Castle Hill vs Dural

Castle Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Dural. In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Castle Hill is closer to the city centre: 31.5 km, against 38.3 km.

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

Castle Hill

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (7 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (34 vs 10)
  • has more childcare (37 vs 13)

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

First-home buyers

Dural

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($699,500 vs $964,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

Castle Hill

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 26/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (35 min vs 44 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (31.5 km vs 38.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Castle Hill

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (13 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 26/100)

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

Investors

Castle Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 3.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.9% vs 2.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Castle Hill Dural
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.

Castle Hill Dural
Walkability 96 / 26
Castle Hill — Walkability: 96/100 Dural — Walkability: 26/100
Low fire risk 82 / 71
Castle Hill — Low fire risk: 82/100 Dural — Low fire risk: 71/100

Demographics

Castle Hill has more residents (40,874 vs 7,900); Dural skews older (45 vs 42).

Castle Hill Dural
Population 40,874
+81% vs other
 7,900
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.2% +4.4%
Median age 42 45
Median household income $132,652/yr
+2% vs other
 $129,428/yr
Median weekly rent $560/wk $600/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill Dural
0-4 4.3% / 4.1%
Castle Hill — 0-4: 4.3% Dural — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 14.5% / 13.3%
Castle Hill — 5-14: 14.5% Dural — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.7% / 7.1%
Castle Hill — 15-19: 6.7% Dural — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 5.8% / 6.0%
Castle Hill — 20-24: 5.8% Dural — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 8.3% / 7.8%
Castle Hill — 25-34: 8.3% Dural — 25-34: 7.8%
35-44 14.2% / 10.1%
Castle Hill — 35-44: 14.2% Dural — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 14.3% / 15.3%
Castle Hill — 45-54: 14.3% Dural — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 12.0% / 13.9%
Castle Hill — 55-64: 12.0% Dural — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 10.4% / 10.3%
Castle Hill — 65-74: 10.4% Dural — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 6.2% / 8.0%
Castle Hill — 75-84: 6.2% Dural — 75-84: 8.0%
85+ 3.4% / 3.8%
Castle Hill — 85+: 3.4% Dural — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill 64.0% couple families
Castle Hill — Couple Families: 64.0% Castle Hill — Lone Person: 20.9% Castle Hill — One Parent Families: 12.3% Castle Hill — Group Household: 1.8% Castle Hill — Other Families: 1.1%
Dural 61.3% couple families
Dural — Couple Families: 61.3% Dural — Lone Person: 23.4% Dural — One Parent Families: 12.5% Dural — Group Household: 1.8% Dural — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill 24.1% renting
Castle Hill — Owned Outright: 36.8% Castle Hill — Mortgage: 39.2% Castle Hill — Renting: 24.1%
Dural 15.2% renting
Dural — Owned Outright: 46.2% Dural — Mortgage: 38.5% Dural — Renting: 15.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castle Hill Dural
Bachelor Degree 21.8% / 18.3%
Castle Hill — Bachelor Degree: 21.8% Dural — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Postgraduate Degree 10.8% / 7.1%
Castle Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 10.8% Dural — Postgraduate Degree: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 7.1% / 10.3%
Castle Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.1% Dural — Certificate III & IV: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.9%
Castle Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Dural — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.9%
Castle Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Dural — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

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.

Castle Hill Dural
China 9.2% / 4.1%
Castle Hill — China: 9.2% Dural — China: 4.1%
India 5.4% / 3.0%
Castle Hill — India: 5.4% Dural — India: 3.0%
England 3.0% / 4.0%
Castle Hill — England: 3.0% Dural — England: 4.0%
South Africa 1.6% / 2.0%
Castle Hill — South Africa: 1.6% Dural — South Africa: 2.0%
Sri Lanka 1.6% / 1.5%
Castle Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.6% Dural — Sri Lanka: 1.5%
Malaysia 1.4% / 1.6%
Castle Hill — Malaysia: 1.4% Dural — Malaysia: 1.6%
Iran 1.7% / —
Castle Hill — Iran: 1.7% Dural — Iran: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castle Hill 73.7% houses
Castle Hill — Houses: 73.7% Castle Hill — Flats / Apartments: 15.4% Castle Hill — Townhouses: 10.9%
Dural 80.3% houses
Dural — Houses: 80.3% Dural — Flats / Apartments: 10.5% Dural — Townhouses: 9.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Castle Hill Dural
Median house price $2,460,000 $2,280,000
Median unit price $964,000 $699,500
Median land price $3,490,000 $3,850,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 431 sales
 26 days
from 58 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.

