Hawthorne vs New Farm.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,100,000 and $2,908,400. Hawthorne edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Hawthorne (median $2,100,000) is roughly 28% cheaper to buy into than New Farm ($2,908,400).
New Farm scores higher on walkability (72/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Hawthorne (1103) sits above New Farm (1098). Hawthorne skews owner-occupied (62%), New Farm runs more rental-dense (44% owner).
For buyers
Hawthorne is the lower entry point at $2,100,000 median, 28% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Hawthorne offers the higher gross rental yield (2.23% vs 1.48%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Hawthorne edges out on average school ICSEA (1103 vs 1098). Hawthorne also has a higher family-household share (71% vs 49%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Hawthorne or New Farm cheaper to buy in?
Hawthorne has the lower median house price at $2,100,000, roughly 28% below New Farm ($2,908,400). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Hawthorne or New Farm have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Hawthorne scores 1103 vs 1098 in New Farm. 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, Hawthorne or New Farm?
New Farm scores 100/100 on walkability vs 72/100. 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, Hawthorne or New Farm?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.23% in Hawthorne vs 1.48% in New Farm. 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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