North Parramatta vs Northmead

In North Parramatta, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Northmead, most households own their home. On these figures, North Parramatta 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

  • North Parramatta has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 3)
  • Northmead has more separate houses rather than flats (49% vs 24%)

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 the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 34%)

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

  • North Parramatta sits closer to the CBD (25.1 km vs 27.2 km)
  • Northmead is more walkable (84/100 vs 66/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Northmead

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 66/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 64/100)
  • But North Parramatta has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 51%)

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

Investors

Northmead

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (0.4% vs -8.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

North Parramatta and Northmead 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 Northmead
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 Northmead
Walkability 66 / 84
North Parramatta — Walkability: 66/100 Northmead — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 36 / 49
North Parramatta — Safety: 36/100 Northmead — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 84 / 76
North Parramatta — Low fire risk: 84/100 Northmead — Low fire risk: 76/100

Demographics

Northmead has higher household incomes ($100,048 vs $88,556).

North Parramatta Northmead
Population 12,064
+7% vs other
 11,261
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.9% +0.4%
Median age 38 39
Median household income $88,556/yr $100,048/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $390/wk $420/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Parramatta Northmead
0-4 5.7% / 6.2%
North Parramatta — 0-4: 5.7% Northmead — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 11.4% / 13.0%
North Parramatta — 5-14: 11.4% Northmead — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 4.9% / 5.1%
North Parramatta — 15-19: 4.9% Northmead — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 5.5% / 4.8%
North Parramatta — 20-24: 5.5% Northmead — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 16.0% / 13.1%
North Parramatta — 25-34: 16.0% Northmead — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 19.1% / 16.3%
North Parramatta — 35-44: 19.1% Northmead — 35-44: 16.3%
45-54 12.9% / 13.4%
North Parramatta — 45-54: 12.9% Northmead — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 10.9% / 9.8%
North Parramatta — 55-64: 10.9% Northmead — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 7.5% / 8.4%
North Parramatta — 65-74: 7.5% Northmead — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 4.0% / 6.7%
North Parramatta — 75-84: 4.0% Northmead — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 2.1% / 3.1%
North Parramatta — 85+: 2.1% Northmead — 85+: 3.1%

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%
Northmead 44.2% couple families
Northmead — Couple Families: 44.2% Northmead — Lone Person: 36.0% Northmead — One Parent Families: 14.4% Northmead — Group Household: 3.9% Northmead — Other Families: 1.5%
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%
Northmead 34.5% renting
Northmead — Owned Outright: 27.7% Northmead — Mortgage: 37.7% Northmead — Renting: 34.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Parramatta Northmead
Bachelor Degree 19.9% / 18.7%
North Parramatta — Bachelor Degree: 19.9% Northmead — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.3% / 10.3%
North Parramatta — Certificate III & IV: 8.3% Northmead — Certificate III & IV: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 9.1% / 7.8%
North Parramatta — Postgraduate Degree: 9.1% Northmead — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.5%
North Parramatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Northmead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.0%
North Parramatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Northmead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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 Northmead
India 8.8% / 5.2%
North Parramatta — India: 8.8% Northmead — India: 5.2%
China 5.0% / 3.1%
North Parramatta — China: 5.0% Northmead — China: 3.1%
Iran 2.8% / 2.2%
North Parramatta — Iran: 2.8% Northmead — Iran: 2.2%
Philippines 3.0% / 1.8%
North Parramatta — Philippines: 3.0% Northmead — Philippines: 1.8%
Lebanon 2.3% / 1.1%
North Parramatta — Lebanon: 2.3% Northmead — Lebanon: 1.1%
England 1.4% / 1.6%
North Parramatta — England: 1.4% Northmead — England: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Parramatta 58.5% flats / apartments
North Parramatta — Flats / Apartments: 58.5% North Parramatta — Houses: 24.2% North Parramatta — Townhouses: 17.2%
Northmead 31.6% flats / apartments
Northmead — Flats / Apartments: 31.6% Northmead — Houses: 49.0% Northmead — Townhouses: 19.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

North Parramatta Northmead
Median house price $1,805,000 $1,705,000
Median unit price $639,000 $602,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 38 sales
 28 days
from 98 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.

