Box Hill vs Rouse Hill
Box Hill (median $1,275,000) is roughly 6% cheaper to buy into than Rouse Hill ($1,358,888). Over the past year, Box Hill (+7.5%) ran 7.4 percentage points ahead of Rouse Hill (+0.1%) on house-price growth.
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Box Hill and Rouse Hill side by side
| Measure | Box Hill | Rouse Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,275,000 | $1,358,888 |
| Median unit | $446,400 | $475,200 |
| House price change, 12 months | +7.5% | +0.1% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $850/wk | $920/wk |
| Unit rent | $560/wk | $690/wk |
| Owner occupied | 79.0% | 59.0% |
| Renter occupied | 20.0% | 40.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 1053 | 1092 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 8 | 28 |
| Transit score | 0 | 20 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 6,450 | 11,349 |
| Median age | 31 | 34 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 743 mm | 766 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.8°C | 29.8°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
Rouse Hill scores higher on walkability (8/100 vs 28/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Rouse Hill (1092) sits above Box Hill (1053). Box Hill skews owner-occupied (79%), Rouse Hill runs more rental-dense (59% owner).
- For buyers
- Box Hill is the lower entry point at $1,275,000 median, 6% 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: Rouse Hill delivers the better gross yield (3.52% vs 3.47%), but Box Hill 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
- Rouse Hill edges out on average school ICSEA (1092 vs 1053). Box Hill also has a higher family-household share (92% vs 81%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Box Hill vs Rouse Hill: common questions
Is Box Hill or Rouse Hill cheaper to buy in?
Box Hill has the lower median house price at $1,275,000, roughly 6% below Rouse Hill ($1,358,888). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Box Hill or Rouse Hill?
Over the past 12 months, Box Hill grew +7.5% vs +0.1% in Rouse Hill, a gap of 7.4 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 Box Hill or Rouse Hill have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Rouse Hill scores 1092 vs 1053 in Box Hill. 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, Box Hill or Rouse Hill?
Rouse Hill scores 28/100 on walkability vs 8/100. 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, Box Hill or Rouse Hill?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.52% in Rouse Hill vs 3.47% in Box Hill. 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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