Chiswick vs Russell Lea

Chiswick is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Russell Lea. In both, most households own their home. In Chiswick, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. In Russell Lea, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Chiswick: a median of $4 million, against $3.01 million in Russell Lea, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Chiswick tends to suit people living alone, while Russell Lea suits couples and 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

Russell Lea

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (68% vs 17%)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 48%)
  • But Chiswick has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chiswick has cheaper units ($1,140,000 vs $1,265,000)
  • Russell Lea has cheaper houses ($3,007,500 vs $4,000,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chiswick has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 26%)
  • Russell Lea has cheaper rent ($520/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Chiswick

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (83% vs 32%)

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

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

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

Chiswick Russell Lea
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.

Chiswick Russell Lea
Walkability 77 / 76
Chiswick — Walkability: 77/100 Russell Lea — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 69 / 75
Chiswick — Safety: 69/100 Russell Lea — Safety: 75/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Chiswick — Low fire risk: 100/100 Russell Lea — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Russell Lea has more residents (4,920 vs 2,909); Chiswick rents higher ($600/wk vs $520/wk).

Chiswick Russell Lea
Population 2,909 4,920
+69% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.6% -1.6%
Median age 40 43
Median household income $127,088/yr $138,216/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+13% vs other
 $520/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chiswick Russell Lea
0-4 7.0% / 4.8%
Chiswick — 0-4: 7.0% Russell Lea — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 9.3% / 13.8%
Chiswick — 5-14: 9.3% Russell Lea — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 2.6% / 5.5%
Chiswick — 15-19: 2.6% Russell Lea — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 3.5% / 4.8%
Chiswick — 20-24: 3.5% Russell Lea — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 14.6% / 10.4%
Chiswick — 25-34: 14.6% Russell Lea — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 20.4% / 12.9%
Chiswick — 35-44: 20.4% Russell Lea — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 13.5% / 16.6%
Chiswick — 45-54: 13.5% Russell Lea — 45-54: 16.6%
55-64 11.3% / 12.5%
Chiswick — 55-64: 11.3% Russell Lea — 55-64: 12.5%
65-74 8.7% / 9.3%
Chiswick — 65-74: 8.7% Russell Lea — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 4.5% / 5.5%
Chiswick — 75-84: 4.5% Russell Lea — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 4.5% / 3.8%
Chiswick — 85+: 4.5% Russell Lea — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chiswick 37.0% couple families
Chiswick — Couple Families: 37.0% Chiswick — Lone Person: 46.7% Chiswick — One Parent Families: 11.1% Chiswick — Group Household: 4.3% Chiswick — Other Families: 0.9%
Russell Lea 52.0% couple families
Russell Lea — Couple Families: 52.0% Russell Lea — Lone Person: 30.1% Russell Lea — One Parent Families: 12.5% Russell Lea — Group Household: 3.6% Russell Lea — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chiswick 42.4% renting
Chiswick — Owned Outright: 25.8% Chiswick — Mortgage: 31.7% Chiswick — Renting: 42.4%
Russell Lea 26.1% renting
Russell Lea — Owned Outright: 38.2% Russell Lea — Mortgage: 35.7% Russell Lea — Renting: 26.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Chiswick Russell Lea
Bachelor Degree 23.2% / 21.0%
Chiswick — Bachelor Degree: 23.2% Russell Lea — Bachelor Degree: 21.0%
Postgraduate Degree 10.9% / 7.6%
Chiswick — Postgraduate Degree: 10.9% Russell Lea — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 7.6%
Chiswick — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Russell Lea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 8.3% / 8.7%
Chiswick — Certificate III & IV: 8.3% Russell Lea — Certificate III & IV: 8.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.6%
Chiswick — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Russell Lea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.2%).

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.

