Carey Bay vs Rathmines.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,068,500 and $870,000. Carey Bay edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Rathmines (median $870,000) is roughly 23% cheaper to buy into than Carey Bay ($1,068,500). Over the past year, Carey Bay (+7.4%) ran 5.0 percentage points ahead of Rathmines (+2.4%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Carey Bay (997) sits above Rathmines (984). Rathmines skews owner-occupied (85%), Carey Bay runs more rental-dense (71% owner).
For buyers
Rathmines is the lower entry point at $870,000 median, 23% 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: Rathmines delivers the better gross yield (3.94% vs 3.21%), but Carey Bay 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
Carey Bay edges out on average school ICSEA (997 vs 984). Rathmines also has a higher family-household share (79% vs 60%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Carey Bay or Rathmines cheaper to buy in?
Rathmines has the lower median house price at $870,000, roughly 23% below Carey Bay ($1,068,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Carey Bay or Rathmines?
Over the past 12 months, Carey Bay grew +7.4% vs +2.4% in Rathmines, a gap of 5.0 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 Carey Bay or Rathmines have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Carey Bay scores 997 vs 984 in Rathmines. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Carey Bay or Rathmines?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.94% in Rathmines vs 3.21% in Carey Bay. 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).
Compare Carey Bay against another suburb