Rouse Hill vs Riverstone

In both, most households own their home and most households are couple families. In Riverstone, the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Rouse Hill: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.2 million in Riverstone, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Riverstone tends to suit 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

Riverstone

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 4)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 54%)
  • But Rouse Hill has more parks and reserves (16 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Riverstone

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,115,000 vs $1,600,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,201,000 vs $1,600,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Riverstone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Rouse Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (45.4 km vs 49.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Rouse Hill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (46% vs 6%)
  • has more GPs (10 vs 2)

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 house yield.

Where they sit

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

Rouse Hill Riverstone
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.

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Walkability 73 / 76
Rouse Hill — Walkability: 73/100 Riverstone — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 20 / 20
Rouse Hill — Safety: 20/100 Riverstone — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 85 / 100
Rouse Hill — Low fire risk: 85/100 Riverstone — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Rouse Hill has more residents (11,349 vs 8,627); Rouse Hill has higher household incomes ($137,436 vs $111,176).

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Population 11,349
+24% vs other
 8,627
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +42.5% —
Median age 34 32
Median household income $137,436/yr
+19% vs other
 $111,176/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+10% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rouse Hill Riverstone
0-4 6.3% / 9.5%
Rouse Hill — 0-4: 6.3% Riverstone — 0-4: 9.5%
5-14 14.6% / 14.8%
Rouse Hill — 5-14: 14.6% Riverstone — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 8.2% / 5.6%
Rouse Hill — 15-19: 8.2% Riverstone — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 8.0% / 6.8%
Rouse Hill — 20-24: 8.0% Riverstone — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 14.4% / 18.1%
Rouse Hill — 25-34: 14.4% Riverstone — 25-34: 18.1%
35-44 17.7% / 16.3%
Rouse Hill — 35-44: 17.7% Riverstone — 35-44: 16.3%
45-54 15.1% / 11.2%
Rouse Hill — 45-54: 15.1% Riverstone — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 8.4% / 8.5%
Rouse Hill — 55-64: 8.4% Riverstone — 55-64: 8.5%
65-74 4.8% / 5.8%
Rouse Hill — 65-74: 4.8% Riverstone — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 2.1% / 2.8%
Rouse Hill — 75-84: 2.1% Riverstone — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 0.6% / 0.8%
Rouse Hill — 85+: 0.6% Riverstone — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rouse Hill 60.8% couple families
Rouse Hill — Couple Families: 60.8% Rouse Hill — Lone Person: 20.3% Rouse Hill — One Parent Families: 14.1% Rouse Hill — Group Household: 3.4% Rouse Hill — Other Families: 1.4%
Riverstone 55.2% couple families
Riverstone — Couple Families: 55.2% Riverstone — Lone Person: 19.6% Riverstone — One Parent Families: 19.4% Riverstone — Group Household: 3.7% Riverstone — 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.

Rouse Hill 40.1% renting
Rouse Hill — Owned Outright: 16.1% Rouse Hill — Mortgage: 43.9% Rouse Hill — Renting: 40.1%
Riverstone 35.9% renting
Riverstone — Owned Outright: 18.9% Riverstone — Mortgage: 45.2% Riverstone — Renting: 35.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Bachelor Degree 18.6% / 12.9%
Rouse Hill — Bachelor Degree: 18.6% Riverstone — Bachelor Degree: 12.9%
Certificate III & IV 10.5% / 13.6%
Rouse Hill — Certificate III & IV: 10.5% Riverstone — Certificate III & IV: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 6.4%
Rouse Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Riverstone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 8.3% / 5.4%
Rouse Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 8.3% Riverstone — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.2%
Rouse Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Riverstone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Rouse Hill Riverstone
India 6.2% / 6.8%
Rouse Hill — India: 6.2% Riverstone — India: 6.8%
Philippines 3.6% / 3.0%
Rouse Hill — Philippines: 3.6% Riverstone — Philippines: 3.0%
China 4.4% / 1.2%
Rouse Hill — China: 4.4% Riverstone — China: 1.2%
England 2.3% / 1.5%
Rouse Hill — England: 2.3% Riverstone — England: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.8%
Rouse Hill — New Zealand: 1.7% Riverstone — New Zealand: 1.8%
Pakistan 1.3% / 1.5%
Rouse Hill — Pakistan: 1.3% Riverstone — Pakistan: 1.5%
South Africa 2.1% / —
Rouse Hill — South Africa: 2.1% Riverstone — South Africa: not among its largest
Nepal — / 2.1%
Rouse Hill — Nepal: not among its largest Riverstone — Nepal: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rouse Hill 54.4% houses
Rouse Hill — Houses: 54.4% Rouse Hill — Flats / Apartments: 25.6% Rouse Hill — Townhouses: 19.9%
Riverstone 94.5% houses
Riverstone — Houses: 94.5% Riverstone — Flats / Apartments: 1.7% Riverstone — Townhouses: 3.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Median house price $1,600,000 $1,201,000
Median unit price $665,000 —
Median land price $1,600,000 $1,115,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 181 sales
 28 days
from 179 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.

