Carlingford vs North Rocks

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Carlingford: a median of $2.27 million, against $1.9 million in North Rocks. On these figures, North Rocks tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Carlingford

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (35 vs 9)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 8)
  • But North Rocks has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 58%)

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

First-home buyers

North Rocks

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,898,250 vs $2,269,500)
  • has cheaper units ($641,000 vs $710,000)

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

Carlingford

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 71/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (28 min vs 34 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (26.3 km vs 29 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Carlingford

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 3)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 22%)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 71/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Carlingford North Rocks
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.

Carlingford North Rocks
Walkability 95 / 71
Carlingford — Walkability: 95/100 North Rocks — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 57 / 58
Carlingford — Safety: 57/100 North Rocks — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carlingford — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Rocks — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Carlingford has more residents (28,044 vs 9,136); North Rocks has higher household incomes ($122,408 vs $108,368).

Carlingford North Rocks
Population 28,044
+67% vs other
 9,136
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.0% +14.7%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $108,368/yr $122,408/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $505/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carlingford North Rocks
0-4 5.5% / 5.3%
Carlingford — 0-4: 5.5% North Rocks — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 15.3% / 14.2%
Carlingford — 5-14: 15.3% North Rocks — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 5.2% / 5.9%
Carlingford — 15-19: 5.2% North Rocks — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.7% / 5.5%
Carlingford — 20-24: 5.7% North Rocks — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 11.5% / 11.0%
Carlingford — 25-34: 11.5% North Rocks — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 17.0% / 15.1%
Carlingford — 35-44: 17.0% North Rocks — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 12.2% / 13.7%
Carlingford — 45-54: 12.2% North Rocks — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 11.5% / 11.5%
Carlingford — 55-64: 11.5% North Rocks — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 8.8% / 9.8%
Carlingford — 65-74: 8.8% North Rocks — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 5.3% / 6.3%
Carlingford — 75-84: 5.3% North Rocks — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 2.0% / 1.6%
Carlingford — 85+: 2.0% North Rocks — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Carlingford 63.0% couple families
Carlingford — Couple Families: 63.0% Carlingford — Lone Person: 18.0% Carlingford — One Parent Families: 14.5% Carlingford — Group Household: 3.1% Carlingford — Other Families: 1.5%
North Rocks 63.0% couple families
North Rocks — Couple Families: 63.0% North Rocks — Lone Person: 19.3% North Rocks — One Parent Families: 13.5% North Rocks — Group Household: 3.2% North Rocks — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Carlingford 33.8% renting
Carlingford — Owned Outright: 31.3% Carlingford — Mortgage: 34.9% Carlingford — Renting: 33.8%
North Rocks 24.2% renting
North Rocks — Owned Outright: 36.2% North Rocks — Mortgage: 39.6% North Rocks — Renting: 24.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carlingford North Rocks
Bachelor Degree 22.2% / 21.1%
Carlingford — Bachelor Degree: 22.2% North Rocks — Bachelor Degree: 21.1%
Postgraduate Degree 11.2% / 9.8%
Carlingford — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2% North Rocks — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.8%
Carlingford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% North Rocks — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 6.1% / 8.8%
Carlingford — Certificate III & IV: 6.1% North Rocks — Certificate III & IV: 8.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.2%
Carlingford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% North Rocks — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

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.

Carlingford North Rocks
China 19.4% / 10.8%
Carlingford — China: 19.4% North Rocks — China: 10.8%
India 4.9% / 3.4%
Carlingford — India: 4.9% North Rocks — India: 3.4%
Iran 1.8% / 2.1%
Carlingford — Iran: 1.8% North Rocks — Iran: 2.1%
England 1.2% / 2.2%
Carlingford — England: 1.2% North Rocks — England: 2.2%
Sri Lanka 1.5% / 1.7%
Carlingford — Sri Lanka: 1.5% North Rocks — Sri Lanka: 1.7%
Malaysia 1.7% / 1.0%
Carlingford — Malaysia: 1.7% North Rocks — Malaysia: 1.0%
Pakistan 2.0% / —
Carlingford — Pakistan: 2.0% North Rocks — Pakistan: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Carlingford 58.1% houses
Carlingford — Houses: 58.1% Carlingford — Flats / Apartments: 29.5% Carlingford — Townhouses: 12.5%
North Rocks 78.1% houses
North Rocks — Houses: 78.1% North Rocks — Flats / Apartments: 14.1% North Rocks — Townhouses: 7.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Carlingford North Rocks
Median house price $2,269,500 $1,898,250
Median unit price $710,000 $641,000
Median land price $1,900,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 184 sales
 22 days
from 79 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.

