Daruka vs Kootingal
Kootingal (median $568,000) is roughly 40% cheaper to buy into than Daruka ($950,000). Over the past year, Kootingal (+14.2%) ran 19.2 percentage points ahead of Daruka (-5%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Daruka or Kootingal?
Selling in Daruka? The free selling guide
Daruka and Kootingal side by side
| Measure | Daruka | Kootingal |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $950,000 | $568,000 |
| Median unit | $240,480 | $221,760 |
| House price change, 12 months | -5.0% | +14.2% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $530/wk | $520/wk |
| Unit rent | $383/wk | – |
| Owner occupied | 92.0% | 72.0% |
| Renter occupied | 5.0% | 26.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 19 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 941 | 940 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 0 | 16 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 0 | 0 |
| Population | 770 | 2,313 |
| Median age | 44 | 38 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 672 mm | 658 mm |
| Mean max, January | 31.5°C | 31.9°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
Kootingal scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 16/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Daruka (941) sits above Kootingal (940). Daruka skews owner-occupied (92%), Kootingal runs more rental-dense (72% owner).
- For buyers
- Kootingal is the lower entry point at $568,000 median, 40% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Kootingal carries both higher gross yield (4.76% vs 2.90%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
- For families
- Daruka edges out on average school ICSEA (941 vs 940). Daruka also has a higher family-household share (89% vs 73%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Daruka vs Kootingal: common questions
Is Daruka or Kootingal cheaper to buy in?
Kootingal has the lower median house price at $568,000, roughly 40% below Daruka ($950,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Daruka or Kootingal?
Over the past 12 months, Kootingal grew +14.2% vs -5% in Daruka, a gap of 19.2 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 Daruka or Kootingal have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Daruka scores 941 vs 940 in Kootingal. 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, Daruka or Kootingal?
Kootingal scores 16/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Daruka or Kootingal?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.76% in Kootingal vs 2.90% in Daruka. 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
The two suburbs
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Choosing between Daruka and Kootingal?
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