Narwee vs Riverwood

In Narwee, about half of households rent. In Riverwood, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Narwee: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.47 million in Riverwood, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Riverwood tends to suit renters.

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

  • Narwee carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 83/100)
  • Riverwood has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Narwee

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (35% vs 41%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Riverwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 45%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $354/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Riverwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 84/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Riverwood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 3)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 50%)
  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 84/100)
  • But Narwee carries lower crime risk (62/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Narwee returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.2%)
  • Riverwood is growing faster (5.7% vs -3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Narwee Riverwood
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.

Narwee Riverwood
Walkability 84 / 93
Narwee — Walkability: 84/100 Riverwood — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 38 / 17
Narwee — Safety: 38/100 Riverwood — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Narwee — Low fire risk: 100/100 Riverwood — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Riverwood has more residents (12,793 vs 5,411); Narwee has higher household incomes ($74,412 vs $62,920).

Narwee Riverwood
Population 5,411 12,793
+136% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.7% +5.7%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $74,412/yr
+15% vs other
 $62,920/yr
Median weekly rent $354/wk
+15% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Narwee Riverwood
0-4 5.7% / 5.0%
Narwee — 0-4: 5.7% Riverwood — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 11.2% / 10.4%
Narwee — 5-14: 11.2% Riverwood — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 5.2% / 4.8%
Narwee — 15-19: 5.2% Riverwood — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 5.8% / 6.8%
Narwee — 20-24: 5.8% Riverwood — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 14.4% / 15.1%
Narwee — 25-34: 14.4% Riverwood — 25-34: 15.1%
35-44 14.7% / 13.5%
Narwee — 35-44: 14.7% Riverwood — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 12.3% / 11.9%
Narwee — 45-54: 12.3% Riverwood — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 12.5% / 13.2%
Narwee — 55-64: 12.5% Riverwood — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 10.0% / 10.4%
Narwee — 65-74: 10.0% Riverwood — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 5.8% / 6.4%
Narwee — 75-84: 5.8% Riverwood — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 2.5% / 2.4%
Narwee — 85+: 2.5% Riverwood — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Narwee 44.0% couple families
Narwee — Couple Families: 44.0% Narwee — Lone Person: 34.0% Narwee — One Parent Families: 16.4% Narwee — Group Household: 3.9% Narwee — Other Families: 1.7%
Riverwood 36.3% couple families
Riverwood — Couple Families: 36.3% Riverwood — Lone Person: 37.6% Riverwood — One Parent Families: 19.2% Riverwood — Group Household: 5.1% Riverwood — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Narwee 45.4% renting
Narwee — Owned Outright: 26.6% Narwee — Mortgage: 28.0% Narwee — Renting: 45.4%
Riverwood 56.2% renting
Riverwood — Owned Outright: 19.8% Riverwood — Mortgage: 24.0% Riverwood — Renting: 56.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Narwee Riverwood
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 14.4%
Narwee — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Riverwood — Bachelor Degree: 14.4%
Certificate III & IV 8.5% / 7.7%
Narwee — Certificate III & IV: 8.5% Riverwood — Certificate III & IV: 7.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 7.5%
Narwee — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Riverwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.5% / 5.3%
Narwee — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5% Riverwood — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.1%
Narwee — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Riverwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

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.

Narwee Riverwood
China 15.3% / 18.3%
Narwee — China: 15.3% Riverwood — China: 18.3%
Philippines 3.6% / 3.0%
Narwee — Philippines: 3.6% Riverwood — Philippines: 3.0%
Lebanon 2.4% / 2.8%
Narwee — Lebanon: 2.4% Riverwood — Lebanon: 2.8%
Indonesia 2.5% / 2.5%
Narwee — Indonesia: 2.5% Riverwood — Indonesia: 2.5%
Vietnam 1.7% / 2.8%
Narwee — Vietnam: 1.7% Riverwood — Vietnam: 2.8%
Greece 2.0% / —
Narwee — Greece: 2.0% Riverwood — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Narwee 50.5% houses
Narwee — Houses: 50.5% Narwee — Flats / Apartments: 30.6% Narwee — Townhouses: 18.9%
Riverwood 38.0% houses
Riverwood — Houses: 38.0% Riverwood — Flats / Apartments: 48.9% Riverwood — Townhouses: 13.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Narwee Riverwood
Median house price $1,601,000 $1,470,000
Median unit price $606,000 $649,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 30 sales
 24 days
from 42 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.

