Auburn vs Sefton

Auburn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 35 in Sefton. In both, about half of households are couple families. In Auburn, about half of households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Sefton, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Auburn is closer to the city centre: 20.8 km, against 24 km. On these figures, Auburn tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

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

Auburn

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (27 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (16 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (27 vs 6)
  • But Sefton has more separate houses rather than flats (70% vs 42%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Auburn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (53% vs 35%)

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

Commuting to the city

Auburn

ahead on 4 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (25% vs 6%)
  • has a shorter drive in (26 min vs 34 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (20.8 km vs 24 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Auburn

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 30%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

Sefton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 3.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.6% vs 6.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Auburn Sefton
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.

Auburn Sefton
Walkability 96 / 85
Auburn — Walkability: 96/100 Sefton — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 34 / 42
Auburn — Safety: 34/100 Sefton — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Auburn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sefton — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Auburn has more residents (39,333 vs 6,300); Sefton skews older (35 vs 31).

Auburn Sefton
Population 39,333
+84% vs other
 6,300
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.3% +8.5%
Median age 31 35
Median household income $79,716/yr $79,456/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk $425/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Auburn Sefton
0-4 6.4% / 6.1%
Auburn — 0-4: 6.4% Sefton — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 11.1% / 15.0%
Auburn — 5-14: 11.1% Sefton — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 4.8% / 7.8%
Auburn — 15-19: 4.8% Sefton — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 11.7% / 7.9%
Auburn — 20-24: 11.7% Sefton — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 22.9% / 13.0%
Auburn — 25-34: 22.9% Sefton — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 13.5% / 12.8%
Auburn — 35-44: 13.5% Sefton — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 10.2% / 12.4%
Auburn — 45-54: 10.2% Sefton — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 9.3% / 11.4%
Auburn — 55-64: 9.3% Sefton — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 5.8% / 7.7%
Auburn — 65-74: 5.8% Sefton — 65-74: 7.7%
75-84 3.0% / 3.6%
Auburn — 75-84: 3.0% Sefton — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 1.3% / 2.4%
Auburn — 85+: 1.3% Sefton — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Auburn 48.2% couple families
Auburn — Couple Families: 48.2% Auburn — Lone Person: 20.5% Auburn — One Parent Families: 13.7% Auburn — Group Household: 14.1% Auburn — Other Families: 3.5%
Sefton 52.4% couple families
Sefton — Couple Families: 52.4% Sefton — Lone Person: 22.8% Sefton — One Parent Families: 19.7% Sefton — Group Household: 3.1% Sefton — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Auburn 52.6% renting
Auburn — Owned Outright: 22.9% Auburn — Mortgage: 24.6% Auburn — Renting: 52.6%
Sefton 35.0% renting
Sefton — Owned Outright: 33.0% Sefton — Mortgage: 32.0% Sefton — Renting: 35.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Auburn Sefton
Bachelor Degree 12.7% / 10.5%
Auburn — Bachelor Degree: 12.7% Sefton — Bachelor Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.4%
Auburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Sefton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 4.8% / 7.8%
Auburn — Certificate III & IV: 4.8% Sefton — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 3.1%
Auburn — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Sefton — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 0.8%
Auburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Sefton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.7%).

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.

Auburn Sefton
China 14.4% / 4.5%
Auburn — China: 14.4% Sefton — China: 4.5%
Vietnam 1.9% / 14.0%
Auburn — Vietnam: 1.9% Sefton — Vietnam: 14.0%
Nepal 12.7% / —
Auburn — Nepal: 12.7% Sefton — Nepal: not among its largest
Lebanon 2.9% / 7.0%
Auburn — Lebanon: 2.9% Sefton — Lebanon: 7.0%
India 5.4% / 0.8%
Auburn — India: 5.4% Sefton — India: 0.8%
Pakistan 3.7% / 1.6%
Auburn — Pakistan: 3.7% Sefton — Pakistan: 1.6%
Afghanistan 3.7% / 1.6%
Auburn — Afghanistan: 3.7% Sefton — Afghanistan: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Auburn 42.0% houses
Auburn — Houses: 42.0% Auburn — Flats / Apartments: 47.9% Auburn — Townhouses: 10.0%
Sefton 70.0% houses
Sefton — Houses: 70.0% Sefton — Flats / Apartments: 16.1% Sefton — Townhouses: 14.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Auburn Sefton
Median house price $1,480,000 $1,405,000
Median unit price $555,888 $535,000
Median land price $2,220,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 124 sales
 25 days
from 17 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.

