Telopea vs Carlingford

In Telopea, about half of households rent. In Carlingford, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Carlingford: a median of $2.27 million, against $1.94 million in Telopea, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Telopea tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Carlingford 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

Carlingford

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (35 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Telopea has cheaper houses ($1,935,000 vs $2,269,500)
  • Carlingford leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 36%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Telopea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Carlingford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 87/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Carlingford

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 71/100)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 87/100)
  • But Telopea has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 42%)

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

Investors

Carlingford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.0% vs -1.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Telopea Carlingford
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.

Telopea Carlingford
Walkability 87 / 95
Telopea — Walkability: 87/100 Carlingford — Walkability: 95/100
Safety 29 / 57
Telopea — Safety: 29/100 Carlingford — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Telopea — Low fire risk: 100/100 Carlingford — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Carlingford has more residents (28,044 vs 5,356); Carlingford has higher household incomes ($108,368 vs $76,180).

Telopea Carlingford
Population 5,356 28,044
+424% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.3% +15.0%
Median age 40 38
Median household income $76,180/yr $108,368/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk $500/wk
+35% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Telopea Carlingford
0-4 5.6% / 5.5%
Telopea — 0-4: 5.6% Carlingford — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 12.5% / 15.3%
Telopea — 5-14: 12.5% Carlingford — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 4.7% / 5.2%
Telopea — 15-19: 4.7% Carlingford — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.7% / 5.7%
Telopea — 20-24: 4.7% Carlingford — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 12.8% / 11.5%
Telopea — 25-34: 12.8% Carlingford — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 15.6% / 17.0%
Telopea — 35-44: 15.6% Carlingford — 35-44: 17.0%
45-54 14.2% / 12.2%
Telopea — 45-54: 14.2% Carlingford — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 13.6% / 11.5%
Telopea — 55-64: 13.6% Carlingford — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 9.1% / 8.8%
Telopea — 65-74: 9.1% Carlingford — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 4.8% / 5.3%
Telopea — 75-84: 4.8% Carlingford — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.5% / 2.0%
Telopea — 85+: 2.5% Carlingford — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Telopea 40.5% couple families
Telopea — Couple Families: 40.5% Telopea — Lone Person: 38.7% Telopea — One Parent Families: 15.9% Telopea — Group Household: 3.7% Telopea — Other Families: 1.1%
Carlingford 63.0% couple families
Carlingford — Couple Families: 63.0% Carlingford — Lone Person: 18.0% Carlingford — One Parent Families: 14.5% Carlingford — Group Household: 3.1% Carlingford — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Telopea 48.0% renting
Telopea — Owned Outright: 21.3% Telopea — Mortgage: 30.7% Telopea — Renting: 48.0%
Carlingford 33.8% renting
Carlingford — Owned Outright: 31.3% Carlingford — Mortgage: 34.9% Carlingford — Renting: 33.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Telopea Carlingford
Bachelor Degree 18.0% / 22.2%
Telopea — Bachelor Degree: 18.0% Carlingford — Bachelor Degree: 22.2%
Postgraduate Degree 8.9% / 11.2%
Telopea — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9% Carlingford — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.9%
Telopea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Carlingford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Certificate III & IV 8.0% / 6.1%
Telopea — Certificate III & IV: 8.0% Carlingford — Certificate III & IV: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.9%
Telopea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Carlingford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

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.

Telopea Carlingford
China 15.2% / 19.4%
Telopea — China: 15.2% Carlingford — China: 19.4%
India 2.6% / 4.9%
Telopea — India: 2.6% Carlingford — India: 4.9%
Iran 1.8% / 1.8%
Telopea — Iran: 1.8% Carlingford — Iran: 1.8%
Philippines 1.8% / 1.4%
Telopea — Philippines: 1.8% Carlingford — Philippines: 1.4%
Malaysia 1.5% / 1.7%
Telopea — Malaysia: 1.5% Carlingford — Malaysia: 1.7%
Pakistan — / 2.0%
Telopea — Pakistan: not among its largest Carlingford — Pakistan: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Telopea 34.8% houses
Telopea — Houses: 34.8% Telopea — Flats / Apartments: 34.7% Telopea — Townhouses: 30.5%
Carlingford 58.1% houses
Carlingford — Houses: 58.1% Carlingford — Flats / Apartments: 29.5% Carlingford — Townhouses: 12.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Telopea Carlingford
Median house price $1,935,000 $2,269,500
Median unit price $660,000 $710,000
Median land price — $1,900,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 34 sales
 23 days
from 184 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.

