Carlton vs Kogarah Bay.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,830,000 and $2,307,500. Carlton edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Carlton (median $1,830,000) is roughly 21% cheaper to buy into than Kogarah Bay ($2,307,500). Over the past year, Carlton (+2.3%) ran 4.1 percentage points ahead of Kogarah Bay (-1.8%) on house-price growth.
Carlton scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 16/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Kogarah Bay (1081) sits above Carlton (1079). Kogarah Bay skews owner-occupied (85%), Carlton runs more rental-dense (60% owner).
For buyers
Carlton is the lower entry point at $1,830,000 median, 21% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Carlton carries both higher gross yield (2.42% vs 2.03%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Kogarah Bay edges out on average school ICSEA (1081 vs 1079). Kogarah Bay also has a higher family-household share (85% vs 73%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Carlton or Kogarah Bay cheaper to buy in?
Carlton has the lower median house price at $1,830,000, roughly 21% below Kogarah Bay ($2,307,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Carlton or Kogarah Bay?
Over the past 12 months, Carlton grew +2.3% vs -1.8% in Kogarah Bay, a gap of 4.1 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 Carlton or Kogarah Bay have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Kogarah Bay scores 1081 vs 1079 in Carlton. 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, Carlton or Kogarah Bay?
Carlton scores 100/100 on walkability vs 16/100. 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, Carlton or Kogarah Bay?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.42% in Carlton vs 2.03% in Kogarah 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 Carlton against another suburb