Side by sideSuburb comparison

North Macksville vs Scotts Head.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $885,000 and $980,000. North Macksville edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

North Macksville (median $885,000) is roughly 10% cheaper to buy into than Scotts Head ($980,000). Over the past year, North Macksville (+10.6%) ran 5.4 percentage points ahead of Scotts Head (+5.2%) on house-price growth.

On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving North Macksville (947) sits above Scotts Head (941).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

North Macksville is the lower entry point at $885,000 median, 10% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

North Macksville carries both higher gross yield (3.40% vs 3.07%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.

For families

North Macksville edges out on average school ICSEA (947 vs 941).

Common questionsNorth Macksville vs Scotts Head

Common questions

Is North Macksville or Scotts Head cheaper to buy in?

North Macksville has the lower median house price at $885,000, roughly 10% below Scotts Head ($980,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Which has stronger property growth, North Macksville or Scotts Head?

Over the past 12 months, North Macksville grew +10.6% vs +5.2% in Scotts Head, a gap of 5.4 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 North Macksville or Scotts Head have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), North Macksville scores 947 vs 941 in Scotts Head. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, North Macksville or Scotts Head?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.40% in North Macksville vs 3.07% in Scotts Head. 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

North Macksville
Metric
Scotts Head

Price & Market

$885,000
Median house
$980,000
$221,760
Median unit
$221,760
+10.6%
Annual growth (house)
+5.2%
Days on market

Rental

$578/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$578/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
77.0%
Owner occupied
79.0%
17.0%
Renter occupied
18.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

0
Walk score
0
Transit score
55
Bike score
669
Population
986
53
Median age
54

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

8
Schools nearby
5
947
Avg ICSEA
941

Climate

Annual rainfall
Mean max (Jan)

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).