Narwee Riverwood
2 bed $590K / $642K
Narwee — 2 bed: $590K (25 sales) Riverwood — 2 bed: $642K (62 sales)

25 vs 62 sales

3 bed $918K / $875K
Narwee — 3 bed: $918K (6 sales) Riverwood — 3 bed: $875K (18 sales)

6 vs 18 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.

Narwee Riverwood
3 bed $1.54M / $1.47M
Narwee — 3 bed: $1.54M (24 sales) Riverwood — 3 bed: $1.47M (35 sales)

24 vs 35 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $1.46M
Narwee — 4 bed: $1.6M (14 sales) Riverwood — 4 bed: $1.46M (15 sales)

14 vs 15 sales

5 bed $1.95M / $1.7M
Narwee — 5 bed: $1.95M (15 sales) Riverwood — 5 bed: $1.7M (13 sales)

15 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Riverwood has more industrially zoned land (15% vs 0%).

Narwee Riverwood
Residential 81% 54%
Parks and recreation 6% 18%
Industrial 0% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 8%
Environmental 0% 3%
Commercial 2%
same for both
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

Narwee Riverwood
New dwellings approved 1,785
across Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

Narwee Riverwood
Houses 3.7%
$825/wk on $1.15M
 3.2%
$800/wk on $1.31M
Units — 5.2%
$670/wk on $670K

Ranking within NSW

Narwee Riverwood
House price Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Income Higher than 41% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 83% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 73% of NSW

Liveability

Riverwood is more walkable (93 vs 84).

Narwee Riverwood
Grade B
same for both
Score 65/100 63/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Riverwood carries more crime risk (83 vs 62).

Narwee Riverwood
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 High
83/100
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 5
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Narwee Riverwood
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 4.5 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 2.9%

Schools in Narwee

  • Narwee Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Riverwood

  • Riverwood Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Hannans Road Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Southside Montessori School Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Narwee Riverwood
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 9
Parks & reserves 5 15
Childcare 10 8
GPs 3 8
Pharmacies 3 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both

Mobility

Narwee Riverwood
Walkability score 84/100 93/100
Distance to Sydney 24 km 25.2 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 26 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 81.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 215.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 2209
 1.1%
postcode 2210
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 2209
 25
postcode 2210

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.

Narwee Riverwood
Car (driver) 45.5% / 41.8%
Narwee — Car (driver): 45.5% Riverwood — Car (driver): 41.8%
Worked from Home 40.7% / 39.1%
Narwee — Worked from Home: 40.7% Riverwood — Worked from Home: 39.1%
Train 8.8% / 11.0%
Narwee — Train: 8.8% Riverwood — Train: 11.0%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 4.2%
Narwee — Car (passenger): 3.2% Riverwood — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 1.0% / 2.4%
Narwee — Walked Only: 1.0% Riverwood — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (45.5%).

Setting

Narwee Riverwood
Elevation 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.1 km 9.6 km

NBN connectivity

Narwee Riverwood
Connectivity score 85/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
2,282 premises
 39%
6,241 premises

Climate

Narwee Riverwood
Annual rainfall 909 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Narwee Riverwood
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³ 16.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.79 pphm 0.9 pphm

Council rates

Narwee Riverwood
Average residential rate $1,322/yr
same for both
Council Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both

Federal electorate

Narwee Riverwood
Division Banks
same for both
Member Zhi Soon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Narwee Riverwood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Narwee

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub Urban

Riverwood

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Narwee

Narwee vs Roselands Narwee vs Peakhurst Narwee vs Beverly Hills

Other comparisons with Riverwood

Riverwood vs Punchbowl Riverwood vs Padstow Riverwood vs Roselands Riverwood vs Peakhurst Riverwood vs Beverly Hills
Full data on Narwee Full data on Riverwood
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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