Lower Portland vs South Maroota

South Maroota is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Lower Portland. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lower Portland: a median of $2.6 million, against $2.18 million in South Maroota. On these figures, South Maroota tends to suit 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

Lower Portland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 54/100)

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

First-home buyers

South Maroota

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,180,000 vs $2,595,000)

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

South Maroota

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (64.6 km vs 83.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (71 min vs 81 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lower Portland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 54/100)

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

Investors

Lower Portland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.7% vs 10.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Lower Portland and South Maroota 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 Portland South Maroota
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 Portland South Maroota
Walkability 16 / 16
Lower Portland — Walkability: 16/100 South Maroota — Walkability: 16/100
Safety 58 / 46
Lower Portland — Safety: 58/100 South Maroota — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 11 / 49
Lower Portland — Low fire risk: 11/100 South Maroota — Low fire risk: 49/100

Demographics

South Maroota has higher household incomes ($126,048 vs $102,180); Lower Portland skews older (46 vs 41).

Lower Portland South Maroota
Population 711
+14% vs other
 613
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +20.7% +10.1%
Median age 46 41
Median household income $102,180/yr $126,048/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lower Portland South Maroota
0-4 4.8% / 4.7%
Lower Portland — 0-4: 4.8% South Maroota — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 12.9% / 15.5%
Lower Portland — 5-14: 12.9% South Maroota — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 7.5% / 8.5%
Lower Portland — 15-19: 7.5% South Maroota — 15-19: 8.5%
20-24 4.2% / 5.4%
Lower Portland — 20-24: 4.2% South Maroota — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 8.4% / 8.5%
Lower Portland — 25-34: 8.4% South Maroota — 25-34: 8.5%
35-44 11.1% / 12.6%
Lower Portland — 35-44: 11.1% South Maroota — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 15.9% / 16.2%
Lower Portland — 45-54: 15.9% South Maroota — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 16.7% / 14.2%
Lower Portland — 55-64: 16.7% South Maroota — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 13.9% / 10.3%
Lower Portland — 65-74: 13.9% South Maroota — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 5.1% / 4.1%
Lower Portland — 75-84: 5.1% South Maroota — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 0.4% / 0.5%
Lower Portland — 85+: 0.4% South Maroota — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lower Portland 61.8% couple families
Lower Portland — Couple Families: 61.8% Lower Portland — Lone Person: 15.8% Lower Portland — One Parent Families: 13.2% Lower Portland — Group Household: 4.6% Lower Portland — Other Families: 4.6%
South Maroota 67.7% couple families
South Maroota — Couple Families: 67.7% South Maroota — Lone Person: 17.3% South Maroota — One Parent Families: 15.0% South Maroota — Group Household: 0.0% South Maroota — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lower Portland 7.5% renting
Lower Portland — Owned Outright: 36.2% Lower Portland — Mortgage: 56.3% Lower Portland — Renting: 7.5%
South Maroota 7.7% renting
South Maroota — Owned Outright: 39.3% South Maroota — Mortgage: 53.0% South Maroota — Renting: 7.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lower Portland South Maroota
Certificate III & IV 20.1% / 21.5%
Lower Portland — Certificate III & IV: 20.1% South Maroota — Certificate III & IV: 21.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 9.0%
Lower Portland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% South Maroota — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Bachelor Degree 7.9% / 8.3%
Lower Portland — Bachelor Degree: 7.9% South Maroota — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.5% / 2.4%
Lower Portland — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5% South Maroota — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.3%
Lower Portland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% South Maroota — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

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 Portland South Maroota
England 3.8% / 3.1%
Lower Portland — England: 3.8% South Maroota — England: 3.1%
Fiji 0.6% / 0.7%
Lower Portland — Fiji: 0.6% South Maroota — Fiji: 0.7%
New Zealand 0.4% / 0.5%
Lower Portland — New Zealand: 0.4% South Maroota — New Zealand: 0.5%
Italy — / 0.8%
Lower Portland — Italy: not among its largest South Maroota — Italy: 0.8%
China 0.7% / —
Lower Portland — China: 0.7% South Maroota — China: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.7%
Lower Portland — South Africa: not among its largest South Maroota — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.7%
Lower Portland — Scotland: not among its largest South Maroota — Scotland: 0.7%
Canada 0.6% / —
Lower Portland — Canada: 0.6% South Maroota — Canada: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lower Portland 96.6% houses
Lower Portland — Houses: 96.6% Lower Portland — Flats / Apartments: 1.0% Lower Portland — Townhouses: 2.4%
South Maroota 94.7% houses
South Maroota — Houses: 94.7% South Maroota — Flats / Apartments: 5.3% South Maroota — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lower Portland South Maroota
Median house price $2,595,000 $2,180,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,050,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) — 20 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Lower Portland has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 10%); South Maroota has more rural and farming land (90% vs 60%).

Lower Portland South Maroota
Rural and farming 60% 90%
Environmental 40% 10%
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 Portland South Maroota
New dwellings approved 459
across Hawkesbury
 2,648
across The Hills
Approvals change year on year +3% -4%

Ranking within NSW

Lower Portland South Maroota
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
Income Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 66% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 47% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW

Liveability

South Maroota scores higher overall (48 vs 36).

Lower Portland South Maroota
Grade C
same for both
Score 36/100 48/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Lower Portland carries more bushfire risk (89 vs 51); South Maroota carries more crime risk (54 vs 42).

Lower Portland South Maroota
Bushfire High
89/100
 Moderate
51/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
54/100
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
same for both

Schools

Lower Portland South Maroota
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Lower Portland South Maroota
Parks & reserves 1 2
Waterways 14 3

Mobility

Lower Portland sits further from the CBD (83.6 km vs 64.6 km).

Lower Portland South Maroota
Walkability score 16/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 83.6 km
+23% vs other
 64.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 81 min 71 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2756
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 2756
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 Portland South Maroota
Car (driver) 61.4% / 56.6%
Lower Portland — Car (driver): 61.4% South Maroota — Car (driver): 56.6%
Worked from Home 34.1% / 34.0%
Lower Portland — Worked from Home: 34.1% South Maroota — Worked from Home: 34.0%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 5.3%
Lower Portland — Car (passenger): 2.7% South Maroota — Car (passenger): 5.3%
Walked Only 1.9% / 4.1%
Lower Portland — Walked Only: 1.9% South Maroota — Walked Only: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.4%).

Setting

Lower Portland South Maroota
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 121 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 34.0 km 25.2 km

NBN connectivity

Lower Portland South Maroota
Connectivity score 28/100 29/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
279 premises
 0%
197 premises

Climate

Lower Portland South Maroota
Annual rainfall 806 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Lower Portland South Maroota
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 6.1 µg/m³
PM10 14.5 µg/m³ 15.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.23 pphm 0.53 pphm

Council rates

Lower Portland South Maroota
Average residential rate $1,650/yr $1,204/yr
Council Hawkesbury The Hills

Federal electorate

Lower Portland South Maroota
Division Macquarie Berowra
Member Susan Templeman Julian Leeser
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Lower Portland South Maroota
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lower Portland

Rural

South Maroota

Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lower Portland

Lower Portland vs East Kurrajong Lower Portland vs Maroota Lower Portland vs Blaxlands Ridge Lower Portland vs Sackville North Lower Portland vs Colo Heights Lower Portland vs Sackville

Other comparisons with South Maroota

South Maroota vs Glenorie South Maroota vs Ebenezer South Maroota vs Cattai South Maroota vs Maroota South Maroota vs Sackville North
Full data on Lower Portland Full data on South Maroota
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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