Ainslie vs Downer.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,500,000 and $1,151,000. Downer edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Downer (median $1,151,000) is roughly 30% cheaper to buy into than Ainslie ($1,500,000).
Downer scores higher on walkability (4/100 vs 94/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Ainslie (1132) sits above Downer (1121).
For buyers
Downer is the lower entry point at $1,151,000 median, 30% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Downer offers the higher gross rental yield (1.97% vs 1.51%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Ainslie edges out on average school ICSEA (1132 vs 1121).
Common questions
Is Ainslie or Downer cheaper to buy in?
Downer has the lower median house price at $1,151,000, roughly 30% below Ainslie ($1,500,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Ainslie or Downer have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Ainslie scores 1132 vs 1121 in Downer. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Ainslie or Downer?
Downer scores 94/100 on walkability vs 4/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Ainslie or Downer?
Gross rental yield on houses is 1.97% in Downer vs 1.51% in Ainslie. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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