North St Marys vs Ropes Crossing

Ropes Crossing is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 35 in North St Marys. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In North St Marys, most households rent. In Ropes Crossing, most households own their home and most households are couple families. On these figures, North St Marys tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Ropes Crossing suits families with children and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • North St Marys has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • Ropes Crossing carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

Ropes Crossing

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

North St Marys

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $480/wk)
  • But Ropes Crossing leaves renters under less rental stress (22% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

North St Marys

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (46 min vs 51 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (49 km vs 52.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ropes Crossing

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 3%)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 94/100)
  • But North St Marys has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Ropes Crossing

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (18.0% vs 5.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

North St Marys and Ropes Crossing 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 St Marys Ropes Crossing
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 St Marys Ropes Crossing
Walkability 74 / 69
North St Marys — Walkability: 74/100 Ropes Crossing — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 6 / 43
North St Marys — Safety: 6/100 Ropes Crossing — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 67 / 100
North St Marys — Low fire risk: 67/100 Ropes Crossing — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ropes Crossing has higher household incomes ($115,232 vs $65,260); Ropes Crossing has more residents (7,280 vs 4,123).

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Population 4,123 7,280
+77% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.2% +18.0%
Median age 35 31
Median household income $65,260/yr $115,232/yr
+77% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk $480/wk
+41% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
0-4 6.7% / 10.4%
North St Marys — 0-4: 6.7% Ropes Crossing — 0-4: 10.4%
5-14 14.7% / 20.2%
North St Marys — 5-14: 14.7% Ropes Crossing — 5-14: 20.2%
15-19 6.7% / 5.8%
North St Marys — 15-19: 6.7% Ropes Crossing — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 7.3% / 5.5%
North St Marys — 20-24: 7.3% Ropes Crossing — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 14.5% / 15.3%
North St Marys — 25-34: 14.5% Ropes Crossing — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 11.7% / 21.7%
North St Marys — 35-44: 11.7% Ropes Crossing — 35-44: 21.7%
45-54 11.9% / 8.7%
North St Marys — 45-54: 11.9% Ropes Crossing — 45-54: 8.7%
55-64 10.8% / 5.4%
North St Marys — 55-64: 10.8% Ropes Crossing — 55-64: 5.4%
65-74 7.3% / 3.3%
North St Marys — 65-74: 7.3% Ropes Crossing — 65-74: 3.3%
75-84 5.1% / 2.6%
North St Marys — 75-84: 5.1% Ropes Crossing — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 3.4% / 0.9%
North St Marys — 85+: 3.4% Ropes Crossing — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North St Marys 31.9% couple families
North St Marys — Couple Families: 31.9% North St Marys — Lone Person: 31.7% North St Marys — One Parent Families: 29.0% North St Marys — Group Household: 5.6% North St Marys — Other Families: 1.9%
Ropes Crossing 66.1% couple families
Ropes Crossing — Couple Families: 66.1% Ropes Crossing — Lone Person: 16.6% Ropes Crossing — One Parent Families: 14.9% Ropes Crossing — Group Household: 1.2% Ropes Crossing — 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 St Marys 55.9% renting
North St Marys — Owned Outright: 21.7% North St Marys — Mortgage: 22.4% North St Marys — Renting: 55.9%
Ropes Crossing 29.2% renting
Ropes Crossing — Owned Outright: 10.0% Ropes Crossing — Mortgage: 60.7% Ropes Crossing — Renting: 29.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 9.9%
North St Marys — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Ropes Crossing — Certificate III & IV: 9.9%
Bachelor Degree 4.7% / 13.1%
North St Marys — Bachelor Degree: 4.7% Ropes Crossing — Bachelor Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.4% / 6.7%
North St Marys — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4% Ropes Crossing — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 6.4%
North St Marys — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Ropes Crossing — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 1.2%
North St Marys — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% Ropes Crossing — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.1%).