Carlingford North Rocks
3 bed $2.13M / $1.79M
Carlingford — 3 bed: $2.13M (52 sales) North Rocks — 3 bed: $1.79M (21 sales)

52 vs 21 sales

4 bed $2.26M / $1.92M
Carlingford — 4 bed: $2.26M (98 sales) North Rocks — 4 bed: $1.92M (44 sales)

98 vs 44 sales

5 bed $2.4M / $2.1M
Carlingford — 5 bed: $2.4M (44 sales) North Rocks — 5 bed: $2.1M (13 sales)

44 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

North Rocks has more land zoned for conservation (18% vs 7%).

Carlingford North Rocks
Residential 81% 53%
Environmental 7% 18%
Parks and recreation 6% 13%
Industrial 0% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 5%
same for both
Commercial 1%
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

Carlingford North Rocks
New dwellings approved 2,888
across Parramatta
same for both
Approvals change year on year +154%
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.

Carlingford North Rocks
Houses 2.7%
$930/wk on $1.8M
 3.1%
$965/wk on $1.6M
Units 5.1%
$700/wk on $710K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Carlingford North Rocks
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Schools Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 71% of NSW —

Liveability

Carlingford is more walkable (95 vs 71).

Carlingford North Rocks
Grade A
same for both
Score 87/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Carlingford North Rocks
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
42/100
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 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Carlingford North Rocks
Inside the suburb 9 3
Rated above peers 7 3
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 5.5 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.0%

Schools in Carlingford

  • Carlingford High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Carlingford Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Carlingford West Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cumberland High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • James Ruse Agricultural High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Murray Farm Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in North Rocks

  • Christ The King Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Muirfield High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • North Rocks Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carlingford North Rocks
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 7 10
Parks & reserves 35 9
Childcare 18 8
GPs 7 3
Pharmacies 7 2
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 8 3
Waterways 6 14

Mobility

North Rocks sits further from the CBD (29 km vs 26.3 km).

Carlingford North Rocks
Walkability score 95/100 71/100
Distance to Sydney 26.3 km 29 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 34 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 453.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 253.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 2118
 1.5%
postcode 2151
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2118
 21
postcode 2151

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.

Carlingford North Rocks
Worked from Home 52.1% / 53.5%
Carlingford — Worked from Home: 52.1% North Rocks — Worked from Home: 53.5%
Car (driver) 39.3% / 39.9%
Carlingford — Car (driver): 39.3% North Rocks — Car (driver): 39.9%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.0%
Carlingford — Car (passenger): 2.8% North Rocks — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Bus 2.0% / 1.9%
Carlingford — Bus: 2.0% North Rocks — Bus: 1.9%
Train 2.6% / 0.8%
Carlingford — Train: 2.6% North Rocks — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.5%).

Setting

Carlingford North Rocks
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.0 km 21.7 km

NBN connectivity

Carlingford North Rocks
Connectivity score 79/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
10,838 premises
 18%
3,875 premises

Climate

Carlingford North Rocks
Annual rainfall 1,021 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Carlingford North Rocks
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.83 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Carlingford North Rocks
Average residential rate $1,103/yr
same for both
Council Parramatta
same for both

Federal electorate

Carlingford North Rocks
Division Parramatta Mitchell
Member Andrew Charlton Alex Hawke
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Carlingford North Rocks
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Carlingford

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Urban

North Rocks

Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carlingford

Carlingford vs Epping Carlingford vs Eastwood Carlingford vs West Pennant Hills Carlingford vs North Parramatta Carlingford vs Beecroft Carlingford vs Dundas Valley

Other comparisons with North Rocks

North Rocks vs Baulkham Hills North Rocks vs West Pennant Hills North Rocks vs North Parramatta North Rocks vs Northmead
Full data on Carlingford Full data on North Rocks
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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