Darlington vs Waterloo
Waterloo (median $1,570,000) is roughly 17% cheaper to buy into than Darlington ($1,900,000). Over the past year, Darlington (+10.1%) ran 5.4 percentage points ahead of Waterloo (+4.7%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Darlington or Waterloo?
Selling in Darlington? The free selling guide
Darlington and Waterloo side by side
| Measure | Darlington | Waterloo |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,900,000 | $1,570,000 |
| Median unit | $411,840 | $906,500 |
| House price change, 12 months | +10.1% | +4.7% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $650/wk | $1150/wk |
| Unit rent | $915/wk | $1050/wk |
| Owner occupied | – | 24.0% |
| Renter occupied | – | 73.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 1042 | 1062 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 100 | 100 |
| Transit score | 100 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | – | 16,379 |
| Median age | – | 33 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1101 mm | 1101 mm |
| Mean max, January | 27.1°C | 27.1°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
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Waterloo (1062) sits above Darlington (1042).
- For buyers
- Waterloo is the lower entry point at $1,570,000 median, 17% 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: Waterloo delivers the better gross yield (3.81% vs 1.78%), 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
- Waterloo edges out on average school ICSEA (1062 vs 1042).
Darlington vs Waterloo: common questions
Is Darlington or Waterloo cheaper to buy in?
Waterloo has the lower median house price at $1,570,000, roughly 17% 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 Waterloo?
Over the past 12 months, Darlington grew +10.1% vs +4.7% in Waterloo, a gap of 5.4 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 Darlington or Waterloo have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Waterloo scores 1062 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 Waterloo?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.81% in Waterloo vs 1.78% 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.
Keep comparing
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