Side by sideSuburb comparison

Darlington vs Sturt.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $870,000 and $1,020,000. Sturt edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Darlington (median $870,000) is roughly 15% cheaper to buy into than Sturt ($1,020,000). Over the past year, Sturt (+19.2%) ran 24.8 percentage points ahead of Darlington (-5.6%) on house-price growth.

Sturt scores higher on walkability (22/100 vs 42/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Sturt (1066) sits above Darlington (1065). Darlington skews owner-occupied (68%), Sturt runs more rental-dense (57% owner).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Darlington is the lower entry point at $870,000 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: Darlington delivers the better gross yield (3.35% vs 3.31%), but Sturt 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

Sturt edges out on average school ICSEA (1066 vs 1065).

Common questionsDarlington vs Sturt

Common questions

Is Darlington or Sturt cheaper to buy in?

Darlington has the lower median house price at $870,000, roughly 15% below Sturt ($1,020,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, Darlington or Sturt?

Over the past 12 months, Sturt grew +19.2% vs -5.6% in Darlington, a gap of 24.8 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 Sturt have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Sturt scores 1066 vs 1065 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 is more walkable, Darlington or Sturt?

Sturt scores 42/100 on walkability vs 22/100. 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 Sturt?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.35% in Darlington vs 3.31% in Sturt. 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

Darlington
Metric
Sturt

Price & Market

$870,000
Median house
$1,020,000
$274,320
Median unit
$274,320
-5.6%
Annual growth (house)
+19.2%
Days on market

Rental

$560/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$650/wk
$425/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$217/wk
68.0%
Owner occupied
57.0%
28.0%
Renter occupied
40.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

22
Walk score
42
0
Transit score
0
100
Bike score
100
1,275
Population
2,787
39
Median age
38

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1065
Avg ICSEA
1066

Climate

448 mm
Annual rainfall
448 mm
27.9°C
Mean max (Jan)
27.9°C

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