Oatley vs Mortdale.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,505,000 and $1,780,000. Mortdale edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Mortdale (median $1,780,000) is roughly 41% cheaper to buy into than Oatley ($2,505,000). Over the past year, Mortdale (+7.9%) ran 3.0 percentage points ahead of Oatley (+4.9%) on house-price growth.
Mortdale scores higher on walkability (24/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Oatley (1070) sits above Mortdale (1063). Oatley skews owner-occupied (78%), Mortdale runs more rental-dense (61% owner).
For buyers
Mortdale is the lower entry point at $1,780,000 median, 41% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Mortdale carries both higher gross yield (2.78% vs 1.97%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Oatley edges out on average school ICSEA (1070 vs 1063).
Common questions
Is Oatley or Mortdale cheaper to buy in?
Mortdale has the lower median house price at $1,780,000, roughly 41% below Oatley ($2,505,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Oatley or Mortdale?
Over the past 12 months, Mortdale grew +7.9% vs +4.9% in Oatley, a gap of 3.0 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 Oatley or Mortdale have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Oatley scores 1070 vs 1063 in Mortdale. 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, Oatley or Mortdale?
Mortdale scores 100/100 on walkability vs 24/100. 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, Oatley or Mortdale?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.78% in Mortdale vs 1.97% in Oatley. 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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