Mulgoa vs Orchard Hills

Mulgoa is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 47 in Orchard Hills. 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 Orchard Hills: a median of $3.1 million, against $1.5 million in Mulgoa. On these figures, Mulgoa tends to suit families with children and 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

Orchard Hills

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Mulgoa carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 66/100)

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

First-home buyers

Mulgoa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,505,000 vs $3,105,000)

Weighs house prices, land 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

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Mulgoa is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)
  • Orchard Hills sits closer to the CBD (51.4 km vs 62.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mulgoa

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (17/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 66/100)

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

Investors

Mulgoa

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.7% vs -4.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
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.

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Walkability 17 / 0
Mulgoa — Walkability: 17/100 Orchard Hills — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 46 / 34
Mulgoa — Safety: 46/100 Orchard Hills — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 19 / 34
Mulgoa — Low fire risk: 19/100 Orchard Hills — Low fire risk: 34/100

Demographics

Orchard Hills skews older (47 vs 41); Mulgoa has higher household incomes ($131,716 vs $118,508).

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Population 2,044
+12% vs other
 1,798
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.7% -4.2%
Median age 41 47
Median household income $131,716/yr
+10% vs other
 $118,508/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
0-4 5.3% / 3.5%
Mulgoa — 0-4: 5.3% Orchard Hills — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 13.6% / 10.7%
Mulgoa — 5-14: 13.6% Orchard Hills — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 9.2% / 7.1%
Mulgoa — 15-19: 9.2% Orchard Hills — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 5.9% / 8.5%
Mulgoa — 20-24: 5.9% Orchard Hills — 20-24: 8.5%
25-34 9.0% / 9.4%
Mulgoa — 25-34: 9.0% Orchard Hills — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 11.5% / 8.7%
Mulgoa — 35-44: 11.5% Orchard Hills — 35-44: 8.7%
45-54 15.2% / 15.0%
Mulgoa — 45-54: 15.2% Orchard Hills — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 12.8% / 16.6%
Mulgoa — 55-64: 12.8% Orchard Hills — 55-64: 16.6%
65-74 10.4% / 10.6%
Mulgoa — 65-74: 10.4% Orchard Hills — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 5.6% / 8.0%
Mulgoa — 75-84: 5.6% Orchard Hills — 75-84: 8.0%
85+ 1.0% / 2.2%
Mulgoa — 85+: 1.0% Orchard Hills — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mulgoa 67.0% couple families
Mulgoa — Couple Families: 67.0% Mulgoa — Lone Person: 17.7% Mulgoa — One Parent Families: 11.8% Mulgoa — Other Families: 1.8% Mulgoa — Group Household: 1.6%
Orchard Hills 62.1% couple families
Orchard Hills — Couple Families: 62.1% Orchard Hills — Lone Person: 19.2% Orchard Hills — One Parent Families: 16.0% Orchard Hills — Other Families: 1.7% Orchard Hills — Group Household: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mulgoa 13.9% renting
Mulgoa — Owned Outright: 46.3% Mulgoa — Mortgage: 39.7% Mulgoa — Renting: 13.9%
Orchard Hills 14.6% renting
Orchard Hills — Owned Outright: 59.6% Orchard Hills — Mortgage: 25.8% Orchard Hills — Renting: 14.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Certificate III & IV 17.0% / 16.6%
Mulgoa — Certificate III & IV: 17.0% Orchard Hills — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 11.0% / 10.3%
Mulgoa — Bachelor Degree: 11.0% Orchard Hills — Bachelor Degree: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 6.5%
Mulgoa — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Orchard Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 2.9%
Mulgoa — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Orchard Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 1.3%
Mulgoa — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Orchard Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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.

