Paddington vs Darlinghurst.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $3,620,000 and $2,950,000. Darlinghurst edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Darlinghurst (median $2,950,000) is roughly 23% cheaper to buy into than Paddington ($3,620,000). Over the past year, Darlinghurst (+21.3%) ran 9.9 percentage points ahead of Paddington (+11.4%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Paddington (1140) sits above Darlinghurst (1121). Paddington skews owner-occupied (53%), Darlinghurst runs more rental-dense (36% owner).
For buyers
Darlinghurst is the lower entry point at $2,950,000 median, 23% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Darlinghurst carries both higher gross yield (0.97% vs 0.85%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Paddington edges out on average school ICSEA (1140 vs 1121). Paddington also has a higher family-household share (55% vs 39%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Paddington or Darlinghurst cheaper to buy in?
Darlinghurst has the lower median house price at $2,950,000, roughly 23% below Paddington ($3,620,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Paddington or Darlinghurst?
Over the past 12 months, Darlinghurst grew +21.3% vs +11.4% in Paddington, a gap of 9.9 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 Paddington or Darlinghurst have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Paddington scores 1140 vs 1121 in Darlinghurst. 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, Paddington or Darlinghurst?
Gross rental yield on houses is 0.97% in Darlinghurst vs 0.85% in Paddington. 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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