Moving to Katoomba NSW 2780
What the official numbers say about living in Katoomba — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $350 a week, against a median household income of $1,171 a week.
About 65% of homes are owner-occupied and 34% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Katoomba grew 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (8,016 → 8,268 people).
Around 55% of households are families, averaging 2.1 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Germany; most spoken languages besides English: Vietnamese, German, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Katoomba sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (50% of workers), while 40% work from home.
Nearest train station: Katoomba, 50 m north-east.
Nearest airport: Western Sydney International Airport, 41.9 km south-east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 85 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 76 cafes & restaurants · 6 supermarkets · 17 parks — see them all on the Katoomba profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Canice's Catholic Primary School 450 m · Katoomba Public School 800 m · Katoomba North Public School 1.5 km · Katoomba High School 1.7 km · Leura Public School 2.4 km
Groceries: Coles 200 m · Blue Mountains Food Co-op 250 m · Woolworths 500 m · Aldi 600 m · Heroy Asian Grocery 600 m · Woolworths Metro 2 km
Parks and reserves: Walford Park 600 m · Dr Alex Allen Park 650 m · Melrose Park 900 m · Hodgson Park 950 m · Hinkler Park 950 m · Carrington Park 1.1 km · Leura Cascades Picnic Area 1.3 km · Bureau Park 1.5 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Katoomba, most often seen first: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Crimson Rosella · Pied Currawong · Red Wattlebird · Eastern Spinebill · Brown Thornbill.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Katoomba, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katoomba here | 8,268 | — | 4/10 | 58% |
| Leura | 4,503 | — | 9/10 | 56% |
| Wentworth Falls | 6,428 | — | 8/10 | 60% |
| Blackheath | 4,672 | — | 7/10 | 72% |
| Bullaburra | 1,300 | — | 9/10 | 81% |
| Lawson | 2,651 | — | 6/10 | 65% |
| Mount Victoria | 945 | — | 6/10 | 80% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Blue Mountains — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Macquarie — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2780 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Katoomba profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $350 a week, and about 34% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 8,016 people to 8,268. It sits about 85 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Katoomba station is roughly 0.1 km away. Local government is Blue Mountains council, and the federal seat is Macquarie.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Katoomba vs Leura · Katoomba vs Wentworth Falls.
Nearby guides: Leura · Wentworth Falls · Blackheath · Bullaburra · Lawson · Mount Victoria.
Keep an eye on Katoomba
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