Cabramatta vs Canley Heights

Canley Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Cabramatta. In Cabramatta, about half of households rent. In Canley Heights, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Cabramatta: a median of $1.55 million, against $1.36 million in Canley Heights, though rent is higher in Canley Heights. On these figures, Canley Heights 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

Canley Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 39%)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 74/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 66%)
  • But Cabramatta has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 1)

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

  • Cabramatta has cheaper units ($479,000 vs $890,000)
  • Canley Heights has cheaper houses ($1,362,500 vs $1,550,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cabramatta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Canley Heights

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (36 min vs 42 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (35.3 km vs 38 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cabramatta

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (18 vs 6)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (61% vs 23%)
  • But Canley Heights carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

Canley Heights

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (12.3% vs -2.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 2.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cabramatta Canley Heights
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.

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Walkability 93 / 90
Cabramatta — Walkability: 93/100 Canley Heights — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 26 / 60
Cabramatta — Safety: 26/100 Canley Heights — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Cabramatta — Low fire risk: 100/100 Canley Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cabramatta has more residents (21,142 vs 12,320); Canley Heights has higher household incomes ($77,272 vs $61,568).

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Population 21,142
+42% vs other
 12,320
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.9% +12.3%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $61,568/yr $77,272/yr
+26% vs other
Median weekly rent $330/wk $400/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cabramatta Canley Heights
0-4 4.4% / 5.2%
Cabramatta — 0-4: 4.4% Canley Heights — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.7% / 12.7%
Cabramatta — 5-14: 10.7% Canley Heights — 5-14: 12.7%
15-19 6.4% / 7.4%
Cabramatta — 15-19: 6.4% Canley Heights — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 7.8% / 8.1%
Cabramatta — 20-24: 7.8% Canley Heights — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 13.7% / 14.0%
Cabramatta — 25-34: 13.7% Canley Heights — 25-34: 14.0%
35-44 11.9% / 11.9%
Cabramatta — 35-44: 11.9% Canley Heights — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 14.4% / 13.6%
Cabramatta — 45-54: 14.4% Canley Heights — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 14.1% / 13.6%
Cabramatta — 55-64: 14.1% Canley Heights — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 9.5% / 7.9%
Cabramatta — 65-74: 9.5% Canley Heights — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 4.4% / 4.1%
Cabramatta — 75-84: 4.4% Canley Heights — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 2.7% / 1.6%
Cabramatta — 85+: 2.7% Canley Heights — 85+: 1.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cabramatta 39.8% couple families
Cabramatta — Couple Families: 39.8% Cabramatta — One Parent Families: 26.6% Cabramatta — Lone Person: 23.1% Cabramatta — Group Household: 6.5% Cabramatta — Other Families: 4.0%
Canley Heights 50.4% couple families
Canley Heights — Couple Families: 50.4% Canley Heights — One Parent Families: 27.7% Canley Heights — Lone Person: 16.4% Canley Heights — Group Household: 2.5% Canley Heights — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cabramatta 49.5% renting
Cabramatta — Owned Outright: 29.2% Cabramatta — Mortgage: 21.4% Cabramatta — Renting: 49.5%
Canley Heights 40.9% renting
Canley Heights — Owned Outright: 30.4% Canley Heights — Mortgage: 28.8% Canley Heights — Renting: 40.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 8.8%
Cabramatta — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Canley Heights — Bachelor Degree: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 5.6% / 6.2%
Cabramatta — Certificate III & IV: 5.6% Canley Heights — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.2% / 4.9%
Cabramatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2% Canley Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 1.1%
Cabramatta — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Canley Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.3% / 0.4%
Cabramatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.3% Canley Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.8%).

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.

