Ilarwill vs Townsend.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $650,000 and $645,000. Townsend edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Townsend (median $645,000) is roughly 1% cheaper to buy into than Ilarwill ($650,000). Over the past year, Ilarwill (0%) ran 7.9 percentage points ahead of Townsend (-7.9%) on house-price growth.
Townsend scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 4/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Townsend (963) sits above Ilarwill (961). Ilarwill skews owner-occupied (84%), Townsend runs more rental-dense (69% owner).
For buyers
Townsend is the lower entry point at $645,000 median, 1% 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: Townsend delivers the better gross yield (2.74% vs 2.72%), but Ilarwill 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
Townsend edges out on average school ICSEA (963 vs 961).
Common questions
Is Ilarwill or Townsend cheaper to buy in?
Townsend has the lower median house price at $645,000, roughly 1% below Ilarwill ($650,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Ilarwill or Townsend?
Over the past 12 months, Ilarwill grew 0% vs -7.9% in Townsend, a gap of 7.9 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 Ilarwill or Townsend have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Townsend scores 963 vs 961 in Ilarwill. 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, Ilarwill or Townsend?
Townsend scores 4/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Ilarwill or Townsend?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.74% in Townsend vs 2.72% in Ilarwill. 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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