Cliftleigh vs Gillieston Heights

Cliftleigh is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 30 in Gillieston Heights. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In Cliftleigh, about half of households rent. In Gillieston Heights, most households own their home.

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

Gillieston Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 77/100)

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

First-home buyers

Cliftleigh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($374,000 vs $458,000)

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

Cliftleigh

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (115 min vs 122 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (159.8 km vs 163.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Gillieston Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Cliftleigh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (160.0% vs 52.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
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.

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Walkability 26 / 19
Cliftleigh — Walkability: 26/100 Gillieston Heights — Walkability: 19/100
Safety 23 / 42
Cliftleigh — Safety: 23/100 Gillieston Heights — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 72
Cliftleigh — Low fire risk: 100/100 Gillieston Heights — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Gillieston Heights has more residents (4,796 vs 2,309); Gillieston Heights skews older (30 vs 27).

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Population 2,309 4,796
+108% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +160.0% +52.3%
Median age 27 30
Median household income $104,936/yr
+2% vs other
 $103,272/yr
Median weekly rent $435/wk
+1% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
0-4 11.9% / 10.8%
Cliftleigh — 0-4: 11.9% Gillieston Heights — 0-4: 10.8%
5-14 16.0% / 16.1%
Cliftleigh — 5-14: 16.0% Gillieston Heights — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 5.8% / 4.4%
Cliftleigh — 15-19: 5.8% Gillieston Heights — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 8.5% / 6.9%
Cliftleigh — 20-24: 8.5% Gillieston Heights — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 26.9% / 21.1%
Cliftleigh — 25-34: 26.9% Gillieston Heights — 25-34: 21.1%
35-44 13.3% / 15.8%
Cliftleigh — 35-44: 13.3% Gillieston Heights — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 6.9% / 9.2%
Cliftleigh — 45-54: 6.9% Gillieston Heights — 45-54: 9.2%
55-64 5.0% / 6.5%
Cliftleigh — 55-64: 5.0% Gillieston Heights — 55-64: 6.5%
65-74 4.4% / 5.6%
Cliftleigh — 65-74: 4.4% Gillieston Heights — 65-74: 5.6%
75-84 1.2% / 2.8%
Cliftleigh — 75-84: 1.2% Gillieston Heights — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 0.4% / 0.9%
Cliftleigh — 85+: 0.4% Gillieston Heights — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cliftleigh 51.1% couple families
Cliftleigh — Couple Families: 51.1% Cliftleigh — Lone Person: 20.0% Cliftleigh — One Parent Families: 24.7% Cliftleigh — Group Household: 4.2% Cliftleigh — Other Families: 0.0%
Gillieston Heights 52.4% couple families
Gillieston Heights — Couple Families: 52.4% Gillieston Heights — Lone Person: 24.9% Gillieston Heights — One Parent Families: 18.3% Gillieston Heights — Group Household: 2.7% Gillieston Heights — 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.

Cliftleigh 47.1% renting
Cliftleigh — Owned Outright: 12.1% Cliftleigh — Mortgage: 40.8% Cliftleigh — Renting: 47.1%
Gillieston Heights 38.7% renting
Gillieston Heights — Owned Outright: 18.9% Gillieston Heights — Mortgage: 42.4% Gillieston Heights — Renting: 38.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Certificate III & IV 20.7% / 20.6%
Cliftleigh — Certificate III & IV: 20.7% Gillieston Heights — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Bachelor Degree 7.2% / 7.5%
Cliftleigh — Bachelor Degree: 7.2% Gillieston Heights — Bachelor Degree: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 7.5%
Cliftleigh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% Gillieston Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 2.3%
Cliftleigh — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Gillieston Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.4%
Cliftleigh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Gillieston Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

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.