Castle Hill Dural
3 bed $1.92M / $1.7M
Castle Hill — 3 bed: $1.92M (79 sales) Dural — 3 bed: $1.7M (16 sales)

79 vs 16 sales

4 bed $2.4M / $2.23M
Castle Hill — 4 bed: $2.4M (200 sales) Dural — 4 bed: $2.23M (30 sales)

200 vs 30 sales

5 bed $2.73M / $2.45M
Castle Hill — 5 bed: $2.73M (136 sales) Dural — 5 bed: $2.45M (23 sales)

136 vs 23 sales

6 bed $2.89M / $2.61M
Castle Hill — 6 bed: $2.89M (29 sales) Dural — 6 bed: $2.61M (8 sales)

29 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Dural has more rural and farming land (57% vs 1%); Dural has more land zoned for conservation (31% vs 10%).

Castle Hill Dural
Residential 68% 4%
Rural and farming 1% 57%
Environmental 10% 31%
Parks and recreation 12% 5%
Industrial 7% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 2%
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

Castle Hill Dural
New dwellings approved 2,648
across The Hills
 260
across Hornsby
Approvals change year on year -4% -79%

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.

Castle Hill Dural
Houses 2.9%
$988/wk on $1.8M
 2.3%
$1,100/wk on $2.5M
Units 4.7%
$820/wk on $900K
 3.3%
$600/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Castle Hill Dural
House price Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
Schools Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW

Liveability

Castle Hill is more walkable (96 vs 26); Castle Hill scores higher overall (84 vs 69).

Castle Hill Dural
Grade A
same for both
Score 84/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Dural carries more bushfire risk (29 vs 18).

Castle Hill Dural
Bushfire Low
18/100
 Low
29/100
Crime Moderate
43/100
 —
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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Castle Hill Dural
Inside the suburb 13 6
Rated above peers 7 2
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 9.6 km
 None

Schools in Castle Hill

  • Castle Hill High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Castle Hill Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Excelsior Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Oakhill College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Oakhill Drive Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Samuel Gilbert Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Dural

  • Dural Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lorien Novalis School for Rudolf Steiner Education Independent · Combined above peers
  • Pacific Hills Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Redfield College Independent · Combined at peers
  • New Hope Christian School Independent · Combined · Special school
  • Warrah Specialist School Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Castle Hill Dural
Supermarkets 4 3
Cafes & restaurants 39 3
Parks & reserves 34 10
Childcare 37 13
GPs 13 3
Pharmacies 10 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 3
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 16 22

Mobility

Dural sits further from the CBD (38.3 km vs 31.5 km).

Castle Hill Dural
Walkability score 96/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 31.5 km 38.3 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 44 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1508.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 292.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.9%
postcode 2154
 2.1%
postcode 2158
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 2154
 45
postcode 2158

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.

Castle Hill Dural
Worked from Home 55.3% / 50.6%
Castle Hill — Worked from Home: 55.3% Dural — Worked from Home: 50.6%
Car (driver) 37.0% / 42.8%
Castle Hill — Car (driver): 37.0% Dural — Car (driver): 42.8%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 2.6%
Castle Hill — Car (passenger): 2.4% Dural — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.4%
Castle Hill — Walked Only: 1.3% Dural — Walked Only: 2.4%
Train 2.5% / 1.0%
Castle Hill — Train: 2.5% Dural — Train: 1.0%
Bus 1.5% / 0.5%
Castle Hill — Bus: 1.5% Dural — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.3%).

Setting

Castle Hill Dural
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 197 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.6 km 21.1 km

NBN connectivity

Castle Hill Dural
Connectivity score 70/100 85/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
18,435 premises
 52%
3,490 premises

Climate

Castle Hill Dural
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)

Castle Hill Dural
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³ 5.4 µg/m³
PM10 16.9 µg/m³ 14.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.83 pphm 0.23 pphm

Council rates

Castle Hill Dural
Average residential rate $1,204/yr $1,488/yr
Council The Hills Hornsby

Federal electorate

Castle Hill Dural
Division Mitchell Berowra
Member Alex Hawke Julian Leeser
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Castle Hill Dural
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Castle Hill

Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

Dural

Easy Commute Outer Premium Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castle Hill

Castle Hill vs Baulkham Hills Castle Hill vs Kellyville Castle Hill vs Cherrybrook Castle Hill vs West Pennant Hills Castle Hill vs Glenhaven Castle Hill vs Norwest

Other comparisons with Dural

Dural vs Hornsby Dural vs Cherrybrook Dural vs Glenhaven Dural vs Hornsby Heights Dural vs Kenthurst Dural vs Westleigh
Full data on Castle Hill Full data on Dural
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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