Newtown vs Marrickville

Newtown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Marrickville. In Newtown, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Marrickville, about half of households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Marrickville: a median of $2.11 million, against $1.88 million in Newtown, though rent is higher in Newtown. Newtown is closer to the city centre: 5.9 km, against 10.2 km. On these figures, Newtown tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Marrickville

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (32% vs 5%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (22 vs 11)

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

First-home buyers

Newtown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($800,000 vs $950,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,875,000 vs $2,110,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Newtown has a bigger rental market to choose from (59% vs 48%)
  • Marrickville has cheaper rent ($480/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Newtown

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (5.9 km vs 10.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (16 min vs 21 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Marrickville

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 8%)
  • has more GPs (10 vs 7)
  • But Newtown has more units and townhouses to downsize into (95% vs 68%)

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

Investors

Newtown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.1% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Newtown Marrickville
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.

Newtown Marrickville
Walkability 96 / 99
Newtown — Walkability: 96/100 Marrickville — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 13 / 22
Newtown — Safety: 13/100 Marrickville — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Newtown — Low fire risk: 100/100 Marrickville — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Marrickville has more residents (26,570 vs 14,690); Newtown rents higher ($550/wk vs $480/wk).

Newtown Marrickville
Population 14,690 26,570
+81% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.3% -0.1%
Median age 34 37
Median household income $121,160/yr
+7% vs other
 $112,840/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+13% vs other
 $480/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Newtown Marrickville
0-4 3.5% / 4.7%
Newtown — 0-4: 3.5% Marrickville — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 6.1% / 8.7%
Newtown — 5-14: 6.1% Marrickville — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 3.1% / 3.7%
Newtown — 15-19: 3.1% Marrickville — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 9.9% / 6.0%
Newtown — 20-24: 9.9% Marrickville — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 28.8% / 22.0%
Newtown — 25-34: 28.8% Marrickville — 25-34: 22.0%
35-44 17.1% / 16.8%
Newtown — 35-44: 17.1% Marrickville — 35-44: 16.8%
45-54 13.5% / 13.7%
Newtown — 45-54: 13.5% Marrickville — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 9.7% / 10.4%
Newtown — 55-64: 9.7% Marrickville — 55-64: 10.4%
65-74 5.4% / 7.3%
Newtown — 65-74: 5.4% Marrickville — 65-74: 7.3%
75-84 2.0% / 4.8%
Newtown — 75-84: 2.0% Marrickville — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 0.7% / 1.9%
Newtown — 85+: 0.7% Marrickville — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Newtown 50.5% lone person
Newtown — Lone Person: 50.5% Newtown — Couple Families: 21.3% Newtown — Group Household: 19.4% Newtown — One Parent Families: 7.3% Newtown — Other Families: 1.5%
Marrickville 40.1% lone person
Marrickville — Lone Person: 40.1% Marrickville — Couple Families: 31.8% Marrickville — Group Household: 12.4% Marrickville — One Parent Families: 13.6% Marrickville — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 58.6% renting
Newtown — Owned Outright: 17.6% Newtown — Mortgage: 23.9% Newtown — Renting: 58.6%
Marrickville 47.6% renting
Marrickville — Owned Outright: 24.2% Marrickville — Mortgage: 28.2% Marrickville — Renting: 47.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Newtown Marrickville
Bachelor Degree 31.5% / 24.5%
Newtown — Bachelor Degree: 31.5% Marrickville — Bachelor Degree: 24.5%
Postgraduate Degree 14.6% / 10.2%
Newtown — Postgraduate Degree: 14.6% Marrickville — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.5%
Newtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Marrickville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 6.2% / 7.5%
Newtown — Certificate III & IV: 6.2% Marrickville — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.7%
Newtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Marrickville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.5%).

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.

Newtown Marrickville
England 5.7% / 3.4%
Newtown — England: 5.7% Marrickville — England: 3.4%
Vietnam 0.8% / 5.6%
Newtown — Vietnam: 0.8% Marrickville — Vietnam: 5.6%
New Zealand 2.7% / 2.0%
Newtown — New Zealand: 2.7% Marrickville — New Zealand: 2.0%
Greece — / 3.9%
Newtown — Greece: not among its largest Marrickville — Greece: 3.9%
China 1.5% / 1.3%
Newtown — China: 1.5% Marrickville — China: 1.3%
Thailand 1.0% / 0.8%
Newtown — Thailand: 1.0% Marrickville — Thailand: 0.8%
Ireland 1.0% / —
Newtown — Ireland: 1.0% Marrickville — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 42.9% flats / apartments
Newtown — Flats / Apartments: 42.9% Newtown — Townhouses: 52.0% Newtown — Houses: 5.0%
Marrickville 49.5% flats / apartments
Marrickville — Flats / Apartments: 49.5% Marrickville — Townhouses: 18.5% Marrickville — Houses: 32.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Newtown Marrickville
Median house price $1,875,000 $2,110,000
Median unit price $800,000 $950,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 149 sales
 26 days
from 189 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.

