Cranebrook vs Penrith

Cranebrook is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 36 in Penrith. In Cranebrook, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Penrith, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Cranebrook tends to suit families with children and couples, while Penrith suits renters and people living alone.

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

Cranebrook

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 36%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (75% vs 39%)
  • But Penrith has more parks and reserves (24 vs 11)

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

First-home buyers

Cranebrook

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Cranebrook leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 27%)
  • Penrith has a bigger rental market to choose from (63% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Penrith

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 43/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (51 min vs 57 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (58.1 km vs 61.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Penrith

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (15 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 43/100)
  • But Cranebrook carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 97/100)

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

Investors

Penrith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (35.1% vs 0.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cranebrook Penrith
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.

Cranebrook Penrith
Walkability 43 / 93
Cranebrook — Walkability: 43/100 Penrith — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 41 / 3
Cranebrook — Safety: 41/100 Penrith — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 22 / 62
Cranebrook — Low fire risk: 22/100 Penrith — Low fire risk: 62/100

Demographics

Cranebrook has higher household incomes ($109,616 vs $72,644); Penrith skews older (36 vs 33).

Cranebrook Penrith
Population 15,779 17,966
+14% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.1% +35.1%
Median age 33 36
Median household income $109,616/yr
+34% vs other
 $72,644/yr
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+7% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cranebrook Penrith
0-4 7.7% / 5.8%
Cranebrook — 0-4: 7.7% Penrith — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 15.3% / 9.1%
Cranebrook — 5-14: 15.3% Penrith — 5-14: 9.1%
15-19 6.9% / 4.1%
Cranebrook — 15-19: 6.9% Penrith — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 6.7% / 9.5%
Cranebrook — 20-24: 6.7% Penrith — 20-24: 9.5%
25-34 15.2% / 19.8%
Cranebrook — 25-34: 15.2% Penrith — 25-34: 19.8%
35-44 13.7% / 13.6%
Cranebrook — 35-44: 13.7% Penrith — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 12.8% / 11.2%
Cranebrook — 45-54: 12.8% Penrith — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 11.8% / 9.8%
Cranebrook — 55-64: 11.8% Penrith — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 6.8% / 8.2%
Cranebrook — 65-74: 6.8% Penrith — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 2.6% / 5.7%
Cranebrook — 75-84: 2.6% Penrith — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 0.6% / 3.1%
Cranebrook — 85+: 0.6% Penrith — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cranebrook 54.0% couple families
Cranebrook — Couple Families: 54.0% Cranebrook — Lone Person: 21.9% Cranebrook — One Parent Families: 21.0% Cranebrook — Group Household: 2.0% Cranebrook — Other Families: 1.1%
Penrith 21.5% couple families
Penrith — Couple Families: 21.5% Penrith — Lone Person: 52.2% Penrith — One Parent Families: 17.6% Penrith — Group Household: 6.4% Penrith — Other Families: 2.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cranebrook 26.8% renting
Cranebrook — Owned Outright: 23.5% Cranebrook — Mortgage: 49.7% Cranebrook — Renting: 26.8%
Penrith 62.6% renting
Penrith — Owned Outright: 16.0% Penrith — Mortgage: 21.4% Penrith — Renting: 62.6%
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.

Cranebrook Penrith
England 3.1% / 2.9%
Cranebrook — England: 3.1% Penrith — England: 2.9%
India 1.0% / 2.7%
Cranebrook — India: 1.0% Penrith — India: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.0%
Cranebrook — New Zealand: 1.6% Penrith — New Zealand: 2.0%
Philippines 0.9% / 2.2%
Cranebrook — Philippines: 0.9% Penrith — Philippines: 2.2%
China 0.6% / 1.7%
Cranebrook — China: 0.6% Penrith — China: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

Qualifications

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

Cranebrook Penrith
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 15.0%
Cranebrook — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Penrith — Certificate III & IV: 15.0%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 11.2%
Cranebrook — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% Penrith — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 7.2%
Cranebrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Penrith — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 4.4%
Cranebrook — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Penrith — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.1%
Cranebrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Penrith — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cranebrook 89.6% houses
Cranebrook — Houses: 89.6% Cranebrook — Flats / Apartments: 0.5% Cranebrook — Townhouses: 9.9%
Penrith 36.0% houses
Penrith — Houses: 36.0% Penrith — Flats / Apartments: 43.6% Penrith — Townhouses: 20.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cranebrook Penrith
Median house price $1,050,000 $993,000
Median unit price — $575,000
Median land price $1,215,000 $1,120,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 123 sales
 24 days
from 114 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.

