Meadowbank vs Melrose Park

Meadowbank is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Melrose Park. In Meadowbank, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Melrose Park, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Melrose Park: a median of $2.4 million, against $625,000 in Meadowbank, and rent is higher there too. Meadowbank is closer to the city centre: 16.3 km, against 23.8 km. On these figures, Meadowbank tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Melrose Park suits families with children and couples.

Meadowbank is a larger, more walkable suburb closer to the CBD at 16.3 km, with a walkability score of 89 and lower crime risk (41 versus 52). Melrose Park commands significantly higher property prices—median house prices of $2,401,000 compared to Meadowbank's $625,000—and offers a higher liveability score of 79. Meadowbank suits buyers prioritising walkability and proximity to the city, while Melrose Park appeals to those seeking a more established, quieter neighbourhood with higher household incomes ($113,464 versus $103,636).

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Meadowbank has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • Melrose Park has more separate houses rather than flats (64% vs 2%)

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

First-home buyers

Meadowbank

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($625,000 vs $2,401,000)
  • has cheaper units ($698,250 vs $801,100)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Meadowbank

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (60% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $490/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Meadowbank

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 3%)
  • sits closer to the CBD (16.3 km vs 23.8 km)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 75/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Meadowbank

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (98% vs 36%)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 52/100)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 75/100)

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

Investors

Melrose Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (30.8% vs 15.4%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Meadowbank Melrose Park
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.

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Walkability 89 / 75
Meadowbank — Walkability: 89/100 Melrose Park — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 59 / 48
Meadowbank — Safety: 59/100 Melrose Park — Safety: 48/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Meadowbank — Low fire risk: 100/100 Melrose Park — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Meadowbank has more residents (5,089 vs 2,059); Melrose Park rents higher ($490/wk vs $430/wk).

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Population 5,089
+60% vs other
 2,059
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +15.4% +30.8%
Median age 34 37
Median household income $103,636/yr $113,464/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $490/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Meadowbank Melrose Park
0-4 6.8% / 5.7%
Meadowbank — 0-4: 6.8% Melrose Park — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 5.1% / 13.5%
Meadowbank — 5-14: 5.1% Melrose Park — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 2.2% / 5.6%
Meadowbank — 15-19: 2.2% Melrose Park — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 6.2% / 7.0%
Meadowbank — 20-24: 6.2% Melrose Park — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 32.4% / 14.5%
Meadowbank — 25-34: 32.4% Melrose Park — 25-34: 14.5%
35-44 22.2% / 16.0%
Meadowbank — 35-44: 22.2% Melrose Park — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 9.1% / 13.3%
Meadowbank — 45-54: 9.1% Melrose Park — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 7.5% / 11.6%
Meadowbank — 55-64: 7.5% Melrose Park — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 5.5% / 8.0%
Meadowbank — 65-74: 5.5% Melrose Park — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 2.6% / 3.9%
Meadowbank — 75-84: 2.6% Melrose Park — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 0.5% / 1.2%
Meadowbank — 85+: 0.5% Melrose Park — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Meadowbank 27.4% couple families
Meadowbank — Couple Families: 27.4% Meadowbank — Lone Person: 54.0% Meadowbank — One Parent Families: 8.9% Meadowbank — Group Household: 7.0% Meadowbank — Other Families: 2.6%
Melrose Park 55.5% couple families
Melrose Park — Couple Families: 55.5% Melrose Park — Lone Person: 28.4% Melrose Park — One Parent Families: 11.0% Melrose Park — Group Household: 2.9% Melrose Park — Other Families: 2.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Meadowbank 60.5% renting
Meadowbank — Owned Outright: 13.2% Meadowbank — Mortgage: 26.3% Meadowbank — Renting: 60.5%
Melrose Park 27.0% renting
Melrose Park — Owned Outright: 30.9% Melrose Park — Mortgage: 42.1% Melrose Park — Renting: 27.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Bachelor Degree 31.2% / 21.5%
Meadowbank — Bachelor Degree: 31.2% Melrose Park — Bachelor Degree: 21.5%
Postgraduate Degree 17.3% / 9.1%
Meadowbank — Postgraduate Degree: 17.3% Melrose Park — Postgraduate Degree: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 9.2%
Meadowbank — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Melrose Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Certificate III & IV 5.6% / 9.4%
Meadowbank — Certificate III & IV: 5.6% Melrose Park — Certificate III & IV: 9.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.3%
Meadowbank — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Melrose Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

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.

