Silverwater vs Auburn

Auburn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 35 in Silverwater. In both, about half of households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are couple families. Units cost more in Silverwater: a median of $680,000, against $556,000 in Auburn, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Auburn tends to suit share households and 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

Auburn

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (27 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (16 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (27 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Auburn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,480,000 vs $4,465,000)
  • has cheaper units ($555,888 vs $680,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Auburn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($410/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Auburn

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (25% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Silverwater has a shorter drive in (21 min vs 26 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Auburn

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Silverwater has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 58%)

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

Investors

Auburn

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (5.3% vs -13.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.0% vs 5.4%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Silverwater Auburn
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.

Silverwater Auburn
Walkability 81 / 96
Silverwater — Walkability: 81/100 Auburn — Walkability: 96/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Silverwater — Low fire risk: 100/100 Auburn — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Auburn has more residents (39,333 vs 3,600); Silverwater has higher household incomes ($97,500 vs $79,716).

Silverwater Auburn
Population 3,600 39,333
+993% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -13.6% +5.3%
Median age 35 31
Median household income $97,500/yr
+18% vs other
 $79,716/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+9% vs other
 $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Silverwater Auburn
0-4 4.4% / 6.4%
Silverwater — 0-4: 4.4% Auburn — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 8.6% / 11.1%
Silverwater — 5-14: 8.6% Auburn — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 3.1% / 4.8%
Silverwater — 15-19: 3.1% Auburn — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 7.9% / 11.7%
Silverwater — 20-24: 7.9% Auburn — 20-24: 11.7%
25-34 25.1% / 22.9%
Silverwater — 25-34: 25.1% Auburn — 25-34: 22.9%
35-44 24.4% / 13.5%
Silverwater — 35-44: 24.4% Auburn — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 13.2% / 10.2%
Silverwater — 45-54: 13.2% Auburn — 45-54: 10.2%
55-64 7.2% / 9.3%
Silverwater — 55-64: 7.2% Auburn — 55-64: 9.3%
65-74 4.1% / 5.8%
Silverwater — 65-74: 4.1% Auburn — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 1.5% / 3.0%
Silverwater — 75-84: 1.5% Auburn — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 0.4% / 1.3%
Silverwater — 85+: 0.4% Auburn — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Silverwater 48.5% couple families
Silverwater — Couple Families: 48.5% Silverwater — Lone Person: 29.6% Silverwater — One Parent Families: 14.2% Silverwater — Group Household: 5.5% Silverwater — Other Families: 2.1%
Auburn 48.2% couple families
Auburn — Couple Families: 48.2% Auburn — Lone Person: 20.5% Auburn — One Parent Families: 13.7% Auburn — Group Household: 14.1% Auburn — Other Families: 3.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Silverwater 50.3% renting
Silverwater — Owned Outright: 13.2% Silverwater — Mortgage: 36.5% Silverwater — Renting: 50.3%
Auburn 52.6% renting
Auburn — Owned Outright: 22.9% Auburn — Mortgage: 24.6% Auburn — Renting: 52.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Silverwater Auburn
Bachelor Degree 10.9% / 12.7%
Silverwater — Bachelor Degree: 10.9% Auburn — Bachelor Degree: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.6% / 7.6%
Silverwater — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6% Auburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.4% / 6.3%
Silverwater — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4% Auburn — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3%
Certificate III & IV 5.8% / 4.8%
Silverwater — Certificate III & IV: 5.8% Auburn — Certificate III & IV: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 0.8%
Silverwater — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Auburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.7%).

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.

