Rydalmere vs Parramatta

Parramatta is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 37 in Rydalmere. In Rydalmere, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Parramatta, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Rydalmere: a median of $1.88 million, against $1.56 million in Parramatta. On these figures, Rydalmere tends to suit couples, while Parramatta suits renters, young adults, and share households.

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

  • Rydalmere has more separate houses rather than flats (53% vs 8%)
  • Parramatta has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Parramatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,560,000 vs $1,875,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Parramatta

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (72% vs 43%)

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

Commuting to the city

Parramatta

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 82/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Parramatta

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (92% vs 47%)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 82/100)
  • But Rydalmere has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Parramatta

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (17.1% vs 9.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.9% vs 5.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rydalmere Parramatta
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.

Rydalmere Parramatta
Walkability 82 / 100
Rydalmere — Walkability: 82/100 Parramatta — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 36 / 5
Rydalmere — Safety: 36/100 Parramatta — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Rydalmere — Low fire risk: 100/100 Parramatta — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Parramatta has more residents (30,211 vs 7,274); Rydalmere skews older (37 vs 32).

Rydalmere Parramatta
Population 7,274 30,211
+315% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.5% +17.1%
Median age 37 32
Median household income $97,292/yr $108,784/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $440/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rydalmere Parramatta
0-4 6.6% / 7.3%
Rydalmere — 0-4: 6.6% Parramatta — 0-4: 7.3%
5-14 12.5% / 9.0%
Rydalmere — 5-14: 12.5% Parramatta — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 6.2% / 2.4%
Rydalmere — 15-19: 6.2% Parramatta — 15-19: 2.4%
20-24 5.9% / 8.7%
Rydalmere — 20-24: 5.9% Parramatta — 20-24: 8.7%
25-34 14.3% / 31.3%
Rydalmere — 25-34: 14.3% Parramatta — 25-34: 31.3%
35-44 14.7% / 21.4%
Rydalmere — 35-44: 14.7% Parramatta — 35-44: 21.4%
45-54 13.9% / 7.3%
Rydalmere — 45-54: 13.9% Parramatta — 45-54: 7.3%
55-64 12.7% / 6.0%
Rydalmere — 55-64: 12.7% Parramatta — 55-64: 6.0%
65-74 7.5% / 4.1%
Rydalmere — 65-74: 7.5% Parramatta — 65-74: 4.1%
75-84 4.2% / 1.9%
Rydalmere — 75-84: 4.2% Parramatta — 75-84: 1.9%
85+ 1.5% / 0.6%
Rydalmere — 85+: 1.5% Parramatta — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rydalmere 49.5% couple families
Rydalmere — Couple Families: 49.5% Rydalmere — Lone Person: 28.2% Rydalmere — One Parent Families: 16.2% Rydalmere — Group Household: 4.7% Rydalmere — Other Families: 1.5%
Parramatta 39.4% couple families
Parramatta — Couple Families: 39.4% Parramatta — Lone Person: 34.7% Parramatta — One Parent Families: 9.1% Parramatta — Group Household: 13.6% Parramatta — Other Families: 3.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rydalmere 42.7% renting
Rydalmere — Owned Outright: 22.4% Rydalmere — Mortgage: 34.9% Rydalmere — Renting: 42.7%
Parramatta 71.8% renting
Parramatta — Owned Outright: 9.8% Parramatta — Mortgage: 18.4% Parramatta — Renting: 71.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rydalmere Parramatta
Bachelor Degree 18.0% / 26.9%
Rydalmere — Bachelor Degree: 18.0% Parramatta — Bachelor Degree: 26.9%
Postgraduate Degree 6.8% / 17.1%
Rydalmere — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8% Parramatta — Postgraduate Degree: 17.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 6.9%
Rydalmere — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Parramatta — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Certificate III & IV 9.5% / 4.5%
Rydalmere — Certificate III & IV: 9.5% Parramatta — Certificate III & IV: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.8%
Rydalmere — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Parramatta — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.9%).

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.