Newtown Marrickville
1 bed $700K / $775K
Newtown — 1 bed: $700K (95 sales) Marrickville — 1 bed: $775K (94 sales)

95 vs 94 sales

2 bed $1.16M / $1.04M
Newtown — 2 bed: $1.16M (53 sales) Marrickville — 2 bed: $1.04M (173 sales)

53 vs 173 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.

Newtown Marrickville
2 bed $1.71M / $1.87M
Newtown — 2 bed: $1.71M (110 sales) Marrickville — 2 bed: $1.87M (75 sales)

110 vs 75 sales

3 bed $2.15M / $2.11M
Newtown — 3 bed: $2.15M (65 sales) Marrickville — 3 bed: $2.11M (121 sales)

65 vs 121 sales

4 bed $2.64M / $2.71M
Newtown — 4 bed: $2.64M (24 sales) Marrickville — 4 bed: $2.71M (59 sales)

24 vs 59 sales

Zoning mix

Marrickville has more industrially zoned land (18% vs 1%).

Newtown Marrickville
Residential 69% 55%
Industrial 1% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 10%
Commercial 12% 4%
Parks and recreation 4% 11%
Environmental 0% 2%
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

Newtown Marrickville
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
 849
across Inner West
Approvals change year on year +929% -25%

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.

Newtown Marrickville
Houses 3.0%
$992/wk on $1.7M
 3.0%
$1,100/wk on $1.91M
Units 6.1%
$650/wk on $550K
 4.0%
$700/wk on $900K

Ranking within NSW

Newtown Marrickville
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Schools Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW

Liveability

Newtown Marrickville
Grade B A
Score 69/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Newtown Marrickville
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 High
78/100
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 9
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Newtown Marrickville
Inside the suburb 7 9
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 3 2
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 1.2 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.2% 2.3%

Schools in Newtown

  • Camdenville Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Newtown High School of Performing Arts Government · Secondary at peers
  • Newtown North Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Newtown Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Pius' Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • The Athena School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Marrickville

  • Casimir Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Wilkins Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ferncourt Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Marrickville Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Brigid's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Marrickville High School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Newtown Marrickville
Supermarkets 8 13
Cafes & restaurants 102 100
Parks & reserves 19 24
Childcare 11 22
GPs 7 10
Pharmacies 8 9
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 3 8
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Marrickville sits further from the CBD (10.2 km vs 5.9 km).

Newtown Marrickville
Walkability score 96/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 5.9 km 10.2 km
+73% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 21 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 458.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 583.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 2042
 1.5%
postcode 2204
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 2042
 15
postcode 2204

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.

Newtown Marrickville
Worked from Home 63.9% / 58.3%
Newtown — Worked from Home: 63.9% Marrickville — Worked from Home: 58.3%
Car (driver) 15.9% / 25.6%
Newtown — Car (driver): 15.9% Marrickville — Car (driver): 25.6%
Walked Only 8.5% / 4.3%
Newtown — Walked Only: 8.5% Marrickville — Walked Only: 4.3%
Train 6.3% / 6.1%
Newtown — Train: 6.3% Marrickville — Train: 6.1%
Bus 2.0% / 2.2%
Newtown — Bus: 2.0% Marrickville — Bus: 2.2%
Bicycle 2.0% / 1.6%
Newtown — Bicycle: 2.0% Marrickville — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.9%).

Setting

Newtown Marrickville
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.4 km 4.2 km

NBN connectivity

Newtown Marrickville
Connectivity score 70/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
9,055 premises
 9%
14,558 premises

Climate

Newtown Marrickville
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Newtown Marrickville
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 12.9 µg/m³ 16.1 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.73 pphm 0.79 pphm

Council rates

Newtown Marrickville
Average residential rate $875/yr $1,342/yr
Council Sydney Inner West

Federal electorate

Newtown Marrickville
Division Sydney Grayndler
Member Tanya Plibersek Anthony Albanese
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Newtown Marrickville
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Newtown

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Marrickville

Apartments Cafe Culture Gentrifying Inner Nightlife Parks Premium Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Newtown

Newtown vs Erskineville Newtown vs Camperdown Newtown vs Stanmore Newtown vs Enmore Newtown vs St Peters Newtown vs Darlington

Other comparisons with Marrickville

Marrickville vs Earlwood Marrickville vs Dulwich Hill Marrickville vs Wolli Creek Marrickville vs Petersham Marrickville vs Stanmore Marrickville vs Lewisham
Full data on Newtown Full data on Marrickville
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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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