Castlereagh vs Cranebrook

Cranebrook is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 38 in Castlereagh. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Castlereagh, most households are couple families. In Cranebrook, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Castlereagh: a median of $3.33 million, against $1.05 million in Cranebrook. On these figures, Cranebrook 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

Cranebrook

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Cranebrook

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,050,000 vs $3,330,000)
  • has cheaper land ($1,215,000 vs $2,580,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs house 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

Cranebrook

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (43/100 vs 35/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (61.8 km vs 65.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cranebrook

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 80/100)
  • is more walkable (43/100 vs 35/100)
  • But Castlereagh has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 10%)

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

Investors

Castlereagh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.6% vs 0.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Castlereagh Cranebrook
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.

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Walkability 35 / 43
Castlereagh — Walkability: 35/100 Cranebrook — Walkability: 43/100
Safety 20 / 41
Castlereagh — Safety: 20/100 Cranebrook — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 24 / 22
Castlereagh — Low fire risk: 24/100 Cranebrook — Low fire risk: 22/100

Demographics

Cranebrook has more residents (15,779 vs 1,248); Castlereagh skews older (38 vs 33).

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Population 1,248 15,779
+1164% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +0.1%
Median age 38 33
Median household income $123,240/yr
+11% vs other
 $109,616/yr
Median weekly rent $428/wk
+4% vs other
 $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh Cranebrook
0-4 6.6% / 7.7%
Castlereagh — 0-4: 6.6% Cranebrook — 0-4: 7.7%
5-14 15.3% / 15.3%
Castlereagh — 5-14: 15.3% Cranebrook — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 6.2% / 6.9%
Castlereagh — 15-19: 6.2% Cranebrook — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 4.8% / 6.7%
Castlereagh — 20-24: 4.8% Cranebrook — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 12.5% / 15.2%
Castlereagh — 25-34: 12.5% Cranebrook — 25-34: 15.2%
35-44 13.7% / 13.7%
Castlereagh — 35-44: 13.7% Cranebrook — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 10.5% / 12.8%
Castlereagh — 45-54: 10.5% Cranebrook — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 12.3% / 11.8%
Castlereagh — 55-64: 12.3% Cranebrook — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 11.5% / 6.8%
Castlereagh — 65-74: 11.5% Cranebrook — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 5.0% / 2.6%
Castlereagh — 75-84: 5.0% Cranebrook — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 1.8% / 0.6%
Castlereagh — 85+: 1.8% Cranebrook — 85+: 0.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh 63.7% couple families
Castlereagh — Couple Families: 63.7% Castlereagh — Lone Person: 16.5% Castlereagh — One Parent Families: 14.7% Castlereagh — Group Household: 4.0% Castlereagh — Other Families: 1.1%
Cranebrook 54.0% couple families
Cranebrook — Couple Families: 54.0% Cranebrook — Lone Person: 21.9% Cranebrook — One Parent Families: 21.0% Cranebrook — Group Household: 2.0% Cranebrook — 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.

Castlereagh 17.8% renting
Castlereagh — Owned Outright: 46.7% Castlereagh — Mortgage: 35.5% Castlereagh — Renting: 17.8%
Cranebrook 26.8% renting
Cranebrook — Owned Outright: 23.5% Cranebrook — Mortgage: 49.7% Cranebrook — Renting: 26.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 18.1%
Castlereagh — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Cranebrook — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 7.9%
Castlereagh — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Cranebrook — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.9%
Castlereagh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Cranebrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 2.4%
Castlereagh — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Cranebrook — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.1%
Castlereagh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Cranebrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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.

