Carlingford vs West Pennant Hills

Carlingford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 43 in West Pennant Hills. In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in West Pennant Hills: a median of $2.54 million, against $2.27 million in Carlingford, and rent is higher there too.

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 schools rated above their peers (7 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 11)
  • has more parks and reserves (35 vs 27)
  • But West Pennant Hills carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 43/100)

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

First-home buyers

Carlingford

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($710,000 vs $985,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,900,000 vs $2,375,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,269,500 vs $2,542,500)
  • But West Pennant Hills leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 28%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Carlingford

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $641/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Carlingford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Carlingford

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 9%)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 4)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 72/100)
  • But West Pennant Hills carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 43/100)

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

Investors

Carlingford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.0% vs 1.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Carlingford and West Pennant Hills 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 West Pennant Hills
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 West Pennant Hills
Walkability 95 / 72
Carlingford — Walkability: 95/100 West Pennant Hills — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 57 / 83
Carlingford — Safety: 57/100 West Pennant Hills — Safety: 83/100
Low fire risk 100 / 86
Carlingford — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Pennant Hills — Low fire risk: 86/100

Demographics

Carlingford has more residents (28,044 vs 16,620); West Pennant Hills has higher household incomes ($160,056 vs $108,368).

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Population 28,044
+41% vs other
 16,620
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.0% +1.5%
Median age 38 43
Median household income $108,368/yr $160,056/yr
+48% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $641/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
0-4 5.5% / 4.7%
Carlingford — 0-4: 5.5% West Pennant Hills — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 15.3% / 13.6%
Carlingford — 5-14: 15.3% West Pennant Hills — 5-14: 13.6%
15-19 5.2% / 6.6%
Carlingford — 15-19: 5.2% West Pennant Hills — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.7% / 6.1%
Carlingford — 20-24: 5.7% West Pennant Hills — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 11.5% / 8.1%
Carlingford — 25-34: 11.5% West Pennant Hills — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 17.0% / 12.8%
Carlingford — 35-44: 17.0% West Pennant Hills — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 12.2% / 13.4%
Carlingford — 45-54: 12.2% West Pennant Hills — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 11.5% / 14.8%
Carlingford — 55-64: 11.5% West Pennant Hills — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 8.8% / 12.9%
Carlingford — 65-74: 8.8% West Pennant Hills — 65-74: 12.9%
75-84 5.3% / 5.3%
Carlingford — 75-84: 5.3% West Pennant Hills — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.0% / 1.8%
Carlingford — 85+: 2.0% West Pennant Hills — 85+: 1.8%

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%
West Pennant Hills 72.1% couple families
West Pennant Hills — Couple Families: 72.1% West Pennant Hills — Lone Person: 15.4% West Pennant Hills — One Parent Families: 10.4% West Pennant Hills — Group Household: 1.1% West Pennant Hills — Other Families: 1.0%
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%
West Pennant Hills 12.5% renting
West Pennant Hills — Owned Outright: 45.0% West Pennant Hills — Mortgage: 42.5% West Pennant Hills — Renting: 12.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Bachelor Degree 22.2% / 24.1%
Carlingford — Bachelor Degree: 22.2% West Pennant Hills — Bachelor Degree: 24.1%
Postgraduate Degree 11.2% / 11.4%
Carlingford — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2% West Pennant Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.0%
Carlingford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% West Pennant Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 6.1% / 6.5%
Carlingford — Certificate III & IV: 6.1% West Pennant Hills — Certificate III & IV: 6.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.7%
Carlingford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% West Pennant Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

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 West Pennant Hills
China 19.4% / 8.6%
Carlingford — China: 19.4% West Pennant Hills — China: 8.6%
India 4.9% / 4.3%
Carlingford — India: 4.9% West Pennant Hills — India: 4.3%
England 1.2% / 2.9%
Carlingford — England: 1.2% West Pennant Hills — England: 2.9%
Sri Lanka 1.5% / 1.9%
Carlingford — Sri Lanka: 1.5% West Pennant Hills — Sri Lanka: 1.9%
Malaysia 1.7% / 1.6%
Carlingford — Malaysia: 1.7% West Pennant Hills — Malaysia: 1.6%
Iran 1.8% / 1.2%
Carlingford — Iran: 1.8% West Pennant Hills — Iran: 1.2%
Pakistan 2.0% / —
Carlingford — Pakistan: 2.0% West Pennant Hills — 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%
West Pennant Hills 90.8% houses
West Pennant Hills — Houses: 90.8% West Pennant Hills — Flats / Apartments: 2.7% West Pennant Hills — Townhouses: 6.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Median house price $2,269,500 $2,542,500
Median unit price $710,000 $985,000
Median land price $1,900,000 $2,375,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 184 sales
 25 days
from 196 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 West Pennant Hills
3 bed $2.13M / $1.8M
Carlingford — 3 bed: $2.13M (52 sales) West Pennant Hills — 3 bed: $1.8M (55 sales)

