Blackwood vs Hawthorndene.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,112,000 and $1,140,000.
Blackwood (median $1,112,000) is roughly 2% cheaper to buy into than Hawthorndene ($1,140,000). Over the past year, Hawthorndene (+6.5%) ran 3.5 percentage points ahead of Blackwood (+3%) on house-price growth.
Blackwood scores higher on walkability (90/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Hawthorndene (1098) sits above Blackwood (1097). Hawthorndene skews owner-occupied (92%), Blackwood runs more rental-dense (82% owner).
For buyers
Blackwood is the lower entry point at $1,112,000 median, 2% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Hawthorndene carries both higher gross yield (3.19% vs 2.81%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Hawthorndene edges out on average school ICSEA (1098 vs 1097). Hawthorndene also has a higher family-household share (81% vs 69%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Blackwood or Hawthorndene cheaper to buy in?
Blackwood has the lower median house price at $1,112,000, roughly 2% below Hawthorndene ($1,140,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Blackwood or Hawthorndene?
Over the past 12 months, Hawthorndene grew +6.5% vs +3% in Blackwood, a gap of 3.5 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Blackwood or Hawthorndene have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Hawthorndene scores 1098 vs 1097 in Blackwood. 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, Blackwood or Hawthorndene?
Blackwood scores 90/100 on walkability vs 2/100. 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, Blackwood or Hawthorndene?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.19% in Hawthorndene vs 2.81% in Blackwood. 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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