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Philippines 2.5% / 0.8%
Cliftleigh — Philippines: 2.5% Gillieston Heights — Philippines: 0.8%
England 1.3% / 1.5%
Cliftleigh — England: 1.3% Gillieston Heights — England: 1.5%
India 0.7% / 1.9%
Cliftleigh — India: 0.7% Gillieston Heights — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.3% / 1.2%
Cliftleigh — New Zealand: 0.3% Gillieston Heights — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.4%
Cliftleigh — South Africa: 0.4% Gillieston Heights — South Africa: 0.4%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.3%
Cliftleigh — Scotland: 0.4% Gillieston Heights — Scotland: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cliftleigh 94.1% houses
Cliftleigh — Houses: 94.1% Cliftleigh — Townhouses: 5.2% Cliftleigh — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Gillieston Heights 85.6% houses
Gillieston Heights — Houses: 85.6% Gillieston Heights — Townhouses: 7.5% Gillieston Heights — Flats / Apartments: 6.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Median house price $814,000 $820,500
Median unit price — $295,000
Median land price $374,000 $458,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 46 sales
 23 days
from 83 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.

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
3 bed $742K / $725K
Cliftleigh — 3 bed: $742K (11 sales) Gillieston Heights — 3 bed: $725K (29 sales)

11 vs 29 sales

4 bed $812K / $843K
Cliftleigh — 4 bed: $812K (88 sales) Gillieston Heights — 4 bed: $843K (109 sales)

88 vs 109 sales

5 bed $1.05M / $985K
Cliftleigh — 5 bed: $1.05M (8 sales) Gillieston Heights — 5 bed: $985K (10 sales)

8 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Gillieston Heights has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 17%).

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Rural and farming 39%
same for both
Environmental 17% 33%
Residential 30% 26%
Parks and recreation 12% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
New dwellings approved 719
across Cessnock
 1,413
across Maitland
Approvals change year on year -31% +20%

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.

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Houses 4.3%
$700/wk on $838K
 4.0%
$650/wk on $850K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
House price Higher than 30% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 71% of NSW
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 57% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW

Liveability

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Grade C
same for both
Score 42/100 40/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Gillieston Heights carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 0); Cliftleigh carries more crime risk (77 vs 58).

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
28/100
Crime High
77/100
 Moderate
58/100
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 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Cliftleigh

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

Schools in Gillieston Heights

  • Gillieston Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • The Heights Learning Community Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 4
Childcare 1 3
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Gillieston Heights sits further from the CBD (163.6 km vs 159.8 km).

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Walkability score 26/100 19/100
Distance to Sydney 159.8 km 163.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min 122 min
Public transport score 64/100
Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 34.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2321
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 69
postcode 2321
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.

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Car (driver) 77.8% / 75.6%
Cliftleigh — Car (driver): 77.8% Gillieston Heights — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 16.8% / 19.2%
Cliftleigh — Worked from Home: 16.8% Gillieston Heights — Worked from Home: 19.2%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 3.6%
Cliftleigh — Car (passenger): 3.8% Gillieston Heights — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 0.9% / 0.3%
Cliftleigh — Train: 0.9% Gillieston Heights — Train: 0.3%
Bus 0.3% / 0.7%
Cliftleigh — Bus: 0.3% Gillieston Heights — Bus: 0.7%
Walked Only 0.4% / 0.5%
Cliftleigh — Walked Only: 0.4% Gillieston Heights — Walked Only: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.8%).

Setting

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.9 km 25.6 km

NBN connectivity

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Connectivity score 95/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 91%
1,087 premises
 99%
2,339 premises

Climate

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Annual rainfall 804 mm 996 mm
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.1°C 7.1°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Average residential rate $1,405/yr $1,908/yr
Council Cessnock Maitland

Federal electorate

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cliftleigh Gillieston Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cliftleigh

Family Large Blocks Young Families

Gillieston Heights

Acreage Family Quiet Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cliftleigh

Cliftleigh vs Heddon Greta Cliftleigh vs Louth Park Cliftleigh vs Buchanan

Other comparisons with Gillieston Heights

Gillieston Heights vs Telarah Gillieston Heights vs Maitland Gillieston Heights vs Louth Park Gillieston Heights vs Farley Gillieston Heights vs Sawyers Gully Gillieston Heights vs Bishops Bridge
Full data on Cliftleigh Full data on Gillieston Heights
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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