Hillcrest vs Northgate.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $989,250 and $1,250,000. Hillcrest edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Hillcrest (median $989,250) is roughly 21% cheaper to buy into than Northgate ($1,250,000). Over the past year, Hillcrest (+23.2%) ran 23.2 percentage points ahead of Northgate (0%) on house-price growth.
Hillcrest scores higher on walkability (14/100 vs 8/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Hillcrest (1044) sits above Northgate (1014). Northgate skews owner-occupied (75%), Hillcrest runs more rental-dense (63% owner).
For buyers
Hillcrest is the lower entry point at $989,250 median, 21% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Hillcrest carries both higher gross yield (3.84% vs 2.70%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Hillcrest edges out on average school ICSEA (1044 vs 1014). Northgate also has a higher family-household share (84% vs 70%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Hillcrest or Northgate cheaper to buy in?
Hillcrest has the lower median house price at $989,250, roughly 21% below Northgate ($1,250,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Hillcrest or Northgate?
Over the past 12 months, Hillcrest grew +23.2% vs 0% in Northgate, a gap of 23.2 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 Hillcrest or Northgate have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Hillcrest scores 1044 vs 1014 in Northgate. 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, Hillcrest or Northgate?
Hillcrest scores 14/100 on walkability vs 8/100. 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, Hillcrest or Northgate?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.84% in Hillcrest vs 2.70% in Northgate. 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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