Ryde vs Meadowbank

In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Ryde, about half of households rent. In Meadowbank, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Ryde is closer to the city centre: 14.2 km, against 16.3 km. On these figures, Meadowbank tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Ryde

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (35% vs 2%)
  • has more parks and reserves (31 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Meadowbank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($625,000 vs $2,575,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Meadowbank

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (60% vs 46%)
  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $465/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Ryde

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (21 min vs 27 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (14.2 km vs 16.3 km)
  • But Meadowbank gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 3%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ryde

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 9%)
  • But Meadowbank has more units and townhouses to downsize into (98% vs 65%)

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 unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ryde Meadowbank
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.

Ryde Meadowbank
Walkability 92 / 89
Ryde — Walkability: 92/100 Meadowbank — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 50 / 59
Ryde — Safety: 50/100 Meadowbank — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ryde — Low fire risk: 100/100 Meadowbank — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ryde has more residents (31,907 vs 5,089); Ryde skews older (36 vs 34).

Ryde Meadowbank
Population 31,907
+84% vs other
 5,089
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +20.4% +15.4%
Median age 36 34
Median household income $105,248/yr
+2% vs other
 $103,636/yr
Median weekly rent $465/wk
+8% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ryde Meadowbank
0-4 6.3% / 6.8%
Ryde — 0-4: 6.3% Meadowbank — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 10.7% / 5.1%
Ryde — 5-14: 10.7% Meadowbank — 5-14: 5.1%
15-19 4.1% / 2.2%
Ryde — 15-19: 4.1% Meadowbank — 15-19: 2.2%
20-24 5.8% / 6.2%
Ryde — 20-24: 5.8% Meadowbank — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 19.9% / 32.4%
Ryde — 25-34: 19.9% Meadowbank — 25-34: 32.4%
35-44 17.8% / 22.2%
Ryde — 35-44: 17.8% Meadowbank — 35-44: 22.2%
45-54 11.4% / 9.1%
Ryde — 45-54: 11.4% Meadowbank — 45-54: 9.1%
55-64 10.1% / 7.5%
Ryde — 55-64: 10.1% Meadowbank — 55-64: 7.5%
65-74 7.2% / 5.5%
Ryde — 65-74: 7.2% Meadowbank — 65-74: 5.5%
75-84 4.3% / 2.6%
Ryde — 75-84: 4.3% Meadowbank — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 2.3% / 0.5%
Ryde — 85+: 2.3% Meadowbank — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ryde 36.5% lone person
Ryde — Lone Person: 36.5% Ryde — Couple Families: 43.9% Ryde — One Parent Families: 12.0% Ryde — Group Household: 5.5% Ryde — Other Families: 2.1%
Meadowbank 54.0% lone person
Meadowbank — Lone Person: 54.0% Meadowbank — Couple Families: 27.4% Meadowbank — One Parent Families: 8.9% Meadowbank — Group Household: 7.0% Meadowbank — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ryde 46.5% renting
Ryde — Owned Outright: 22.8% Ryde — Mortgage: 30.7% Ryde — Renting: 46.5%
Meadowbank 60.5% renting
Meadowbank — Owned Outright: 13.2% Meadowbank — Mortgage: 26.3% Meadowbank — Renting: 60.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ryde Meadowbank
Bachelor Degree 23.3% / 31.2%
Ryde — Bachelor Degree: 23.3% Meadowbank — Bachelor Degree: 31.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.4% / 17.3%
Ryde — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4% Meadowbank — Postgraduate Degree: 17.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.7%
Ryde — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Meadowbank — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.8% / 5.6%
Ryde — Certificate III & IV: 7.8% Meadowbank — Certificate III & IV: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.8%
Ryde — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Meadowbank — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

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.