Auburn Sefton
3 bed $1.42M / $1.4M
Auburn — 3 bed: $1.42M (66 sales) Sefton — 3 bed: $1.4M (21 sales)

66 vs 21 sales

4 bed $1.48M / $1.42M
Auburn — 4 bed: $1.48M (34 sales) Sefton — 4 bed: $1.42M (18 sales)

34 vs 18 sales

5 bed $1.62M / $1.59M
Auburn — 5 bed: $1.62M (21 sales) Sefton — 5 bed: $1.59M (5 sales)

21 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Auburn has more industrially zoned land (24% vs 12%).

Auburn Sefton
Residential 52% 68%
Industrial 24% 12%
Parks and recreation 12% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 6%
Commercial 4% 2%
Environmental 1% 0%
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

Auburn Sefton
New dwellings approved 1,756
across Cumberland
 1,785
across Canterbury-Bankstown
Approvals change year on year -28% +50%

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.

Auburn Sefton
Houses 3.0%
$835/wk on $1.45M
 4.8%
$865/wk on $930K
Units 6.0%
$650/wk on $565K
 6.6%
$630/wk on $500K

Ranking within NSW

Auburn Sefton
House price Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Income Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Schools Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW

Liveability

Sefton scores higher overall (69 vs 59); Auburn is more walkable (96 vs 85).

Auburn Sefton
Grade B
same for both
Score 59/100 69/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Auburn Sefton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
66/100
 Moderate
58/100
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 28
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Auburn Sefton
Inside the suburb 16 3
Rated above peers 5 2
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.9 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.4% 3.6%

Schools in Auburn

  • Al-Faisal College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Auburn Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Auburn North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St John's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Trinity Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Alpha Omega Senior College Independent · Secondary at peers

Schools in Sefton

  • Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sefton High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Sefton Infants School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Auburn Sefton
Supermarkets 6 1
Cafes & restaurants 19 0
Parks & reserves 27 2
Childcare 27 6
GPs 10 0
Pharmacies 7 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 2 4

Mobility

Sefton sits further from the CBD (24 km vs 20.8 km).

Auburn Sefton
Walkability score 96/100 85/100
Distance to Sydney 20.8 km 24 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 34 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 368.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 2144
 0.5%
postcode 2162
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2144
 30
postcode 2162

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.

Auburn Sefton
Car (driver) 43.5% / 53.2%
Auburn — Car (driver): 43.5% Sefton — Car (driver): 53.2%
Worked from Home 21.4% / 34.3%
Auburn — Worked from Home: 21.4% Sefton — Worked from Home: 34.3%
Train 25.1% / 6.0%
Auburn — Train: 25.1% Sefton — Train: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.2%
Auburn — Car (passenger): 4.9% Sefton — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 3.6% / 1.5%
Auburn — Walked Only: 3.6% Sefton — Walked Only: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.2%).

Setting

Auburn Sefton
Elevation 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.6 km 15.7 km
4.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Auburn Sefton
Connectivity score 95/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 81%
14,559 premises
 50%
2,234 premises

Climate

Auburn Sefton
Annual rainfall 1,021 mm 909 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.4°C 28.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 7.2°C 6.4°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Auburn Sefton
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.9 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Auburn Sefton
Average residential rate $1,038/yr $1,322/yr
Council Cumberland Canterbury-Bankstown

Federal electorate

Auburn Sefton
Division Blaxland
same for both
Member Jason Clare
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Auburn Sefton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Auburn

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub Urban

Sefton

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Auburn

Auburn vs Lidcombe Auburn vs Granville Auburn vs Chester Hill Auburn vs Berala Auburn vs South Granville Auburn vs Regents Park

Other comparisons with Sefton

Sefton vs Yagoona Sefton vs Chester Hill Sefton vs Bass Hill Sefton vs Regents Park Sefton vs Birrong
Full data on Auburn Full data on Sefton
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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