Baulkham Hills vs Norwest

In both, most households own their home. In Baulkham Hills, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Norwest, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Baulkham Hills: a median of $1.96 million, against $1.77 million in Norwest, though rent is higher in Norwest. On these figures, Baulkham Hills tends to suit families with children and couples, while Norwest suits young adults and people living alone.

Baulkham Hills is a significantly larger suburb with 37,415 residents compared to Norwest's 4,688, and it offers a notably lower crime risk score of 26 versus 57. Baulkham Hills also has a higher median household income at $128,648 annually and sits closer to the CBD at 31.9 km. Norwest edges ahead on walkability (85 versus 83) and offers slightly higher rental yields on houses at 2.9 percent, though Baulkham Hills performs better on unit yields at 4.8 percent. Both suburbs rank in the top socio-economic decile and share zero bushfire risk, making either a reasonable choice depending on whether you prefer the established amenities and lower crime profile of Baulkham Hills or the quieter, more compact character of Norwest.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Baulkham Hills

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (27 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (28 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Baulkham Hills leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)
  • Norwest has cheaper houses ($1,770,000 vs $1,955,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Baulkham Hills

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($520/wk vs $579/wk)
  • But Norwest has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 23%)

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

Commuting to the city

Baulkham Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (31.9 km vs 35.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Norwest

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 25%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 16%)
  • But Baulkham Hills carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 57/100)

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

Investors

Baulkham Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.8% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield and unit yield.

Where they sit

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

Baulkham Hills Norwest
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.

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Walkability 83 / 85
Baulkham Hills — Walkability: 83/100 Norwest — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 74 / 43
Baulkham Hills — Safety: 74/100 Norwest — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Baulkham Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100 Norwest — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Baulkham Hills has more residents (37,415 vs 4,688); Baulkham Hills has higher household incomes ($128,648 vs $114,764).

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Population 37,415
+87% vs other
 4,688
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.0% —
Median age 39 37
Median household income $128,648/yr
+11% vs other
 $114,764/yr
Median weekly rent $520/wk $579/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Baulkham Hills Norwest
0-4 5.9% / 5.6%
Baulkham Hills — 0-4: 5.9% Norwest — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 15.8% / 9.2%
Baulkham Hills — 5-14: 15.8% Norwest — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 5.9% / 3.6%
Baulkham Hills — 15-19: 5.9% Norwest — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 4.9% / 8.0%
Baulkham Hills — 20-24: 4.9% Norwest — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 9.6% / 17.7%
Baulkham Hills — 25-34: 9.6% Norwest — 25-34: 17.7%
35-44 17.5% / 16.7%
Baulkham Hills — 35-44: 17.5% Norwest — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 13.8% / 8.6%
Baulkham Hills — 45-54: 13.8% Norwest — 45-54: 8.6%
55-64 10.4% / 8.7%
Baulkham Hills — 55-64: 10.4% Norwest — 55-64: 8.7%
65-74 9.0% / 10.7%
Baulkham Hills — 65-74: 9.0% Norwest — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 5.3% / 7.1%
Baulkham Hills — 75-84: 5.3% Norwest — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 1.9% / 3.8%
Baulkham Hills — 85+: 1.9% Norwest — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Baulkham Hills 64.7% couple families
Baulkham Hills — Couple Families: 64.7% Baulkham Hills — Lone Person: 19.8% Baulkham Hills — One Parent Families: 12.5% Baulkham Hills — Group Household: 2.1% Baulkham Hills — Other Families: 0.9%
Norwest 44.5% couple families
Norwest — Couple Families: 44.5% Norwest — Lone Person: 33.2% Norwest — One Parent Families: 13.1% Norwest — Group Household: 7.5% Norwest — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Baulkham Hills 22.8% renting
Baulkham Hills — Owned Outright: 33.3% Baulkham Hills — Mortgage: 43.9% Baulkham Hills — Renting: 22.8%
Norwest 41.4% renting
Norwest — Owned Outright: 29.4% Norwest — Mortgage: 29.2% Norwest — Renting: 41.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Bachelor Degree 20.0% / 21.1%
Baulkham Hills — Bachelor Degree: 20.0% Norwest — Bachelor Degree: 21.1%
Postgraduate Degree 10.2% / 10.6%
Baulkham Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2% Norwest — Postgraduate Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 11.0%
Baulkham Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Norwest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.0% / 7.6%
Baulkham Hills — Certificate III & IV: 9.0% Norwest — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.1%
Baulkham Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Norwest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Baulkham Hills Norwest
India 7.5% / 7.9%
Baulkham Hills — India: 7.5% Norwest — India: 7.9%
China 8.2% / 7.1%
Baulkham Hills — China: 8.2% Norwest — China: 7.1%
England 2.3% / 3.1%
Baulkham Hills — England: 2.3% Norwest — England: 3.1%
Iran 1.7% / 1.8%
Baulkham Hills — Iran: 1.7% Norwest — Iran: 1.8%
Philippines 1.2% / 2.3%
Baulkham Hills — Philippines: 1.2% Norwest — Philippines: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.8%
Baulkham Hills — New Zealand: 1.1% Norwest — New Zealand: 1.8%
Sri Lanka 1.6% / 1.1%
Baulkham Hills — Sri Lanka: 1.6% Norwest — Sri Lanka: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Baulkham Hills 75.4% houses
Baulkham Hills — Houses: 75.4% Baulkham Hills — Flats / Apartments: 11.3% Baulkham Hills — Townhouses: 13.3%
Norwest 37.6% houses
Norwest — Houses: 37.6% Norwest — Flats / Apartments: 54.7% Norwest — Townhouses: 7.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Median house price $1,955,000 $1,770,000
Median unit price $815,000 $885,000
Median land price $1,410,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 409 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.

