Cardiff Heights vs Garden Suburb

Garden Suburb is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 44 in Cardiff Heights. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Garden Suburb, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Garden Suburb: a median of $995,000, against $910,000 in Cardiff Heights, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Cardiff Heights tends to suit people living alone, while Garden Suburb suits 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

Garden Suburb

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (75% vs 56%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 82%)

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

First-home buyers

Garden Suburb

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 26%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cardiff Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $465/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Garden Suburb

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 46/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (149.2 km vs 153.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Cardiff Heights has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 0%)
  • Garden Suburb is more walkable (64/100 vs 46/100)

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

Where they sit

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

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
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.

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Walkability 46 / 64
Cardiff Heights — Walkability: 46/100 Garden Suburb — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 70 / 61
Cardiff Heights — Safety: 70/100 Garden Suburb — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 100 / 43
Cardiff Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Garden Suburb — Low fire risk: 43/100

Demographics

Garden Suburb has more residents (1,959 vs 1,384); Garden Suburb has higher household incomes ($122,772 vs $96,200).

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Population 1,384 1,959
+42% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +2.6%
Median age 44 41
Median household income $96,200/yr $122,772/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $465/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
0-4 5.1% / 6.0%
Cardiff Heights — 0-4: 5.1% Garden Suburb — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 11.8% / 13.0%
Cardiff Heights — 5-14: 11.8% Garden Suburb — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.5% / 7.0%
Cardiff Heights — 15-19: 5.5% Garden Suburb — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 5.7% / 6.2%
Cardiff Heights — 20-24: 5.7% Garden Suburb — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 10.7% / 9.1%
Cardiff Heights — 25-34: 10.7% Garden Suburb — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 12.3% / 13.1%
Cardiff Heights — 35-44: 12.3% Garden Suburb — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 12.3% / 12.0%
Cardiff Heights — 45-54: 12.3% Garden Suburb — 45-54: 12.0%
55-64 12.1% / 13.0%
Cardiff Heights — 55-64: 12.1% Garden Suburb — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 11.0% / 10.2%
Cardiff Heights — 65-74: 11.0% Garden Suburb — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 7.8% / 6.0%
Cardiff Heights — 75-84: 7.8% Garden Suburb — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 5.9% / 4.2%
Cardiff Heights — 85+: 5.9% Garden Suburb — 85+: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cardiff Heights 43.0% couple families
Cardiff Heights — Couple Families: 43.0% Cardiff Heights — Lone Person: 37.8% Cardiff Heights — One Parent Families: 13.2% Cardiff Heights — Group Household: 4.4% Cardiff Heights — Other Families: 1.6%
Garden Suburb 61.9% couple families
Garden Suburb — Couple Families: 61.9% Garden Suburb — Lone Person: 22.2% Garden Suburb — One Parent Families: 13.1% Garden Suburb — Group Household: 2.2% Garden Suburb — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cardiff Heights 16.5% renting
Cardiff Heights — Owned Outright: 41.4% Cardiff Heights — Mortgage: 42.1% Cardiff Heights — Renting: 16.5%
Garden Suburb 10.7% renting
Garden Suburb — Owned Outright: 45.6% Garden Suburb — Mortgage: 43.7% Garden Suburb — Renting: 10.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 16.5%
Cardiff Heights — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Garden Suburb — Bachelor Degree: 16.5%
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 14.5%
Cardiff Heights — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Garden Suburb — Certificate III & IV: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.8%
Cardiff Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Garden Suburb — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 4.8%
Cardiff Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Garden Suburb — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.6%
Cardiff Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Garden Suburb — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

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.

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
England 3.7% / 2.1%
Cardiff Heights — England: 3.7% Garden Suburb — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.0%
Cardiff Heights — New Zealand: 0.8% Garden Suburb — New Zealand: 1.0%
Germany 0.7% / 0.8%
Cardiff Heights — Germany: 0.7% Garden Suburb — Germany: 0.8%
India 0.6% / 0.9%
Cardiff Heights — India: 0.6% Garden Suburb — India: 0.9%
Netherlands 0.6% / —
Cardiff Heights — Netherlands: 0.6% Garden Suburb — Netherlands: not among its largest
Sri Lanka — / 0.5%
Cardiff Heights — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Garden Suburb — Sri Lanka: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cardiff Heights 81.9% houses
Cardiff Heights — Houses: 81.9% Cardiff Heights — Townhouses: 17.5% Cardiff Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Garden Suburb 99.7% houses
Garden Suburb — Houses: 99.7% Garden Suburb — Townhouses: 0.0% Garden Suburb — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Median house price $910,000 $995,000
Median unit price $460,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 4 sales
 20 days
from 14 sales

Zoning mix

Cardiff Heights has more land zoned for conservation (37% vs 15%).

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Residential 54% 48%
Environmental 37% 15%
Other and special use 0% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 11%
Rural and farming 7% 2%
Parks and recreation 2% 5%
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

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Houses — 3.4%
$775/wk on $1.2M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
House price Higher than 48% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 37% of NSW

Liveability

Garden Suburb is more walkable (64 vs 46); Cardiff Heights scores higher overall (67 vs 54).

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Grade B
same for both
Score 67/100 54/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Garden Suburb carries more bushfire risk (57 vs 0).

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
57/100
Crime Low
30/100
 Low
39/100
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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 5.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 3.0%

Schools in Cardiff Heights

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

Schools in Garden Suburb

  • Garden Suburb Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 1 2
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 1
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

Cardiff Heights sits further from the CBD (153.1 km vs 149.2 km).

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Walkability score 46/100 64/100
Distance to Sydney 153.1 km
+3% vs other
 149.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min 118 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 51.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2285
 1.0%
postcode 2289
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 2285
 36
postcode 2289

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.

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Car (driver) 62.8% / 64.0%
Cardiff Heights — Car (driver): 62.8% Garden Suburb — Car (driver): 64.0%
Worked from Home 32.3% / 29.6%
Cardiff Heights — Worked from Home: 32.3% Garden Suburb — Worked from Home: 29.6%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 4.6%
Cardiff Heights — Car (passenger): 2.1% Garden Suburb — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bicycle 0.8% / 0.7%
Cardiff Heights — Bicycle: 0.8% Garden Suburb — Bicycle: 0.7%
Bus 0.8% / 0.4%
Cardiff Heights — Bus: 0.8% Garden Suburb — Bus: 0.4%
Walked Only 0.8% / 0.4%
Cardiff Heights — Walked Only: 0.8% Garden Suburb — Walked Only: 0.4%
Train 0.6% / 0.4%
Cardiff Heights — Train: 0.6% Garden Suburb — Train: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.0%).

Setting

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Elevation 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.0 km 5.7 km

NBN connectivity

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Connectivity score 66/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
578 premises
 49%
700 premises

Climate

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Division Newcastle Shortland
Member Sharon Claydon Pat Conroy
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cardiff Heights

Professionals River

Garden Suburb

Large Blocks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cardiff Heights

Cardiff Heights vs Cardiff Cardiff Heights vs Elermore Vale Cardiff Heights vs Glendale Cardiff Heights vs New Lambton Heights Cardiff Heights vs Rankin Park

Other comparisons with Garden Suburb

Garden Suburb vs Charlestown Garden Suburb vs Cardiff Garden Suburb vs Kotara Garden Suburb vs New Lambton Heights Garden Suburb vs Kotara South Garden Suburb vs Hillsborough
Full data on Cardiff Heights Full data on Garden Suburb
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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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