North Epping vs Marsfield

Marsfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 44 in North Epping. In both, most households own their home. In North Epping, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Marsfield is closer to the city centre: 18.4 km, against 21.5 km. On these figures, North Epping tends to suit couples, while Marsfield suits 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

North Epping

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 32%)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 31/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 53%)
  • But Marsfield has more parks and reserves (20 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • North Epping leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 28%)
  • Marsfield has cheaper units ($850,000 vs $1,680,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Marsfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($475/wk vs $615/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Marsfield

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (23 min vs 28 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (18.4 km vs 21.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • North Epping carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 31/100)
  • Marsfield has more units and townhouses to downsize into (68% vs 8%)

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

  • North Epping is growing faster (2.9% vs -6.1%)
  • Marsfield returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

North Epping Marsfield
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.

North Epping Marsfield
Walkability 80 / 84
North Epping — Walkability: 80/100 Marsfield — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 82 / 69
North Epping — Safety: 82/100 Marsfield — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 22 / 30
North Epping — Low fire risk: 22/100 Marsfield — Low fire risk: 30/100

Demographics

Marsfield has more residents (12,492 vs 4,657); North Epping has higher household incomes ($159,224 vs $101,036).

North Epping Marsfield
Population 4,657 12,492
+168% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% -6.1%
Median age 44 39
Median household income $159,224/yr
+37% vs other
 $101,036/yr
Median weekly rent $615/wk
+23% vs other
 $475/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Epping Marsfield
0-4 4.0% / 5.2%
North Epping — 0-4: 4.0% Marsfield — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 14.9% / 10.5%
North Epping — 5-14: 14.9% Marsfield — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 7.9% / 4.1%
North Epping — 15-19: 7.9% Marsfield — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 5.8% / 6.9%
North Epping — 20-24: 5.8% Marsfield — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 7.0% / 16.1%
North Epping — 25-34: 7.0% Marsfield — 25-34: 16.1%
35-44 11.3% / 15.6%
North Epping — 35-44: 11.3% Marsfield — 35-44: 15.6%
45-54 15.9% / 11.9%
North Epping — 45-54: 15.9% Marsfield — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 14.5% / 10.7%
North Epping — 55-64: 14.5% Marsfield — 55-64: 10.7%
65-74 9.0% / 9.3%
North Epping — 65-74: 9.0% Marsfield — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 6.9% / 5.9%
North Epping — 75-84: 6.9% Marsfield — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 2.7% / 3.9%
North Epping — 85+: 2.7% Marsfield — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Epping 70.0% couple families
North Epping — Couple Families: 70.0% North Epping — Lone Person: 17.7% North Epping — One Parent Families: 10.4% North Epping — Group Household: 1.4% North Epping — Other Families: 0.5%
Marsfield 41.4% couple families
Marsfield — Couple Families: 41.4% Marsfield — Lone Person: 36.7% Marsfield — One Parent Families: 11.9% Marsfield — Group Household: 8.3% Marsfield — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Epping 11.7% renting
North Epping — Owned Outright: 47.7% North Epping — Mortgage: 40.7% North Epping — Renting: 11.7%
Marsfield 39.6% renting
Marsfield — Owned Outright: 31.3% Marsfield — Mortgage: 29.1% Marsfield — Renting: 39.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Epping Marsfield
Bachelor Degree 23.4% / 23.4%
North Epping — Bachelor Degree: 23.4% Marsfield — Bachelor Degree: 23.4%
Postgraduate Degree 13.7% / 14.6%
North Epping — Postgraduate Degree: 13.7% Marsfield — Postgraduate Degree: 14.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 7.5%
North Epping — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Marsfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 6.0% / 6.2%
North Epping — Certificate III & IV: 6.0% Marsfield — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.2%
North Epping — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Marsfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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.