Silverwater Auburn
China 3.6% / 14.4%
Silverwater — China: 3.6% Auburn — China: 14.4%
Nepal — / 12.7%
Silverwater — Nepal: not among its largest Auburn — Nepal: 12.7%
India 2.6% / 5.4%
Silverwater — India: 2.6% Auburn — India: 5.4%
Pakistan 1.8% / 3.7%
Silverwater — Pakistan: 1.8% Auburn — Pakistan: 3.7%
Lebanon 2.2% / 2.9%
Silverwater — Lebanon: 2.2% Auburn — Lebanon: 2.9%
Afghanistan 1.0% / 3.7%
Silverwater — Afghanistan: 1.0% Auburn — Afghanistan: 3.7%
New Zealand 1.9% / —
Silverwater — New Zealand: 1.9% Auburn — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Silverwater 48.3% flats / apartments
Silverwater — Flats / Apartments: 48.3% Silverwater — Houses: 30.5% Silverwater — Townhouses: 21.2%
Auburn 47.9% flats / apartments
Auburn — Flats / Apartments: 47.9% Auburn — Houses: 42.0% Auburn — Townhouses: 10.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Silverwater Auburn
Median house price $4,465,000 $1,480,000
Median unit price $680,000 $555,888
Median land price — $2,220,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 64 days
from 3 sales
 25 days
from 124 sales

Zoning mix

Silverwater has more industrially zoned land (68% vs 24%).

Silverwater Auburn
Industrial 68% 24%
Residential 10% 52%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 7%
Parks and recreation 2% 12%
Environmental 5% 1%
Commercial 0% 4%
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

Silverwater Auburn
New dwellings approved 2,888
across Parramatta
 1,756
across Cumberland
Approvals change year on year +154% -28%

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.

Silverwater Auburn
Houses — 3.0%
$835/wk on $1.45M
Units 5.4%
$620/wk on $600K
 6.0%
$650/wk on $565K

Ranking within NSW

Silverwater Auburn
House price Higher than 74% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 62% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 22% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW

Liveability

Silverwater scores higher overall (80 vs 59); Auburn is more walkable (96 vs 81).

Silverwater Auburn
Grade A B
Score 80/100 59/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Silverwater Auburn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime — Moderate
66/100
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 22
within 5 km
 28
within 5 km

Schools

Silverwater Auburn
Inside the suburb 0 16
Rated above peers 0 5
Rated at peers 0 4
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.3 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 4.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.5% 4.4%

Schools in Silverwater

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Auburn

  • Al-Faisal College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Auburn Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Auburn North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St John's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Trinity Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Alpha Omega Senior College Independent · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Silverwater Auburn
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 6 19
Parks & reserves 5 27
Childcare 1 27
GPs 0 10
Pharmacies 1 7
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Silverwater Auburn
Walkability score 81/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 19.2 km 20.8 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 26 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 79.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 368.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 2128
 0.8%
postcode 2144
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 2128
 17
postcode 2144

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.

Silverwater Auburn
Car (driver) 49.7% / 43.5%
Silverwater — Car (driver): 49.7% Auburn — Car (driver): 43.5%
Worked from Home 37.9% / 21.4%
Silverwater — Worked from Home: 37.9% Auburn — Worked from Home: 21.4%
Train 3.0% / 25.1%
Silverwater — Train: 3.0% Auburn — Train: 25.1%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.9%
Silverwater — Car (passenger): 3.7% Auburn — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Walked Only 3.7% / 3.6%
Silverwater — Walked Only: 3.7% Auburn — Walked Only: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.7%).

Setting

Silverwater Auburn
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.8 km 16.6 km

NBN connectivity

Silverwater Auburn
Connectivity score 85/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
1,866 premises
 81%
14,559 premises

Climate

Silverwater Auburn
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)

Silverwater Auburn
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

Silverwater Auburn
Average residential rate $1,103/yr $1,038/yr
Council Parramatta Cumberland

Federal electorate

Silverwater Auburn
Division Reid Blaxland
Member Sally Sitou Jason Clare
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Silverwater Auburn
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Silverwater

Affordable Apartments Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

Auburn

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Silverwater

Silverwater vs Lidcombe Silverwater vs Newington Silverwater vs Sydney Olympic Park Silverwater vs Rosehill

Other comparisons with Auburn

Auburn vs Lidcombe Auburn vs Granville Auburn vs Chester Hill Auburn vs Berala Auburn vs Sefton Auburn vs South Granville
Full data on Silverwater Full data on Auburn
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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