Argenton vs Boolaroo

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Boolaroo: a median of $1.03 million, against $800,000 in Argenton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Argenton tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Argenton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($800,000 vs $1,032,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Argenton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Boolaroo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (144.7 km vs 149.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Boolaroo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (57.5% vs 0.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Argenton Boolaroo
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.

Argenton Boolaroo
Walkability 58 / 58
Argenton — Walkability: 58/100 Boolaroo — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 15 / 7
Argenton — Safety: 15/100 Boolaroo — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 56 / 63
Argenton — Low fire risk: 56/100 Boolaroo — Low fire risk: 63/100

Demographics

Boolaroo rents higher ($400/wk vs $350/wk); Boolaroo has higher household incomes ($78,208 vs $68,536).

Argenton Boolaroo
Population 1,352 1,636
+21% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.1% +57.5%
Median age 40 39
Median household income $68,536/yr $78,208/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $400/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Argenton Boolaroo
0-4 5.6% / 6.0%
Argenton — 0-4: 5.6% Boolaroo — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 10.9% / 11.4%
Argenton — 5-14: 10.9% Boolaroo — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 5.2% / 4.8%
Argenton — 15-19: 5.2% Boolaroo — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 5.9% / 6.1%
Argenton — 20-24: 5.9% Boolaroo — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 14.1% / 15.0%
Argenton — 25-34: 14.1% Boolaroo — 25-34: 15.0%
35-44 14.5% / 12.8%
Argenton — 35-44: 14.5% Boolaroo — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 12.3% / 11.3%
Argenton — 45-54: 12.3% Boolaroo — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 12.7% / 12.8%
Argenton — 55-64: 12.7% Boolaroo — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 10.7% / 10.3%
Argenton — 65-74: 10.7% Boolaroo — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 5.6% / 7.5%
Argenton — 75-84: 5.6% Boolaroo — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 2.7% / 1.7%
Argenton — 85+: 2.7% Boolaroo — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Argenton 39.7% lone person
Argenton — Lone Person: 39.7% Argenton — Couple Families: 25.9% Argenton — One Parent Families: 24.5% Argenton — Group Household: 6.9% Argenton — Other Families: 3.0%
Boolaroo 37.9% lone person
Boolaroo — Lone Person: 37.9% Boolaroo — Couple Families: 34.0% Boolaroo — One Parent Families: 20.4% Boolaroo — Group Household: 5.7% Boolaroo — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Argenton 40.5% renting
Argenton — Owned Outright: 28.8% Argenton — Mortgage: 30.7% Argenton — Renting: 40.5%
Boolaroo 30.7% renting
Boolaroo — Owned Outright: 32.2% Boolaroo — Mortgage: 37.1% Boolaroo — Renting: 30.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Argenton Boolaroo
Certificate III & IV 20.3% / 19.7%
Argenton — Certificate III & IV: 20.3% Boolaroo — Certificate III & IV: 19.7%
Bachelor Degree 5.4% / 9.0%
Argenton — Bachelor Degree: 5.4% Boolaroo — Bachelor Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.4% / 8.4%
Argenton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4% Boolaroo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 1.8%
Argenton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Boolaroo — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 1.2%
Argenton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Boolaroo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

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.

Argenton Boolaroo
England 1.8% / 2.4%
Argenton — England: 1.8% Boolaroo — England: 2.4%
New Zealand 0.4% / 1.3%
Argenton — New Zealand: 0.4% Boolaroo — New Zealand: 1.3%
India 0.7% / 0.6%
Argenton — India: 0.7% Boolaroo — India: 0.6%
Philippines 0.8% / 0.3%
Argenton — Philippines: 0.8% Boolaroo — Philippines: 0.3%
Greece 0.9% / —
Argenton — Greece: 0.9% Boolaroo — Greece: not among its largest
Thailand 0.8% / —
Argenton — Thailand: 0.8% Boolaroo — Thailand: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.7%
Argenton — South Africa: not among its largest Boolaroo — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.4%
Argenton — Scotland: not among its largest Boolaroo — Scotland: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Argenton 84.7% houses
Argenton — Houses: 84.7% Argenton — Townhouses: 12.1% Argenton — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Boolaroo 89.3% houses
Boolaroo — Houses: 89.3% Boolaroo — Townhouses: 6.3% Boolaroo — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Argenton Boolaroo
Median house price $800,000 $1,032,500
Median unit price — $697,500
Median land price — $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 10 sales
 16 days
from 25 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Argenton Boolaroo
2 bed $752K / $866K
Argenton — 2 bed: $752K (9 sales) Boolaroo — 2 bed: $866K (6 sales)

9 vs 6 sales

3 bed $785K / $965K
Argenton — 3 bed: $785K (35 sales) Boolaroo — 3 bed: $965K (18 sales)

35 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Boolaroo has more industrially zoned land (15% vs 3%).

Argenton Boolaroo
Residential 37% 54%
Parks and recreation 38% 4%
Industrial 3% 15%
Environmental 13%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 9% 12%
Commercial 0% 2%
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

Argenton Boolaroo
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Argenton Boolaroo
Houses — 4.1%
$750/wk on $949K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Argenton Boolaroo
House price Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 79% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 78% of NSW

Liveability

Boolaroo scores higher overall (33 vs 23).

Argenton Boolaroo
Grade D C
Score 23/100 33/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Argenton Boolaroo
Bushfire Moderate
44/100
 Low
37/100
Crime High
85/100
 High
93/100
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Argenton Boolaroo
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 9.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.9%
same for both

Schools in Argenton

  • Argenton Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Alesco Secondary College - Northlakes Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Boolaroo

  • Boolaroo Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Argenton Boolaroo
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Argenton sits further from the CBD (149.4 km vs 144.7 km).

Argenton Boolaroo
Walkability score 58/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 149.4 km
+3% vs other
 144.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 112 min 114 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 52.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2284
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 2284
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.

Argenton Boolaroo
Car (driver) 76.8% / 70.5%
Argenton — Car (driver): 76.8% Boolaroo — Car (driver): 70.5%
Worked from Home 13.7% / 22.0%
Argenton — Worked from Home: 13.7% Boolaroo — Worked from Home: 22.0%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 4.5%
Argenton — Car (passenger): 6.9% Boolaroo — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 2.6% / 1.8%
Argenton — Walked Only: 2.6% Boolaroo — Walked Only: 1.8%
Bus — / 1.2%
Argenton — Bus: not among its largest Boolaroo — Bus: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.8%).

Setting

Argenton Boolaroo
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.2 km 9.8 km

NBN connectivity

Argenton Boolaroo
Connectivity score 68/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
663 premises
 37%
921 premises

Climate

Argenton Boolaroo
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Argenton Boolaroo
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Argenton Boolaroo
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Argenton Boolaroo
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Argenton Boolaroo
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Argenton

Quiet River

Boolaroo

Large Blocks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Argenton

Argenton vs Edgeworth Argenton vs Cardiff Argenton vs Glendale Argenton vs Teralba

Other comparisons with Boolaroo

Boolaroo vs Cardiff Boolaroo vs Macquarie Hills Boolaroo vs Speers Point Boolaroo vs Teralba
Full data on Argenton Full data on Boolaroo
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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