Riverwood vs Padstow

In Riverwood, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Padstow, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Padstow: a median of $1.67 million, against $1.47 million in Riverwood, and rent is higher there too. Riverwood is closer to the city centre: 25.2 km, against 28.2 km. On these figures, Riverwood tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Padstow suits 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

Padstow

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (68% vs 38%)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 83/100)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Riverwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($649,000 vs $790,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,470,000 vs $1,670,000)
  • But Padstow leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 41%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Riverwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 33%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $470/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Riverwood

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 6%)
  • sits closer to the CBD (25.2 km vs 28.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Riverwood

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 32%)
  • has more GPs (8 vs 6)
  • But Padstow carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Riverwood Padstow
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.

Riverwood Padstow
Walkability 93 / 94
Riverwood — Walkability: 93/100 Padstow — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 17 / 45
Riverwood — Safety: 17/100 Padstow — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Riverwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Padstow — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Padstow rents higher ($470/wk vs $300/wk); Padstow has higher household incomes ($98,332 vs $62,920).

Riverwood Padstow
Population 12,793 14,017
+10% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +5.3%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $62,920/yr $98,332/yr
+56% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $470/wk
+57% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Riverwood Padstow
0-4 5.0% / 5.6%
Riverwood — 0-4: 5.0% Padstow — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 10.4% / 11.3%
Riverwood — 5-14: 10.4% Padstow — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 4.8% / 5.9%
Riverwood — 15-19: 4.8% Padstow — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.8% / 6.4%
Riverwood — 20-24: 6.8% Padstow — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 15.1% / 13.3%
Riverwood — 25-34: 15.1% Padstow — 25-34: 13.3%
35-44 13.5% / 13.6%
Riverwood — 35-44: 13.5% Padstow — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 11.9% / 12.9%
Riverwood — 45-54: 11.9% Padstow — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 13.2% / 14.0%
Riverwood — 55-64: 13.2% Padstow — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 10.4% / 9.2%
Riverwood — 65-74: 10.4% Padstow — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 6.4% / 5.0%
Riverwood — 75-84: 6.4% Padstow — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 2.4% / 2.7%
Riverwood — 85+: 2.4% Padstow — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Riverwood 36.3% couple families
Riverwood — Couple Families: 36.3% Riverwood — Lone Person: 37.6% Riverwood — One Parent Families: 19.2% Riverwood — Group Household: 5.1% Riverwood — Other Families: 1.9%
Padstow 50.4% couple families
Padstow — Couple Families: 50.4% Padstow — Lone Person: 26.9% Padstow — One Parent Families: 17.3% Padstow — Group Household: 3.4% Padstow — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Riverwood 56.2% renting
Riverwood — Owned Outright: 19.8% Riverwood — Mortgage: 24.0% Riverwood — Renting: 56.2%
Padstow 33.3% renting
Padstow — Owned Outright: 33.0% Padstow — Mortgage: 33.7% Padstow — Renting: 33.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Riverwood Padstow
Bachelor Degree 14.4% / 15.2%
Riverwood — Bachelor Degree: 14.4% Padstow — Bachelor Degree: 15.2%
Certificate III & IV 7.7% / 10.7%
Riverwood — Certificate III & IV: 7.7% Padstow — Certificate III & IV: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.9%
Riverwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Padstow — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 5.0%
Riverwood — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Padstow — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.5%
Riverwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Padstow — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

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.

Riverwood Padstow
China 18.3% / 7.3%
Riverwood — China: 18.3% Padstow — China: 7.3%
Vietnam 2.8% / 4.5%
Riverwood — Vietnam: 2.8% Padstow — Vietnam: 4.5%
Lebanon 2.8% / 2.4%
Riverwood — Lebanon: 2.8% Padstow — Lebanon: 2.4%
Philippines 3.0% / 1.6%
Riverwood — Philippines: 3.0% Padstow — Philippines: 1.6%
Indonesia 2.5% / 1.4%
Riverwood — Indonesia: 2.5% Padstow — Indonesia: 1.4%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.7%
Riverwood — New Zealand: 2.0% Padstow — New Zealand: 1.7%
India 1.5% / 1.8%
Riverwood — India: 1.5% Padstow — India: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Riverwood 38.0% houses
Riverwood — Houses: 38.0% Riverwood — Flats / Apartments: 48.9% Riverwood — Townhouses: 13.1%
Padstow 67.6% houses
Padstow — Houses: 67.6% Padstow — Flats / Apartments: 6.4% Padstow — Townhouses: 26.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Riverwood Padstow
Median house price $1,470,000 $1,670,000
Median unit price $649,000 $790,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 42 sales
 26 days
from 138 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.

