Prairiewood vs Wakeley

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Prairiewood, about half of households are couple families. In Wakeley, most households are couple families.

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

Wakeley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 79/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 76%)

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

First-home buyers

Prairiewood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($750,000 vs $900,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Prairiewood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 74/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Prairiewood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 74/100)
  • But Wakeley carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Prairiewood Wakeley
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.

Prairiewood Wakeley
Walkability 88 / 74
Prairiewood — Walkability: 88/100 Wakeley — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 21 / 67
Prairiewood — Safety: 21/100 Wakeley — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Prairiewood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wakeley — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wakeley has more residents (4,893 vs 3,457); Prairiewood skews older (43 vs 41).

Prairiewood Wakeley
Population 3,457 4,893
+42% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.5% +3.1%
Median age 43 41
Median household income $76,856/yr $80,756/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $433/wk $450/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Prairiewood Wakeley
0-4 4.5% / 4.8%
Prairiewood — 0-4: 4.5% Wakeley — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 11.9% / 12.2%
Prairiewood — 5-14: 11.9% Wakeley — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 6.7% / 6.9%
Prairiewood — 15-19: 6.7% Wakeley — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 5.9% / 6.0%
Prairiewood — 20-24: 5.9% Wakeley — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 11.5% / 12.4%
Prairiewood — 25-34: 11.5% Wakeley — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 11.5% / 12.1%
Prairiewood — 35-44: 11.5% Wakeley — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 12.7% / 12.2%
Prairiewood — 45-54: 12.7% Wakeley — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 13.1% / 13.6%
Prairiewood — 55-64: 13.1% Wakeley — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 12.3% / 12.0%
Prairiewood — 65-74: 12.3% Wakeley — 65-74: 12.0%
75-84 7.8% / 6.1%
Prairiewood — 75-84: 7.8% Wakeley — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.2% / 1.7%
Prairiewood — 85+: 2.2% Wakeley — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Prairiewood 53.9% couple families
Prairiewood — Couple Families: 53.9% Prairiewood — One Parent Families: 21.6% Prairiewood — Lone Person: 20.9% Prairiewood — Group Household: 1.9% Prairiewood — Other Families: 1.9%
Wakeley 58.9% couple families
Wakeley — Couple Families: 58.9% Wakeley — One Parent Families: 22.1% Wakeley — Lone Person: 16.3% Wakeley — Group Household: 1.5% Wakeley — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Prairiewood 33.9% renting
Prairiewood — Owned Outright: 39.6% Prairiewood — Mortgage: 26.4% Prairiewood — Renting: 33.9%
Wakeley 25.1% renting
Wakeley — Owned Outright: 42.3% Wakeley — Mortgage: 32.6% Wakeley — Renting: 25.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Prairiewood Wakeley
Bachelor Degree 10.2% / 10.3%
Prairiewood — Bachelor Degree: 10.2% Wakeley — Bachelor Degree: 10.3%
Certificate III & IV 10.8% / 8.5%
Prairiewood — Certificate III & IV: 10.8% Wakeley — Certificate III & IV: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 6.9%
Prairiewood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% Wakeley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.8%
Prairiewood — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Wakeley — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 0.4%
Prairiewood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Wakeley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4%

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

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.

Prairiewood Wakeley
Iraq 15.5% / 16.0%
Prairiewood — Iraq: 15.5% Wakeley — Iraq: 16.0%
Vietnam 6.7% / 14.0%
Prairiewood — Vietnam: 6.7% Wakeley — Vietnam: 14.0%
Italy 3.2% / 0.9%
Prairiewood — Italy: 3.2% Wakeley — Italy: 0.9%
China 1.3% / 1.0%
Prairiewood — China: 1.3% Wakeley — China: 1.0%
Lebanon 1.4% / 0.8%
Prairiewood — Lebanon: 1.4% Wakeley — Lebanon: 0.8%
Philippines 1.1% / 1.1%
Prairiewood — Philippines: 1.1% Wakeley — Philippines: 1.1%
New Zealand — / 0.9%
Prairiewood — New Zealand: not among its largest Wakeley — New Zealand: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Prairiewood 75.6% houses
Prairiewood — Houses: 75.6% Prairiewood — Townhouses: 13.9% Prairiewood — Flats / Apartments: 10.5%
Wakeley 85.7% houses
Wakeley — Houses: 85.7% Wakeley — Townhouses: 13.0% Wakeley — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Prairiewood Wakeley
Median house price $1,400,500 $1,420,000
Median unit price $750,000 $900,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 16 sales
 26 days
from 24 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.

