | 6,160 | — | 10/10 | 46% |
| Normanhurst | 5,387 | — | 10/10 | 33% |
| Wahroonga | 17,853 | — | 10/10 | 40% |
| North Wahroonga | 2,100 | — | 10/10 | 72% |
| Thornleigh | 8,898 | — | 10/10 | 33% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Hornsby — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Bradfield — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2077 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Hornsby profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $440 a week, and about 44% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 14% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 19,723 people to 22,462. It sits about 21 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Hornsby station is roughly 0.4 km away. Local government is Hornsby council, and the federal seat is Bradfield.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Hornsby vs Waitara · Hornsby vs Wahroonga.
Nearby guides: Waitara · Asquith · Normanhurst · Wahroonga · North Wahroonga · Thornleigh.
Keep an eye on Hornsby
One email when this data meaningfully changes — new census figures, prices, rankings. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.