Prestons vs Carnes Hill

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Carnes Hill: a median of $1.4 million, against $1.2 million in Prestons, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Carnes Hill tends to suit families with children.

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

Prestons

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Prestons

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $1,400,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Prestons

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($520/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Prestons sits closer to the CBD (42.7 km vs 46.9 km)
  • Carnes Hill is more walkable (75/100 vs 54/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Prestons

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (52/100 vs 71/100)
  • But Carnes Hill is more walkable (75/100 vs 54/100)

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

Investors

Carnes Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (63.1% vs 2.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Prestons and Carnes 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.

Prestons Carnes 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.

Prestons Carnes Hill
Walkability 54 / 75
Prestons — Walkability: 54/100 Carnes Hill — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 48 / 29
Prestons — Safety: 48/100 Carnes Hill — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 69 / 100
Prestons — Low fire risk: 69/100 Carnes Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Prestons has more residents (15,694 vs 3,332); Carnes Hill rents higher ($600/wk vs $520/wk).

Prestons Carnes Hill
Population 15,694
+79% vs other
 3,332
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.5% +63.1%
Median age 34 32
Median household income $120,120/yr $136,760/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $520/wk $600/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Prestons Carnes Hill
0-4 5.9% / 8.3%
Prestons — 0-4: 5.9% Carnes Hill — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 16.6% / 21.2%
Prestons — 5-14: 16.6% Carnes Hill — 5-14: 21.2%
15-19 8.9% / 7.2%
Prestons — 15-19: 8.9% Carnes Hill — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 7.7% / 5.9%
Prestons — 20-24: 7.7% Carnes Hill — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 11.1% / 11.8%
Prestons — 25-34: 11.1% Carnes Hill — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 13.8% / 19.9%
Prestons — 35-44: 13.8% Carnes Hill — 35-44: 19.9%
45-54 14.9% / 12.4%
Prestons — 45-54: 14.9% Carnes Hill — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 11.2% / 7.1%
Prestons — 55-64: 11.2% Carnes Hill — 55-64: 7.1%
65-74 5.5% / 3.8%
Prestons — 65-74: 5.5% Carnes Hill — 65-74: 3.8%
75-84 2.8% / 2.0%
Prestons — 75-84: 2.8% Carnes Hill — 75-84: 2.0%
85+ 1.4% / 0.5%
Prestons — 85+: 1.4% Carnes Hill — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Prestons 70.6% couple families
Prestons — Couple Families: 70.6% Prestons — One Parent Families: 17.1% Prestons — Lone Person: 10.1% Prestons — Group Household: 1.4% Prestons — Other Families: 0.8%
Carnes Hill 79.4% couple families
Carnes Hill — Couple Families: 79.4% Carnes Hill — One Parent Families: 13.0% Carnes Hill — Lone Person: 6.7% Carnes Hill — Group Household: 0.4% Carnes Hill — Other Families: 0.4%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Prestons 18.7% renting
Prestons — Owned Outright: 24.2% Prestons — Mortgage: 57.0% Prestons — Renting: 18.7%
Carnes Hill 17.4% renting
Carnes Hill — Owned Outright: 16.7% Carnes Hill — Mortgage: 65.9% Carnes Hill — Renting: 17.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Prestons Carnes Hill
Bachelor Degree 12.2% / 13.5%
Prestons — Bachelor Degree: 12.2% Carnes Hill — Bachelor Degree: 13.5%
Certificate III & IV 10.2% / 8.4%
Prestons — Certificate III & IV: 10.2% Carnes Hill — Certificate III & IV: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.6%
Prestons — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Carnes Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 3.5%
Prestons — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Carnes Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 0.9%
Prestons — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Carnes Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.5%).

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.

Prestons Carnes Hill
Iraq 3.4% / 10.3%
Prestons — Iraq: 3.4% Carnes Hill — Iraq: 10.3%
Fiji 6.1% / 4.9%
Prestons — Fiji: 6.1% Carnes Hill — Fiji: 4.9%
India 3.2% / 4.2%
Prestons — India: 3.2% Carnes Hill — India: 4.2%
Philippines 3.0% / 2.3%
Prestons — Philippines: 3.0% Carnes Hill — Philippines: 2.3%
Vietnam 1.9% / 2.7%
Prestons — Vietnam: 1.9% Carnes Hill — Vietnam: 2.7%
Lebanon 2.0% / 0.9%
Prestons — Lebanon: 2.0% Carnes Hill — Lebanon: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Prestons 92.5% houses
Prestons — Houses: 92.5% Prestons — Townhouses: 6.9% Prestons — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Carnes Hill 97.6% houses
Carnes Hill — Houses: 97.6% Carnes Hill — Townhouses: 0.7% Carnes Hill — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Prestons Carnes Hill
Median house price $1,200,000 $1,400,000
Median unit price $950,000 —
Median land price $916,000 $985,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 96 sales
 28 days
from 12 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.

