Canterbury vs Earlwood

Canterbury is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 44 in Earlwood. In Canterbury, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Earlwood, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Canterbury tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Earlwood suits couples and older residents.

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

Earlwood

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 29%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Canterbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($745,000 vs $881,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Canterbury

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($470/wk vs $570/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Canterbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 3%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Earlwood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 11%)
  • carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 53/100)
  • But Canterbury has more units and townhouses to downsize into (71% vs 20%)

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

Investors

Canterbury

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (30.4% vs 1.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.2% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Canterbury Earlwood
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.

Canterbury Earlwood
Walkability 86 / 91
Canterbury — Walkability: 86/100 Earlwood — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 47 / 67
Canterbury — Safety: 47/100 Earlwood — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 100 / 79
Canterbury — Low fire risk: 100/100 Earlwood — Low fire risk: 79/100

Demographics

Earlwood has more residents (18,053 vs 9,430); Earlwood skews older (44 vs 34).

Canterbury Earlwood
Population 9,430 18,053
+91% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +30.4% +1.8%
Median age 34 44
Median household income $97,864/yr $112,528/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $470/wk $570/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Canterbury Earlwood
0-4 6.1% / 4.8%
Canterbury — 0-4: 6.1% Earlwood — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 8.5% / 11.8%
Canterbury — 5-14: 8.5% Earlwood — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 4.1% / 6.1%
Canterbury — 15-19: 4.1% Earlwood — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 7.2% / 5.4%
Canterbury — 20-24: 7.2% Earlwood — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 24.7% / 10.2%
Canterbury — 25-34: 24.7% Earlwood — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 17.1% / 12.6%
Canterbury — 35-44: 17.1% Earlwood — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 11.5% / 15.7%
Canterbury — 45-54: 11.5% Earlwood — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 9.7% / 12.6%
Canterbury — 55-64: 9.7% Earlwood — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 5.8% / 9.5%
Canterbury — 65-74: 5.8% Earlwood — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 3.7% / 7.6%
Canterbury — 75-84: 3.7% Earlwood — 75-84: 7.6%
85+ 1.4% / 3.5%
Canterbury — 85+: 1.4% Earlwood — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Canterbury 39.2% couple families
Canterbury — Couple Families: 39.2% Canterbury — Lone Person: 33.5% Canterbury — One Parent Families: 15.1% Canterbury — Group Household: 9.5% Canterbury — Other Families: 2.7%
Earlwood 54.3% couple families
Earlwood — Couple Families: 54.3% Earlwood — Lone Person: 24.8% Earlwood — One Parent Families: 16.0% Earlwood — Group Household: 3.4% Earlwood — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Canterbury 49.0% renting
Canterbury — Owned Outright: 21.6% Canterbury — Mortgage: 29.4% Canterbury — Renting: 49.0%
Earlwood 21.1% renting
Earlwood — Owned Outright: 45.6% Earlwood — Mortgage: 33.3% Earlwood — Renting: 21.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Canterbury Earlwood
Bachelor Degree 21.0% / 16.4%
Canterbury — Bachelor Degree: 21.0% Earlwood — Bachelor Degree: 16.4%
Certificate III & IV 7.9% / 9.4%
Canterbury — Certificate III & IV: 7.9% Earlwood — Certificate III & IV: 9.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 7.8%
Canterbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Earlwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 6.0%
Canterbury — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Earlwood — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.8%
Canterbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Earlwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

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.

Canterbury Earlwood
China 8.0% / 3.0%
Canterbury — China: 8.0% Earlwood — China: 3.0%
Greece 2.4% / 7.4%
Canterbury — Greece: 2.4% Earlwood — Greece: 7.4%
Vietnam 5.0% / 2.4%
Canterbury — Vietnam: 5.0% Earlwood — Vietnam: 2.4%
Lebanon 1.6% / 2.4%
Canterbury — Lebanon: 1.6% Earlwood — Lebanon: 2.4%
Philippines 2.7% / 0.9%
Canterbury — Philippines: 2.7% Earlwood — Philippines: 0.9%
Nepal 2.9% / —
Canterbury — Nepal: 2.9% Earlwood — Nepal: not among its largest
Italy — / 2.2%
Canterbury — Italy: not among its largest Earlwood — Italy: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Canterbury 29.3% houses
Canterbury — Houses: 29.3% Canterbury — Flats / Apartments: 64.4% Canterbury — Townhouses: 6.3%
Earlwood 80.1% houses
Earlwood — Houses: 80.1% Earlwood — Flats / Apartments: 11.6% Earlwood — Townhouses: 8.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Canterbury Earlwood
Median house price $1,957,500 $2,080,000
Median unit price $745,000 $881,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 30 sales
 24 days
from 166 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.