Ryde Meadowbank
China 11.0% / 11.7%
Ryde — China: 11.0% Meadowbank — China: 11.7%
India 3.5% / 6.1%
Ryde — India: 3.5% Meadowbank — India: 6.1%
Philippines 2.2% / 3.7%
Ryde — Philippines: 2.2% Meadowbank — Philippines: 3.7%
Iran 2.4% / 1.8%
Ryde — Iran: 2.4% Meadowbank — Iran: 1.8%
England 1.8% / 1.3%
Ryde — England: 1.8% Meadowbank — England: 1.3%
Nepal — / 2.3%
Ryde — Nepal: not among its largest Meadowbank — Nepal: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ryde 55.8% flats / apartments
Ryde — Flats / Apartments: 55.8% Ryde — Houses: 35.4% Ryde — Townhouses: 8.8%
Meadowbank 97.1% flats / apartments
Meadowbank — Flats / Apartments: 97.1% Meadowbank — Houses: 2.3% Meadowbank — Townhouses: 0.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Ryde Meadowbank
Median house price $2,575,000 $625,000
Median unit price $715,000 $698,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 162 sales
 10 days
from 3 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Ryde Meadowbank
1 bed $578K / $565K
Ryde — 1 bed: $578K (94 sales) Meadowbank — 1 bed: $565K (61 sales)

94 vs 61 sales

2 bed $765K / $740K
Ryde — 2 bed: $765K (239 sales) Meadowbank — 2 bed: $740K (123 sales)

239 vs 123 sales

3 bed $1.24M / $1.07M
Ryde — 3 bed: $1.24M (36 sales) Meadowbank — 3 bed: $1.07M (26 sales)

36 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Ryde Meadowbank
Residential 73% 45%
Parks and recreation 7% 31%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 22%
Environmental 7% 2%
Planning zones cover 100% of Ryde and 99% of Meadowbank. 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

Ryde Meadowbank
New dwellings approved 1,489
across Ryde
same for both
Approvals change year on year +81%
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.

Ryde Meadowbank
Houses 2.8%
$1,200/wk on $2.25M
 —
Units 5.3%
$685/wk on $670K
 5.1%
$680/wk on $694K

Ranking within NSW

Ryde Meadowbank
House price Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW
same for both
Schools Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW

Liveability

Ryde scores higher overall (82 vs 69).

Ryde Meadowbank
Grade A B
Score 82/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Ryde Meadowbank
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
41/100
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
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Ryde Meadowbank
Inside the suburb 7 3
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 4 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 3.7 km
 3
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 5.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 2.6%

Schools in Ryde

  • Northcross Christian School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Ryde Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Smalls Road Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Holy Cross College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Ryde East Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Ryde Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Meadowbank

  • Italian Bilingual School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Marsden High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Meadowbank Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ryde Meadowbank
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 15 6
Parks & reserves 31 3
Childcare 20 5
GPs 9 1
Pharmacies 8 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Meadowbank sits further from the CBD (16.3 km vs 14.2 km).

Ryde Meadowbank
Walkability score 92/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 14.2 km 16.3 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 27 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 95/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 771.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 37.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2112
 2.0%
postcode 2114
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2112
 16
postcode 2114

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.

Ryde Meadowbank
Worked from Home 50.9% / 58.7%
Ryde — Worked from Home: 50.9% Meadowbank — Worked from Home: 58.7%
Car (driver) 37.3% / 26.7%
Ryde — Car (driver): 37.3% Meadowbank — Car (driver): 26.7%
Train 3.0% / 10.5%
Ryde — Train: 3.0% Meadowbank — Train: 10.5%
Bus 3.8% / 0.7%
Ryde — Bus: 3.8% Meadowbank — Bus: 0.7%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 1.4%
Ryde — Car (passenger): 2.7% Meadowbank — Car (passenger): 1.4%
Walked Only 2.2% / 1.8%
Ryde — Walked Only: 2.2% Meadowbank — Walked Only: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.7%).

Setting

Ryde Meadowbank
Elevation 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.5 km 14.6 km

NBN connectivity

Ryde Meadowbank
Connectivity score 80/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
14,804 premises
 25%
3,046 premises

Climate

Ryde Meadowbank
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Ryde Meadowbank
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Ryde Meadowbank
Average residential rate $1,216/yr
same for both
Council Ryde
same for both

Federal electorate

Ryde Meadowbank
Division Bennelong
same for both
Member Jerome Laxale
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ryde Meadowbank
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ryde

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

Meadowbank

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals River Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ryde

Ryde vs Eastwood Ryde vs North Ryde Ryde vs West Ryde Ryde vs Gladesville Ryde vs Marsfield Ryde vs Putney

Other comparisons with Meadowbank

Meadowbank vs West Ryde Meadowbank vs Melrose Park
Full data on Ryde Full data on Meadowbank
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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