Riverwood Padstow
2 bed $1.28M / $1.41M
Riverwood — 2 bed: $1.28M (9 sales) Padstow — 2 bed: $1.41M (14 sales)

9 vs 14 sales

3 bed $1.47M / $1.5M
Riverwood — 3 bed: $1.47M (35 sales) Padstow — 3 bed: $1.5M (75 sales)

35 vs 75 sales

4 bed $1.46M / $1.65M
Riverwood — 4 bed: $1.46M (15 sales) Padstow — 4 bed: $1.65M (61 sales)

15 vs 61 sales

5 bed $1.7M / $1.85M
Riverwood — 5 bed: $1.7M (13 sales) Padstow — 5 bed: $1.85M (64 sales)

13 vs 64 sales

Zoning mix

Riverwood Padstow
Residential 54% 59%
Industrial 15% 19%
Parks and recreation 18% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 9%
Environmental 3%
same for both
Commercial 2% 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

Riverwood Padstow
New dwellings approved 1,785
across Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

Riverwood Padstow
Houses 3.2%
$800/wk on $1.31M
 3.5%
$1,050/wk on $1.55M
Units 5.2%
$670/wk on $670K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Riverwood Padstow
House price Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Income Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Schools Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 28% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of NSW —

Liveability

Padstow scores higher overall (76 vs 63).

Riverwood Padstow
Grade B A
Score 63/100 76/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Riverwood carries more crime risk (83 vs 55).

Riverwood Padstow
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
83/100
 Moderate
55/100
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 10
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Riverwood Padstow
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 3.5 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Bankstown City, 3.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 3.2%

Schools in Riverwood

  • Riverwood Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Hannans Road Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Southside Montessori School Independent · Primary

Schools in Padstow

  • Padstow North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Therese Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Padstow Park Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Caroline Chisholm School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Riverwood Padstow
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 9 23
Parks & reserves 15 18
Childcare 8 12
GPs 8 6
Pharmacies 6 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 4
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Padstow sits further from the CBD (28.2 km vs 25.2 km).

Riverwood Padstow
Walkability score 93/100 94/100
Distance to Sydney 25.2 km 28.2 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 30 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 215.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 314.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2210
 1.2%
postcode 2211
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2210
 31
postcode 2211

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.

Riverwood Padstow
Worked from Home 39.1% / 47.6%
Riverwood — Worked from Home: 39.1% Padstow — Worked from Home: 47.6%
Car (driver) 41.8% / 41.0%
Riverwood — Car (driver): 41.8% Padstow — Car (driver): 41.0%
Train 11.0% / 5.8%
Riverwood — Train: 11.0% Padstow — Train: 5.8%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.2%
Riverwood — Car (passenger): 4.2% Padstow — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 2.4% / 1.4%
Riverwood — Walked Only: 2.4% Padstow — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.6%).

Setting

Riverwood Padstow
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.6 km 10.8 km

NBN connectivity

Riverwood Padstow
Connectivity score 83/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
6,241 premises
 47%
6,148 premises

Climate

Riverwood Padstow
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)

Riverwood Padstow
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.9 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Riverwood Padstow
Average residential rate $1,322/yr
same for both
Council Canterbury-Bankstown
same for both

Federal electorate

Riverwood Padstow
Division Banks
same for both
Member Zhi Soon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Riverwood Padstow
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Riverwood

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub Urban

Padstow

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Riverwood

Riverwood vs Punchbowl Riverwood vs Roselands Riverwood vs Peakhurst Riverwood vs Beverly Hills Riverwood vs Narwee

Other comparisons with Padstow

Padstow vs Bankstown Padstow vs Punchbowl Padstow vs Revesby Padstow vs Peakhurst Padstow vs Padstow Heights Padstow vs Revesby Heights
Full data on Riverwood Full data on Padstow
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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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