Side by sideSuburb comparison

Hexham vs Shortland.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $410,000 and $772,500. Shortland edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Hexham (median $410,000) is roughly 47% cheaper to buy into than Shortland ($772,500). Over the past year, Shortland (+10.4%) ran 10.4 percentage points ahead of Hexham (0%) on house-price growth.

On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Shortland (1000) sits above Hexham (962).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Hexham is the lower entry point at $410,000 median, 47% 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: Hexham delivers the better gross yield (8.62% vs 4.19%), but Shortland 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

Shortland edges out on average school ICSEA (1000 vs 962).

Common questionsHexham vs Shortland

Common questions

Is Hexham or Shortland cheaper to buy in?

Hexham has the lower median house price at $410,000, roughly 47% below Shortland ($772,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, Hexham or Shortland?

Over the past 12 months, Shortland grew +10.4% vs 0% in Hexham, a gap of 10.4 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 Hexham or Shortland have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Shortland scores 1000 vs 962 in Hexham. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Hexham or Shortland?

Gross rental yield on houses is 8.62% in Hexham vs 4.19% in Shortland. 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

Hexham
Metric
Shortland

Price & Market

$410,000
Median house
$772,500
$285,120
Median unit
$265,680
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+10.4%
Days on market

Rental

$680/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$623/wk
$510/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
58.0%
Owner occupied
56.0%
36.0%
Renter occupied
36.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

0
Walk score
0
Transit score
0
Bike score
157
Population
4,537
35
Median age
33

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
962
Avg ICSEA
1000

Climate

1143 mm
Annual rainfall
1143 mm
24.7°C
Mean max (Jan)
24.7°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).