Mawson Lakes vs Parafield Gardens
Parafield Gardens (median $880,000) is roughly 4% cheaper to buy into than Mawson Lakes ($920,000). Over the past year, Parafield Gardens (+18.9%) ran 9.4 percentage points ahead of Mawson Lakes (+9.5%) on house-price growth.
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Mawson Lakes and Parafield Gardens side by side
| Measure | Mawson Lakes | Parafield Gardens |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $920,000 | $880,000 |
| Median unit | $240,480 | $218,880 |
| House price change, 12 months | +9.5% | +18.9% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $650/wk | $600/wk |
| Unit rent | $550/wk | $300/wk |
| Owner occupied | 59.0% | 68.0% |
| Renter occupied | 39.0% | 28.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 982 | 967 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 36 | 6 |
| Transit score | 60 | 30 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 13,794 | 18,467 |
| Median age | 33 | 36 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 424 mm | 424 mm |
| Mean max, January | 30.5°C | 30.5°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Mawson Lakes scores higher on walkability (36/100 vs 6/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Mawson Lakes (982) sits above Parafield Gardens (967).
- For buyers
- Parafield Gardens is the lower entry point at $880,000 median, 4% 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: Mawson Lakes delivers the better gross yield (3.67% vs 3.55%), but Parafield Gardens 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
- Mawson Lakes edges out on average school ICSEA (982 vs 967).
Mawson Lakes vs Parafield Gardens: common questions
Is Mawson Lakes or Parafield Gardens cheaper to buy in?
Parafield Gardens has the lower median house price at $880,000, roughly 4% below Mawson Lakes ($920,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Mawson Lakes or Parafield Gardens?
Over the past 12 months, Parafield Gardens grew +18.9% vs +9.5% in Mawson Lakes, a gap of 9.4 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 Mawson Lakes or Parafield Gardens have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Mawson Lakes scores 982 vs 967 in Parafield Gardens. 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, Mawson Lakes or Parafield Gardens?
Mawson Lakes scores 36/100 on walkability vs 6/100. 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, Mawson Lakes or Parafield Gardens?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.67% in Mawson Lakes vs 3.55% in Parafield Gardens. 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.
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