Cardiff vs Glendale

Comparing Cardiff and Glendale, NSW: Glendale carries more bushfire risk (51 vs 0); Cardiff has more residents (6,318 vs 3,260); and Cardiff scores higher overall (51 vs 29).

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

Cardiff

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)
  • 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

Cardiff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($757,500 vs $880,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Cardiff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cardiff

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Cardiff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Cardiff and Glendale 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 Glendale
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 Glendale
Walkability 88 / 80
Cardiff — Walkability: 88/100 Glendale — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 13 / 8
Cardiff — Safety: 13/100 Glendale — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 49
Cardiff — Low fire risk: 100/100 Glendale — Low fire risk: 49/100

Demographics

Cardiff has more residents (6,318 vs 3,260); Cardiff skews older (38 vs 36).

Cardiff Glendale
Population 6,318
+48% vs other
 3,260
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.4% +5.3%
Median age 38 36
Median household income $78,624/yr $78,728/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk
+4% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cardiff Glendale
0-4 6.3% / 6.7%
Cardiff — 0-4: 6.3% Glendale — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 11.4% / 12.1%
Cardiff — 5-14: 11.4% Glendale — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 5.4% / 5.3%
Cardiff — 15-19: 5.4% Glendale — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.5% / 6.6%
Cardiff — 20-24: 6.5% Glendale — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 15.3% / 16.4%
Cardiff — 25-34: 15.3% Glendale — 25-34: 16.4%
35-44 14.2% / 13.4%
Cardiff — 35-44: 14.2% Glendale — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 11.9% / 11.3%
Cardiff — 45-54: 11.9% Glendale — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 10.5% / 11.2%
Cardiff — 55-64: 10.5% Glendale — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 9.5% / 10.0%
Cardiff — 65-74: 9.5% Glendale — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 6.9% / 5.3%
Cardiff — 75-84: 6.9% Glendale — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.2% / 1.9%
Cardiff — 85+: 2.2% Glendale — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cardiff 39.1% lone person
Cardiff — Lone Person: 39.1% Cardiff — Couple Families: 34.8% Cardiff — One Parent Families: 19.4% Cardiff — Group Household: 5.0% Cardiff — Other Families: 1.7%
Glendale 37.1% lone person
Glendale — Lone Person: 37.1% Glendale — Couple Families: 38.5% Glendale — One Parent Families: 19.9% Glendale — Group Household: 3.5% Glendale — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cardiff 31.7% renting
Cardiff — Owned Outright: 30.7% Cardiff — Mortgage: 37.6% Cardiff — Renting: 31.7%
Glendale 33.4% renting
Glendale — Owned Outright: 30.7% Glendale — Mortgage: 35.9% Glendale — Renting: 33.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cardiff Glendale
Certificate III & IV 19.1% / 19.3%
Cardiff — Certificate III & IV: 19.1% Glendale — Certificate III & IV: 19.3%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 9.3%
Cardiff — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Glendale — Bachelor Degree: 9.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.5%
Cardiff — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Glendale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 2.3%
Cardiff — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Glendale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.7%
Cardiff — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Glendale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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 Glendale
England 2.1% / 1.3%
Cardiff — England: 2.1% Glendale — England: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.8%
Cardiff — New Zealand: 1.1% Glendale — New Zealand: 0.8%
Philippines 0.6% / 0.7%
Cardiff — Philippines: 0.6% Glendale — Philippines: 0.7%
India 0.8% / 0.3%
Cardiff — India: 0.8% Glendale — India: 0.3%
Germany 0.6% / 0.4%
Cardiff — Germany: 0.6% Glendale — Germany: 0.4%
Pakistan — / 0.4%
Cardiff — Pakistan: not among its largest Glendale — Pakistan: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cardiff 82.7% houses
Cardiff — Houses: 82.7% Cardiff — Townhouses: 11.0% Cardiff — Flats / Apartments: 6.3%
Glendale 87.2% houses
Glendale — Houses: 87.2% Glendale — Townhouses: 7.9% Glendale — Flats / Apartments: 4.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cardiff Glendale
Median house price $875,000 $861,000
Median unit price $757,500 $880,000
Median land price — $455,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 43 sales
 20 days
from 18 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.

Cardiff Glendale
2 bed $772K / $820K
Cardiff — 2 bed: $772K (22 sales) Glendale — 2 bed: $820K (11 sales)

22 vs 11 sales

3 bed $880K / $862K
Cardiff — 3 bed: $880K (61 sales) Glendale — 3 bed: $862K (31 sales)

61 vs 31 sales

4 bed $898K / $1.11M
Cardiff — 4 bed: $898K (21 sales) Glendale — 4 bed: $1.11M (9 sales)

21 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Cardiff has more industrially zoned land (28% vs 0%); Glendale has more land zoned for conservation (16% vs 1%).

Cardiff Glendale
Residential 55% 41%
Industrial 28% 0%
Environmental 1% 16%
Commercial 0% 15%
Rural and farming 0% 14%
Parks and recreation 10% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 9%
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 Glendale
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 Glendale
Houses 4.3%
$700/wk on $837K
 3.3%
$725/wk on $1.15M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cardiff Glendale
House price Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW
same for both
Schools Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 68% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW

Liveability

Cardiff scores higher overall (51 vs 29); Cardiff is more walkable (88 vs 80).

Cardiff Glendale
Grade B D
Score 51/100 29/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Glendale carries more bushfire risk (51 vs 0).

Cardiff Glendale
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
51/100
Crime High
87/100
 High
92/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Cardiff Glendale
Inside the suburb 4 5
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.9 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4%
same for both

Schools in Cardiff

  • St Kevin's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Cardiff High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Cardiff North Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Cardiff Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Glendale

  • Glendale East Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Glendale Technology High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Holy Cross Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Macquarie College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Newcastle Waldorf School Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cardiff Glendale
Supermarkets 2 3
Parks & reserves 4 1
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 5 3
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 6
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 7 6

Mobility

Cardiff Glendale
Walkability score 88/100 80/100
Distance to Sydney 150.8 km
+1% vs other
 149.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 114 min 111 min
Public transport score 87/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 262.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 204.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2285
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 2285
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.

Cardiff Glendale
Car (driver) 70.4% / 70.5%
Cardiff — Car (driver): 70.4% Glendale — Car (driver): 70.5%
Worked from Home 21.9% / 21.1%
Cardiff — Worked from Home: 21.9% Glendale — Worked from Home: 21.1%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 4.8%
Cardiff — Car (passenger): 4.2% Glendale — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.6%
Cardiff — Walked Only: 1.2% Glendale — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bus 1.3% / 1.4%
Cardiff — Bus: 1.3% Glendale — Bus: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.5%).

Setting

Cardiff Glendale
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.6 km 9.2 km

NBN connectivity

Cardiff Glendale
Connectivity score 66/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
3,699 premises
 39%
1,652 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Cardiff Glendale
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Cardiff

Parks River Transport Hub

Glendale

Large Blocks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cardiff

Cardiff vs Macquarie Hills Cardiff vs Cardiff South Cardiff vs Garden Suburb Cardiff vs Boolaroo Cardiff vs Cardiff Heights Cardiff vs Argenton

Other comparisons with Glendale

Glendale vs Edgeworth Glendale vs Elermore Vale Glendale vs Cardiff Heights Glendale vs Argenton
Full data on Cardiff Full data on Glendale
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.

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