Goonellabah vs Chilcotts Grass
Goonellabah (median $750,000) is roughly 41% cheaper to buy into than Chilcotts Grass ($1,265,000).
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Goonellabah and Chilcotts Grass side by side
| Measure | Goonellabah | Chilcotts Grass |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $750,000 | $1,265,000 |
| Median unit | $496,000 | $240,480 |
| House price change, 12 months | +15.6% | – |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $620/wk | $620/wk |
| Unit rent | $435/wk | $435/wk |
| Owner occupied | 68.0% | 89.0% |
| Renter occupied | 29.0% | 8.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 976 | 980 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 2 | 0 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 13,351 | 237 |
| Median age | 41 | 50 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1241 mm | 1435 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.7°C | 28.7°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
Goonellabah scores higher on walkability (2/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Chilcotts Grass (980) sits above Goonellabah (976). Chilcotts Grass skews owner-occupied (89%), Goonellabah runs more rental-dense (68% owner).
- For buyers
- Goonellabah is the lower entry point at $750,000 median, 41% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Goonellabah offers the higher gross rental yield (4.30% vs 2.55%), favouring cash-flow investors.
- For families
- Chilcotts Grass edges out on average school ICSEA (980 vs 976). Chilcotts Grass also has a higher family-household share (81% vs 65%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Goonellabah vs Chilcotts Grass: common questions
Is Goonellabah or Chilcotts Grass cheaper to buy in?
Goonellabah has the lower median house price at $750,000, roughly 41% below Chilcotts Grass ($1,265,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Goonellabah or Chilcotts Grass have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Chilcotts Grass scores 980 vs 976 in Goonellabah. 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, Goonellabah or Chilcotts Grass?
Goonellabah scores 2/100 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, Goonellabah or Chilcotts Grass?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.30% in Goonellabah vs 2.55% in Chilcotts Grass. 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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