Fernhill vs Balgownie.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,275,000 and $1,355,000. Fernhill edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Fernhill (median $1,275,000) is roughly 6% cheaper to buy into than Balgownie ($1,355,000). Over the past year, Fernhill (+20.9%) ran 22.0 percentage points ahead of Balgownie (-1.1%) on house-price growth.
Fernhill scores higher on walkability (4/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Balgownie (1043) sits above Fernhill (1019). Balgownie skews owner-occupied (76%), Fernhill runs more rental-dense (45% owner).
For buyers
Fernhill is the lower entry point at $1,275,000 median, 6% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Fernhill carries both higher gross yield (3.06% vs 2.88%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Balgownie edges out on average school ICSEA (1043 vs 1019). Balgownie also has a higher family-household share (75% vs 59%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Fernhill or Balgownie cheaper to buy in?
Fernhill has the lower median house price at $1,275,000, roughly 6% below Balgownie ($1,355,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Fernhill or Balgownie?
Over the past 12 months, Fernhill grew +20.9% vs -1.1% in Balgownie, a gap of 22.0 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 Fernhill or Balgownie have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Balgownie scores 1043 vs 1019 in Fernhill. 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, Fernhill or Balgownie?
Fernhill scores 4/100 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, Fernhill or Balgownie?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.06% in Fernhill vs 2.88% in Balgownie. 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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