North Parramatta vs North Rocks

In North Parramatta, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In North Rocks, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. North Parramatta is closer to the city centre: 25.1 km, against 29 km. On these figures, North Parramatta tends to suit renters and people living alone, while North Rocks suits 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

North Rocks

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 24%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 50%)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 64/100)
  • But North Parramatta has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

North Parramatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($390/wk vs $505/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

North Parramatta

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (27 min vs 34 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (25.1 km vs 29 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

North Rocks

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 64/100)
  • But North Parramatta has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 22%)

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

Investors

North Rocks

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (14.7% vs -8.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.1% vs 2.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

North Parramatta and North Rocks 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 Parramatta North Rocks
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 Parramatta North Rocks
Walkability 66 / 71
North Parramatta — Walkability: 66/100 North Rocks — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 36 / 58
North Parramatta — Safety: 36/100 North Rocks — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 84 / 100
North Parramatta — Low fire risk: 84/100 North Rocks — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Rocks has higher household incomes ($122,408 vs $88,556); North Parramatta has more residents (12,064 vs 9,136).

North Parramatta North Rocks
Population 12,064
+24% vs other
 9,136
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.9% +14.7%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $88,556/yr $122,408/yr
+38% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $505/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Parramatta North Rocks
0-4 5.7% / 5.3%
North Parramatta — 0-4: 5.7% North Rocks — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 11.4% / 14.2%
North Parramatta — 5-14: 11.4% North Rocks — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 4.9% / 5.9%
North Parramatta — 15-19: 4.9% North Rocks — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.5% / 5.5%
North Parramatta — 20-24: 5.5% North Rocks — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 16.0% / 11.0%
North Parramatta — 25-34: 16.0% North Rocks — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 19.1% / 15.1%
North Parramatta — 35-44: 19.1% North Rocks — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 12.9% / 13.7%
North Parramatta — 45-54: 12.9% North Rocks — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 10.9% / 11.5%
North Parramatta — 55-64: 10.9% North Rocks — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 7.5% / 9.8%
North Parramatta — 65-74: 7.5% North Rocks — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 4.0% / 6.3%
North Parramatta — 75-84: 4.0% North Rocks — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 2.1% / 1.6%
North Parramatta — 85+: 2.1% North Rocks — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Parramatta 35.6% couple families
North Parramatta — Couple Families: 35.6% North Parramatta — Lone Person: 41.7% North Parramatta — One Parent Families: 14.3% North Parramatta — Group Household: 6.3% North Parramatta — Other Families: 2.1%
North Rocks 63.0% couple families
North Rocks — Couple Families: 63.0% North Rocks — Lone Person: 19.3% North Rocks — One Parent Families: 13.5% North Rocks — Group Household: 3.2% North Rocks — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Parramatta 56.1% renting
North Parramatta — Owned Outright: 17.5% North Parramatta — Mortgage: 26.4% North Parramatta — Renting: 56.1%
North Rocks 24.2% renting
North Rocks — Owned Outright: 36.2% North Rocks — Mortgage: 39.6% North Rocks — Renting: 24.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Parramatta North Rocks
Bachelor Degree 19.9% / 21.1%
North Parramatta — Bachelor Degree: 19.9% North Rocks — Bachelor Degree: 21.1%
Postgraduate Degree 9.1% / 9.8%
North Parramatta — Postgraduate Degree: 9.1% North Rocks — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8%
Certificate III & IV 8.3% / 8.8%
North Parramatta — Certificate III & IV: 8.3% North Rocks — Certificate III & IV: 8.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.8%
North Parramatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% North Rocks — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.2%
North Parramatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% North Rocks — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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 Parramatta North Rocks
China 5.0% / 10.8%
North Parramatta — China: 5.0% North Rocks — China: 10.8%
India 8.8% / 3.4%
North Parramatta — India: 8.8% North Rocks — India: 3.4%
Iran 2.8% / 2.1%
North Parramatta — Iran: 2.8% North Rocks — Iran: 2.1%
Philippines 3.0% / 0.8%
North Parramatta — Philippines: 3.0% North Rocks — Philippines: 0.8%
England 1.4% / 2.2%
North Parramatta — England: 1.4% North Rocks — England: 2.2%
Lebanon 2.3% / —
North Parramatta — Lebanon: 2.3% North Rocks — Lebanon: not among its largest
Sri Lanka — / 1.7%
North Parramatta — Sri Lanka: not among its largest North Rocks — Sri Lanka: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Parramatta 24.2% houses
North Parramatta — Houses: 24.2% North Parramatta — Flats / Apartments: 58.5% North Parramatta — Townhouses: 17.2%
North Rocks 78.1% houses
North Rocks — Houses: 78.1% North Rocks — Flats / Apartments: 14.1% North Rocks — Townhouses: 7.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Parramatta North Rocks
Median house price $1,805,000 $1,898,250
Median unit price $639,000 $641,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 38 sales
 22 days
from 79 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 Parramatta North Rocks
3 bed $1.65M / $1.79M
North Parramatta — 3 bed: $1.65M (18 sales) North Rocks — 3 bed: $1.79M (21 sales)

