Gilles Plains vs Hillcrest.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $915,000 and $973,750.
Gilles Plains (median $915,000) is roughly 6% cheaper to buy into than Hillcrest ($973,750). Over the past year, Hillcrest (+20.8%) ran 4.8 percentage points ahead of Gilles Plains (+16%) on house-price growth.
Gilles Plains scores higher on walkability (76/100 vs 14/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Hillcrest (1044) sits above Gilles Plains (1030).
For buyers
Gilles Plains is the lower entry point at $915,000 median, 6% 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: Gilles Plains delivers the better gross yield (3.69% vs 3.63%), but Hillcrest 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
Hillcrest edges out on average school ICSEA (1044 vs 1030).
Common questions
Is Gilles Plains or Hillcrest cheaper to buy in?
Gilles Plains has the lower median house price at $915,000, roughly 6% below Hillcrest ($973,750). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Gilles Plains or Hillcrest?
Over the past 12 months, Hillcrest grew +20.8% vs +16% in Gilles Plains, a gap of 4.8 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 Gilles Plains or Hillcrest have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Hillcrest scores 1044 vs 1030 in Gilles Plains. 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, Gilles Plains or Hillcrest?
Gilles Plains scores 76/100 on walkability vs 14/100. 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, Gilles Plains or Hillcrest?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.69% in Gilles Plains vs 3.63% in Hillcrest. 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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