Clarenza vs South Grafton

South Grafton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 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. Houses cost more in Clarenza: a median of $880,000, against $470,000 in South Grafton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Clarenza tends to suit couples, while South Grafton suits people living alone, families with children, 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

South Grafton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Clarenza is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 52%)

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

First-home buyers

Clarenza

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($460,000 vs $660,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 27%)
  • But South Grafton has cheaper houses ($470,000 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 29%)
  • South Grafton has a bigger rental market to choose from (37% vs 10%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Grafton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (35/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Grafton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (35/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • But Clarenza carries lower crime risk (83/100 vs 95/100)

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 3.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Clarenza and South 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 South 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 South Grafton
Walkability 0 / 35
Clarenza — Walkability: 0/100 South Grafton — Walkability: 35/100
Safety 17 / 5
Clarenza — Safety: 17/100 South Grafton — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 83 / 54
Clarenza — Low fire risk: 83/100 South Grafton — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

South Grafton has more residents (6,288 vs 602); Clarenza has higher household incomes ($107,952 vs $50,700).

Clarenza South Grafton
Population 602 6,288
+945% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +3.6%
Median age 49 40
Median household income $107,952/yr
+53% vs other
 $50,700/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+7% vs other
 $280/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clarenza South Grafton
0-4 4.3% / 6.3%
Clarenza — 0-4: 4.3% South Grafton — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 11.8% / 15.0%
Clarenza — 5-14: 11.8% South Grafton — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 6.8% / 6.1%
Clarenza — 15-19: 6.8% South Grafton — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 4.8% / 6.2%
Clarenza — 20-24: 4.8% South Grafton — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 6.6% / 11.0%
Clarenza — 25-34: 6.6% South Grafton — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 10.5% / 10.5%
Clarenza — 35-44: 10.5% South Grafton — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 15.9% / 11.6%
Clarenza — 45-54: 15.9% South Grafton — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 18.3% / 12.1%
Clarenza — 55-64: 18.3% South Grafton — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 12.5% / 11.1%
Clarenza — 65-74: 12.5% South Grafton — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 7.0% / 7.3%
Clarenza — 75-84: 7.0% South Grafton — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 0.8% / 2.8%
Clarenza — 85+: 0.8% South Grafton — 85+: 2.8%

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%
South Grafton 25.1% couple families
South Grafton — Couple Families: 25.1% South Grafton — Lone Person: 41.7% South Grafton — One Parent Families: 26.7% South Grafton — Group Household: 4.6% South Grafton — Other Families: 1.9%
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%
South Grafton 37.4% renting
South Grafton — Owned Outright: 35.7% South Grafton — Mortgage: 26.8% South Grafton — Renting: 37.4%
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 South Grafton
England 1.5% / 1.3%
Clarenza — England: 1.5% South Grafton — England: 1.3%
New Zealand 0.7% / 0.7%
Clarenza — New Zealand: 0.7% South Grafton — New Zealand: 0.7%
Philippines — / 0.3%
Clarenza — Philippines: not among its largest South Grafton — Philippines: 0.3%
Scotland — / 0.3%
Clarenza — Scotland: not among its largest South Grafton — Scotland: 0.3%
India — / 0.2%
Clarenza — India: not among its largest South Grafton — India: 0.2%

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

Qualifications

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

Clarenza South Grafton
Certificate III & IV 22.8% / 16.8%
Clarenza — Certificate III & IV: 22.8% South Grafton — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Bachelor Degree 9.5% / 3.8%
Clarenza — Bachelor Degree: 9.5% South Grafton — Bachelor Degree: 3.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 4.8%
Clarenza — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% South Grafton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 1.0%
Clarenza — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% South Grafton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 0.6%
Clarenza — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% South Grafton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

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%
South Grafton 90.2% houses
South Grafton — Houses: 90.2% South Grafton — Flats / Apartments: 6.1% South Grafton — Townhouses: 3.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Clarenza South Grafton
Median house price $880,000 $470,000
Median unit price — $475,800
Median land price $460,000 $660,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 3 sales
 26 days
from 61 sales

Zoning mix

Clarenza has more rural and farming land (93% vs 61%); South Grafton has more industrially zoned land (10% vs 0%).

Clarenza South Grafton
Rural and farming 93% 61%
Residential 3% 16%
Industrial 0% 10%
Parks and recreation 0% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
Environmental 2% 3%
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 South 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 South Grafton
Houses — 4.9%
$520/wk on $550K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Clarenza South Grafton
House price Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
Schools Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 18% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 96% of NSW

Liveability

South Grafton is more walkable (35 vs 0); Clarenza scores higher overall (27 vs 20).

Clarenza South Grafton
Grade D
same for both
Score 27/100 20/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

South Grafton carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 17); South Grafton carries more crime risk (95 vs 83).

Clarenza South Grafton
Bushfire Low
17/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime High
83/100
 High
95/100
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

Clarenza South Grafton
Inside the suburb 3 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 1 0

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 South Grafton

  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Gillwinga Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • South Grafton High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • South Grafton Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Induna School Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Clarenza South Grafton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 8
Parks & reserves 0 16
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 1 7
Waterways 5 25

Mobility

Clarenza South Grafton
Walkability score 0/100 35/100
Distance to Sydney 607.6 km 608.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 398 min 401 min
Public transport score 37/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 14.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 109.5
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 South Grafton
Car (driver) 75.5% / 81.1%
Clarenza — Car (driver): 75.5% South Grafton — Car (driver): 81.1%
Worked from Home 17.3% / 6.6%
Clarenza — Worked from Home: 17.3% South Grafton — Worked from Home: 6.6%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 7.1%
Clarenza — Car (passenger): 5.0% South Grafton — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Walked Only 2.2% / 3.4%
Clarenza — Walked Only: 2.2% South Grafton — Walked Only: 3.4%
Bicycle — / 1.0%
Clarenza — Bicycle: not among its largest South Grafton — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.1%).

Setting

Clarenza South Grafton
Elevation 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.7 km 34.2 km

NBN connectivity

Clarenza South Grafton
Connectivity score 51/100 66/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 29%
240 premises
 38%
3,280 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Clarenza

Rural

South Grafton

Acreage Affordable River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clarenza

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

Other comparisons with South Grafton

South Grafton vs Grafton South Grafton vs Elland South Grafton vs Rushforth South Grafton vs Waterview
Full data on Clarenza Full data on South 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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