Macquarie Park vs North Ryde

Macquarie Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 37 in North Ryde. In Macquarie Park, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In North Ryde, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. North Ryde is closer to the city centre: 14.7 km, against 16.8 km. On these figures, Macquarie Park tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while North Ryde suits 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

North Ryde

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (58% vs 0%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 87/100)
  • But Macquarie Park has more childcare (18 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Macquarie Park

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (68% vs 38%)
  • has cheaper rent ($460/wk vs $520/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

North Ryde

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (14.7 km vs 16.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Macquarie Park has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 42%)
  • North Ryde carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 87/100)

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

Investors

Macquarie Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (35.9% vs 29.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Macquarie Park North Ryde
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.

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Walkability 90 / 93
Macquarie Park — Walkability: 90/100 North Ryde — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 13 / 66
Macquarie Park — Safety: 13/100 North Ryde — Safety: 66/100
Low fire risk 33 / 48
Macquarie Park — Low fire risk: 33/100 North Ryde — Low fire risk: 48/100

Demographics

North Ryde has more residents (14,043 vs 11,071); North Ryde has higher household incomes ($123,916 vs $98,072).

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Population 11,071 14,043
+27% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +35.9% +29.3%
Median age 31 37
Median household income $98,072/yr $123,916/yr
+26% vs other
Median weekly rent $460/wk $520/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Macquarie Park North Ryde
0-4 5.7% / 5.8%
Macquarie Park — 0-4: 5.7% North Ryde — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 5.5% / 11.2%
Macquarie Park — 5-14: 5.5% North Ryde — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 4.4% / 4.6%
Macquarie Park — 15-19: 4.4% North Ryde — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 13.5% / 6.2%
Macquarie Park — 20-24: 13.5% North Ryde — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 32.8% / 17.1%
Macquarie Park — 25-34: 32.8% North Ryde — 25-34: 17.1%
35-44 18.0% / 16.1%
Macquarie Park — 35-44: 18.0% North Ryde — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 6.6% / 12.3%
Macquarie Park — 45-54: 6.6% North Ryde — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 5.0% / 11.8%
Macquarie Park — 55-64: 5.0% North Ryde — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 4.0% / 8.0%
Macquarie Park — 65-74: 4.0% North Ryde — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 2.4% / 4.5%
Macquarie Park — 75-84: 2.4% North Ryde — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 2.3% / 2.3%
Macquarie Park — 85+: 2.3% North Ryde — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Macquarie Park 51.0% lone person
Macquarie Park — Lone Person: 51.0% Macquarie Park — Couple Families: 25.1% Macquarie Park — One Parent Families: 9.0% Macquarie Park — Group Household: 11.2% Macquarie Park — Other Families: 3.7%
North Ryde 29.2% lone person
North Ryde — Lone Person: 29.2% North Ryde — Couple Families: 51.7% North Ryde — One Parent Families: 12.2% North Ryde — Group Household: 5.3% North Ryde — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Macquarie Park 68.0% renting
Macquarie Park — Owned Outright: 10.5% Macquarie Park — Mortgage: 21.5% Macquarie Park — Renting: 68.0%
North Ryde 37.7% renting
North Ryde — Owned Outright: 29.2% North Ryde — Mortgage: 33.2% North Ryde — Renting: 37.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Bachelor Degree 30.3% / 23.6%
Macquarie Park — Bachelor Degree: 30.3% North Ryde — Bachelor Degree: 23.6%
Postgraduate Degree 19.8% / 12.3%
Macquarie Park — Postgraduate Degree: 19.8% North Ryde — Postgraduate Degree: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 7.2%
Macquarie Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% North Ryde — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.0% / 7.3%
Macquarie Park — Certificate III & IV: 4.0% North Ryde — Certificate III & IV: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 1.9%
Macquarie Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% North Ryde — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.3%).

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.

Macquarie Park North Ryde
China 16.7% / 9.6%
Macquarie Park — China: 16.7% North Ryde — China: 9.6%
India 10.2% / 4.2%
Macquarie Park — India: 10.2% North Ryde — India: 4.2%
Philippines 3.3% / 2.3%
Macquarie Park — Philippines: 3.3% North Ryde — Philippines: 2.3%
Iran 2.4% / 1.6%
Macquarie Park — Iran: 2.4% North Ryde — Iran: 1.6%
Malaysia 2.0% / 1.7%
Macquarie Park — Malaysia: 2.0% North Ryde — Malaysia: 1.7%
England — / 1.9%
Macquarie Park — England: not among its largest North Ryde — England: 1.9%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Macquarie Park 90.4% flats / apartments
Macquarie Park — Flats / Apartments: 90.4% Macquarie Park — Houses: 0.0% Macquarie Park — Townhouses: 9.6%
North Ryde 30.3% flats / apartments
North Ryde — Flats / Apartments: 30.3% North Ryde — Houses: 58.0% North Ryde — Townhouses: 11.7%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Median house price — $2,526,000
Median unit price $825,000
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 24 days
from 138 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Macquarie Park North Ryde
1 bed $645K / $630K
Macquarie Park — 1 bed: $645K (92 sales) North Ryde — 1 bed: $630K (42 sales)

