Barden Ridge vs Menai

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. On these figures, Barden Ridge tends to suit couples.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Barden Ridge carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 36/100)
  • Menai has more childcare (12 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Menai

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($560/wk vs $685/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Menai

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (35 km vs 37.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Menai

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (25% vs 8%)
  • But Barden Ridge carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 36/100)

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

Investors

Menai

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.1% vs -4.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Barden Ridge Menai
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.

Barden Ridge Menai
Walkability 54 / 50
Barden Ridge — Walkability: 54/100 Menai — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 80 / 64
Barden Ridge — Safety: 80/100 Menai — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 8 / 13
Barden Ridge — Low fire risk: 8/100 Menai — Low fire risk: 13/100

Demographics

Menai has more residents (10,419 vs 4,129); Barden Ridge rents higher ($685/wk vs $560/wk).

Barden Ridge Menai
Population 4,129 10,419
+152% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.6% +1.1%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $162,968/yr
+18% vs other
 $133,900/yr
Median weekly rent $685/wk
+18% vs other
 $560/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Barden Ridge Menai
0-4 5.2% / 5.7%
Barden Ridge — 0-4: 5.2% Menai — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 13.0% / 14.0%
Barden Ridge — 5-14: 13.0% Menai — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 8.2% / 6.9%
Barden Ridge — 15-19: 8.2% Menai — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 8.3% / 6.8%
Barden Ridge — 20-24: 8.3% Menai — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 9.4% / 11.3%
Barden Ridge — 25-34: 9.4% Menai — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 10.4% / 12.4%
Barden Ridge — 35-44: 10.4% Menai — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 15.4% / 14.4%
Barden Ridge — 45-54: 15.4% Menai — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 16.7% / 14.8%
Barden Ridge — 55-64: 16.7% Menai — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 9.2% / 8.7%
Barden Ridge — 65-74: 9.2% Menai — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 3.0% / 4.0%
Barden Ridge — 75-84: 3.0% Menai — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 1.5% / 1.0%
Barden Ridge — 85+: 1.5% Menai — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Barden Ridge 75.2% couple families
Barden Ridge — Couple Families: 75.2% Barden Ridge — One Parent Families: 13.5% Barden Ridge — Lone Person: 9.8% Barden Ridge — Group Household: 1.0% Barden Ridge — Other Families: 0.4%
Menai 63.5% couple families
Menai — Couple Families: 63.5% Menai — One Parent Families: 16.7% Menai — Lone Person: 17.8% Menai — Group Household: 1.2% Menai — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Barden Ridge 6.2% renting
Barden Ridge — Owned Outright: 43.6% Barden Ridge — Mortgage: 50.2% Barden Ridge — Renting: 6.2%
Menai 15.0% renting
Menai — Owned Outright: 36.7% Menai — Mortgage: 48.4% Menai — Renting: 15.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Barden Ridge Menai
Certificate III & IV 16.7% / 14.1%
Barden Ridge — Certificate III & IV: 16.7% Menai — Certificate III & IV: 14.1%
Bachelor Degree 14.6% / 15.2%
Barden Ridge — Bachelor Degree: 14.6% Menai — Bachelor Degree: 15.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.7%
Barden Ridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Menai — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 4.5%
Barden Ridge — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Menai — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.9%
Barden Ridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Menai — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

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.

Barden Ridge Menai
England 2.8% / 2.5%
Barden Ridge — England: 2.8% Menai — England: 2.5%
China 1.0% / 1.4%
Barden Ridge — China: 1.0% Menai — China: 1.4%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.2%
Barden Ridge — South Africa: 1.0% Menai — South Africa: 1.2%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.1%
Barden Ridge — New Zealand: 0.6% Menai — New Zealand: 1.1%
India — / 0.7%
Barden Ridge — India: not among its largest Menai — India: 0.7%
Italy 0.6% / —
Barden Ridge — Italy: 0.6% Menai — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Barden Ridge 91.8% houses
Barden Ridge — Houses: 91.8% Barden Ridge — Townhouses: 7.8% Barden Ridge — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Menai 75.2% houses
Menai — Houses: 75.2% Menai — Townhouses: 21.5% Menai — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Barden Ridge Menai
Median house price $1,765,000 $1,750,000
Median unit price — $1,000,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 28 sales
 21 days
from 83 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.

