Dickson vs Downer.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,110,350 and $1,151,000. Dickson edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Dickson (median $1,110,350) is roughly 4% cheaper to buy into than Downer ($1,151,000).
Dickson scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 94/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Dickson (1124) sits above Downer (1121).
For buyers
Dickson is the lower entry point at $1,110,350 median, 4% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Dickson offers the higher gross rental yield (2.04% vs 1.97%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Dickson edges out on average school ICSEA (1124 vs 1121). Downer also has a higher family-household share (64% vs 53%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Dickson or Downer cheaper to buy in?
Dickson has the lower median house price at $1,110,350, roughly 4% below Downer ($1,151,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Dickson or Downer have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Dickson scores 1124 vs 1121 in Downer. 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, Dickson or Downer?
Dickson scores 100/100 on walkability vs 94/100. 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, Dickson or Downer?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.04% in Dickson vs 1.97% in Downer. 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).
Compare Dickson against another suburb