North Rocks vs Northmead

In both, most households own their home. In North Rocks, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in North Rocks: a median of $1.9 million, against $1.71 million in Northmead, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, North Rocks tends to suit couples, while Northmead 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 Rocks

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 49%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 59%)
  • But Northmead has more parks and reserves (12 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Northmead

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,705,000 vs $1,898,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Northmead

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $505/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Northmead

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 71/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (29 min vs 34 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Northmead

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 22%)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 71/100)

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

Investors

North Rocks

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.7% vs 0.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

North Rocks 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 Rocks 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 Rocks Northmead
Walkability 71 / 84
North Rocks — Walkability: 71/100 Northmead — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 58 / 49
North Rocks — Safety: 58/100 Northmead — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 76
North Rocks — Low fire risk: 100/100 Northmead — Low fire risk: 76/100

Demographics

North Rocks has higher household incomes ($122,408 vs $100,048); North Rocks rents higher ($505/wk vs $420/wk).

North Rocks Northmead
Population 9,136 11,261
+23% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.7% +0.4%
Median age 40 39
Median household income $122,408/yr
+18% vs other
 $100,048/yr
Median weekly rent $505/wk
+17% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Rocks Northmead
0-4 5.3% / 6.2%
North Rocks — 0-4: 5.3% Northmead — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 14.2% / 13.0%
North Rocks — 5-14: 14.2% Northmead — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.9% / 5.1%
North Rocks — 15-19: 5.9% Northmead — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 5.5% / 4.8%
North Rocks — 20-24: 5.5% Northmead — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 11.0% / 13.1%
North Rocks — 25-34: 11.0% Northmead — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 15.1% / 16.3%
North Rocks — 35-44: 15.1% Northmead — 35-44: 16.3%
45-54 13.7% / 13.4%
North Rocks — 45-54: 13.7% Northmead — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 11.5% / 9.8%
North Rocks — 55-64: 11.5% Northmead — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 9.8% / 8.4%
North Rocks — 65-74: 9.8% Northmead — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 6.3% / 6.7%
North Rocks — 75-84: 6.3% Northmead — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 1.6% / 3.1%
North Rocks — 85+: 1.6% Northmead — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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 Rocks 24.2% renting
North Rocks — Owned Outright: 36.2% North Rocks — Mortgage: 39.6% North Rocks — Renting: 24.2%
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 Rocks Northmead
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 18.7%
North Rocks — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Northmead — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.8% / 10.3%
North Rocks — Certificate III & IV: 8.8% Northmead — Certificate III & IV: 10.3%
Postgraduate Degree 9.8% / 7.8%
North Rocks — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8% Northmead — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.5%
North Rocks — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Northmead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.0%
North Rocks — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Northmead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

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 Rocks Northmead
China 10.8% / 3.1%
North Rocks — China: 10.8% Northmead — China: 3.1%
India 3.4% / 5.2%
North Rocks — India: 3.4% Northmead — India: 5.2%
Iran 2.1% / 2.2%
North Rocks — Iran: 2.1% Northmead — Iran: 2.2%
England 2.2% / 1.6%
North Rocks — England: 2.2% Northmead — England: 1.6%
Sri Lanka 1.7% / 1.0%
North Rocks — Sri Lanka: 1.7% Northmead — Sri Lanka: 1.0%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.8%
North Rocks — Philippines: 0.8% Northmead — Philippines: 1.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Rocks 78.1% houses
North Rocks — Houses: 78.1% North Rocks — Flats / Apartments: 14.1% North Rocks — Townhouses: 7.8%
Northmead 49.0% houses
Northmead — Houses: 49.0% Northmead — Flats / Apartments: 31.6% Northmead — Townhouses: 19.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Rocks Northmead
Median house price $1,898,250 $1,705,000
Median unit price $641,000 $602,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 79 sales
 28 days
from 98 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 Rocks Northmead
3 bed $1.79M / $1.55M
North Rocks — 3 bed: $1.79M (21 sales) Northmead — 3 bed: $1.55M (47 sales)

21 vs 47 sales

4 bed $1.92M / $1.74M
North Rocks — 4 bed: $1.92M (44 sales) Northmead — 4 bed: $1.74M (56 sales)

44 vs 56 sales

5 bed $2.1M / $1.85M
North Rocks — 5 bed: $2.1M (13 sales) Northmead — 5 bed: $1.85M (14 sales)

13 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

North Rocks Northmead
Residential 53% 65%
Environmental 18% 15%
Parks and recreation 13% 5%
Industrial 9%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 5% 4%
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 Rocks 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 Rocks Northmead
Houses 3.1%
$965/wk on $1.6M
 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.4M
Units — 5.5%
$640/wk on $605K

Ranking within NSW

North Rocks Northmead
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Schools Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 31% 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 27% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 85% of NSW

Liveability

North Rocks scores higher overall (85 vs 70); Northmead is more walkable (84 vs 71).

North Rocks Northmead
Grade A
same for both
Score 85/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Northmead carries more bushfire risk (24 vs 0).

North Rocks Northmead
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
24/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 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 5
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

North Rocks Northmead
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.7 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 2.5%

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

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 Rocks Northmead
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 10 2
Parks & reserves 9 12
Childcare 8 9
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 3 4
Waterways 14 8

Mobility

North Rocks Northmead
Walkability score 71/100 84/100
Distance to Sydney 29 km
+6% vs other
 27.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 29 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 253.8
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 Rocks Northmead
Worked from Home 53.5% / 52.9%
North Rocks — Worked from Home: 53.5% Northmead — Worked from Home: 52.9%
Car (driver) 39.9% / 37.3%
North Rocks — Car (driver): 39.9% Northmead — Car (driver): 37.3%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 2.9%
North Rocks — Car (passenger): 3.0% Northmead — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Bus 1.9% / 2.5%
North Rocks — Bus: 1.9% Northmead — Bus: 2.5%
Walked Only 0.8% / 2.3%
North Rocks — Walked Only: 0.8% Northmead — Walked Only: 2.3%
Train 0.8% / 1.7%
North Rocks — Train: 0.8% Northmead — Train: 1.7%

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

Setting

North Rocks Northmead
Elevation 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.7 km 23.5 km

NBN connectivity

North Rocks Northmead
Connectivity score 78/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
3,875 premises
 10%
5,264 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

North Rocks Northmead
Division Mitchell
same for both
Member Alex Hawke
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Rocks

Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

Northmead

Apartments Outer Parks Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Rocks

North Rocks vs Baulkham Hills North Rocks vs Carlingford North Rocks vs West Pennant Hills North Rocks vs North Parramatta

Other comparisons with Northmead

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