Castlereagh Cranebrook
England 2.6% / 3.1%
Castlereagh — England: 2.6% Cranebrook — England: 3.1%
New Zealand 0.5% / 1.6%
Castlereagh — New Zealand: 0.5% Cranebrook — New Zealand: 1.6%
Italy 1.3% / 0.3%
Castlereagh — Italy: 1.3% Cranebrook — Italy: 0.3%
India 0.6% / 1.0%
Castlereagh — India: 0.6% Cranebrook — India: 1.0%
Philippines — / 0.9%
Castlereagh — Philippines: not among its largest Cranebrook — Philippines: 0.9%
Germany 0.8% / —
Castlereagh — Germany: 0.8% Cranebrook — Germany: not among its largest
Greece 0.6% / —
Castlereagh — Greece: 0.6% Cranebrook — Greece: not among its largest
China — / 0.6%
Castlereagh — China: not among its largest Cranebrook — China: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh 97.1% houses
Castlereagh — Houses: 97.1% Castlereagh — Townhouses: 0.0% Castlereagh — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Cranebrook 89.6% houses
Cranebrook — Houses: 89.6% Cranebrook — Townhouses: 9.9% Cranebrook — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Median house price $3,330,000 $1,050,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $2,580,000 $1,215,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 122 days
from 4 sales
 22 days
from 123 sales

Zoning mix

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Other and special use 65% 6%
Residential 0% 36%
Environmental 23% 24%
Rural and farming 19% 23%
Parks and recreation 0% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
Industrial 0% 1%
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

Castlereagh Cranebrook
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
same for both
Approvals change year on year -78%
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.

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Houses — 3.7%
$720/wk on $1.02M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Castlereagh Cranebrook
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Schools Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 54% of NSW

Liveability

Cranebrook is more walkable (43 vs 35).

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Grade C
same for both
Score 44/100 43/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Castlereagh carries more crime risk (80 vs 59).

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Bushfire High
76/100
 High
78/100
Crime High
80/100
 Moderate
59/100
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 0
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Inside the suburb 3 6
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 9.5 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.5%

Schools in Castlereagh

  • Castlereagh Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • The Lakes Christian College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Schools in Cranebrook

  • Cranebrook High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Henry Fulton Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Corpus Christi Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Samuel Terry Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Paul's Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Braddock Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 5
Parks & reserves 2 11
Childcare 2 15
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 12 7

Mobility

Castlereagh sits further from the CBD (65.4 km vs 61.8 km).

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Walkability score 35/100 43/100
Distance to Sydney 65.4 km
+6% vs other
 61.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 59 min 57 min
Public transport score 42/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 264.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2749
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 2749
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.

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Car (driver) 54.7% / 61.2%
Castlereagh — Car (driver): 54.7% Cranebrook — Car (driver): 61.2%
Worked from Home 36.1% / 31.9%
Castlereagh — Worked from Home: 36.1% Cranebrook — Worked from Home: 31.9%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.2%
Castlereagh — Car (passenger): 4.5% Cranebrook — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 3.9% / 0.8%
Castlereagh — Walked Only: 3.9% Cranebrook — Walked Only: 0.8%
Train 0.9% / 1.7%
Castlereagh — Train: 0.9% Cranebrook — Train: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.2%).

Setting

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Connectivity score 31/100 98/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
388 premises
 97%
5,694 premises

Climate

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Annual rainfall 806 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Castlereagh Cranebrook
PM2.5 7.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.6 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Average residential rate $1,547/yr
same for both
Council Penrith
same for both

Federal electorate

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Division Lindsay
same for both
Member Melissa Mcintosh
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Castlereagh Cranebrook
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Castlereagh

Acreage Premium River

Cranebrook

Family Large Blocks Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlereagh

Castlereagh vs Penrith Castlereagh vs Emu Plains Castlereagh vs Londonderry Castlereagh vs Emu Heights Castlereagh vs Yellow Rock Castlereagh vs Agnes Banks

Other comparisons with Cranebrook

Cranebrook vs Penrith Cranebrook vs Jordan Springs Cranebrook vs Londonderry Cranebrook vs Cambridge Gardens Cranebrook vs Llandilo
Full data on Castlereagh Full data on Cranebrook
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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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