Darlington vs Ultimo.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,900,000 and $1,632,500. Ultimo edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Ultimo (median $1,632,500) is roughly 16% cheaper to buy into than Darlington ($1,900,000). Over the past year, Darlington (+10.1%) ran 12.3 percentage points ahead of Ultimo (-2.2%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Ultimo (1051) sits above Darlington (1042).
For buyers
Ultimo is the lower entry point at $1,632,500 median, 16% 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: Ultimo delivers the better gross yield (1.59% vs 1.44%), but Darlington 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
Ultimo edges out on average school ICSEA (1051 vs 1042).
Common questions
Is Darlington or Ultimo cheaper to buy in?
Ultimo has the lower median house price at $1,632,500, roughly 16% below Darlington ($1,900,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Darlington or Ultimo?
Over the past 12 months, Darlington grew +10.1% vs -2.2% in Ultimo, a gap of 12.3 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 Darlington or Ultimo have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Ultimo scores 1051 vs 1042 in Darlington. 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, Darlington or Ultimo?
Gross rental yield on houses is 1.59% in Ultimo vs 1.44% in Darlington. 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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