Prestons Carnes Hill
4 bed $1.24M / $1.36M
Prestons — 4 bed: $1.24M (92 sales) Carnes Hill — 4 bed: $1.36M (19 sales)

92 vs 19 sales

5 bed $1.41M / $1.65M
Prestons — 5 bed: $1.41M (26 sales) Carnes Hill — 5 bed: $1.65M (11 sales)

26 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Prestons has more industrially zoned land (39% vs 0%).

Prestons Carnes Hill
Residential 37% 63%
Industrial 39% 0%
Parks and recreation 8% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 9%
Commercial 0% 10%
Environmental 4% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Prestons and 99% of Carnes Hill. 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

Prestons Carnes Hill
New dwellings approved 2,229
across Liverpool
same for both
Approvals change year on year +28%
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.

Prestons Carnes Hill
Houses 3.8%
$850/wk on $1.15M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Prestons Carnes Hill
House price Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools Higher than 42% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 65% of NSW —

Liveability

Carnes Hill is more walkable (75 vs 54); Carnes Hill scores higher overall (69 vs 53).

Prestons Carnes Hill
Grade B
same for both
Score 53/100 69/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Prestons carries more bushfire risk (31 vs 0); Carnes Hill carries more crime risk (71 vs 52).

Prestons Carnes Hill
Bushfire Low
31/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
52/100
 High
71/100
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

Prestons Carnes Hill
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 4.5 km
 1
50 Scott Street Liverpool, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 2.8%

Schools in Prestons

  • William Carey Christian School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Dalmeny Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Prestons Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Amity College, Prestons Independent · Combined

Schools in Carnes Hill

  • Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Prestons Carnes Hill
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 8 7
Parks & reserves 16 1
Childcare 14 2
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 3 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 7 6

Mobility

Carnes Hill sits further from the CBD (46.9 km vs 42.7 km).

Prestons Carnes Hill
Walkability score 54/100 75/100
Distance to Sydney 42.7 km 46.9 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min 44 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 70/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 465.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 2170
 1.1%
postcode 2171
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 32
postcode 2170
 57
postcode 2171

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.

Prestons Carnes Hill
Car (driver) 55.6% / 50.8%
Prestons — Car (driver): 55.6% Carnes Hill — Car (driver): 50.8%
Worked from Home 35.8% / 43.9%
Prestons — Worked from Home: 35.8% Carnes Hill — Worked from Home: 43.9%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 2.3%
Prestons — Car (passenger): 4.8% Carnes Hill — Car (passenger): 2.3%
Train 2.5% / 1.9%
Prestons — Train: 2.5% Carnes Hill — Train: 1.9%
Walked Only 0.5% / 1.1%
Prestons — Walked Only: 0.5% Carnes Hill — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus 0.6% / —
Prestons — Bus: 0.6% Carnes Hill — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.6%).

Setting

Prestons Carnes Hill
Elevation 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.7 km 26.9 km

NBN connectivity

Prestons Carnes Hill
Connectivity score 75/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
5,662 premises
 49%
253 premises

Climate

Prestons Carnes Hill
Annual rainfall 909 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.4°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Prestons Carnes Hill
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

Prestons Carnes Hill
Average residential rate $1,322/yr
same for both
Council Liverpool
same for both

Federal electorate

Prestons Carnes Hill
Division Werriwa
same for both
Member Anne Maree Stanley
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Prestons

Family Large Blocks Multicultural Outer

Carnes Hill

Family Multicultural Outer Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Prestons

Prestons vs Casula Prestons vs Edmondson Park Prestons vs Lurnea Prestons vs Hoxton Park Prestons vs Horningsea Park Prestons vs Miller

Other comparisons with Carnes Hill

Carnes Hill vs West Hoxton Carnes Hill vs Hoxton Park Carnes Hill vs Horningsea Park
Full data on Prestons Full data on Carnes 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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