West Pennant Hills vs Castle Hill

In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. West Pennant Hills is closer to the city centre: 28.2 km, against 31.5 km.

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

Castle Hill

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (7 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (37 vs 11)
  • has more parks and reserves (34 vs 27)
  • But West Pennant Hills carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 43/100)

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

First-home buyers

West Pennant Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($2,375,000 vs $3,490,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Castle Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 12%)
  • has cheaper rent ($560/wk vs $641/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Pennant Hills

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (30 min vs 35 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (28.2 km vs 31.5 km)
  • But Castle Hill is more walkable (96/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Castle Hill

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (13 vs 4)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (26% vs 9%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 72/100)
  • But West Pennant Hills carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 43/100)

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 house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
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.

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Walkability 72 / 96
West Pennant Hills — Walkability: 72/100 Castle Hill — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 83 / 57
West Pennant Hills — Safety: 83/100 Castle Hill — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 86 / 82
West Pennant Hills — Low fire risk: 86/100 Castle Hill — Low fire risk: 82/100

Demographics

Castle Hill has more residents (40,874 vs 16,620); West Pennant Hills has higher household incomes ($160,056 vs $132,652).

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Population 16,620 40,874
+146% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.5% +3.2%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $160,056/yr
+17% vs other
 $132,652/yr
Median weekly rent $641/wk
+13% vs other
 $560/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
0-4 4.7% / 4.3%
West Pennant Hills — 0-4: 4.7% Castle Hill — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 13.6% / 14.5%
West Pennant Hills — 5-14: 13.6% Castle Hill — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 6.6% / 6.7%
West Pennant Hills — 15-19: 6.6% Castle Hill — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 6.1% / 5.8%
West Pennant Hills — 20-24: 6.1% Castle Hill — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 8.1% / 8.3%
West Pennant Hills — 25-34: 8.1% Castle Hill — 25-34: 8.3%
35-44 12.8% / 14.2%
West Pennant Hills — 35-44: 12.8% Castle Hill — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 13.4% / 14.3%
West Pennant Hills — 45-54: 13.4% Castle Hill — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 14.8% / 12.0%
West Pennant Hills — 55-64: 14.8% Castle Hill — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 12.9% / 10.4%
West Pennant Hills — 65-74: 12.9% Castle Hill — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 5.3% / 6.2%
West Pennant Hills — 75-84: 5.3% Castle Hill — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 1.8% / 3.4%
West Pennant Hills — 85+: 1.8% Castle Hill — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

West Pennant Hills 72.1% couple families
West Pennant Hills — Couple Families: 72.1% West Pennant Hills — Lone Person: 15.4% West Pennant Hills — One Parent Families: 10.4% West Pennant Hills — Group Household: 1.1% West Pennant Hills — Other Families: 1.0%
Castle Hill 64.0% couple families
Castle Hill — Couple Families: 64.0% Castle Hill — Lone Person: 20.9% Castle Hill — One Parent Families: 12.3% Castle Hill — Group Household: 1.8% Castle Hill — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

West Pennant Hills 12.5% renting
West Pennant Hills — Owned Outright: 45.0% West Pennant Hills — Mortgage: 42.5% West Pennant Hills — Renting: 12.5%
Castle Hill 24.1% renting
Castle Hill — Owned Outright: 36.8% Castle Hill — Mortgage: 39.2% Castle Hill — Renting: 24.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Bachelor Degree 24.1% / 21.8%
West Pennant Hills — Bachelor Degree: 24.1% Castle Hill — Bachelor Degree: 21.8%
Postgraduate Degree 11.4% / 10.8%
West Pennant Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4% Castle Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.3%
West Pennant Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Castle Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Certificate III & IV 6.5% / 7.1%
West Pennant Hills — Certificate III & IV: 6.5% Castle Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.3%
West Pennant Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Castle Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

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.

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
China 8.6% / 9.2%
West Pennant Hills — China: 8.6% Castle Hill — China: 9.2%
India 4.3% / 5.4%
West Pennant Hills — India: 4.3% Castle Hill — India: 5.4%
England 2.9% / 3.0%
West Pennant Hills — England: 2.9% Castle Hill — England: 3.0%
Sri Lanka 1.9% / 1.6%
West Pennant Hills — Sri Lanka: 1.9% Castle Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.6%
Malaysia 1.6% / 1.4%
West Pennant Hills — Malaysia: 1.6% Castle Hill — Malaysia: 1.4%
Iran 1.2% / 1.7%
West Pennant Hills — Iran: 1.2% Castle Hill — Iran: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

West Pennant Hills 90.8% houses
West Pennant Hills — Houses: 90.8% West Pennant Hills — Flats / Apartments: 2.7% West Pennant Hills — Townhouses: 6.5%
Castle Hill 73.7% houses
Castle Hill — Houses: 73.7% Castle Hill — Flats / Apartments: 15.4% Castle Hill — Townhouses: 10.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Median house price $2,542,500 $2,460,000
Median unit price $985,000 $964,000
Median land price $2,375,000 $3,490,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 196 sales
 26 days
from 431 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.

