Clarenza vs Grafton

Grafton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 49 in Clarenza. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Clarenza, most households are couple families. In Grafton, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Clarenza: a median of $880,000, against $530,000 in Grafton. On these figures, Clarenza tends to suit couples, while Grafton suits people living alone 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

Grafton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 3)
  • But Clarenza is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 47%)

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

  • Clarenza leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 26%)
  • Grafton has cheaper houses ($530,000 vs $880,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Clarenza leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 25%)
  • Grafton has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 10%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Clarenza sits closer to the CBD (607.6 km vs 610.9 km)
  • Grafton is more walkable (83/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Grafton

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 5%)

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

Investors

Clarenza

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.3% vs 1.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Clarenza Grafton
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.

Clarenza Grafton
Walkability 0 / 83
Clarenza — Walkability: 0/100 Grafton — Walkability: 83/100
Safety 17 / 8
Clarenza — Safety: 17/100 Grafton — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 83 / 100
Clarenza — Low fire risk: 83/100 Grafton — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Grafton has more residents (10,563 vs 602); Clarenza has higher household incomes ($107,952 vs $61,308).

Clarenza Grafton
Population 602 10,563
+1655% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +1.5%
Median age 49 44
Median household income $107,952/yr
+43% vs other
 $61,308/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clarenza Grafton
0-4 4.3% / 5.6%
Clarenza — 0-4: 4.3% Grafton — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 11.8% / 12.1%
Clarenza — 5-14: 11.8% Grafton — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 6.8% / 5.5%
Clarenza — 15-19: 6.8% Grafton — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.8% / 5.6%
Clarenza — 20-24: 4.8% Grafton — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 6.6% / 11.4%
Clarenza — 25-34: 6.6% Grafton — 25-34: 11.4%
35-44 10.5% / 10.6%
Clarenza — 35-44: 10.5% Grafton — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 15.9% / 11.1%
Clarenza — 45-54: 15.9% Grafton — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 18.3% / 12.5%
Clarenza — 55-64: 18.3% Grafton — 55-64: 12.5%
65-74 12.5% / 11.9%
Clarenza — 65-74: 12.5% Grafton — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 7.0% / 8.7%
Clarenza — 75-84: 7.0% Grafton — 75-84: 8.7%
85+ 0.8% / 4.9%
Clarenza — 85+: 0.8% Grafton — 85+: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clarenza 56.1% couple families
Clarenza — Couple Families: 56.1% Clarenza — Lone Person: 22.7% Clarenza — One Parent Families: 12.1% Clarenza — Group Household: 5.3% Clarenza — Other Families: 3.8%
Grafton 27.2% couple families
Grafton — Couple Families: 27.2% Grafton — Lone Person: 46.9% Grafton — One Parent Families: 19.8% Grafton — Group Household: 4.3% Grafton — 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.

Clarenza 10.0% renting
Clarenza — Owned Outright: 47.8% Clarenza — Mortgage: 42.3% Clarenza — Renting: 10.0%
Grafton 35.0% renting
Grafton — Owned Outright: 36.3% Grafton — Mortgage: 28.7% Grafton — Renting: 35.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Clarenza Grafton
England 1.5% / 1.3%
Clarenza — England: 1.5% Grafton — England: 1.3%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.8%
Clarenza — New Zealand: 0.7% Grafton — New Zealand: 0.8%
India — / 0.7%
Clarenza — India: not among its largest Grafton — India: 0.7%
Philippines — / 0.4%
Clarenza — Philippines: not among its largest Grafton — Philippines: 0.4%
Scotland — / 0.2%
Clarenza — Scotland: not among its largest Grafton — Scotland: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.5%).

Qualifications

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

Clarenza Grafton
Certificate III & IV 22.8% / 17.8%
Clarenza — Certificate III & IV: 22.8% Grafton — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.5% / 7.4%
Clarenza — Bachelor Degree: 9.5% Grafton — Bachelor Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 6.0%
Clarenza — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Grafton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 1.5%
Clarenza — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Grafton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.3%
Clarenza — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Grafton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clarenza 94.7% houses
Clarenza — Houses: 94.7% Clarenza — Flats / Apartments: 3.4% Clarenza — Townhouses: 1.9%
Grafton 76.1% houses
Grafton — Houses: 76.1% Grafton — Flats / Apartments: 13.3% Grafton — Townhouses: 10.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Clarenza Grafton
Median house price $880,000 $530,000
Median unit price — $390,000
Median land price $460,000 $420,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 3 sales
 26 days
from 179 sales

Zoning mix

Clarenza has more rural and farming land (93% vs 11%); Grafton has more land zoned for conservation (22% vs 2%).

Clarenza Grafton
Rural and farming 93% 11%
Residential 3% 44%
Environmental 2% 22%
Parks and recreation 0% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 6%
Commercial 0% 3%
Industrial 0% 2%
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

Clarenza Grafton
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
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.

Clarenza Grafton
Houses — 4.9%
$565/wk on $605K
Units — 5.1%
$400/wk on $405K

Ranking within NSW

Clarenza Grafton
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Schools Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 71% of NSW

Liveability

Grafton is more walkable (83 vs 0); Grafton scores higher overall (33 vs 27).

Clarenza Grafton
Grade D C
Score 27/100 33/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Clarenza carries more bushfire risk (17 vs 0).

Clarenza Grafton
Bushfire Low
17/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
83/100
 High
92/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Clarenza Grafton
Inside the suburb 3 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Clarenza

  • McAuley Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Andrew's Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Clarence Valley Anglican School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Grafton

  • Grafton Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Mary's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Westlawn Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Grafton High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Clarence Valley Anglican School, Grafton Campus Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Clarenza Grafton
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 5
Parks & reserves 0 18
Childcare 0 11
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 0 5
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 9
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 5 3

Mobility

Grafton sits further from the CBD (610.9 km vs 607.6 km).

Clarenza Grafton
Walkability score 0/100 83/100
Distance to Sydney 607.6 km 610.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 398 min 402 min
Public transport score 37/100
Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 14.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 93.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2460
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 60
postcode 2460
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.

Clarenza Grafton
Car (driver) 75.5% / 77.7%
Clarenza — Car (driver): 75.5% Grafton — Car (driver): 77.7%
Worked from Home 17.3% / 8.3%
Clarenza — Worked from Home: 17.3% Grafton — Worked from Home: 8.3%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 6.7%
Clarenza — Car (passenger): 5.0% Grafton — Car (passenger): 6.7%
Walked Only 2.2% / 5.2%
Clarenza — Walked Only: 2.2% Grafton — Walked Only: 5.2%
Bicycle — / 1.7%
Clarenza — Bicycle: not among its largest Grafton — Bicycle: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.7%).

Setting

Clarenza Grafton
Elevation 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.7 km 35.5 km

NBN connectivity

Clarenza Grafton
Connectivity score 51/100 79/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
240 premises
 40%
5,999 premises

Climate

Clarenza Grafton
Annual rainfall 1,060 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.3°C
same for both

Council rates

Clarenza Grafton
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Clarenza Grafton
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clarenza Grafton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clarenza

Rural

Grafton

Affordable Parks Regional Centre Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clarenza

Clarenza vs South Grafton Clarenza vs Glenugie Clarenza vs Ulmarra Clarenza vs Great Marlow Clarenza vs Swan Creek

Other comparisons with Grafton

Grafton vs South Grafton Grafton vs Carrs Creek Grafton vs Great Marlow Grafton vs Waterview
Full data on Clarenza Full data on Grafton
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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