Arcadia vs Fiddletown

Fiddletown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 46 in Arcadia. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Arcadia, most households are couple families. In Fiddletown, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Fiddletown: a median of $4.54 million, against $3.23 million in Arcadia, though rent is higher in Arcadia. Arcadia is closer to the city centre: 44.5 km, against 52.7 km. On these figures, Arcadia tends to suit couples and buyers on a tighter budget, while Fiddletown suits families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Arcadia

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($3,225,000 vs $4,539,988)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Arcadia

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (25/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (53 min vs 66 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (44.5 km vs 52.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Arcadia

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (25/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 14%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Arcadia and Fiddletown drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Arcadia Fiddletown
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Arcadia Fiddletown
Walkability 25 / 0
Arcadia — Walkability: 25/100 Fiddletown — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 80 / 86
Arcadia — Safety: 80/100 Fiddletown — Safety: 86/100
Low fire risk 38 / 23
Arcadia — Low fire risk: 38/100 Fiddletown — Low fire risk: 23/100

Demographics

Arcadia has more residents (1,475 vs 259); Arcadia skews older (46 vs 40).

Arcadia Fiddletown
Population 1,475
+82% vs other
 259
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.5% +11.2%
Median age 46 40
Median household income $138,268/yr
+4% vs other
 $133,224/yr
Median weekly rent $485/wk
+6% vs other
 $455/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Arcadia Fiddletown
0-4 4.3% / 7.3%
Arcadia — 0-4: 4.3% Fiddletown — 0-4: 7.3%
5-14 12.5% / 15.4%
Arcadia — 5-14: 12.5% Fiddletown — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 9.0% / 5.8%
Arcadia — 15-19: 9.0% Fiddletown — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.7% / 4.6%
Arcadia — 20-24: 4.7% Fiddletown — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 8.7% / 10.8%
Arcadia — 25-34: 8.7% Fiddletown — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 9.4% / 12.4%
Arcadia — 35-44: 9.4% Fiddletown — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 15.1% / 16.2%
Arcadia — 45-54: 15.1% Fiddletown — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 14.4% / 13.9%
Arcadia — 55-64: 14.4% Fiddletown — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 12.1% / 8.1%
Arcadia — 65-74: 12.1% Fiddletown — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 8.1% / 3.9%
Arcadia — 75-84: 8.1% Fiddletown — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 1.9% / 2.3%
Arcadia — 85+: 1.9% Fiddletown — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Arcadia 65.5% couple families
Arcadia — Couple Families: 65.5% Arcadia — Lone Person: 19.3% Arcadia — One Parent Families: 13.0% Arcadia — Group Household: 2.2%
Fiddletown 53.4% couple families
Fiddletown — Couple Families: 53.4% Fiddletown — Lone Person: 24.1% Fiddletown — One Parent Families: 17.2% Fiddletown — Group Household: 5.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Arcadia 11.7% renting
Arcadia — Owned Outright: 48.2% Arcadia — Mortgage: 40.1% Arcadia — Renting: 11.7%
Fiddletown 13.6% renting
Fiddletown — Owned Outright: 45.5% Fiddletown — Mortgage: 40.9% Fiddletown — Renting: 13.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Arcadia Fiddletown
Bachelor Degree 15.7% / 14.3%
Arcadia — Bachelor Degree: 15.7% Fiddletown — Bachelor Degree: 14.3%
Certificate III & IV 13.4% / 13.5%
Arcadia — Certificate III & IV: 13.4% Fiddletown — Certificate III & IV: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 5.8%
Arcadia — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Fiddletown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 5.8%
Arcadia — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Fiddletown — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.2%
Arcadia — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Fiddletown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Arcadia Fiddletown
England 4.8% / 5.8%
Arcadia — England: 4.8% Fiddletown — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.9%
Arcadia — New Zealand: 2.0% Fiddletown — New Zealand: 1.9%
China 0.9% / 2.7%
Arcadia — China: 0.9% Fiddletown — China: 2.7%
Italy 0.8% / 1.2%
Arcadia — Italy: 0.8% Fiddletown — Italy: 1.2%
South Africa 1.0% / —
Arcadia — South Africa: 1.0% Fiddletown — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.9% / —
Arcadia — Scotland: 0.9% Fiddletown — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Arcadia 98.9% houses
Arcadia — Houses: 98.9% Arcadia — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Fiddletown 98.5% houses
Fiddletown — Houses: 98.5% Fiddletown — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Arcadia Fiddletown
Median house price $3,225,000 $4,539,988
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $3,612,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 64 days
from 4 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Fiddletown has more land zoned for conservation (91% vs 44%); Arcadia has more rural and farming land (51% vs 7%).

Arcadia Fiddletown
Environmental 44% 91%
Rural and farming 51% 7%
Parks and recreation 4% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Arcadia Fiddletown
New dwellings approved 260
across Hornsby
same for both
Approvals change year on year -79%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Arcadia Fiddletown
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 87% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Arcadia is more walkable (25 vs 0).

Arcadia Fiddletown
Grade B —
Score 62/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Fiddletown carries more bushfire risk (77 vs 62).

Arcadia Fiddletown
Bushfire Moderate
62/100
 High
77/100
Crime Low
20/100
 Low
14/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Arcadia Fiddletown
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Arcadia

  • Arcadia Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Fiddletown

  • Northholm Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Arcadia Fiddletown
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 2 0
GPs 1 0
Waterways 8 7

Mobility

Fiddletown sits further from the CBD (52.7 km vs 44.5 km).

Arcadia Fiddletown
Walkability score 25/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 44.5 km 52.7 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 53 min 66 min
Public transport score 63/100
Bus
 19/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 35.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 0.5 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2159
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 2159
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Arcadia Fiddletown
Worked from Home 49.8% / 60.4%
Arcadia — Worked from Home: 49.8% Fiddletown — Worked from Home: 60.4%
Car (driver) 43.7% / 39.6%
Arcadia — Car (driver): 43.7% Fiddletown — Car (driver): 39.6%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / —
Arcadia — Car (passenger): 3.1% Fiddletown — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 2.7% / —
Arcadia — Walked Only: 2.7% Fiddletown — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 0.8% / —
Arcadia — Bicycle: 0.8% Fiddletown — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.4%).

Setting

Arcadia Fiddletown
Elevation 191 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 185 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.0 km 12.5 km

NBN connectivity

Arcadia Fiddletown
Connectivity score 72/100 28/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
489 premises
 0%
67 premises

Climate

Arcadia Fiddletown
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Arcadia Fiddletown
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Arcadia Fiddletown
Average residential rate $1,488/yr
same for both
Council Hornsby
same for both

Federal electorate

Arcadia Fiddletown
Division Berowra
same for both
Member Julian Leeser
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Arcadia Fiddletown
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Arcadia

Acreage Outer Premium River

Fiddletown

Family Luxury Outer

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Fiddletown

Fiddletown vs Glenorie Fiddletown vs Canoelands Fiddletown vs Berowra Waters Fiddletown vs Forest Glen
Full data on Arcadia Full data on Fiddletown
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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