Baulkham Hills Norwest
3 bed $1.8M / $1.7M
Baulkham Hills — 3 bed: $1.8M (140 sales) Norwest — 3 bed: $1.7M (10 sales)

140 vs 10 sales

4 bed $2M / $2.03M
Baulkham Hills — 4 bed: $2M (225 sales) Norwest — 4 bed: $2.03M (10 sales)

225 vs 10 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Baulkham Hills Norwest
1 bed $598K / $650K
Baulkham Hills — 1 bed: $598K (9 sales) Norwest — 1 bed: $650K (19 sales)

9 vs 19 sales

2 bed $725K / $900K
Baulkham Hills — 2 bed: $725K (73 sales) Norwest — 2 bed: $900K (61 sales)

73 vs 61 sales

3 bed $935K / $1.31M
Baulkham Hills — 3 bed: $935K (45 sales) Norwest — 3 bed: $1.31M (10 sales)

45 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Norwest has more commercially zoned land (27% vs 1%).

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Residential 82% 43%
Commercial 1% 27%
Parks and recreation 13% 25%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 5%
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

Baulkham Hills Norwest
New dwellings approved 2,648
across The Hills
same for both
Approvals change year on year -4%
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.

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Houses 2.7%
$885/wk on $1.68M
 2.9%
$1,040/wk on $1.84M
Units 4.8%
$650/wk on $704K
 4.1%
$750/wk on $948K

Ranking within NSW

Baulkham Hills Norwest
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Schools Higher than 94% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 96% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW

Liveability

Baulkham Hills scores higher overall (88 vs 82).

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Grade A+ A
Score 88/100 82/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Norwest carries more crime risk (57 vs 26).

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
26/100
 Moderate
57/100
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 8
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Inside the suburb 10 0
Rated above peers 7 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 6.8 km
 None

Schools in Baulkham Hills

  • Baulkham Hills High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Baulkham Hills North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Crestwood High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Crestwood Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Jasper Road Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Matthew Pearce Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Norwest

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 5
same for both
Parks & reserves 27 4
Childcare 28 6
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 4 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 4
Fuel stations 3 1
Waterways 17 2

Mobility

Norwest sits further from the CBD (35.3 km vs 31.9 km).

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Walkability score 83/100 85/100
Distance to Sydney 31.9 km 35.3 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 36 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1220.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 214.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 2153
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2153
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.

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Worked from Home 53.4% / 56.4%
Baulkham Hills — Worked from Home: 53.4% Norwest — Worked from Home: 56.4%
Car (driver) 38.9% / 32.9%
Baulkham Hills — Car (driver): 38.9% Norwest — Car (driver): 32.9%
Train 1.3% / 5.3%
Baulkham Hills — Train: 1.3% Norwest — Train: 5.3%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 1.9%
Baulkham Hills — Car (passenger): 2.5% Norwest — Car (passenger): 1.9%
Bus 3.0% / 0.9%
Baulkham Hills — Bus: 3.0% Norwest — Bus: 0.9%
Walked Only 0.7% / 2.4%
Baulkham Hills — Walked Only: 0.7% Norwest — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.4%).

Setting

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Elevation 79 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 90 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 25.2 km 27.6 km

NBN connectivity

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Connectivity score 79/100 93/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
13,559 premises
 86%
3,920 premises

Climate

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Annual rainfall 932 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Baulkham Hills Norwest
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.9 µg/m³ 15.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.83 pphm 0.53 pphm

Council rates

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Average residential rate $1,204/yr
same for both
Council The Hills
same for both

Federal electorate

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Division Mitchell
same for both
Member Alex Hawke
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Baulkham Hills Norwest
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Baulkham Hills

Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals River

Norwest

Apartments Multicultural Outer Parks Professionals Trains

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Other comparisons with Norwest

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Full data on Baulkham Hills Full data on Norwest
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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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