92 vs 42 sales

2 bed $924K / $853K
Macquarie Park — 2 bed: $924K (128 sales) North Ryde — 2 bed: $853K (47 sales)

128 vs 47 sales

3 bed $1.34M / $1.28M
Macquarie Park — 3 bed: $1.34M (24 sales) North Ryde — 3 bed: $1.28M (8 sales)

24 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Residential 31% 53%
Infrastructure and transport 24% 17%
Environmental 23% 14%
Parks and recreation 3% 10%
Industrial 10% 4%
Commercial 9% 2%
Planning zones cover 100% of Macquarie Park and 99% of North Ryde. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Macquarie Park North Ryde
New dwellings approved 1,489
across Ryde
same for both
Approvals change year on year +81%
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.

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Houses 3.5%
$900/wk on $1.35M
 3.6%
$1,350/wk on $1.95M
Units 5.0%
$790/wk on $820K
 5.4%
$780/wk on $745K

Ranking within NSW

Macquarie Park North Ryde
House price Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Schools Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW

Liveability

North Ryde scores higher overall (78 vs 48).

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Grade C A
Score 48/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Macquarie Park carries more crime risk (87 vs 34); Macquarie Park carries more bushfire risk (67 vs 52).

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Bushfire Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
52/100
Crime High
87/100
 Low
34/100
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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 0.0 km
 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 1.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 11.0% 3.5%

Schools in Macquarie Park

  • NextSense School - Spoken Language Program Independent · Primary · Special school at peers
  • Macquarie University Special Education Centre Independent · Primary · Special school
  • NextSense School Independent · Combined · Special school
  • NextSense School - Sign Bilingual Program Independent · Primary · Special school

Schools in North Ryde

  • Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • North Ryde Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Truscott Street Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Arndell School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Supermarkets 8 1
Cafes & restaurants 46 17
Parks & reserves 10 16
Childcare 18 8
GPs 5 3
Pharmacies 4
same for both
Hospitals 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 8 4
Fuel stations 3
same for both
EV chargers 5 0
Waterways 20 10

Mobility

Macquarie Park sits further from the CBD (16.8 km vs 14.7 km).

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Walkability score 90/100 93/100
Distance to Sydney 16.8 km
+13% vs other
 14.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 19 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1043.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 576.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.1%
postcode 2113
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2113
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.

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Worked from Home 59.0% / 58.5%
Macquarie Park — Worked from Home: 59.0% North Ryde — Worked from Home: 58.5%
Car (driver) 21.3% / 30.8%
Macquarie Park — Car (driver): 21.3% North Ryde — Car (driver): 30.8%
Train 7.9% / 3.6%
Macquarie Park — Train: 7.9% North Ryde — Train: 3.6%
Walked Only 6.8% / 2.1%
Macquarie Park — Walked Only: 6.8% North Ryde — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bus 3.4% / 2.1%
Macquarie Park — Bus: 3.4% North Ryde — Bus: 2.1%
Car (passenger) 1.3% / 2.6%
Macquarie Park — Car (passenger): 1.3% North Ryde — Car (passenger): 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.0%).

Setting

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.6 km 11.0 km

NBN connectivity

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Connectivity score 77/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
8,729 premises
 28%
6,060 premises

Climate

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Macquarie Park North Ryde
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Average residential rate $1,216/yr
same for both
Council Ryde
same for both

Federal electorate

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Division Bennelong
same for both
Member Jerome Laxale
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Macquarie Park North Ryde
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Macquarie Park

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub

North Ryde

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Macquarie Park

Macquarie Park vs Marsfield Macquarie Park vs Lindfield Macquarie Park vs Killara Macquarie Park vs West Pymble Macquarie Park vs South Turramurra

Other comparisons with North Ryde

North Ryde vs Ryde North Ryde vs Marsfield North Ryde vs Lindfield North Ryde vs East Ryde North Ryde vs Chatswood West
Full data on Macquarie Park Full data on North Ryde
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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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