Lugarno vs Illawong.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,780,200 and $1,915,000. Illawong edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Lugarno (median $1,780,200) is roughly 7% cheaper to buy into than Illawong ($1,915,000). Over the past year, Illawong (+7%) ran 10.8 percentage points ahead of Lugarno (-3.8%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Illawong (1079) sits above Lugarno (1073).
For buyers
Lugarno is the lower entry point at $1,780,200 median, 7% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Illawong carries both higher gross yield (2.72% vs 2.48%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Illawong edges out on average school ICSEA (1079 vs 1073).
Common questions
Is Lugarno or Illawong cheaper to buy in?
Lugarno has the lower median house price at $1,780,200, roughly 7% below Illawong ($1,915,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Lugarno or Illawong?
Over the past 12 months, Illawong grew +7% vs -3.8% in Lugarno, a gap of 10.8 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 Lugarno or Illawong have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Illawong scores 1079 vs 1073 in Lugarno. 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, Lugarno or Illawong?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.72% in Illawong vs 2.48% in Lugarno. 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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