North Epping Marsfield
China 6.9% / 14.3%
North Epping — China: 6.9% Marsfield — China: 14.3%
India 4.3% / 4.5%
North Epping — India: 4.3% Marsfield — India: 4.5%
England 3.2% / 1.7%
North Epping — England: 3.2% Marsfield — England: 1.7%
Malaysia 1.7% / 1.9%
North Epping — Malaysia: 1.7% Marsfield — Malaysia: 1.9%
Philippines — / 2.1%
North Epping — Philippines: not among its largest Marsfield — Philippines: 2.1%
Indonesia — / 2.0%
North Epping — Indonesia: not among its largest Marsfield — Indonesia: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.7% / —
North Epping — New Zealand: 1.7% Marsfield — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Epping 92.0% houses
North Epping — Houses: 92.0% North Epping — Townhouses: 5.4% North Epping — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Marsfield 31.6% houses
Marsfield — Houses: 31.6% Marsfield — Townhouses: 46.6% Marsfield — Flats / Apartments: 21.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

North Epping Marsfield
Median house price $2,365,000 $2,522,500
Median unit price $1,680,000 $850,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 36 sales
 26 days
from 94 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.

North Epping Marsfield
3 bed $2.06M / $2.37M
North Epping — 3 bed: $2.06M (27 sales) Marsfield — 3 bed: $2.37M (27 sales)

27 vs 27 sales

4 bed $2.28M / $2.45M
North Epping — 4 bed: $2.28M (32 sales) Marsfield — 4 bed: $2.45M (35 sales)

32 vs 35 sales

5 bed $2.75M / $2.7M
North Epping — 5 bed: $2.75M (36 sales) Marsfield — 5 bed: $2.7M (41 sales)

36 vs 41 sales

Zoning mix

North Epping Marsfield
Residential 70% 57%
Environmental 21% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 15%
Parks and recreation 8% 11%
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

North Epping Marsfield
New dwellings approved 260
across Hornsby
 1,489
across Ryde
Approvals change year on year -79% +81%

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.

North Epping Marsfield
Houses 2.8%
$1,025/wk on $1.88M
 4.2%
$785/wk on $975K
Units — 4.8%
$688/wk on $750K

Ranking within NSW

North Epping Marsfield
House price Higher than 90% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 99% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 56% of NSW

Liveability

North Epping Marsfield
Grade A
same for both
Score 73/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Marsfield carries more crime risk (31 vs 18).

North Epping Marsfield
Bushfire High
78/100
 High
70/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Low
31/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

North Epping Marsfield
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 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 3.9 km
 3
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 4.8%

Schools in North Epping

  • Epping North Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Marsfield

  • Epping Boys High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Kent Road Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Anthony's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Epping Marsfield
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 4 3
Parks & reserves 4 20
Childcare 2 4
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 5 4

Mobility

North Epping sits further from the CBD (21.5 km vs 18.4 km).

North Epping Marsfield
Walkability score 80/100 84/100
Distance to Sydney 21.5 km
+14% vs other
 18.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 23 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 106.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 374.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 2121
 2.6%
postcode 2122
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 2121
 22
postcode 2122

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.

North Epping Marsfield
Worked from Home 61.4% / 54.0%
North Epping — Worked from Home: 61.4% Marsfield — Worked from Home: 54.0%
Car (driver) 31.2% / 34.1%
North Epping — Car (driver): 31.2% Marsfield — Car (driver): 34.1%
Train 3.1% / 3.2%
North Epping — Train: 3.1% Marsfield — Train: 3.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.4%
North Epping — Car (passenger): 2.3% Marsfield — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Bus 0.3% / 3.8%
North Epping — Bus: 0.3% Marsfield — Bus: 3.8%
Walked Only 1.2% / 2.2%
North Epping — Walked Only: 1.2% Marsfield — Walked Only: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.4%).

Setting

North Epping Marsfield
Elevation 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 82 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.3 km 13.7 km

NBN connectivity

North Epping Marsfield
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
1,634 premises
 0%
5,483 premises

Climate

North Epping Marsfield
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

North Epping Marsfield
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

North Epping Marsfield
Average residential rate $1,488/yr $1,216/yr
Council Hornsby Ryde

Federal electorate

North Epping Marsfield
Division Berowra Bennelong
Member Julian Leeser Jerome Laxale
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

North Epping Marsfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Epping

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet

Marsfield

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals River Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Epping

North Epping vs Epping North Epping vs Pennant Hills North Epping vs South Turramurra North Epping vs Cheltenham

Other comparisons with Marsfield

Marsfield vs Ryde Marsfield vs Epping Marsfield vs Eastwood Marsfield vs North Ryde Marsfield vs Macquarie Park Marsfield vs South Turramurra
Full data on North Epping Full data on Marsfield
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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