Lower Macdonald vs Wisemans Ferry

Wisemans Ferry is the younger of the two, with a median age of 50 against 53 in Lower Macdonald. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lower Macdonald, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Lower Macdonald: a median of $640,000, against $540,000 in Wisemans Ferry, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Lower Macdonald tends to suit people living alone, while Wisemans Ferry suits 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

Wisemans Ferry

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (48% vs 39%)
  • But Lower Macdonald carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 95/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Lower Macdonald leaves households under less mortgage stress (34% vs 43%)
  • Wisemans Ferry has cheaper houses ($540,000 vs $640,000)

Weighs house 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

Wisemans Ferry

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (25/100 vs 14/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (80 min vs 112 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (75.2 km vs 81.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lower Macdonald

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 95/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 22%)
  • But Wisemans Ferry is more walkable (25/100 vs 14/100)

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

Investors

Wisemans Ferry

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.9% vs -6.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
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.

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Walkability 14 / 25
Lower Macdonald — Walkability: 14/100 Wisemans Ferry — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 42 / 5
Lower Macdonald — Safety: 42/100 Wisemans Ferry — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 6 / 6
Lower Macdonald — Low fire risk: 6/100 Wisemans Ferry — Low fire risk: 6/100

Demographics

Lower Macdonald skews older (53 vs 50).

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Population 244
+5% vs other
 233
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.2% +5.9%
Median age 53 50
Median household income $66,456/yr $70,772/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+6% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
0-4 2.9% / 3.9%
Lower Macdonald — 0-4: 2.9% Wisemans Ferry — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 6.1% / 6.9%
Lower Macdonald — 5-14: 6.1% Wisemans Ferry — 5-14: 6.9%
15-19 5.3% / 6.0%
Lower Macdonald — 15-19: 5.3% Wisemans Ferry — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 1.2% / 1.7%
Lower Macdonald — 20-24: 1.2% Wisemans Ferry — 20-24: 1.7%
25-34 7.8% / 11.2%
Lower Macdonald — 25-34: 7.8% Wisemans Ferry — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 9.8% / 8.6%
Lower Macdonald — 35-44: 9.8% Wisemans Ferry — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 22.5% / 17.6%
Lower Macdonald — 45-54: 22.5% Wisemans Ferry — 45-54: 17.6%
55-64 18.9% / 21.5%
Lower Macdonald — 55-64: 18.9% Wisemans Ferry — 55-64: 21.5%
65-74 13.5% / 10.7%
Lower Macdonald — 65-74: 13.5% Wisemans Ferry — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 13.1% / 6.9%
Lower Macdonald — 75-84: 13.1% Wisemans Ferry — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ — / 3.9%
Lower Macdonald — 85+: not among its largest Wisemans Ferry — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lower Macdonald 55.0% lone person
Lower Macdonald — Lone Person: 55.0% Lower Macdonald — Couple Families: 28.7% Lower Macdonald — One Parent Families: 10.0% Lower Macdonald — Group Household: 6.2%
Wisemans Ferry 42.2% lone person
Wisemans Ferry — Lone Person: 42.2% Wisemans Ferry — Couple Families: 30.1% Wisemans Ferry — One Parent Families: 18.1% Wisemans Ferry — Group Household: 9.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lower Macdonald 17.3% renting
Lower Macdonald — Owned Outright: 40.0% Lower Macdonald — Mortgage: 42.7% Lower Macdonald — Renting: 17.3%
Wisemans Ferry 25.3% renting
Wisemans Ferry — Owned Outright: 45.3% Wisemans Ferry — Mortgage: 29.5% Wisemans Ferry — Renting: 25.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Certificate III & IV 24.2% / 28.3%
Lower Macdonald — Certificate III & IV: 24.2% Wisemans Ferry — Certificate III & IV: 28.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.7%
Lower Macdonald — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Wisemans Ferry — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Bachelor Degree 6.6% / 6.9%
Lower Macdonald — Bachelor Degree: 6.6% Wisemans Ferry — Bachelor Degree: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.5% / 1.7%
Lower Macdonald — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5% Wisemans Ferry — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / —
Lower Macdonald — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Wisemans Ferry — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.3%).

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.

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
England 4.9% / 2.1%
Lower Macdonald — England: 4.9% Wisemans Ferry — England: 2.1%
Philippines — / 3.0%
Lower Macdonald — Philippines: not among its largest Wisemans Ferry — Philippines: 3.0%
Italy — / 2.1%
Lower Macdonald — Italy: not among its largest Wisemans Ferry — Italy: 2.1%
China — / 1.3%
Lower Macdonald — China: not among its largest Wisemans Ferry — China: 1.3%
South Africa — / 1.3%
Lower Macdonald — South Africa: not among its largest Wisemans Ferry — South Africa: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.2% / —
Lower Macdonald — New Zealand: 1.2% Wisemans Ferry — New Zealand: not among its largest
Ireland 1.2% / —
Lower Macdonald — Ireland: 1.2% Wisemans Ferry — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lower Macdonald 101.8% houses
Lower Macdonald — Houses: 101.8% Lower Macdonald — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Wisemans Ferry 93.9% houses
Wisemans Ferry — Houses: 93.9% Wisemans Ferry — Flats / Apartments: 6.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Median house price $640,000 $540,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $165,000 —

Zoning mix

Lower Macdonald has more land zoned for conservation (97% vs 72%); Wisemans Ferry has more rural and farming land (20% vs 2%).

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Environmental 97% 72%
Rural and farming 2% 20%
Parks and recreation 0% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
New dwellings approved 459
across Hawkesbury
 2,648
across The Hills
Approvals change year on year +3% -4%

Ranking within NSW

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
House price Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 56% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW

Liveability

Wisemans Ferry is more walkable (25 vs 14).

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Grade —
same for both
Score —
same for both
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Wisemans Ferry carries more crime risk (95 vs 58).

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Bushfire High
94/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
58/100
 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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lower Macdonald

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

Schools in Wisemans Ferry

  • Wisemans Ferry Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 0 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 8

Mobility

Lower Macdonald sits further from the CBD (81.7 km vs 75.2 km).

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Walkability score 14/100 25/100
Distance to Sydney 81.7 km
+8% vs other
 75.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 112 min 80 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2775
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2775
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.

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Car (driver) 64.4% / 65.1%
Lower Macdonald — Car (driver): 64.4% Wisemans Ferry — Car (driver): 65.1%
Worked from Home 35.6% / 27.9%
Lower Macdonald — Worked from Home: 35.6% Wisemans Ferry — Worked from Home: 27.9%
Walked Only — / 7.0%
Lower Macdonald — Walked Only: not among its largest Wisemans Ferry — Walked Only: 7.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.1%).

Setting

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.3 km 28.8 km

NBN connectivity

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Connectivity score 22/100 21/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster)
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
150 premises
 0%
154 premises

Climate

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Annual rainfall 806 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Average residential rate $1,650/yr $1,204/yr
Council Hawkesbury The Hills

Federal electorate

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Division Macquarie Berowra
Member Susan Templeman Julian Leeser
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Lower Macdonald Wisemans Ferry
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lower Macdonald

Acreage Affordable Retirees

Wisemans Ferry

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lower Macdonald

Lower Macdonald vs Gunderman Lower Macdonald vs Webbs Creek

Other comparisons with Wisemans Ferry

Wisemans Ferry vs Maroota Wisemans Ferry vs Gunderman Wisemans Ferry vs Laughtondale Wisemans Ferry vs Leets Vale Wisemans Ferry vs Webbs Creek
Full data on Lower Macdonald Full data on Wisemans Ferry
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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