Lorne vs Waitui.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $734,500 and $862,500. Lorne edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Lorne (median $734,500) is roughly 15% cheaper to buy into than Waitui ($862,500). Over the past year, Waitui (0%) ran 9.6 percentage points ahead of Lorne (-9.6%) on house-price growth.
Lorne scores higher on walkability (2/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Lorne (947) sits above Waitui (937).
For buyers
Lorne is the lower entry point at $734,500 median, 15% 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: Lorne delivers the better gross yield (2.48% vs 1.99%), but Waitui 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
Lorne edges out on average school ICSEA (947 vs 937).
Common questions
Is Lorne or Waitui cheaper to buy in?
Lorne has the lower median house price at $734,500, roughly 15% below Waitui ($862,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Lorne or Waitui?
Over the past 12 months, Waitui grew 0% vs -9.6% in Lorne, a gap of 9.6 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 Lorne or Waitui have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Lorne scores 947 vs 937 in Waitui. 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, Lorne or Waitui?
Lorne scores 2/100 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, Lorne or Waitui?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.48% in Lorne vs 1.99% in Waitui. 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).
Compare Lorne against another suburb