Canterbury Earlwood
2 bed $763K / $870K
Canterbury — 2 bed: $763K (87 sales) Earlwood — 2 bed: $870K (29 sales)

87 vs 29 sales

3 bed $970K / $1.24M
Canterbury — 3 bed: $970K (9 sales) Earlwood — 3 bed: $1.24M (6 sales)

9 vs 6 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.

Canterbury Earlwood
2 bed $1.57M / $1.77M
Canterbury — 2 bed: $1.57M (10 sales) Earlwood — 2 bed: $1.77M (26 sales)

10 vs 26 sales

3 bed $1.97M / $2M
Canterbury — 3 bed: $1.97M (19 sales) Earlwood — 3 bed: $2M (131 sales)

19 vs 131 sales

4 bed $2.16M / $2.4M
Canterbury — 4 bed: $2.16M (17 sales) Earlwood — 4 bed: $2.4M (44 sales)

17 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

Earlwood has more land zoned for conservation (10% vs 0%).

Canterbury Earlwood
Residential 55% 74%
Parks and recreation 30% 11%
Environmental 0% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 2%
Commercial 5% 2%
Industrial 3% 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

Canterbury Earlwood
New dwellings approved 1,785
across Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

Canterbury Earlwood
Houses 2.8%
$1,080/wk on $2M
 2.8%
$1,140/wk on $2.1M
Units 5.2%
$685/wk on $682K
 3.9%
$640/wk on $848K

Ranking within NSW

Canterbury Earlwood
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Income Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Schools Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW

Liveability

Earlwood scores higher overall (77 vs 61).

Canterbury Earlwood
Grade B A
Score 61/100 77/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Earlwood carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0); Canterbury carries more crime risk (53 vs 33).

Canterbury Earlwood
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
21/100
Crime Moderate
53/100
 Low
33/100
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
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Canterbury Earlwood
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Strathfield Campus, 4.9 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.8%

Schools in Canterbury

  • Canterbury Girls High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Canterbury South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Canterbury Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Earlwood

  • Earlwood Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Undercliffe Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Canterbury Earlwood
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 12 8
Parks & reserves 8 16
Childcare 3 11
GPs 2 6
Pharmacies 1 6
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Canterbury Earlwood
Walkability score 86/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 13.2 km
+4% vs other
 12.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 25 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 190.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 448.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 2193
 1.3%
postcode 2206
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2193
 25
postcode 2206

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.

Canterbury Earlwood
Worked from Home 51.9% / 57.6%
Canterbury — Worked from Home: 51.9% Earlwood — Worked from Home: 57.6%
Car (driver) 32.2% / 33.9%
Canterbury — Car (driver): 32.2% Earlwood — Car (driver): 33.9%
Train 9.5% / 3.0%
Canterbury — Train: 9.5% Earlwood — Train: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.6%
Canterbury — Car (passenger): 2.3% Earlwood — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.4%
Canterbury — Walked Only: 1.8% Earlwood — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.6%).

Setting

Canterbury Earlwood
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.1 km 4.5 km

NBN connectivity

Canterbury Earlwood
Connectivity score 87/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
4,272 premises
 12%
7,143 premises

Climate

Canterbury Earlwood
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Canterbury Earlwood
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Canterbury Earlwood
Average residential rate $1,322/yr
same for both
Council Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both

Federal electorate

Canterbury Earlwood
Division Watson Barton
Member Tony Burke Ash Ambihaipahar
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Canterbury Earlwood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Canterbury

Apartments Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Urban

Earlwood

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Canterbury

Canterbury vs Campsie Canterbury vs Hurlstone Park Canterbury vs Ashbury

Other comparisons with Earlwood

Earlwood vs Marrickville Earlwood vs Campsie Earlwood vs Dulwich Hill Earlwood vs Kingsgrove Earlwood vs Wolli Creek Earlwood vs Hurlstone Park
Full data on Canterbury Full data on Earlwood
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or