Rydalmere Parramatta
India 2.5% / 30.9%
Rydalmere — India: 2.5% Parramatta — India: 30.9%
China 8.7% / 8.9%
Rydalmere — China: 8.7% Parramatta — China: 8.9%
Nepal — / 5.5%
Rydalmere — Nepal: not among its largest Parramatta — Nepal: 5.5%
Philippines 1.9% / 2.5%
Rydalmere — Philippines: 1.9% Parramatta — Philippines: 2.5%
Iran 2.0% / 1.3%
Rydalmere — Iran: 2.0% Parramatta — Iran: 1.3%
England 1.6% / —
Rydalmere — England: 1.6% Parramatta — England: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rydalmere 14.4% flats / apartments
Rydalmere — Flats / Apartments: 14.4% Rydalmere — Houses: 53.1% Rydalmere — Townhouses: 32.6%
Parramatta 86.7% flats / apartments
Parramatta — Flats / Apartments: 86.7% Parramatta — Houses: 7.7% Parramatta — Townhouses: 5.7%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Rydalmere Parramatta
Median house price $1,875,000 $1,560,000
Median unit price $571,000 $620,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 43 sales
 24 days
from 34 sales

Zoning mix

Rydalmere has more industrially zoned land (31% vs 2%).

Rydalmere Parramatta
Residential 38% 53%
Industrial 31% 2%
Parks and recreation 9% 24%
Environmental 11% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 11%
Commercial 1% 6%
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

Rydalmere Parramatta
New dwellings approved 2,888
across Parramatta
same for both
Approvals change year on year +154%
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.

Rydalmere Parramatta
Houses 2.3%
$800/wk on $1.8M
 2.4%
$748/wk on $1.65M
Units 5.3%
$625/wk on $615K
 5.9%
$700/wk on $620K

Ranking within NSW

Rydalmere Parramatta
House price Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Income Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 80% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW

Liveability

Parramatta is more walkable (100 vs 82).

Rydalmere Parramatta
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 72/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Parramatta carries more crime risk (95 vs 64).

Rydalmere Parramatta
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 High
95/100
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 21
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Rydalmere Parramatta
Inside the suburb 2 10
Rated above peers 0 4
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 3.2 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 3.8%

Schools in Rydalmere

  • St Mary's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Rydalmere Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Parramatta

  • Macarthur Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Parramatta High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Arthur Phillip High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Parramatta West Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Rydalmere Parramatta
Supermarkets 1 14
Cafes & restaurants 15 180
Parks & reserves 14 30
Childcare 7 25
GPs 1 10
Pharmacies 0 9
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 21
Fuel stations 2
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 18
same for both

Mobility

Rydalmere Parramatta
Walkability score 82/100 100/100
Distance to Sydney 23 km 23.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 27 min
Public transport score 87/100
Tram · Bus · Ferry
 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 211.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 1024.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2116
 1.7%
postcode 2150
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 2116
 3
postcode 2150

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.

Rydalmere Parramatta
Worked from Home 46.4% / 56.9%
Rydalmere — Worked from Home: 46.4% Parramatta — Worked from Home: 56.9%
Car (driver) 44.8% / 22.3%
Rydalmere — Car (driver): 44.8% Parramatta — Car (driver): 22.3%
Train 1.8% / 10.7%
Rydalmere — Train: 1.8% Parramatta — Train: 10.7%
Walked Only 1.3% / 4.3%
Rydalmere — Walked Only: 1.3% Parramatta — Walked Only: 4.3%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 2.1%
Rydalmere — Car (passenger): 3.3% Parramatta — Car (passenger): 2.1%
Bus 2.0% / 3.4%
Rydalmere — Bus: 2.0% Parramatta — Bus: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.9%).

Setting

Rydalmere Parramatta
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.0 km 20.9 km

NBN connectivity

Rydalmere Parramatta
Connectivity score 85/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
3,466 premises
 31%
19,356 premises

Climate

Rydalmere Parramatta
Annual rainfall 1,021 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Rydalmere Parramatta
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.83 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Rydalmere Parramatta
Average residential rate $1,103/yr
same for both
Council Parramatta
same for both

Federal electorate

Rydalmere Parramatta
Division Parramatta
same for both
Member Andrew Charlton
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rydalmere Parramatta
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rydalmere

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium River Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Parramatta

Affordable Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rydalmere

Rydalmere vs Ermington Rydalmere vs Dundas

Other comparisons with Parramatta

Parramatta vs Merrylands Parramatta vs Granville Parramatta vs Westmead Parramatta vs North Parramatta Parramatta vs Oatlands Parramatta vs Harris Park
Full data on Rydalmere Full data on Parramatta
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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