Side by sideSuburb comparison

Dareton vs Curlwaa.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $180,000 and $585,000. Dareton edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Dareton (median $180,000) is roughly 69% cheaper to buy into than Curlwaa ($585,000). Over the past year, Curlwaa (0%) ran 2.7 percentage points ahead of Dareton (-2.7%) on house-price growth.

Dareton scores higher on walkability (10/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Dareton (861) sits above Curlwaa (792). Curlwaa skews owner-occupied (76%), Dareton runs more rental-dense (48% owner).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Dareton is the lower entry point at $180,000 median, 69% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

Curlwaa has run faster on 12-month capital growth, favouring growth-led investors.

For families

Dareton edges out on average school ICSEA (861 vs 792). Curlwaa also has a higher family-household share (76% vs 62%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.

Common questionsDareton vs Curlwaa

Common questions

Is Dareton or Curlwaa cheaper to buy in?

Dareton has the lower median house price at $180,000, roughly 69% below Curlwaa ($585,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, Dareton or Curlwaa?

Over the past 12 months, Curlwaa grew 0% vs -2.7% in Dareton, a gap of 2.7 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 Dareton or Curlwaa have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Dareton scores 861 vs 792 in Curlwaa. 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, Dareton or Curlwaa?

Dareton scores 10/100 on walkability vs 2/100. 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.

The numbers behind the take

Dareton
Metric
Curlwaa

Price & Market

$180,000
Median house
$585,000
$171,360
Median unit
$144,000
-2.7%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

Rent (house / wk)
Rent (unit / wk)
48.0%
Owner occupied
76.0%
41.0%
Renter occupied
11.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

10
Walk score
2
0
Transit score
0
40
Bike score
5
456
Population
496
49
Median age
42

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

4
Schools nearby
3
861
Avg ICSEA
792

Climate

Annual rainfall
Mean max (Jan)

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