Paddington vs Rushcutters Bay.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $3,620,000 and $1,214,000. Paddington edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Rushcutters Bay (median $1,214,000) is roughly 198% cheaper to buy into than Paddington ($3,620,000). Over the past year, Paddington (+11.4%) ran 11.4 percentage points ahead of Rushcutters Bay (0%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Paddington (1140) sits above Rushcutters Bay (1126). Paddington skews owner-occupied (53%), Rushcutters Bay runs more rental-dense (35% owner).
For buyers
Rushcutters Bay is the lower entry point at $1,214,000 median, 198% 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: Rushcutters Bay delivers the better gross yield (2.10% vs 0.85%), but Paddington 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
Paddington edges out on average school ICSEA (1140 vs 1126). Paddington also has a higher family-household share (55% vs 32%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Paddington or Rushcutters Bay cheaper to buy in?
Rushcutters Bay has the lower median house price at $1,214,000, roughly 198% 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 Rushcutters Bay?
Over the past 12 months, Paddington grew +11.4% vs 0% in Rushcutters Bay, a gap of 11.4 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 Paddington or Rushcutters Bay have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Paddington scores 1140 vs 1126 in Rushcutters Bay. 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 Rushcutters Bay?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.10% in Rushcutters Bay 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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