18 vs 21 sales

4 bed $1.8M / $1.92M
North Parramatta — 4 bed: $1.8M (15 sales) North Rocks — 4 bed: $1.92M (44 sales)

15 vs 44 sales

5 bed $2.15M / $2.1M
North Parramatta — 5 bed: $2.15M (9 sales) North Rocks — 5 bed: $2.1M (13 sales)

9 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

North Parramatta North Rocks
Residential 42% 53%
Infrastructure and transport 30% 5%
Environmental 14% 18%
Parks and recreation 9% 13%
Industrial 4% 9%
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 Parramatta North Rocks
New dwellings approved 2,888
across Parramatta
same for both
Approvals change year on year +154%
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.

North Parramatta North Rocks
Houses 2.2%
$800/wk on $1.85M
 3.1%
$965/wk on $1.6M
Units 5.5%
$650/wk on $610K
 —

Ranking within NSW

North Parramatta North Rocks
House price Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Income Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Schools Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 86% of NSW —

Liveability

North Rocks scores higher overall (85 vs 62).

North Parramatta North Rocks
Grade B A
Score 62/100 85/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

North Parramatta carries more bushfire risk (16 vs 0); North Parramatta carries more crime risk (64 vs 42).

North Parramatta North Rocks
Bushfire Low
16/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
42/100
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 16
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

North Parramatta North Rocks
Inside the suburb 7 3
Rated above peers 2 3
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 2.1 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 3.0%

Schools in North Parramatta

  • Redeemer Baptist School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Tara Anglican School for Girls Independent · Combined above peers
  • Burnside Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Parramatta East Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Parramatta North Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • The King's School Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in North Rocks

  • Christ The King Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Muirfield High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • North Rocks Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Parramatta North Rocks
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 11 10
Parks & reserves 15 9
Childcare 14 8
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 11 14

Mobility

North Rocks sits further from the CBD (29 km vs 25.1 km).

North Parramatta North Rocks
Walkability score 66/100 71/100
Distance to Sydney 25.1 km 29 km
+16% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 34 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 488.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 253.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2151
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 2151
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.

North Parramatta North Rocks
Worked from Home 51.7% / 53.5%
North Parramatta — Worked from Home: 51.7% North Rocks — Worked from Home: 53.5%
Car (driver) 35.0% / 39.9%
North Parramatta — Car (driver): 35.0% North Rocks — Car (driver): 39.9%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 3.0%
North Parramatta — Car (passenger): 2.7% North Rocks — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only 3.9% / 0.8%
North Parramatta — Walked Only: 3.9% North Rocks — Walked Only: 0.8%
Train 3.6% / 0.8%
North Parramatta — Train: 3.6% North Rocks — Train: 0.8%
Bus 2.5% / 1.9%
North Parramatta — Bus: 2.5% North Rocks — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.5%).

Setting

North Parramatta North Rocks
Elevation 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.8 km 21.7 km

NBN connectivity

North Parramatta North Rocks
Connectivity score 77/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
5,974 premises
 18%
3,875 premises

Climate

North Parramatta North Rocks
Annual rainfall 1,021 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

North Parramatta North Rocks
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.83 pphm
same for both

Council rates

North Parramatta North Rocks
Average residential rate $1,103/yr
same for both
Council Parramatta
same for both

Federal electorate

North Parramatta North Rocks
Division Parramatta Mitchell
Member Andrew Charlton Alex Hawke
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Parramatta

Affordable Apartments Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Trams

North Rocks

Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Parramatta

North Parramatta vs Parramatta North Parramatta vs Carlingford North Parramatta vs Westmead North Parramatta vs Northmead North Parramatta vs Oatlands

Other comparisons with North Rocks

North Rocks vs Baulkham Hills North Rocks vs Carlingford North Rocks vs West Pennant Hills North Rocks vs Northmead
Full data on North Parramatta Full data on North Rocks
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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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