Cartwright vs Prestons
Cartwright (median $1,000,000) is roughly 18% cheaper to buy into than Prestons ($1,222,000). Over the past year, Cartwright (+20.5%) ran 9.4 percentage points ahead of Prestons (+11.1%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Cartwright or Prestons?
Selling in Cartwright? The free selling guide
Cartwright and Prestons side by side
| Measure | Cartwright | Prestons |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,000,000 | $1,222,000 |
| Median unit | $316,800 | $837,500 |
| House price change, 12 months | +20.5% | +11.1% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $650/wk | $740/wk |
| Unit rent | – | $540/wk |
| Owner occupied | 34.0% | 78.0% |
| Renter occupied | 60.0% | 18.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 934 | 981 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 26 | 22 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 2,616 | 15,694 |
| Median age | 35 | 34 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 770 mm | 726 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.6°C | 29.6°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
Cartwright scores higher on walkability (26/100 vs 22/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Prestons (981) sits above Cartwright (934). Prestons skews owner-occupied (78%), Cartwright runs more rental-dense (34% owner).
- For buyers
- Cartwright is the lower entry point at $1,000,000 median, 18% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Cartwright carries both higher gross yield (3.38% vs 3.15%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
- For families
- Prestons edges out on average school ICSEA (981 vs 934). Prestons also has a higher family-household share (90% vs 63%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Cartwright vs Prestons: common questions
Is Cartwright or Prestons cheaper to buy in?
Cartwright has the lower median house price at $1,000,000, roughly 18% below Prestons ($1,222,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Cartwright or Prestons?
Over the past 12 months, Cartwright grew +20.5% vs +11.1% in Prestons, a gap of 9.4 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 Cartwright or Prestons have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Prestons scores 981 vs 934 in Cartwright. 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, Cartwright or Prestons?
Cartwright scores 26/100 on walkability vs 22/100. 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, Cartwright or Prestons?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.38% in Cartwright vs 3.15% in Prestons. 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.
Keep comparing
The two suburbs
Compare Cartwright with
Choosing between Cartwright and Prestons?
The free buying guide: budget, schemes, inspections and how not to overpay.