North Parramatta Northmead
2 bed $620K / $594K
North Parramatta — 2 bed: $620K (123 sales) Northmead — 2 bed: $594K (66 sales)

123 vs 66 sales

3 bed $875K / $762K
North Parramatta — 3 bed: $875K (42 sales) Northmead — 3 bed: $762K (26 sales)

42 vs 26 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 Northmead
2 bed $1.3M / $1.42M
North Parramatta — 2 bed: $1.3M (9 sales) Northmead — 2 bed: $1.42M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

3 bed $1.65M / $1.55M
North Parramatta — 3 bed: $1.65M (18 sales) Northmead — 3 bed: $1.55M (47 sales)

18 vs 47 sales

4 bed $1.8M / $1.74M
North Parramatta — 4 bed: $1.8M (15 sales) Northmead — 4 bed: $1.74M (56 sales)

15 vs 56 sales

5 bed $2.15M / $1.85M
North Parramatta — 5 bed: $2.15M (9 sales) Northmead — 5 bed: $1.85M (14 sales)

9 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

North Parramatta Northmead
Residential 42% 65%
Infrastructure and transport 30% 4%
Environmental 14% 15%
Industrial 4% 9%
Parks and recreation 9% 5%
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 Northmead
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 Northmead
Houses 2.2%
$800/wk on $1.85M
 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.4M
Units 5.5%
$650/wk on $610K
 5.5%
$640/wk on $605K

Ranking within NSW

North Parramatta Northmead
House price Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Income Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Schools Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW

Liveability

Northmead is more walkable (84 vs 66); Northmead scores higher overall (70 vs 62).

North Parramatta Northmead
Grade B A
Score 62/100 70/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

North Parramatta carries more crime risk (64 vs 51).

North Parramatta Northmead
Bushfire Low
16/100
 Low
24/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
51/100
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
 8
within 5 km

Schools

North Parramatta Northmead
Inside the suburb 7 3
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 2.1 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.5%

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 Northmead

  • Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Northmead Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • The Hills School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

North Parramatta Northmead
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 11 2
Parks & reserves 15 12
Childcare 14 9
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 4
Waterways 11 8

Mobility

Northmead sits further from the CBD (27.2 km vs 25.1 km).

North Parramatta Northmead
Walkability score 66/100 84/100
Distance to Sydney 25.1 km 27.2 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 29 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 488.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 304.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2151
 1.6%
postcode 2152
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 2151
 23
postcode 2152

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 Northmead
Worked from Home 51.7% / 52.9%
North Parramatta — Worked from Home: 51.7% Northmead — Worked from Home: 52.9%
Car (driver) 35.0% / 37.3%
North Parramatta — Car (driver): 35.0% Northmead — Car (driver): 37.3%
Walked Only 3.9% / 2.3%
North Parramatta — Walked Only: 3.9% Northmead — Walked Only: 2.3%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.9%
North Parramatta — Car (passenger): 2.7% Northmead — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Train 3.6% / 1.7%
North Parramatta — Train: 3.6% Northmead — Train: 1.7%
Bus 2.5% / 2.5%
North Parramatta — Bus: 2.5% Northmead — Bus: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.9%).

Setting

North Parramatta Northmead
Elevation 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.8 km 23.5 km

NBN connectivity

North Parramatta Northmead
Connectivity score 77/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
5,974 premises
 10%
5,264 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

North Parramatta Northmead
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

Northmead

Apartments Outer Parks Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Parramatta

North Parramatta vs Parramatta North Parramatta vs Carlingford North Parramatta vs Westmead North Parramatta vs North Rocks North Parramatta vs Oatlands

Other comparisons with Northmead

Northmead vs Baulkham Hills Northmead vs Westmead Northmead vs Wentworthville Northmead vs Winston Hills Northmead vs North Rocks Northmead vs Constitution Hill
Full data on North Parramatta Full data on Northmead
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or