Side by sideSuburb comparison

Cape Paterson vs South Dudley.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $745,000 and $489,500. South Dudley edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

South Dudley (median $489,500) is roughly 52% cheaper to buy into than Cape Paterson ($745,000).

South Dudley scores higher on walkability (6/100 vs 8/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving South Dudley (982) sits above Cape Paterson (976).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

South Dudley is the lower entry point at $489,500 median, 52% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

South Dudley offers the higher gross rental yield (2.97% vs 1.95%), favouring cash-flow investors.

For families

South Dudley edges out on average school ICSEA (982 vs 976).

Common questionsCape Paterson vs South Dudley

Common questions

Is Cape Paterson or South Dudley cheaper to buy in?

South Dudley has the lower median house price at $489,500, roughly 52% below Cape Paterson ($745,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Cape Paterson or South Dudley have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), South Dudley scores 982 vs 976 in Cape Paterson. 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, Cape Paterson or South Dudley?

South Dudley scores 8/100 on walkability vs 6/100. 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, Cape Paterson or South Dudley?

Gross rental yield on houses is 2.97% in South Dudley vs 1.95% in Cape Paterson. 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

Cape Paterson
Metric
South Dudley

Price & Market

$745,000
Median house
$489,500
$205,920
Median unit
$205,920
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

$280/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$280/wk
$300/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$290/wk
78.0%
Owner occupied
73.0%
16.0%
Renter occupied
24.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

6
Walk score
8
0
Transit score
20
0
Bike score
40
1,111
Population
421
55
Median age
42

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

5
Schools nearby
7
976
Avg ICSEA
982

Climate

Annual rainfall
639 mm
Mean max (Jan)
25.9°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).