Aranda vs Macquarie.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,426,000 and $950,000. Macquarie edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Macquarie (median $950,000) is roughly 50% cheaper to buy into than Aranda ($1,426,000).
Macquarie scores higher on walkability (42/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Aranda (1106) sits above Macquarie (1090). Aranda skews owner-occupied (81%), Macquarie runs more rental-dense (61% owner).
For buyers
Macquarie is the lower entry point at $950,000 median, 50% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Macquarie offers the higher gross rental yield (2.29% vs 1.52%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Aranda edges out on average school ICSEA (1106 vs 1090). Aranda also has a higher family-household share (79% vs 61%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Aranda or Macquarie cheaper to buy in?
Macquarie has the lower median house price at $950,000, roughly 50% below Aranda ($1,426,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Aranda or Macquarie have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Aranda scores 1106 vs 1090 in Macquarie. 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, Aranda or Macquarie?
Macquarie scores 100/100 on walkability vs 42/100. 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, Aranda or Macquarie?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.29% in Macquarie vs 1.52% in Aranda. 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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