Farley vs Gillieston Heights

In both, most homes are detached houses. In Farley, about half of households rent. In Gillieston Heights, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gillieston Heights: a median of $820,000, against $732,000 in Farley. On these figures, Farley tends to suit renters and share households, while Gillieston Heights suits families with children and couples.

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 96/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Farley has cheaper houses ($732,500 vs $820,500)
  • Gillieston Heights has cheaper units ($295,000 vs $683,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Farley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 39%)

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

Commuting to the city

Gillieston Heights

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (19/100 vs 5/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (122 min vs 132 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (163.6 km vs 172.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Gillieston Heights

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (19/100 vs 5/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 96/100)
  • But Farley has more units and townhouses to downsize into (33% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Farley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (177.5% vs 52.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Farley 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.

Farley 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.

Farley Gillieston Heights
Walkability 5 / 19
Farley — Walkability: 5/100 Gillieston Heights — Walkability: 19/100
Safety 4 / 42
Farley — Safety: 4/100 Gillieston Heights — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 72
Farley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Gillieston Heights — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Gillieston Heights has more residents (4,796 vs 605).

Farley Gillieston Heights
Population 605 4,796
+693% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +177.5% +52.3%
Median age 30
same for both
Median household income $104,780/yr
+1% vs other
 $103,272/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+2% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Farley Gillieston Heights
0-4 8.9% / 10.8%
Farley — 0-4: 8.9% Gillieston Heights — 0-4: 10.8%
5-14 12.9% / 16.1%
Farley — 5-14: 12.9% Gillieston Heights — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 5.6% / 4.4%
Farley — 15-19: 5.6% Gillieston Heights — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 11.6% / 6.9%
Farley — 20-24: 11.6% Gillieston Heights — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 17.7% / 21.1%
Farley — 25-34: 17.7% Gillieston Heights — 25-34: 21.1%
35-44 13.4% / 15.8%
Farley — 35-44: 13.4% Gillieston Heights — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 9.9% / 9.2%
Farley — 45-54: 9.9% Gillieston Heights — 45-54: 9.2%
55-64 9.1% / 6.5%
Farley — 55-64: 9.1% Gillieston Heights — 55-64: 6.5%
65-74 6.3% / 5.6%
Farley — 65-74: 6.3% Gillieston Heights — 65-74: 5.6%
75-84 2.1% / 2.8%
Farley — 75-84: 2.1% Gillieston Heights — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 1.3% / 0.9%
Farley — 85+: 1.3% Gillieston Heights — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Farley 36.7% couple families
Farley — Couple Families: 36.7% Farley — Lone Person: 22.7% Farley — One Parent Families: 26.7% Farley — Group Household: 10.0% Farley — Other Families: 4.0%
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.

Farley 51.8% renting
Farley — Owned Outright: 19.1% Farley — Mortgage: 29.1% Farley — Renting: 51.8%
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.

Farley Gillieston Heights
Certificate III & IV 18.8% / 20.6%
Farley — Certificate III & IV: 18.8% Gillieston Heights — Certificate III & IV: 20.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 7.5%
Farley — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Gillieston Heights — Bachelor Degree: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 7.5%
Farley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Gillieston Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 0.5% / 2.3%
Farley — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5% Gillieston Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.4%
Farley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Gillieston Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

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.

Farley Gillieston Heights
India 2.0% / 1.9%
Farley — India: 2.0% Gillieston Heights — India: 1.9%
England 1.5% / 1.5%
Farley — England: 1.5% Gillieston Heights — England: 1.5%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.2%
Farley — New Zealand: 0.7% Gillieston Heights — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.4%
Farley — South Africa: 0.8% Gillieston Heights — South Africa: 0.4%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Farley — Philippines: not among its largest Gillieston Heights — Philippines: 0.8%
Ireland 0.5% / —
Farley — Ireland: 0.5% Gillieston Heights — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Farley 67.3% houses
Farley — Houses: 67.3% Farley — Townhouses: 33.2% Farley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
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

Farley Gillieston Heights
Median house price $732,500 $820,500
Median unit price $683,000 $295,000
Median land price $475,000 $458,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 30 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.

Farley Gillieston Heights
3 bed $705K / $725K
Farley — 3 bed: $705K (17 sales) Gillieston Heights — 3 bed: $725K (29 sales)

17 vs 29 sales

4 bed $750K / $843K
Farley — 4 bed: $750K (59 sales) Gillieston Heights — 4 bed: $843K (109 sales)

59 vs 109 sales

5 bed $1.03M / $985K
Farley — 5 bed: $1.03M (6 sales) Gillieston Heights — 5 bed: $985K (10 sales)

6 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Farley has more rural and farming land (75% vs 39%); Gillieston Heights has more land zoned for conservation (33% vs 12%).

Farley Gillieston Heights
Rural and farming 75% 39%
Environmental 12% 33%
Residential 12% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 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

Farley Gillieston Heights
New dwellings approved 1,413
across Maitland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +20%
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.

Farley Gillieston Heights
Houses 4.2%
$630/wk on $785K
 4.0%
$650/wk on $850K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Farley Gillieston Heights
House price Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW

Liveability

Gillieston Heights is more walkable (19 vs 5); Gillieston Heights scores higher overall (40 vs 32).

Farley Gillieston Heights
Grade C
same for both
Score 32/100 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); Farley carries more crime risk (96 vs 58).

Farley Gillieston Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
28/100
Crime High
96/100
 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 5
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Farley

  • Hunter Trade College Independent · Secondary

Schools in Gillieston Heights

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Farley sits further from the CBD (172.5 km vs 163.6 km).

Farley Gillieston Heights
Walkability score 5/100 19/100
Distance to Sydney 172.5 km
+5% vs other
 163.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 132 min 122 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
 0.6%
postcode 2321
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
 69
postcode 2321

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.

Farley Gillieston Heights
Car (driver) 78.5% / 75.6%
Farley — Car (driver): 78.5% Gillieston Heights — Car (driver): 75.6%
Worked from Home 16.5% / 19.2%
Farley — Worked from Home: 16.5% Gillieston Heights — Worked from Home: 19.2%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 3.6%
Farley — Car (passenger): 3.7% Gillieston Heights — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 1.2% / 0.5%
Farley — Walked Only: 1.2% Gillieston Heights — Walked Only: 0.5%
Bus — / 0.7%
Farley — Bus: not among its largest Gillieston Heights — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.5%).

Setting

Farley Gillieston Heights
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.1 km 25.6 km

NBN connectivity

Farley Gillieston Heights
Connectivity score 92/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 88%
686 premises
 99%
2,339 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Farley 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

Farley Gillieston Heights
Average residential rate $1,908/yr
same for both
Council Maitland
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Farley

Rural Townhouses Young Families

Gillieston Heights

Acreage Family Quiet Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Farley

Farley vs Rutherford Farley vs Telarah Farley vs Lochinvar Farley vs Bishops Bridge

Other comparisons with Gillieston Heights

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