Boolaroo vs Macquarie Hills
Macquarie Hills (median $910,000) is roughly 9% cheaper to buy into than Boolaroo ($1,000,000). Over the past year, Boolaroo (+11.7%) ran 4.6 percentage points ahead of Macquarie Hills (+7.1%) on house-price growth.
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Boolaroo and Macquarie Hills side by side
| Measure | Boolaroo | Macquarie Hills |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,000,000 | $910,000 |
| Median unit | $302,400 | $305,280 |
| House price change, 12 months | +11.7% | +7.1% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $750/wk | $725/wk |
| Unit rent | $530/wk | $493/wk |
| Owner occupied | 64.0% | 85.0% |
| Renter occupied | 28.0% | 13.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 990 | 1010 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 6 | 2 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 1,636 | 3,605 |
| Median age | 39 | 35 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1140 mm | 1140 mm |
| Mean max, January | 28.3°C | 28.3°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Boolaroo scores higher on walkability (6/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Macquarie Hills (1010) sits above Boolaroo (990). Macquarie Hills skews owner-occupied (85%), Boolaroo runs more rental-dense (64% owner).
- For buyers
- Macquarie Hills is the lower entry point at $910,000 median, 9% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Macquarie Hills delivers the better gross yield (4.14% vs 3.90%), but Boolaroo has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
- For families
- Macquarie Hills edges out on average school ICSEA (1010 vs 990). Macquarie Hills also has a higher family-household share (85% vs 68%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Boolaroo vs Macquarie Hills: common questions
Is Boolaroo or Macquarie Hills cheaper to buy in?
Macquarie Hills has the lower median house price at $910,000, roughly 9% below Boolaroo ($1,000,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Boolaroo or Macquarie Hills?
Over the past 12 months, Boolaroo grew +11.7% vs +7.1% in Macquarie Hills, a gap of 4.6 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 Boolaroo or Macquarie Hills have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Macquarie Hills scores 1010 vs 990 in Boolaroo. 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, Boolaroo or Macquarie Hills?
Boolaroo scores 6/100 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, Boolaroo or Macquarie Hills?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.14% in Macquarie Hills vs 3.90% in Boolaroo. 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.
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