52 vs 55 sales

4 bed $2.26M / $2.42M
Carlingford — 4 bed: $2.26M (98 sales) West Pennant Hills — 4 bed: $2.42M (101 sales)

98 vs 101 sales

5 bed $2.4M / $2.94M
Carlingford — 5 bed: $2.4M (44 sales) West Pennant Hills — 5 bed: $2.94M (114 sales)

44 vs 114 sales

6 bed $2.7M / $3.48M
Carlingford — 6 bed: $2.7M (8 sales) West Pennant Hills — 6 bed: $3.48M (26 sales)

8 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

West Pennant Hills has more land zoned for conservation (22% vs 7%).

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Residential 81% 66%
Environmental 7% 22%
Parks and recreation 6%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 5% 1%
Rural and farming 0% 5%
Commercial 1% 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

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
New dwellings approved 2,888
across Parramatta
 2,648
across The Hills
Approvals change year on year +154% -4%

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 West Pennant Hills
Houses 2.7%
$930/wk on $1.8M
 2.9%
$1,250/wk on $2.23M
Units 5.1%
$700/wk on $710K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Schools Higher than 95% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 71% of NSW —

Liveability

Carlingford is more walkable (95 vs 72).

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Grade A A+
Score 87/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

West Pennant Hills carries more bushfire risk (14 vs 0); Carlingford carries more crime risk (43 vs 17).

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
14/100
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Low
17/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Inside the suburb 9 2
Rated above peers 7 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 5.5 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 7.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 4.3%

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 West Pennant Hills

  • West Pennant Hills Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Hills Montessori School Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Supermarkets 3 2
Cafes & restaurants 7 3
Parks & reserves 35 27
Childcare 18 11
GPs 7 4
Pharmacies 7 2
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 8 2
Waterways 6 17

Mobility

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Walkability score 95/100 72/100
Distance to Sydney 26.3 km 28.2 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 453.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 715.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 2118
 3.4%
postcode 2125
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2118
 56
postcode 2125

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 West Pennant Hills
Worked from Home 52.1% / 58.1%
Carlingford — Worked from Home: 52.1% West Pennant Hills — Worked from Home: 58.1%
Car (driver) 39.3% / 35.7%
Carlingford — Car (driver): 39.3% West Pennant Hills — Car (driver): 35.7%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.2%
Carlingford — Car (passenger): 2.8% West Pennant Hills — Car (passenger): 2.2%
Train 2.6% / 1.5%
Carlingford — Train: 2.6% West Pennant Hills — Train: 1.5%
Bus 2.0% / 1.9%
Carlingford — Bus: 2.0% West Pennant Hills — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.1%).

Setting

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 100 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.0 km 20.9 km

NBN connectivity

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Connectivity score 79/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
10,838 premises
 3%
5,842 premises

Climate

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
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 West Pennant Hills
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 West Pennant Hills
Average residential rate $1,103/yr $1,204/yr
Council Parramatta The Hills

Federal electorate

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
Division Parramatta Mitchell
Member Andrew Charlton Alex Hawke
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Carlingford West Pennant Hills
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

West Pennant Hills

Easy Commute Large Blocks Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carlingford

Carlingford vs Epping Carlingford vs Eastwood Carlingford vs North Parramatta Carlingford vs Beecroft Carlingford vs North Rocks Carlingford vs Dundas Valley

Other comparisons with West Pennant Hills

West Pennant Hills vs Castle Hill West Pennant Hills vs Baulkham Hills West Pennant Hills vs Cherrybrook West Pennant Hills vs Beecroft West Pennant Hills vs North Rocks West Pennant Hills vs Pennant Hills
Full data on Carlingford Full data on West Pennant Hills
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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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