Darlington vs Flagstaff Hill.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $870,000 and $1,086,250. Darlington edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Darlington (median $870,000) is roughly 20% cheaper to buy into than Flagstaff Hill ($1,086,250). Over the past year, Flagstaff Hill (+20%) ran 25.6 percentage points ahead of Darlington (-5.6%) on house-price growth.
Darlington scores higher on walkability (22/100 vs 8/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Darlington (1065) sits above Flagstaff Hill (1062). Flagstaff Hill skews owner-occupied (88%), Darlington runs more rental-dense (68% owner).
For buyers
Darlington is the lower entry point at $870,000 median, 20% 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: Darlington delivers the better gross yield (3.35% vs 2.87%), but Flagstaff Hill 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
Darlington edges out on average school ICSEA (1065 vs 1062). Flagstaff Hill also has a higher family-household share (83% vs 65%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Darlington or Flagstaff Hill cheaper to buy in?
Darlington has the lower median house price at $870,000, roughly 20% below Flagstaff Hill ($1,086,250). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Darlington or Flagstaff Hill?
Over the past 12 months, Flagstaff Hill grew +20% vs -5.6% in Darlington, a gap of 25.6 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 Flagstaff Hill have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Darlington scores 1065 vs 1062 in Flagstaff Hill. 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, Darlington or Flagstaff Hill?
Darlington scores 22/100 on walkability vs 8/100. 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, Darlington or Flagstaff Hill?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.35% in Darlington vs 2.87% in Flagstaff Hill. 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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