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
3 bed $1.8M / $1.92M
West Pennant Hills — 3 bed: $1.8M (55 sales) Castle Hill — 3 bed: $1.92M (79 sales)

55 vs 79 sales

4 bed $2.42M / $2.4M
West Pennant Hills — 4 bed: $2.42M (101 sales) Castle Hill — 4 bed: $2.4M (200 sales)

101 vs 200 sales

5 bed $2.94M / $2.73M
West Pennant Hills — 5 bed: $2.94M (114 sales) Castle Hill — 5 bed: $2.73M (136 sales)

114 vs 136 sales

6 bed $3.48M / $2.89M
West Pennant Hills — 6 bed: $3.48M (26 sales) Castle Hill — 6 bed: $2.89M (29 sales)

26 vs 29 sales

Zoning mix

West Pennant Hills has more land zoned for conservation (22% vs 10%).

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Residential 66% 68%
Environmental 22% 10%
Parks and recreation 6% 12%
Industrial 0% 7%
Rural and farming 5% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 2%
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

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
New dwellings approved 2,648
across The Hills
same for both
Approvals change year on year -4%
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.

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Houses 2.9%
$1,250/wk on $2.23M
 2.9%
$988/wk on $1.8M
Units — 4.7%
$820/wk on $900K

Ranking within NSW

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
House price Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Income Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 88% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of NSW

Liveability

Castle Hill is more walkable (96 vs 72).

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Grade A+ A
Score 87/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Castle Hill carries more crime risk (43 vs 17).

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Bushfire Low
14/100
 Low
18/100
Crime Low
17/100
 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 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Inside the suburb 2 13
Rated above peers 1 7
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 7.7 km
 2
Western Sydney University - Parramatta, 9.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.3% 3.6%

Schools in West Pennant Hills

  • West Pennant Hills Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Hills Montessori School Independent · Primary

Schools in Castle Hill

  • Castle Hill High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Castle Hill Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Excelsior Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Oakhill College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Oakhill Drive Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Samuel Gilbert Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 3 39
Parks & reserves 27 34
Childcare 11 37
GPs 4 13
Pharmacies 2 10
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 10
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 17 16

Mobility

Castle Hill sits further from the CBD (31.5 km vs 28.2 km).

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Walkability score 72/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 28.2 km 31.5 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 35 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 715.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 1508.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.4%
postcode 2125
 2.9%
postcode 2154
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2125
 42
postcode 2154

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.

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Worked from Home 58.1% / 55.3%
West Pennant Hills — Worked from Home: 58.1% Castle Hill — Worked from Home: 55.3%
Car (driver) 35.7% / 37.0%
West Pennant Hills — Car (driver): 35.7% Castle Hill — Car (driver): 37.0%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.4%
West Pennant Hills — Car (passenger): 2.2% Castle Hill — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Train 1.5% / 2.5%
West Pennant Hills — Train: 1.5% Castle Hill — Train: 2.5%
Bus 1.9% / 1.5%
West Pennant Hills — Bus: 1.9% Castle Hill — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.1%).

Setting

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Elevation 100 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 20.9 km 24.6 km

NBN connectivity

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Connectivity score 74/100 70/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
5,842 premises
 9%
18,435 premises

Climate

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
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)

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
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

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Average residential rate $1,204/yr
same for both
Council The Hills
same for both

Federal electorate

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Division Mitchell
same for both
Member Alex Hawke
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

West Pennant Hills Castle Hill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

West Pennant Hills

Easy Commute Large Blocks Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River Transport Hub

Castle Hill

Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with West Pennant Hills

West Pennant Hills vs Baulkham Hills West Pennant Hills vs Carlingford West Pennant Hills vs Cherrybrook West Pennant Hills vs Beecroft West Pennant Hills vs North Rocks West Pennant Hills vs Pennant Hills

Other comparisons with Castle Hill

Castle Hill vs Baulkham Hills Castle Hill vs Kellyville Castle Hill vs Cherrybrook Castle Hill vs Dural Castle Hill vs Glenhaven Castle Hill vs Norwest
Full data on West Pennant Hills Full data on Castle Hill
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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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