Meadowbank Melrose Park
China 11.7% / 9.3%
Meadowbank — China: 11.7% Melrose Park — China: 9.3%
India 6.1% / 1.3%
Meadowbank — India: 6.1% Melrose Park — India: 1.3%
Philippines 3.7% / 1.2%
Meadowbank — Philippines: 3.7% Melrose Park — Philippines: 1.2%
Iran 1.8% / 1.7%
Meadowbank — Iran: 1.8% Melrose Park — Iran: 1.7%
England 1.3% / 1.7%
Meadowbank — England: 1.3% Melrose Park — England: 1.7%
Nepal 2.3% / —
Meadowbank — Nepal: 2.3% Melrose Park — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Meadowbank 97.1% flats / apartments
Meadowbank — Flats / Apartments: 97.1% Meadowbank — Houses: 2.3% Meadowbank — Townhouses: 0.6%
Melrose Park 30.6% flats / apartments
Melrose Park — Flats / Apartments: 30.6% Melrose Park — Houses: 64.4% Melrose Park — Townhouses: 5.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Median house price $625,000 $2,401,000
Median unit price $698,250 $801,100
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 10 days
from 3 sales
 24 days
from 18 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.

Meadowbank Melrose Park
1 bed $565K / $616K
Meadowbank — 1 bed: $565K (61 sales) Melrose Park — 1 bed: $616K (26 sales)

61 vs 26 sales

2 bed $740K / $826K
Meadowbank — 2 bed: $740K (123 sales) Melrose Park — 2 bed: $826K (44 sales)

123 vs 44 sales

3 bed $1.07M / $1.3M
Meadowbank — 3 bed: $1.07M (26 sales) Melrose Park — 3 bed: $1.3M (5 sales)

26 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Melrose Park has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 2%).

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Residential 45% 53%
Parks and recreation 31% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 4%
Environmental 2% 17%
Industrial 0% 8%
Commercial 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 99% of Meadowbank and 99% of Melrose Park. 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

Meadowbank Melrose Park
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.

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Houses —
same for both
Units 5.1%
$680/wk on $694K
 4.8%
$800/wk on $860K

Ranking within NSW

Meadowbank Melrose Park
House price Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Schools Higher than 14% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW

Liveability

Meadowbank is more walkable (89 vs 75); Melrose Park scores higher overall (79 vs 69).

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Grade B A
Score 69/100 79/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Melrose Park carries more crime risk (52 vs 41).

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Moderate
52/100
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 11
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 5.4 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 6.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 2.9%

Schools in Meadowbank

  • Italian Bilingual School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Marsden High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Meadowbank Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Melrose Park

  • Melrose Park Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 6 0
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 5 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Melrose Park sits further from the CBD (23.8 km vs 16.3 km).

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Walkability score 89/100 75/100
Distance to Sydney 16.3 km 23.8 km
+46% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min
same for both
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 37.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 48.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2114
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2114
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.

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Worked from Home 58.7% / 47.8%
Meadowbank — Worked from Home: 58.7% Melrose Park — Worked from Home: 47.8%
Car (driver) 26.7% / 42.5%
Meadowbank — Car (driver): 26.7% Melrose Park — Car (driver): 42.5%
Train 10.5% / 3.3%
Meadowbank — Train: 10.5% Melrose Park — Train: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 1.4% / 2.8%
Meadowbank — Car (passenger): 1.4% Melrose Park — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.8%
Meadowbank — Walked Only: 1.8% Melrose Park — Walked Only: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.7%).

Setting

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Elevation 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.6 km 16.0 km

NBN connectivity

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Connectivity score 78/100 88/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 25%
3,046 premises
 53%
1,307 premises

Climate

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Meadowbank Melrose Park
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

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Average residential rate $1,216/yr
same for both
Council Ryde
same for both

Federal electorate

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Division Bennelong
same for both
Member Jerome Laxale
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Meadowbank Melrose Park
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Meadowbank

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals River Trains Transport Hub Urban

Melrose Park

Apartments Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Meadowbank

Meadowbank vs Ryde Meadowbank vs West Ryde

Other comparisons with Melrose Park

Melrose Park vs West Ryde Melrose Park vs Ermington
Full data on Meadowbank Full data on Melrose Park
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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