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 St Marys Ropes Crossing
Philippines 2.6% / 8.4%
North St Marys — Philippines: 2.6% Ropes Crossing — Philippines: 8.4%
India 0.9% / 9.3%
North St Marys — India: 0.9% Ropes Crossing — India: 9.3%
New Zealand 3.1% / 4.5%
North St Marys — New Zealand: 3.1% Ropes Crossing — New Zealand: 4.5%
Fiji 0.9% / 2.3%
North St Marys — Fiji: 0.9% Ropes Crossing — Fiji: 2.3%
Bangladesh 0.5% / 1.8%
North St Marys — Bangladesh: 0.5% Ropes Crossing — Bangladesh: 1.8%
England 1.7% / —
North St Marys — England: 1.7% Ropes Crossing — England: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North St Marys 96.6% houses
North St Marys — Houses: 96.6% North St Marys — Townhouses: 1.7% North St Marys — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Ropes Crossing 78.4% houses
Ropes Crossing — Houses: 78.4% Ropes Crossing — Townhouses: 14.2% Ropes Crossing — Flats / Apartments: 7.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Median house price $1,050,000
same for both
Median unit price — $600,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 12 sales
 32 days
from 58 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 St Marys Ropes Crossing
3 bed $1.05M / $1M
North St Marys — 3 bed: $1.05M (28 sales) Ropes Crossing — 3 bed: $1M (31 sales)

28 vs 31 sales

4 bed $1.01M / $1.07M
North St Marys — 4 bed: $1.01M (8 sales) Ropes Crossing — 4 bed: $1.07M (61 sales)

8 vs 61 sales

Zoning mix

North St Marys has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 0%); North St Marys has more industrially zoned land (18% vs 0%).

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Other and special use 0% 95%
Residential 42% 0%
Environmental 19% 0%
Industrial 18% 0%
Parks and recreation 17% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Rural and farming 0% 3%
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 St Marys Ropes Crossing
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
 2,325
across Blacktown
Approvals change year on year -78% -18%

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 St Marys Ropes Crossing
Houses 2.9%
$565/wk on $1.01M
 3.5%
$765/wk on $1.13M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Income Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Schools Higher than 9% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 62% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW

Liveability

Ropes Crossing scores higher overall (66 vs 27).

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Grade D B
Score 27/100 66/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

North St Marys carries more bushfire risk (33 vs 0); North St Marys carries more crime risk (94 vs 57).

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Bushfire Low
33/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
94/100
 Moderate
57/100
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
same for both

Schools

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 5.6 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 1.9%

Schools in North St Marys

  • Chifley College Dunheved Campus Government · Secondary below peers
  • St Marys North Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Mary's Flexible School Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Ropes Crossing

  • Ropes Crossing Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 4 2
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Ropes Crossing sits further from the CBD (52.1 km vs 49 km).

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Walkability score 74/100 69/100
Distance to Sydney 49 km 52.1 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min 51 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 68.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 71.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2760
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 2760
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 St Marys Ropes Crossing
Car (driver) 65.4% / 52.9%
North St Marys — Car (driver): 65.4% Ropes Crossing — Car (driver): 52.9%
Worked from Home 20.2% / 36.7%
North St Marys — Worked from Home: 20.2% Ropes Crossing — Worked from Home: 36.7%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / 4.5%
North St Marys — Car (passenger): 6.2% Ropes Crossing — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Train 4.6% / 3.8%
North St Marys — Train: 4.6% Ropes Crossing — Train: 3.8%
Walked Only 2.2% / 0.8%
North St Marys — Walked Only: 2.2% Ropes Crossing — Walked Only: 0.8%
Bus 0.9% / 1.0%
North St Marys — Bus: 0.9% Ropes Crossing — Bus: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.4%).

Setting

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 41.3 km 43.2 km

NBN connectivity

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Connectivity score 76/100 89/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
1,866 premises
 58%
1,125 premises

Climate

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Annual rainfall 822 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³ 7.2 µg/m³
PM10 17.6 µg/m³ 16.3 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.55 pphm 0.6 pphm

Council rates

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Average residential rate $1,547/yr $1,157/yr
Council Penrith Blacktown

Federal electorate

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Division Lindsay Chifley
Member Melissa Mcintosh Ed Husic
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

North St Marys Ropes Crossing
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North St Marys

Easy Commute Large Blocks Outer Parks Transport Hub

Ropes Crossing

Family Multicultural Outer Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North St Marys

North St Marys vs Mount Druitt North St Marys vs St Marys North St Marys vs Whalan North St Marys vs Oxley Park North St Marys vs Tregear

Other comparisons with Ropes Crossing

Ropes Crossing vs St Marys Ropes Crossing vs Lethbridge Park Ropes Crossing vs Tregear Ropes Crossing vs Shalvey Ropes Crossing vs Willmot Ropes Crossing vs Shanes Park
Full data on North St Marys Full data on Ropes Crossing
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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