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Vietnam 37.6% / 30.9%
Cabramatta — Vietnam: 37.6% Canley Heights — Vietnam: 30.9%
China 4.0% / 1.6%
Cabramatta — China: 4.0% Canley Heights — China: 1.6%
Iraq 0.6% / 4.2%
Cabramatta — Iraq: 0.6% Canley Heights — Iraq: 4.2%
Thailand 2.1% / 1.0%
Cabramatta — Thailand: 2.1% Canley Heights — Thailand: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
Cabramatta — New Zealand: 1.0% Canley Heights — New Zealand: 1.2%
Malaysia 1.2% / —
Cabramatta — Malaysia: 1.2% Canley Heights — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (37.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cabramatta 38.8% houses
Cabramatta — Houses: 38.8% Cabramatta — Flats / Apartments: 39.1% Cabramatta — Townhouses: 22.0%
Canley Heights 77.1% houses
Canley Heights — Houses: 77.1% Canley Heights — Flats / Apartments: 4.2% Canley Heights — Townhouses: 18.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Median house price $1,550,000 $1,362,500
Median unit price $479,000 $890,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 58 sales
 24 days
from 49 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.

Cabramatta Canley Heights
2 bed $1.32M / $1.5M
Cabramatta — 2 bed: $1.32M (5 sales) Canley Heights — 2 bed: $1.5M (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.53M / $1.25M
Cabramatta — 3 bed: $1.53M (22 sales) Canley Heights — 3 bed: $1.25M (48 sales)

22 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.52M / $1.37M
Cabramatta — 4 bed: $1.52M (16 sales) Canley Heights — 4 bed: $1.37M (15 sales)

16 vs 15 sales

5 bed $1.54M / $1.4M
Cabramatta — 5 bed: $1.54M (17 sales) Canley Heights — 5 bed: $1.4M (20 sales)

17 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Residential 73% 84%
Parks and recreation 12% 3%
Environmental 5% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 2%
Industrial 4% 0%
Commercial 2%
same for both
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

Cabramatta Canley Heights
New dwellings approved 1,095
across Fairfield
same for both
Approvals change year on year +29%
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.

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Houses 2.2%
$630/wk on $1.46M
 3.6%
$850/wk on $1.21M
Units 4.7%
$450/wk on $498K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Cabramatta Canley Heights
House price Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Income Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW
Schools Higher than 98% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 74% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 52% of NSW —

Liveability

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 62/100 58/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Cabramatta carries more crime risk (74 vs 40).

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 Moderate
40/100
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 11
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 4 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 3.3 km
 1
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 3.9%

Schools in Cabramatta

  • Cabramatta High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Cabramatta Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cabramatta West Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Cabramatta Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Canley Heights

  • Canley Heights Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Supermarkets 9 4
Cafes & restaurants 54 26
Parks & reserves 10 4
Childcare 8 7
GPs 18 6
Pharmacies 11 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 5 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 0 6

Mobility

Cabramatta sits further from the CBD (38 km vs 35.3 km).

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Walkability score 93/100 90/100
Distance to Sydney 38 km
+7% vs other
 35.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 42 min 36 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 188.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 119.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 2166
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2166
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.

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Car (driver) 59.4% / 61.3%
Cabramatta — Car (driver): 59.4% Canley Heights — Car (driver): 61.3%
Worked from Home 18.8% / 25.3%
Cabramatta — Worked from Home: 18.8% Canley Heights — Worked from Home: 25.3%
Car (passenger) 7.5% / 6.5%
Cabramatta — Car (passenger): 7.5% Canley Heights — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Train 8.4% / 4.2%
Cabramatta — Train: 8.4% Canley Heights — Train: 4.2%
Walked Only 4.5% / 1.4%
Cabramatta — Walked Only: 4.5% Canley Heights — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.3%).

Setting

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.7 km
2.4 km to a named beach
 23.2 km
3.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Connectivity score 63/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
9,021 premises
 0%
3,722 premises

Climate

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Annual rainfall 909 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cabramatta Canley Heights
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

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Average residential rate $990/yr
same for both
Council Fairfield
same for both

Federal electorate

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Division Fowler
same for both
Member Dai Le
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cabramatta Canley Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cabramatta

Affordable Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Canley Heights

Multicultural Outer Parks River Urban Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cabramatta

Cabramatta vs Liverpool Cabramatta vs Mount Pritchard Cabramatta vs Canley Vale Cabramatta vs Cabramatta West Cabramatta vs Warwick Farm Cabramatta vs Lansvale

Other comparisons with Canley Heights

Canley Heights vs Fairfield West Canley Heights vs Canley Vale Canley Heights vs Cabramatta West Canley Heights vs St Johns Park Canley Heights vs Wakeley
Full data on Cabramatta Full data on Canley Heights
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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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