Orchard Hills vs South Penrith

South Penrith is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 47 in Orchard Hills. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Orchard Hills, most households are couple families. In South Penrith, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Orchard Hills: a median of $3.1 million, against $1.11 million in South Penrith, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Orchard Hills tends to suit couples, while South Penrith suits families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

  • Orchard Hills is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 68%)
  • South Penrith has more parks and reserves (13 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

South Penrith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,110,000 vs $3,105,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Penrith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 15%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Penrith

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (46 min vs 51 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

South Penrith

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)

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

Investors

South Penrith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.8% vs -4.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Orchard Hills and South Penrith drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Orchard Hills South Penrith
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.

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Walkability 0 / 83
Orchard Hills — Walkability: 0/100 South Penrith — Walkability: 83/100
Safety 34 / 37
Orchard Hills — Safety: 34/100 South Penrith — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 34 / 100
Orchard Hills — Low fire risk: 34/100 South Penrith — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Penrith has more residents (12,005 vs 1,798); Orchard Hills skews older (47 vs 37).

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Population 1,798 12,005
+568% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.2% +1.8%
Median age 47 37
Median household income $118,508/yr
+18% vs other
 $97,240/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+7% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Orchard Hills South Penrith
0-4 3.5% / 6.4%
Orchard Hills — 0-4: 3.5% South Penrith — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 10.7% / 14.2%
Orchard Hills — 5-14: 10.7% South Penrith — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 7.1% / 6.6%
Orchard Hills — 15-19: 7.1% South Penrith — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 8.5% / 6.2%
Orchard Hills — 20-24: 8.5% South Penrith — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 9.4% / 13.1%
Orchard Hills — 25-34: 9.4% South Penrith — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 8.7% / 14.7%
Orchard Hills — 35-44: 8.7% South Penrith — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 15.0% / 11.8%
Orchard Hills — 45-54: 15.0% South Penrith — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 16.6% / 10.3%
Orchard Hills — 55-64: 16.6% South Penrith — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 10.6% / 10.4%
Orchard Hills — 65-74: 10.6% South Penrith — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 8.0% / 5.2%
Orchard Hills — 75-84: 8.0% South Penrith — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 2.2% / 1.3%
Orchard Hills — 85+: 2.2% South Penrith — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Orchard Hills 62.1% couple families
Orchard Hills — Couple Families: 62.1% Orchard Hills — Lone Person: 19.2% Orchard Hills — One Parent Families: 16.0% Orchard Hills — Group Household: 1.0% Orchard Hills — Other Families: 1.7%
South Penrith 45.8% couple families
South Penrith — Couple Families: 45.8% South Penrith — Lone Person: 27.3% South Penrith — One Parent Families: 22.0% South Penrith — Group Household: 3.5% South Penrith — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Orchard Hills 14.6% renting
Orchard Hills — Owned Outright: 59.6% Orchard Hills — Mortgage: 25.8% Orchard Hills — Renting: 14.6%
South Penrith 30.8% renting
South Penrith — Owned Outright: 31.7% South Penrith — Mortgage: 37.5% South Penrith — Renting: 30.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 17.6%
Orchard Hills — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% South Penrith — Certificate III & IV: 17.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.3% / 8.1%
Orchard Hills — Bachelor Degree: 10.3% South Penrith — Bachelor Degree: 8.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 7.2%
Orchard Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% South Penrith — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.9% / 2.6%
Orchard Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 2.9% South Penrith — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.1%
Orchard Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% South Penrith — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

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.