Chiswick Russell Lea
Italy 4.8% / 6.3%
Chiswick — Italy: 4.8% Russell Lea — Italy: 6.3%
England 3.5% / 3.3%
Chiswick — England: 3.5% Russell Lea — England: 3.3%
China 4.6% / 1.8%
Chiswick — China: 4.6% Russell Lea — China: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.5%
Chiswick — New Zealand: 1.1% Russell Lea — New Zealand: 1.5%
Greece — / 1.7%
Chiswick — Greece: not among its largest Russell Lea — Greece: 1.7%
India 1.4% / —
Chiswick — India: 1.4% Russell Lea — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chiswick 78.4% flats / apartments
Chiswick — Flats / Apartments: 78.4% Chiswick — Houses: 16.9% Chiswick — Townhouses: 4.7%
Russell Lea 24.0% flats / apartments
Russell Lea — Flats / Apartments: 24.0% Russell Lea — Houses: 68.3% Russell Lea — Townhouses: 7.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Chiswick Russell Lea
Median house price $4,000,000 $3,007,500
Median unit price $1,140,000 $1,265,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 50 days
from 8 sales
 30 days
from 14 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.

Chiswick Russell Lea
3 bed $3.55M / $2.9M
Chiswick — 3 bed: $3.55M (6 sales) Russell Lea — 3 bed: $2.9M (18 sales)

6 vs 18 sales

4 bed $4M / $3.4M
Chiswick — 4 bed: $4M (5 sales) Russell Lea — 4 bed: $3.4M (12 sales)

5 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Chiswick Russell Lea
Residential 73% 97%
Parks and recreation 25% 0%
Commercial 1% 2%
Planning zones cover 98% of Chiswick and 100% of Russell Lea. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Chiswick Russell Lea
New dwellings approved 1,600
across Canada Bay
same for both
Approvals change year on year +72%
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.

Chiswick Russell Lea
Houses — 2.5%
$1,300/wk on $2.7M
Units 3.8%
$820/wk on $1.13M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Chiswick Russell Lea
House price Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 7% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 17% of NSW —

Liveability

Chiswick Russell Lea
Grade A+
same for both
Score 88/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Chiswick Russell Lea
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
31/100
 Low
25/100
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 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Chiswick Russell Lea
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 5.9 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.6%

Schools in Chiswick

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

Schools in Russell Lea

  • Russell Lea Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Chiswick Russell Lea
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 0 3

Mobility

Chiswick Russell Lea
Walkability score 77/100 76/100
Distance to Sydney 9.2 km
+8% vs other
 8.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 15 min
Public transport score 93/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 75.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 101.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2046
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2046
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.

Chiswick Russell Lea
Worked from Home 59.2% / 56.5%
Chiswick — Worked from Home: 59.2% Russell Lea — Worked from Home: 56.5%
Car (driver) 34.3% / 36.8%
Chiswick — Car (driver): 34.3% Russell Lea — Car (driver): 36.8%
Bus 3.0% / 2.2%
Chiswick — Bus: 3.0% Russell Lea — Bus: 2.2%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 2.0%
Chiswick — Car (passenger): 2.0% Russell Lea — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.4%
Chiswick — Walked Only: 0.9% Russell Lea — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.2%).

Setting

Chiswick Russell Lea
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.6 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 10.1 km
3.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Chiswick Russell Lea
Connectivity score 73/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
1,675 premises
 40%
2,076 premises

Climate

Chiswick Russell Lea
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Chiswick Russell Lea
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.62 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Chiswick Russell Lea
Average residential rate $1,217/yr
same for both
Council Canada Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Chiswick Russell Lea
Division Reid
same for both
Member Sally Sitou
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Chiswick Russell Lea
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Chiswick

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Russell Lea

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chiswick

Chiswick vs Abbotsford

Other comparisons with Russell Lea

Russell Lea vs Drummoyne Russell Lea vs Five Dock Russell Lea vs Abbotsford Russell Lea vs Wareemba Russell Lea vs Rodd Point
Full data on Chiswick Full data on Russell Lea
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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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