Melrose Park vs West Ryde

In both, most households own their home. In Melrose Park, most homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In West Ryde, about half of homes are flats or apartments. West Ryde is closer to the city centre: 16.8 km, against 23.8 km. On these figures, Melrose Park tends to suit 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

West Ryde

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)
  • But Melrose Park has more separate houses rather than flats (64% vs 42%)

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

First-home buyers

West Ryde

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($682,000 vs $801,100)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

West Ryde

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $490/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Ryde

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 3%)
  • sits closer to the CBD (16.8 km vs 23.8 km)
  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 75/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

West Ryde

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 36%)
  • is more walkable (93/100 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 -1.7%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Melrose Park and West 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.

Melrose Park West 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.

Melrose Park West Ryde
Walkability 75 / 93
Melrose Park — Walkability: 75/100 West Ryde — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 48 / 45
Melrose Park — Safety: 48/100 West Ryde — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melrose Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 West Ryde — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

West Ryde has more residents (13,171 vs 2,059); Melrose Park rents higher ($490/wk vs $400/wk).

Melrose Park West Ryde
Population 2,059 13,171
+540% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +30.8% -1.7%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $113,464/yr
+9% vs other
 $103,116/yr
Median weekly rent $490/wk
+18% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park West Ryde
0-4 5.7% / 5.8%
Melrose Park — 0-4: 5.7% West Ryde — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 13.5% / 10.9%
Melrose Park — 5-14: 13.5% West Ryde — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 5.6% / 4.2%
Melrose Park — 15-19: 5.6% West Ryde — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 7.0% / 6.0%
Melrose Park — 20-24: 7.0% West Ryde — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 14.5% / 17.8%
Melrose Park — 25-34: 14.5% West Ryde — 25-34: 17.8%
35-44 16.0% / 17.3%
Melrose Park — 35-44: 16.0% West Ryde — 35-44: 17.3%
45-54 13.3% / 11.9%
Melrose Park — 45-54: 13.3% West Ryde — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 11.6% / 11.3%
Melrose Park — 55-64: 11.6% West Ryde — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 8.0% / 8.4%
Melrose Park — 65-74: 8.0% West Ryde — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 3.9% / 4.4%
Melrose Park — 75-84: 3.9% West Ryde — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.2% / 2.0%
Melrose Park — 85+: 1.2% West Ryde — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
West Ryde 43.8% couple families
West Ryde — Couple Families: 43.8% West Ryde — Lone Person: 35.1% West Ryde — One Parent Families: 12.9% West Ryde — Group Household: 5.8% West Ryde — Other Families: 2.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 27.0% renting
Melrose Park — Owned Outright: 30.9% Melrose Park — Mortgage: 42.1% Melrose Park — Renting: 27.0%
West Ryde 44.6% renting
West Ryde — Owned Outright: 26.7% West Ryde — Mortgage: 28.6% West Ryde — Renting: 44.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melrose Park West Ryde
Bachelor Degree 21.5% / 23.7%
Melrose Park — Bachelor Degree: 21.5% West Ryde — Bachelor Degree: 23.7%
Postgraduate Degree 9.1% / 11.6%
Melrose Park — Postgraduate Degree: 9.1% West Ryde — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.8%
Melrose Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% West Ryde — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 7.0%
Melrose Park — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% West Ryde — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.8%
Melrose Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% West Ryde — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.7%).

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.