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
England 2.4% / 2.5%
Mulgoa — England: 2.4% Orchard Hills — England: 2.5%
Italy 1.1% / 2.3%
Mulgoa — Italy: 1.1% Orchard Hills — Italy: 2.3%
Lebanon 0.9% / 1.8%
Mulgoa — Lebanon: 0.9% Orchard Hills — Lebanon: 1.8%
Germany 1.3% / 0.7%
Mulgoa — Germany: 1.3% Orchard Hills — Germany: 0.7%
India 0.6% / 1.1%
Mulgoa — India: 0.6% Orchard Hills — India: 1.1%
Scotland — / 0.8%
Mulgoa — Scotland: not among its largest Orchard Hills — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mulgoa 99.7% houses
Mulgoa — Houses: 99.7% Mulgoa — Townhouses: 0.0% Mulgoa — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Orchard Hills 96.8% houses
Orchard Hills — Houses: 96.8% Orchard Hills — Townhouses: 2.2% Orchard Hills — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Median house price $1,505,000 $3,105,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $920,000 $905,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 46 days
from 8 sales
 26 days
from 5 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.

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
4 bed $1.7M / $4.04M
Mulgoa — 4 bed: $1.7M (9 sales) Orchard Hills — 4 bed: $4.04M (6 sales)

9 vs 6 sales

5 bed $1.58M / $4.25M
Mulgoa — 5 bed: $1.58M (6 sales) Orchard Hills — 5 bed: $4.25M (8 sales)

6 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Mulgoa has more land zoned for conservation (92% vs 43%); Orchard Hills has more rural and farming land (33% vs 2%).

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Environmental 92% 43%
Rural and farming 2% 33%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 11%
Parks and recreation 1% 6%
Industrial 0% 3%
Residential 2% 3%
Planning zones cover 100% of Mulgoa and 99% of Orchard Hills. 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

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
same for both
Approvals change year on year -78%
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.

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Houses 2.9%
$1,035/wk on $1.82M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
House price Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 49% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of NSW —

Liveability

Mulgoa is more walkable (17 vs 0).

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Grade C
same for both
Score 41/100 38/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Mulgoa carries more bushfire risk (81 vs 66); Orchard Hills carries more crime risk (66 vs 54).

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Bushfire High
81/100
 Moderate
66/100
Crime Moderate
54/100
 Moderate
66/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 4.9 km

Schools in Mulgoa

  • Mulgoa Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Nepean Christian School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Orchard Hills

  • Montgrove College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Orchard Hills Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Penrith Anglican College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Penrith Christian School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 3 7
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 5 26

Mobility

Mulgoa sits further from the CBD (62.4 km vs 51.4 km).

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Walkability score 17/100 0/100
Distance to Sydney 62.4 km
+18% vs other
 51.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 55 min 51 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 42.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2745
 0.8%
postcode 2748
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2745
 56
postcode 2748

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.

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Car (driver) 57.3% / 57.0%
Mulgoa — Car (driver): 57.3% Orchard Hills — Car (driver): 57.0%
Worked from Home 36.4% / 36.4%
Mulgoa — Worked from Home: 36.4% Orchard Hills — Worked from Home: 36.4%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.7%
Mulgoa — Car (passenger): 3.5% Orchard Hills — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only 2.4% / 2.0%
Mulgoa — Walked Only: 2.4% Orchard Hills — Walked Only: 2.0%
Train 0.3% / 0.9%
Mulgoa — Train: 0.3% Orchard Hills — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.3%).

Setting

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Elevation 81 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 49.0 km 42.8 km

NBN connectivity

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Connectivity score 49/100 67/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
655 premises
 38%
711 premises

Climate

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Annual rainfall 822 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.55 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Average residential rate $1,547/yr
same for both
Council Penrith
same for both

Federal electorate

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Division Lindsay
same for both
Member Melissa Mcintosh
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mulgoa Orchard Hills
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mulgoa

Acreage

Orchard Hills

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

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Mulgoa vs Glenmore Park Mulgoa vs Leonay Mulgoa vs Luddenham Mulgoa vs Wallacia Mulgoa vs Regentville

Other comparisons with Orchard Hills

Orchard Hills vs Glenmore Park Orchard Hills vs St Clair Orchard Hills vs St Marys Orchard Hills vs South Penrith Orchard Hills vs Kingswood Orchard Hills vs Erskine Park
Full data on Mulgoa Full data on Orchard Hills
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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