Maclean vs James Creek.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $655,000 and $1,060,000. Maclean edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Maclean (median $655,000) is roughly 38% cheaper to buy into than James Creek ($1,060,000). Over the past year, Maclean (+1.6%) ran 12.3 percentage points ahead of James Creek (-10.7%) 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 James Creek (974) sits above Maclean (963). James Creek skews owner-occupied (98%), Maclean runs more rental-dense (64% owner).
For buyers
Maclean is the lower entry point at $655,000 median, 38% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Maclean carries both higher gross yield (4.92% vs 3.04%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
James Creek edges out on average school ICSEA (974 vs 963). James Creek also has a higher family-household share (91% vs 63%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Maclean or James Creek cheaper to buy in?
Maclean has the lower median house price at $655,000, roughly 38% below James Creek ($1,060,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Maclean or James Creek?
Over the past 12 months, Maclean grew +1.6% vs -10.7% in James Creek, a gap of 12.3 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 James Creek have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), James Creek scores 974 vs 963 in Maclean. 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 James Creek?
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 James Creek?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.92% in Maclean vs 3.04% in James Creek. 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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