Maclean vs Ilarwill.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $655,000 and $650,000. Maclean edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Ilarwill (median $650,000) is roughly 1% cheaper to buy into than Maclean ($655,000). Over the past year, Maclean (+1.6%) ran 1.6 percentage points ahead of Ilarwill (0%) on house-price growth.
Maclean scores higher on walkability (4/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Maclean (963) sits above Ilarwill (961). Ilarwill skews owner-occupied (84%), Maclean runs more rental-dense (64% owner).
For buyers
Ilarwill is the lower entry point at $650,000 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: Ilarwill delivers the better gross yield (2.72% vs 2.70%), but Maclean 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
Maclean edges out on average school ICSEA (963 vs 961). Ilarwill also has a higher family-household share (76% vs 63%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Maclean or Ilarwill cheaper to buy in?
Ilarwill has the lower median house price at $650,000, roughly 1% below Maclean ($655,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Maclean or Ilarwill?
Over the past 12 months, Maclean grew +1.6% vs 0% in Ilarwill, a gap of 1.6 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 Maclean or Ilarwill have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Maclean 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, Maclean or Ilarwill?
Maclean 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, Maclean or Ilarwill?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.72% in Ilarwill vs 2.70% in Maclean. 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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