Norwest vs Castle Hill

Norwest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Castle Hill. In both, most households own their home. In Norwest, about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Castle Hill, most homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Castle Hill: a median of $2.46 million, against $1.77 million in Norwest. Castle Hill is closer to the city centre: 31.5 km, against 35.3 km. On these figures, Norwest tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Castle Hill 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

Castle Hill

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (13 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (34 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (37 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Norwest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,770,000 vs $2,460,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Norwest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Castle Hill

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 85/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (31.5 km vs 35.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Castle Hill

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (13 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 57/100)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 85/100)
  • But Norwest has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 26%)

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

Investors

Castle Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield and unit yield.

Where they sit

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

Norwest Castle Hill
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.

Norwest Castle Hill
Walkability 85 / 96
Norwest — Walkability: 85/100 Castle Hill — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 43 / 57
Norwest — Safety: 43/100 Castle Hill — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 82
Norwest — Low fire risk: 100/100 Castle Hill — Low fire risk: 82/100

Demographics

Castle Hill has more residents (40,874 vs 4,688); Castle Hill has higher household incomes ($132,652 vs $114,764).

Norwest Castle Hill
Population 4,688 40,874
+772% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +3.2%
Median age 37 42
Median household income $114,764/yr $132,652/yr
+16% vs other
Median weekly rent $579/wk
+3% vs other
 $560/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Norwest Castle Hill
0-4 5.6% / 4.3%
Norwest — 0-4: 5.6% Castle Hill — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 9.2% / 14.5%
Norwest — 5-14: 9.2% Castle Hill — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 3.6% / 6.7%
Norwest — 15-19: 3.6% Castle Hill — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 8.0% / 5.8%
Norwest — 20-24: 8.0% Castle Hill — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 17.7% / 8.3%
Norwest — 25-34: 17.7% Castle Hill — 25-34: 8.3%
35-44 16.7% / 14.2%
Norwest — 35-44: 16.7% Castle Hill — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 8.6% / 14.3%
Norwest — 45-54: 8.6% Castle Hill — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 8.7% / 12.0%
Norwest — 55-64: 8.7% Castle Hill — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 10.7% / 10.4%
Norwest — 65-74: 10.7% Castle Hill — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 7.1% / 6.2%
Norwest — 75-84: 7.1% Castle Hill — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 3.8% / 3.4%
Norwest — 85+: 3.8% Castle Hill — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Norwest 44.5% couple families
Norwest — Couple Families: 44.5% Norwest — Lone Person: 33.2% Norwest — One Parent Families: 13.1% Norwest — Group Household: 7.5% Norwest — Other Families: 1.7%
Castle Hill 64.0% couple families
Castle Hill — Couple Families: 64.0% Castle Hill — Lone Person: 20.9% Castle Hill — One Parent Families: 12.3% Castle Hill — Group Household: 1.8% Castle Hill — 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.

Norwest 41.4% renting
Norwest — Owned Outright: 29.4% Norwest — Mortgage: 29.2% Norwest — Renting: 41.4%
Castle Hill 24.1% renting
Castle Hill — Owned Outright: 36.8% Castle Hill — Mortgage: 39.2% Castle Hill — Renting: 24.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Norwest Castle Hill
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 21.8%
Norwest — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Castle Hill — Bachelor Degree: 21.8%
Postgraduate Degree 10.6% / 10.8%
Norwest — Postgraduate Degree: 10.6% Castle Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.0% / 8.3%
Norwest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.0% Castle Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Certificate III & IV 7.6% / 7.1%
Norwest — Certificate III & IV: 7.6% Castle Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.3%
Norwest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Castle Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

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.

Norwest Castle Hill
China 7.1% / 9.2%
Norwest — China: 7.1% Castle Hill — China: 9.2%
India 7.9% / 5.4%
Norwest — India: 7.9% Castle Hill — India: 5.4%
England 3.1% / 3.0%
Norwest — England: 3.1% Castle Hill — England: 3.0%
Philippines 2.3% / 1.4%
Norwest — Philippines: 2.3% Castle Hill — Philippines: 1.4%
Iran 1.8% / 1.7%
Norwest — Iran: 1.8% Castle Hill — Iran: 1.7%
Sri Lanka 1.1% / 1.6%
Norwest — Sri Lanka: 1.1% Castle Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.8% / —
Norwest — New Zealand: 1.8% Castle Hill — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Norwest 37.6% houses
Norwest — Houses: 37.6% Norwest — Flats / Apartments: 54.7% Norwest — Townhouses: 7.7%
Castle Hill 73.7% houses
Castle Hill — Houses: 73.7% Castle Hill — Flats / Apartments: 15.4% Castle Hill — Townhouses: 10.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Norwest Castle Hill
Median house price $1,770,000 $2,460,000
Median unit price $885,000 $964,000
Median land price — $3,490,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 26 days
from 431 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.

