Mount Austin vs Bourkelands.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $475,500 and $735,000.
Mount Austin (median $475,500) is roughly 35% cheaper to buy into than Bourkelands ($735,000). Over the past year, Bourkelands (+5.2%) ran 1.8 percentage points ahead of Mount Austin (+3.4%) on house-price growth.
Mount Austin 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 Bourkelands (961) sits above Mount Austin (947). Bourkelands skews owner-occupied (73%), Mount Austin runs more rental-dense (51% owner).
For buyers
Mount Austin is the lower entry point at $475,500 median, 35% 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: Mount Austin delivers the better gross yield (6.01% vs 3.89%), but Bourkelands 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
Bourkelands edges out on average school ICSEA (961 vs 947). Bourkelands also has a higher family-household share (80% vs 59%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Mount Austin or Bourkelands cheaper to buy in?
Mount Austin has the lower median house price at $475,500, roughly 35% below Bourkelands ($735,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Mount Austin or Bourkelands?
Over the past 12 months, Bourkelands grew +5.2% vs +3.4% in Mount Austin, a gap of 1.8 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 Mount Austin or Bourkelands have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Bourkelands scores 961 vs 947 in Mount Austin. 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, Mount Austin or Bourkelands?
Mount Austin 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, Mount Austin or Bourkelands?
Gross rental yield on houses is 6.01% in Mount Austin vs 3.89% in Bourkelands. 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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