Barden Ridge Menai
3 bed $1.38M / $1.43M
Barden Ridge — 3 bed: $1.38M (8 sales) Menai — 3 bed: $1.43M (30 sales)

8 vs 30 sales

4 bed $1.77M / $1.77M
Barden Ridge — 4 bed: $1.77M (38 sales) Menai — 4 bed: $1.77M (56 sales)

38 vs 56 sales

5 bed $1.86M / $2.1M
Barden Ridge — 5 bed: $1.86M (17 sales) Menai — 5 bed: $2.1M (26 sales)

17 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Barden Ridge Menai
Other and special use 25% 44%
Environmental 43% 37%
Parks and recreation 21% 1%
Residential 9% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 8%
Commercial 0% 1%
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

Barden Ridge Menai
New dwellings approved 1,449
across Sutherland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +117%
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.

Barden Ridge Menai
Houses 3.6%
$1,175/wk on $1.7M
 3.6%
$1,000/wk on $1.45M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Barden Ridge Menai
House price Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Income Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 50% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 88% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of NSW
same for both

Liveability

Barden Ridge scores higher overall (58 vs 53).

Barden Ridge Menai
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 53/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Menai carries more crime risk (36 vs 20).

Barden Ridge Menai
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
87/100
Crime Low
20/100
 Low
36/100
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 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Barden Ridge Menai
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 10.0 km

Schools in Barden Ridge

  • Shire Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Lucas Heights Community School Government · Combined below peers

Schools in Menai

  • Menai Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Aquinas Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Holy Family Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Aspect South East Sydney School, Menai Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Barden Ridge Menai
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 5 8
Childcare 5 12
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 4 3

Mobility

Barden Ridge sits further from the CBD (37.9 km vs 35 km).

Barden Ridge Menai
Walkability score 54/100 50/100
Distance to Sydney 37.9 km
+8% vs other
 35 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 41 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 58.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 208.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2234
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 2234
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.

Barden Ridge Menai
Car (driver) 52.2% / 48.7%
Barden Ridge — Car (driver): 52.2% Menai — Car (driver): 48.7%
Worked from Home 42.3% / 44.9%
Barden Ridge — Worked from Home: 42.3% Menai — Worked from Home: 44.9%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 2.5%
Barden Ridge — Car (passenger): 3.0% Menai — Car (passenger): 2.5%
Train 1.4% / 2.4%
Barden Ridge — Train: 1.4% Menai — Train: 2.4%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.2%
Barden Ridge — Walked Only: 0.9% Menai — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.2%).

Setting

Barden Ridge Menai
Elevation 117 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.4 km 11.3 km

NBN connectivity

Barden Ridge Menai
Connectivity score 78/100 73/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 13%
1,439 premises
 6%
3,944 premises

Climate

Barden Ridge Menai
Annual rainfall 1,038 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Barden Ridge Menai
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Barden Ridge Menai
Average residential rate $1,552/yr
same for both
Council Sutherland
same for both

Federal electorate

Barden Ridge Menai
Division Hughes
same for both
Member David Moncrieff
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Barden Ridge Menai
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Barden Ridge

Large Blocks Outer Parks

Menai

Outer River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Barden Ridge

Barden Ridge vs Engadine Barden Ridge vs Bangor Barden Ridge vs Woronora Heights

Other comparisons with Menai

Menai vs Illawong Menai vs Picnic Point Menai vs Holsworthy Menai vs Bangor Menai vs Alfords Point Menai vs Sandy Point
Full data on Barden Ridge Full data on Menai
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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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