Norwest Castle Hill
3 bed $1.7M / $1.92M
Norwest — 3 bed: $1.7M (10 sales) Castle Hill — 3 bed: $1.92M (79 sales)

10 vs 79 sales

4 bed $2.03M / $2.4M
Norwest — 4 bed: $2.03M (10 sales) Castle Hill — 4 bed: $2.4M (200 sales)

10 vs 200 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.

Norwest Castle Hill
1 bed $650K / $689K
Norwest — 1 bed: $650K (19 sales) Castle Hill — 1 bed: $689K (18 sales)

19 vs 18 sales

2 bed $900K / $930K
Norwest — 2 bed: $900K (61 sales) Castle Hill — 2 bed: $930K (93 sales)

61 vs 93 sales

3 bed $1.31M / $1.13M
Norwest — 3 bed: $1.31M (10 sales) Castle Hill — 3 bed: $1.13M (50 sales)

10 vs 50 sales

Zoning mix

Norwest has more commercially zoned land (27% vs 0%).

Norwest Castle Hill
Residential 43% 68%
Commercial 27% 0%
Parks and recreation 25% 12%
Environmental 0% 10%
Industrial 0% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 2%
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

Norwest Castle Hill
New dwellings approved 2,648
across The Hills
same for both
Approvals change year on year -4%
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.

Norwest Castle Hill
Houses 2.9%
$1,040/wk on $1.84M
 2.9%
$988/wk on $1.8M
Units 4.1%
$750/wk on $948K
 4.7%
$820/wk on $900K

Ranking within NSW

Norwest Castle Hill
House price Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 88% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 27% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW

Liveability

Castle Hill is more walkable (96 vs 85).

Norwest Castle Hill
Grade A
same for both
Score 82/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Castle Hill carries more bushfire risk (18 vs 0); Norwest carries more crime risk (57 vs 43).

Norwest Castle Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
18/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
43/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Norwest Castle Hill
Inside the suburb 0 13
Rated above peers 0 7
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km None 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 9.6 km

Schools in Norwest

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Castle Hill

  • Castle Hill High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Castle Hill Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Excelsior Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Oakhill College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Oakhill Drive Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Samuel Gilbert Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Norwest Castle Hill
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 5 39
Parks & reserves 4 34
Childcare 6 37
GPs 4 13
Pharmacies 3 10
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 10
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 2 16

Mobility

Norwest sits further from the CBD (35.3 km vs 31.5 km).

Norwest Castle Hill
Walkability score 85/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 35.3 km
+11% vs other
 31.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 36 min 35 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 214.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 1508.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 2153
 2.9%
postcode 2154
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2153
 42
postcode 2154

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.

Norwest Castle Hill
Worked from Home 56.4% / 55.3%
Norwest — Worked from Home: 56.4% Castle Hill — Worked from Home: 55.3%
Car (driver) 32.9% / 37.0%
Norwest — Car (driver): 32.9% Castle Hill — Car (driver): 37.0%
Train 5.3% / 2.5%
Norwest — Train: 5.3% Castle Hill — Train: 2.5%
Car (passenger) 1.9% / 2.4%
Norwest — Car (passenger): 1.9% Castle Hill — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Walked Only 2.4% / 1.3%
Norwest — Walked Only: 2.4% Castle Hill — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bus 0.9% / 1.5%
Norwest — Bus: 0.9% Castle Hill — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.4%).

Setting

Norwest Castle Hill
Elevation 90 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 27.6 km 24.6 km

NBN connectivity

Norwest Castle Hill
Connectivity score 93/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 86%
3,920 premises
 9%
18,435 premises

Climate

Norwest Castle Hill
Annual rainfall 932 mm 1,021 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 28.4°C
Winter min (Jul) — 7.2°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Norwest Castle Hill
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³ 16.9 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.53 pphm 0.83 pphm

Council rates

Norwest Castle Hill
Average residential rate $1,204/yr
same for both
Council The Hills
same for both

Federal electorate

Norwest Castle Hill
Division Mitchell
same for both
Member Alex Hawke
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Norwest Castle Hill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Norwest

Apartments Multicultural Outer Parks Professionals Trains

Castle Hill

Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Norwest

Norwest vs Baulkham Hills Norwest vs Kellyville Norwest vs Bella Vista

Other comparisons with Castle Hill

Castle Hill vs Baulkham Hills Castle Hill vs Kellyville Castle Hill vs Cherrybrook Castle Hill vs West Pennant Hills Castle Hill vs Dural Castle Hill vs Glenhaven
Full data on Norwest Full data on Castle Hill
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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