Cranebrook Penrith
3 bed $975K / $977K
Cranebrook — 3 bed: $975K (137 sales) Penrith — 3 bed: $977K (95 sales)

137 vs 95 sales

4 bed $1.18M / $1.16M
Cranebrook — 4 bed: $1.18M (90 sales) Penrith — 4 bed: $1.16M (33 sales)

90 vs 33 sales

Zoning mix

Cranebrook has more rural and farming land (23% vs 0%); Cranebrook has more land zoned for conservation (24% vs 3%).

Cranebrook Penrith
Residential 36% 35%
Environmental 24% 3%
Rural and farming 23% 0%
Industrial 1% 21%
Other and special use 6% 14%
Parks and recreation 7% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 12%
Commercial 0% 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

Cranebrook Penrith
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
same for both
Approvals change year on year -78%
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.

Cranebrook Penrith
Houses 3.7%
$720/wk on $1.02M
 3.4%
$650/wk on $1M
Units — 4.8%
$550/wk on $594K

Ranking within NSW

Cranebrook Penrith
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Income Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Schools Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 98% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 58% of NSW

Liveability

Penrith is more walkable (93 vs 43).

Cranebrook Penrith
Grade C
same for both
Score 43/100 44/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Cranebrook carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 38); Penrith carries more crime risk (97 vs 59).

Cranebrook Penrith
Bushfire High
78/100
 Low
38/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 High
97/100
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 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cranebrook Penrith
Inside the suburb 6 4
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 6.6 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.5% 1.6%

Schools in Cranebrook

  • Cranebrook High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Henry Fulton Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Corpus Christi Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Samuel Terry Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Paul's Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Braddock Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Penrith

  • Penrith High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Penrith Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Nicholas of Myra Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Kingswood Park Public School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Cranebrook Penrith
Supermarkets 2 7
Cafes & restaurants 5 73
Parks & reserves 11 24
Childcare 15 24
GPs 2 15
Pharmacies 1 12
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 12
Fuel stations 2 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 7
same for both

Mobility

Cranebrook sits further from the CBD (61.8 km vs 58.1 km).

Cranebrook Penrith
Walkability score 43/100 93/100
Distance to Sydney 61.8 km
+6% vs other
 58.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 57 min 51 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 264.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 685.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2749
 0.7%
postcode 2750
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 2749
 31
postcode 2750

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.

Cranebrook Penrith
Car (driver) 61.2% / 50.9%
Cranebrook — Car (driver): 61.2% Penrith — Car (driver): 50.9%
Worked from Home 31.9% / 34.2%
Cranebrook — Worked from Home: 31.9% Penrith — Worked from Home: 34.2%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.7%
Cranebrook — Car (passenger): 4.2% Penrith — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 1.7% / 5.5%
Cranebrook — Train: 1.7% Penrith — Train: 5.5%
Walked Only 0.8% / 4.4%
Cranebrook — Walked Only: 0.8% Penrith — Walked Only: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.2%).

Setting

Cranebrook Penrith
Elevation 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 49.7 km 49.0 km

NBN connectivity

Cranebrook Penrith
Connectivity score 98/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 97%
5,694 premises
 95%
11,886 premises

Climate

Cranebrook Penrith
Annual rainfall 806 mm 822 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Cranebrook Penrith
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

Cranebrook Penrith
Average residential rate $1,547/yr
same for both
Council Penrith
same for both

Federal electorate

Cranebrook Penrith
Division Lindsay
same for both
Member Melissa Mcintosh
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cranebrook Penrith
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cranebrook

Family Large Blocks Outer

Penrith

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Outer Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cranebrook

Cranebrook vs Jordan Springs Cranebrook vs Londonderry Cranebrook vs Cambridge Gardens Cranebrook vs Llandilo Cranebrook vs Castlereagh

Other comparisons with Penrith

Penrith vs South Penrith Penrith vs Kingswood Penrith vs Emu Plains Penrith vs Cambridge Park Penrith vs Jamisontown Penrith vs Cambridge Gardens
Full data on Cranebrook Full data on Penrith
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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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