Prairiewood Wakeley
3 bed $1.23M / $1.35M
Prairiewood — 3 bed: $1.23M (13 sales) Wakeley — 3 bed: $1.35M (14 sales)

13 vs 14 sales

4 bed $1.44M / $1.41M
Prairiewood — 4 bed: $1.44M (25 sales) Wakeley — 4 bed: $1.41M (12 sales)

25 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Prairiewood Wakeley
Residential 54% 80%
Parks and recreation 32% 10%
Environmental 8%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 7% 1%
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

Prairiewood Wakeley
New dwellings approved 1,095
across Fairfield
same for both
Approvals change year on year +29%
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.

Prairiewood Wakeley
Houses — 2.7%
$740/wk on $1.45M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Prairiewood Wakeley
House price Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Income Higher than 45% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 63% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 10% of NSW

Liveability

Prairiewood is more walkable (88 vs 74); Wakeley scores higher overall (61 vs 54).

Prairiewood Wakeley
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 61/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Prairiewood carries more crime risk (79 vs 33).

Prairiewood Wakeley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
79/100
 Low
33/100
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 20
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Prairiewood Wakeley
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 6.8 km
 1
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 3.2%

Schools in Prairiewood

  • Prairiewood High School Government · Secondary above peers

Schools in Wakeley

  • King Park Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mary MacKillop Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Prairiewood Wakeley
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 9 7
Childcare 3 1
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 3 1
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Prairiewood Wakeley
Walkability score 88/100 74/100
Distance to Sydney 35.8 km 36.2 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min 40 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 88.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2176
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 2176
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.

Prairiewood Wakeley
Car (driver) 54.1% / 57.3%
Prairiewood — Car (driver): 54.1% Wakeley — Car (driver): 57.3%
Worked from Home 37.3% / 33.6%
Prairiewood — Worked from Home: 37.3% Wakeley — Worked from Home: 33.6%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 4.8%
Prairiewood — Car (passenger): 5.3% Wakeley — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Train 1.5% / 2.4%
Prairiewood — Train: 1.5% Wakeley — Train: 2.4%
Walked Only 1.4% / 1.0%
Prairiewood — Walked Only: 1.4% Wakeley — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.3%).

Setting

Prairiewood Wakeley
Elevation 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 25.6 km 24.8 km

NBN connectivity

Prairiewood Wakeley
Connectivity score 71/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
1,587 premises
 0%
1,523 premises

Climate

Prairiewood Wakeley
Annual rainfall 931 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Prairiewood Wakeley
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Prairiewood Wakeley
Average residential rate $990/yr
same for both
Council Fairfield
same for both

Federal electorate

Prairiewood Wakeley
Division Fowler
same for both
Member Dai Le
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Prairiewood Wakeley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Prairiewood

Multicultural Outer Parks Quiet

Wakeley

Multicultural Outer Parks Quiet Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Prairiewood

Prairiewood vs Bossley Park Prairiewood vs Smithfield Prairiewood vs Fairfield West Prairiewood vs Wetherill Park Prairiewood vs St Johns Park Prairiewood vs Greenfield Park

Other comparisons with Wakeley

Wakeley vs Fairfield West Wakeley vs Canley Heights Wakeley vs St Johns Park Wakeley vs Greenfield Park
Full data on Prairiewood Full data on Wakeley
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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