Mount Pleasant vs Fernhill.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,525,000 and $1,275,000. Fernhill edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Fernhill (median $1,275,000) is roughly 20% cheaper to buy into than Mount Pleasant ($1,525,000). Over the past year, Fernhill (+20.9%) ran 1.5 percentage points ahead of Mount Pleasant (+19.4%) on house-price growth.
Fernhill scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 4/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Mount Pleasant (1046) sits above Fernhill (1019). Mount Pleasant skews owner-occupied (94%), Fernhill runs more rental-dense (45% owner).
For buyers
Fernhill is the lower entry point at $1,275,000 median, 20% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Fernhill carries both higher gross yield (3.06% vs 2.56%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Mount Pleasant edges out on average school ICSEA (1046 vs 1019). Mount Pleasant also has a higher family-household share (81% vs 59%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Mount Pleasant or Fernhill cheaper to buy in?
Fernhill has the lower median house price at $1,275,000, roughly 20% below Mount Pleasant ($1,525,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Mount Pleasant or Fernhill?
Over the past 12 months, Fernhill grew +20.9% vs +19.4% in Mount Pleasant, a gap of 1.5 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 Pleasant or Fernhill have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Mount Pleasant scores 1046 vs 1019 in Fernhill. 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 Pleasant or Fernhill?
Fernhill 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, Mount Pleasant or Fernhill?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.06% in Fernhill vs 2.56% in Mount Pleasant. 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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