Hamilton North vs Waratah.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,005,000 and $930,000.
Waratah (median $930,000) is roughly 8% cheaper to buy into than Hamilton North ($1,005,000). Over the past year, Hamilton North (+4.8%) ran 2.4 percentage points ahead of Waratah (+2.4%) on house-price growth.
Waratah scores higher on walkability (66/100 vs 74/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Hamilton North (1039) sits above Waratah (1011). Hamilton North skews owner-occupied (66%), Waratah runs more rental-dense (49% owner).
For buyers
Waratah is the lower entry point at $930,000 median, 8% 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: Waratah delivers the better gross yield (4.03% vs 3.67%), but Hamilton North 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
Hamilton North edges out on average school ICSEA (1039 vs 1011).
Common questions
Is Hamilton North or Waratah cheaper to buy in?
Waratah has the lower median house price at $930,000, roughly 8% below Hamilton North ($1,005,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Hamilton North or Waratah?
Over the past 12 months, Hamilton North grew +4.8% vs +2.4% in Waratah, a gap of 2.4 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 Hamilton North or Waratah have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Hamilton North scores 1039 vs 1011 in Waratah. 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, Hamilton North or Waratah?
Waratah scores 74/100 on walkability vs 66/100. 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, Hamilton North or Waratah?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.03% in Waratah vs 3.67% in Hamilton North. 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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