Castlereagh vs Yellow Rock

Castlereagh is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Yellow Rock. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Castlereagh: a median of $3.33 million, against $1.13 million in Yellow Rock, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Yellow Rock 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

Castlereagh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Yellow Rock

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,132,500 vs $3,330,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Castlereagh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (18% vs 8%)

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

Commuting to the city

Castlereagh

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (35/100 vs 18/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (65.4 km vs 79.4 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (59 min vs 70 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Castlereagh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (35/100 vs 18/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Castlereagh and Yellow Rock 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 Yellow Rock
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 Yellow Rock
Walkability 35 / 18
Castlereagh — Walkability: 35/100 Yellow Rock — Walkability: 18/100
Low fire risk 24 / 10
Castlereagh — Low fire risk: 24/100 Yellow Rock — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Yellow Rock has higher household incomes ($137,020 vs $123,240); Yellow Rock skews older (42 vs 38).

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Population 1,248
+10% vs other
 1,119
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +8.7%
Median age 38 42
Median household income $123,240/yr $137,020/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $428/wk
+7% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
0-4 6.6% / 4.4%
Castlereagh — 0-4: 6.6% Yellow Rock — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 15.3% / 14.9%
Castlereagh — 5-14: 15.3% Yellow Rock — 5-14: 14.9%
15-19 6.2% / 7.5%
Castlereagh — 15-19: 6.2% Yellow Rock — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 4.8% / 4.9%
Castlereagh — 20-24: 4.8% Yellow Rock — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 12.5% / 9.0%
Castlereagh — 25-34: 12.5% Yellow Rock — 25-34: 9.0%
35-44 13.7% / 12.7%
Castlereagh — 35-44: 13.7% Yellow Rock — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 10.5% / 15.0%
Castlereagh — 45-54: 10.5% Yellow Rock — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 12.3% / 17.2%
Castlereagh — 55-64: 12.3% Yellow Rock — 55-64: 17.2%
65-74 11.5% / 9.3%
Castlereagh — 65-74: 11.5% Yellow Rock — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 5.0% / 4.2%
Castlereagh — 75-84: 5.0% Yellow Rock — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 1.8% / 0.4%
Castlereagh — 85+: 1.8% Yellow Rock — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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%
Yellow Rock 72.8% couple families
Yellow Rock — Couple Families: 72.8% Yellow Rock — Lone Person: 14.9% Yellow Rock — One Parent Families: 10.1% Yellow Rock — Group Household: 0.0% Yellow Rock — Other Families: 2.2%
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%
Yellow Rock 7.7% renting
Yellow Rock — Owned Outright: 36.4% Yellow Rock — Mortgage: 55.9% Yellow Rock — Renting: 7.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 21.1%
Castlereagh — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Yellow Rock — Certificate III & IV: 21.1%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 9.7%
Castlereagh — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Yellow Rock — Bachelor Degree: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 9.2%
Castlereagh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Yellow Rock — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 3.8%
Castlereagh — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Yellow Rock — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.3%
Castlereagh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Yellow Rock — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
England 2.6% / 3.7%
Castlereagh — England: 2.6% Yellow Rock — England: 3.7%
Italy 1.3% / —
Castlereagh — Italy: 1.3% Yellow Rock — Italy: not among its largest
Germany 0.8% / 0.3%
Castlereagh — Germany: 0.8% Yellow Rock — Germany: 0.3%
New Zealand 0.5% / 0.4%
Castlereagh — New Zealand: 0.5% Yellow Rock — New Zealand: 0.4%
Malaysia — / 0.8%
Castlereagh — Malaysia: not among its largest Yellow Rock — Malaysia: 0.8%
Philippines — / 0.7%
Castlereagh — Philippines: not among its largest Yellow Rock — Philippines: 0.7%
India 0.6% / —
Castlereagh — India: 0.6% Yellow Rock — India: not among its largest
Greece 0.6% / —
Castlereagh — Greece: 0.6% Yellow Rock — Greece: not among its largest
China — / 0.4%
Castlereagh — China: not among its largest Yellow Rock — China: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh 97.1% houses
Castlereagh — Houses: 97.1% Castlereagh — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Yellow Rock 98.6% houses
Yellow Rock — Houses: 98.6% Yellow Rock — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Median house price $3,330,000 $1,132,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $2,580,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 122 days
from 4 sales
 45 days
from 9 sales

Zoning mix

Yellow Rock has more land zoned for conservation (99% vs 23%); Castlereagh has more rural and farming land (19% vs 0%).

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Environmental 23% 99%
Other and special use 65% 0%
Rural and farming 19% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
 123
across Blue Mountains
Approvals change year on year -78% +14%

Ranking within NSW

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools Higher than 72% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW

Liveability

Castlereagh is more walkable (35 vs 18); Castlereagh scores higher overall (44 vs 36).

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Grade C
same for both
Score 44/100 36/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Yellow Rock carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 76).

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Bushfire High
76/100
 High
90/100
Crime High
80/100
 —
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 9.5 km
 None

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 Yellow Rock

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 2 3
Childcare 2 0
Waterways 12 4

Mobility

Yellow Rock sits further from the CBD (79.4 km vs 65.4 km).

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Walkability score 35/100 18/100
Distance to Sydney 65.4 km 79.4 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 59 min 70 min
Public transport score 42/100
Bus
 36/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2749
 1.2%
postcode 2777
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 2749
 49
postcode 2777

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 Yellow Rock
Car (driver) 54.7% / 62.2%
Castlereagh — Car (driver): 54.7% Yellow Rock — Car (driver): 62.2%
Worked from Home 36.1% / 33.5%
Castlereagh — Worked from Home: 36.1% Yellow Rock — Worked from Home: 33.5%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 2.5%
Castlereagh — Car (passenger): 4.5% Yellow Rock — Car (passenger): 2.5%
Walked Only 3.9% / 1.0%
Castlereagh — Walked Only: 3.9% Yellow Rock — Walked Only: 1.0%
Train 0.9% / 0.8%
Castlereagh — Train: 0.9% Yellow Rock — Train: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.2%).

Setting

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 236 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Connectivity score 31/100 93/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
388 premises
 66%
392 premises

Climate

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Annual rainfall 806 mm 822 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
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 Yellow Rock
Average residential rate $1,547/yr $2,080/yr
Council Penrith Blue Mountains

Federal electorate

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
Division Lindsay Macquarie
Member Melissa Mcintosh Susan Templeman
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Castlereagh Yellow Rock
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

Yellow Rock

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlereagh

Castlereagh vs Penrith Castlereagh vs Cranebrook Castlereagh vs Emu Plains Castlereagh vs Londonderry Castlereagh vs Emu Heights Castlereagh vs Agnes Banks

Other comparisons with Yellow Rock

Yellow Rock vs Springwood Yellow Rock vs Winmalee Yellow Rock vs Emu Heights Yellow Rock vs Mount Riverview Yellow Rock vs Warrimoo Yellow Rock vs Yarramundi
Full data on Castlereagh Full data on Yellow Rock
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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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