Hillcrest vs Northgate.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $973,750 and $1,286,000. Hillcrest edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Hillcrest (median $973,750) is roughly 24% cheaper to buy into than Northgate ($1,286,000). Over the past year, Northgate (+24.9%) ran 4.1 percentage points ahead of Hillcrest (+20.8%) 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 $973,750 median, 24% 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: Hillcrest delivers the better gross yield (3.52% vs 2.71%), but Northgate 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
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 $973,750, roughly 24% below Northgate ($1,286,000). 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, Northgate grew +24.9% vs +20.8% in Hillcrest, a gap of 4.1 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 3.52% in Hillcrest vs 2.71% 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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