Melrose Park West Ryde
China 9.3% / 10.6%
Melrose Park — China: 9.3% West Ryde — China: 10.6%
India 1.3% / 5.3%
Melrose Park — India: 1.3% West Ryde — India: 5.3%
Philippines 1.2% / 3.3%
Melrose Park — Philippines: 1.2% West Ryde — Philippines: 3.3%
England 1.7% / 1.5%
Melrose Park — England: 1.7% West Ryde — England: 1.5%
Iran 1.7% / —
Melrose Park — Iran: 1.7% West Ryde — Iran: not among its largest
Nepal — / 1.7%
Melrose Park — Nepal: not among its largest West Ryde — Nepal: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melrose Park 64.4% houses
Melrose Park — Houses: 64.4% Melrose Park — Flats / Apartments: 30.6% Melrose Park — Townhouses: 5.0%
West Ryde 41.5% houses
West Ryde — Houses: 41.5% West Ryde — Flats / Apartments: 47.4% West Ryde — Townhouses: 11.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Melrose Park West Ryde
Median house price $2,401,000 $2,403,000
Median unit price $801,100 $682,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 18 sales
 22 days
from 65 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.

Melrose Park West Ryde
3 bed $2.4M / $2.2M
Melrose Park — 3 bed: $2.4M (9 sales) West Ryde — 3 bed: $2.2M (35 sales)

9 vs 35 sales

4 bed $2.23M / $2.4M
Melrose Park — 4 bed: $2.23M (7 sales) West Ryde — 4 bed: $2.4M (27 sales)

7 vs 27 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.

Melrose Park West Ryde
1 bed $616K / $512K
Melrose Park — 1 bed: $616K (26 sales) West Ryde — 1 bed: $512K (38 sales)

26 vs 38 sales

2 bed $826K / $700K
Melrose Park — 2 bed: $826K (44 sales) West Ryde — 2 bed: $700K (101 sales)

44 vs 101 sales

3 bed $1.3M / $1.09M
Melrose Park — 3 bed: $1.3M (5 sales) West Ryde — 3 bed: $1.09M (18 sales)

5 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Melrose Park has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 1%).

Melrose Park West Ryde
Residential 53% 73%
Environmental 17% 1%
Parks and recreation 15%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 4% 9%
Industrial 8% 3%
Commercial 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Melrose Park and 100% of West 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

Melrose Park West 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.

Melrose Park West Ryde
Houses — 2.9%
$990/wk on $1.75M
Units 4.8%
$800/wk on $860K
 5.0%
$640/wk on $670K

Ranking within NSW

Melrose Park West Ryde
House price Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 79% of NSW —
Schools — Higher than 97% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 14% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 19% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW

Liveability

West Ryde is more walkable (93 vs 75); West Ryde scores higher overall (85 vs 79).

Melrose Park West Ryde
Grade A
same for both
Score 79/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Melrose Park West Ryde
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
55/100
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 18
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Melrose Park West Ryde
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 1 3
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 6.1 km
 3
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9%
same for both

Schools in Melrose Park

  • Melrose Park Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in West Ryde

  • Ermington Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • West Ryde Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Melrose Park West Ryde
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 3 14
Childcare 1 11
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 6
Waterways 0 14

Mobility

Melrose Park sits further from the CBD (23.8 km vs 16.8 km).

Melrose Park West Ryde
Walkability score 75/100 93/100
Distance to Sydney 23.8 km
+29% vs other
 16.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 26 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 48.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 259.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Melrose Park West Ryde
Worked from Home 47.8% / 50.6%
Melrose Park — Worked from Home: 47.8% West Ryde — Worked from Home: 50.6%
Car (driver) 42.5% / 34.0%
Melrose Park — Car (driver): 42.5% West Ryde — Car (driver): 34.0%
Train 3.3% / 8.3%
Melrose Park — Train: 3.3% West Ryde — Train: 8.3%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.6%
Melrose Park — Car (passenger): 2.8% West Ryde — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 1.8% / 2.4%
Melrose Park — Walked Only: 1.8% West Ryde — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.6%).

Setting

Melrose Park West Ryde
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.0 km 15.1 km

NBN connectivity

Melrose Park West Ryde
Connectivity score 88/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
1,307 premises
 6%
6,217 premises

Climate

Melrose Park West 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)

Melrose Park West 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Melrose Park

Apartments Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals River

West Ryde

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melrose Park

Melrose Park vs Ermington Melrose Park vs Meadowbank

Other comparisons with West Ryde

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