Telopea Carlingford
2 bed $630K / $685K
Telopea — 2 bed: $630K (21 sales) Carlingford — 2 bed: $685K (149 sales)

21 vs 149 sales

3 bed $800K / $908K
Telopea — 3 bed: $800K (15 sales) Carlingford — 3 bed: $908K (51 sales)

15 vs 51 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.

Telopea Carlingford
3 bed $1.87M / $2.13M
Telopea — 3 bed: $1.87M (18 sales) Carlingford — 3 bed: $2.13M (52 sales)

18 vs 52 sales

4 bed $1.95M / $2.26M
Telopea — 4 bed: $1.95M (26 sales) Carlingford — 4 bed: $2.26M (98 sales)

26 vs 98 sales

5 bed $2.03M / $2.4M
Telopea — 5 bed: $2.03M (16 sales) Carlingford — 5 bed: $2.4M (44 sales)

16 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

Telopea Carlingford
Residential 78% 81%
Environmental 11% 7%
Parks and recreation 7% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 5%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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

Telopea Carlingford
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.

Telopea Carlingford
Houses 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.55M
 2.7%
$930/wk on $1.8M
Units — 5.1%
$700/wk on $710K

Ranking within NSW

Telopea Carlingford
House price Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 95% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 71% of NSW

Liveability

Carlingford scores higher overall (87 vs 67); Carlingford is more walkable (95 vs 87).

Telopea Carlingford
Grade B A
Score 67/100 87/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Telopea carries more crime risk (71 vs 43).

Telopea Carlingford
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 Moderate
43/100
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 17
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Telopea Carlingford
Inside the suburb 1 9
Rated above peers 1 7
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 3.8 km
 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 3.7%

Schools in Telopea

  • Telopea Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Carlingford

  • Carlingford High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Carlingford Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Carlingford West Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cumberland High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • James Ruse Agricultural High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Murray Farm Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Telopea Carlingford
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 3 7
Parks & reserves 10 35
Childcare 3 18
GPs 2 7
Pharmacies 2 7
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 1 8
Waterways 9 6

Mobility

Telopea Carlingford
Walkability score 87/100 95/100
Distance to Sydney 25.2 km 26.3 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 28 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 120.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 453.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2117
 2.4%
postcode 2118
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2117
 29
postcode 2118

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.

Telopea Carlingford
Worked from Home 46.3% / 52.1%
Telopea — Worked from Home: 46.3% Carlingford — Worked from Home: 52.1%
Car (driver) 44.5% / 39.3%
Telopea — Car (driver): 44.5% Carlingford — Car (driver): 39.3%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 2.8%
Telopea — Car (passenger): 3.4% Carlingford — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Train 3.3% / 2.6%
Telopea — Train: 3.3% Carlingford — Train: 2.6%
Bus 1.6% / 2.0%
Telopea — Bus: 1.6% Carlingford — Bus: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.1%).

Setting

Telopea Carlingford
Elevation 56 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.2 km 19.0 km

NBN connectivity

Telopea Carlingford
Connectivity score 76/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
2,632 premises
 20%
10,838 premises

Climate

Telopea Carlingford
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)

Telopea Carlingford
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

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

Federal electorate

Telopea Carlingford
Division Parramatta
same for both
Member Andrew Charlton
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Telopea Carlingford
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Telopea

Apartments Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium River Townhouses Trams Urban

Carlingford

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Telopea

Telopea vs Dundas Valley Telopea vs Oatlands Telopea vs Dundas

Other comparisons with Carlingford

Carlingford vs Epping Carlingford vs Eastwood Carlingford vs West Pennant Hills Carlingford vs North Parramatta Carlingford vs Beecroft Carlingford vs North Rocks
Full data on Telopea Full data on Carlingford
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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