Orchard Hills South Penrith
England 2.5% / 3.7%
Orchard Hills — England: 2.5% South Penrith — England: 3.7%
India 1.1% / 1.9%
Orchard Hills — India: 1.1% South Penrith — India: 1.9%
Italy 2.3% / —
Orchard Hills — Italy: 2.3% South Penrith — Italy: not among its largest
Lebanon 1.8% / —
Orchard Hills — Lebanon: 1.8% South Penrith — Lebanon: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.5%
Orchard Hills — New Zealand: not among its largest South Penrith — New Zealand: 1.5%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.6%
Orchard Hills — Scotland: 0.8% South Penrith — Scotland: 0.6%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Orchard Hills — Philippines: not among its largest South Penrith — Philippines: 0.8%
China — / 0.8%
Orchard Hills — China: not among its largest South Penrith — China: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Orchard Hills 96.8% houses
Orchard Hills — Houses: 96.8% Orchard Hills — Townhouses: 2.2% Orchard Hills — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
South Penrith 92.1% houses
South Penrith — Houses: 92.1% South Penrith — Townhouses: 7.4% South Penrith — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Median house price $3,105,000 $1,110,000
Median unit price — $710,000
Median land price $905,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 5 sales
 21 days
from 106 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.

Orchard Hills South Penrith
4 bed $4.04M / $1.18M
Orchard Hills — 4 bed: $4.04M (6 sales) South Penrith — 4 bed: $1.18M (62 sales)

6 vs 62 sales

5 bed $4.25M / $1.34M
Orchard Hills — 5 bed: $4.25M (8 sales) South Penrith — 5 bed: $1.34M (24 sales)

8 vs 24 sales

Zoning mix

Orchard Hills has more land zoned for conservation (43% vs 0%); Orchard Hills has more rural and farming land (33% vs 0%).

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Residential 3% 78%
Environmental 43% 0%
Rural and farming 33% 0%
Parks and recreation 6% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 3%
Industrial 3% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Orchard Hills and 100% of South Penrith. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Orchard Hills South Penrith
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
same for both
Approvals change year on year -78%
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.

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Houses — 3.2%
$690/wk on $1.12M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Orchard Hills South Penrith
House price Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Income Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Schools Higher than 49% of NSW
same for both
Walkability Higher than 3% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 30% of NSW

Liveability

South Penrith is more walkable (83 vs 0); South Penrith scores higher overall (60 vs 38).

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Grade C B
Score 38/100 60/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Orchard Hills carries more bushfire risk (66 vs 0).

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Bushfire Moderate
66/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
66/100
 Moderate
63/100
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 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 3
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 4.9 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 2.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 1.5%

Schools in Orchard Hills

  • Montgrove College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Orchard Hills Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Penrith Anglican College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Penrith Christian School Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in South Penrith

  • Jamison High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Penrith South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Mary MacKillop Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • York Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2
same for both
Parks & reserves 3 13
Childcare 7 8
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 26 0

Mobility

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Walkability score 0/100 83/100
Distance to Sydney 51.4 km 53.2 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 51 min 46 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 52.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 222.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 2748
 0.7%
postcode 2750
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2748
 31
postcode 2750

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.

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Car (driver) 57.0% / 60.6%
Orchard Hills — Car (driver): 57.0% South Penrith — Car (driver): 60.6%
Worked from Home 36.4% / 30.5%
Orchard Hills — Worked from Home: 36.4% South Penrith — Worked from Home: 30.5%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.8%
Orchard Hills — Car (passenger): 3.7% South Penrith — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Train 0.9% / 2.4%
Orchard Hills — Train: 0.9% South Penrith — Train: 2.4%
Walked Only 2.0% / 1.0%
Orchard Hills — Walked Only: 2.0% South Penrith — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.6%).

Setting

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Elevation 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 42.8 km 47.1 km

NBN connectivity

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Connectivity score 67/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
711 premises
 76%
4,657 premises

Climate

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Annual rainfall 822 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Orchard Hills South Penrith
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

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Average residential rate $1,547/yr
same for both
Council Penrith
same for both

Federal electorate

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Division Lindsay
same for both
Member Melissa Mcintosh
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Orchard Hills South Penrith
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Orchard Hills

Acreage Outer

South Penrith

Outer Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Orchard Hills

Orchard Hills vs Glenmore Park Orchard Hills vs St Clair Orchard Hills vs St Marys Orchard Hills vs Kingswood Orchard Hills vs Erskine Park Orchard Hills vs Claremont Meadows

Other comparisons with South Penrith

South Penrith vs Glenmore Park South Penrith vs Penrith South Penrith vs Kingswood South Penrith vs Jamisontown
Full data on Orchard Hills Full data on South Penrith
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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