Craigmore vs Smithfield.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $741,500 and $645,000.
Smithfield (median $645,000) is roughly 15% cheaper to buy into than Craigmore ($741,500). Over the past year, Craigmore (+19.1%) ran 7.4 percentage points ahead of Smithfield (+11.7%) on house-price growth.
Smithfield scores higher on walkability (4/100 vs 52/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Craigmore (945) sits above Smithfield (937). Craigmore skews owner-occupied (78%), Smithfield runs more rental-dense (47% owner).
For buyers
Smithfield is the lower entry point at $645,000 median, 15% 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: Smithfield delivers the better gross yield (4.35% vs 3.93%), but Craigmore 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
Craigmore edges out on average school ICSEA (945 vs 937). Craigmore also has a higher family-household share (79% vs 66%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Craigmore or Smithfield cheaper to buy in?
Smithfield has the lower median house price at $645,000, roughly 15% below Craigmore ($741,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Craigmore or Smithfield?
Over the past 12 months, Craigmore grew +19.1% vs +11.7% in Smithfield, 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 Craigmore or Smithfield have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Craigmore scores 945 vs 937 in Smithfield. 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, Craigmore or Smithfield?
Smithfield scores 52/100 on walkability vs 4/100. 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, Craigmore or Smithfield?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.35% in Smithfield vs 3.93% in Craigmore. 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).
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