Rouse Hill Riverstone
3 bed $1.36M / $1.1M
Rouse Hill — 3 bed: $1.36M (20 sales) Riverstone — 3 bed: $1.1M (83 sales)

20 vs 83 sales

4 bed $1.59M / $1.25M
Rouse Hill — 4 bed: $1.59M (136 sales) Riverstone — 4 bed: $1.25M (103 sales)

136 vs 103 sales

5 bed $1.75M / $1.31M
Rouse Hill — 5 bed: $1.75M (38 sales) Riverstone — 5 bed: $1.31M (38 sales)

38 vs 38 sales

6 bed $2.33M / $1.57M
Rouse Hill — 6 bed: $2.33M (5 sales) Riverstone — 6 bed: $1.57M (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Riverstone has more rural and farming land (17% vs 2%).

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Residential 49% 52%
Rural and farming 2% 17%
Industrial 13% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 11%
Other and special use 11% 0%
Parks and recreation 10% 6%
Commercial 3% 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

Rouse Hill Riverstone
New dwellings approved 2,325
across Blacktown
same for both
Approvals change year on year -18%
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.

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Houses 3.5%
$900/wk on $1.35M
 3.6%
$795/wk on $1.15M
Units 5.7%
$700/wk on $640K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Rouse Hill Riverstone
House price Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of NSW —

Liveability

Rouse Hill scores higher overall (63 vs 54).

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 54/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Rouse Hill carries more bushfire risk (15 vs 0).

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Bushfire Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
80/100
same for both
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Inside the suburb 4 7
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Rouse Hill

  • Ironbark Ridge Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Rouse Hill Anglican College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Rouse Hill High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Rouse Hill Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Riverstone

  • Norwest Christian College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Riverstone High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Riverstone Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St John's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Casuarina School Government · Combined · Special school
  • Ngarra Christian College Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 23 3
Parks & reserves 16 4
Childcare 15 13
GPs 10 2
Pharmacies 4 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 8 2
Fuel stations 3
same for both
Waterways 11 10

Mobility

Riverstone sits further from the CBD (49.4 km vs 45.4 km).

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Walkability score 73/100 76/100
Distance to Sydney 45.4 km 49.4 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 50 min 49 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 805.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 154.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 2155
 2.7%
postcode 2765
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 62
postcode 2155
 —
postcode 2765

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.

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Car (driver) 41.2% / 49.9%
Rouse Hill — Car (driver): 41.2% Riverstone — Car (driver): 49.9%
Worked from Home 49.8% / 40.0%
Rouse Hill — Worked from Home: 49.8% Riverstone — Worked from Home: 40.0%
Train 3.7% / 5.2%
Rouse Hill — Train: 3.7% Riverstone — Train: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 3.4%
Rouse Hill — Car (passenger): 3.1% Riverstone — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.1%
Rouse Hill — Walked Only: 1.2% Riverstone — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.9%).

Setting

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 31.1 km 34.9 km

NBN connectivity

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Connectivity score 88/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 76%
6,011 premises
 100%
4,873 premises

Climate

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Annual rainfall 932 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Rouse Hill Riverstone
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Average residential rate $1,157/yr
same for both
Council Blacktown
same for both

Federal electorate

Rouse Hill Riverstone
Division Greenway
same for both
Member Michelle Rowland
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Rouse Hill

Outer Parks River

Riverstone

Family Large Blocks Outer Parks Transport Hub Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rouse Hill

Rouse Hill vs North Kellyville Rouse Hill vs The Ponds Rouse Hill vs Kellyville Ridge Rouse Hill vs Beaumont Hills Rouse Hill vs Tallawong Rouse Hill vs Box Hill

Other comparisons with Riverstone

Riverstone vs Schofields Riverstone vs Marsden Park Riverstone vs Tallawong Riverstone vs Grantham Farm Riverstone vs Vineyard Riverstone vs Angus
Full data on Rouse Hill Full data on Riverstone
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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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