Palmerston vs Nicholls
Palmerston (median $1,038,000) is roughly 17% cheaper to buy into than Nicholls ($1,250,000).
Buying in Palmerston or Nicholls?
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Palmerston and Nicholls side by side
| Measure | Palmerston | Nicholls |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,038,000 | $1,250,000 |
| Median unit | $637,750 | $777,500 |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $460/wk | $460/wk |
| Unit rent | $450/wk | $502/wk |
| Owner occupied | 70.0% | 84.0% |
| Renter occupied | 28.0% | 15.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 1079 | 1073 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 2 | 18 |
| Transit score | 100 | 100 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 5,579 | 6,680 |
| Median age | 36 | 44 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 646 mm | 646 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.3°C | 29.3°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Nicholls scores higher on walkability (2/100 vs 18/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Palmerston (1079) sits above Nicholls (1073). Nicholls skews owner-occupied (84%), Palmerston runs more rental-dense (70% owner).
- For buyers
- Palmerston is the lower entry point at $1,038,000 median, 17% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Palmerston offers the higher gross rental yield (2.30% vs 1.91%), favouring cash-flow investors.
- For families
- Palmerston edges out on average school ICSEA (1079 vs 1073).
Palmerston vs Nicholls: common questions
Is Palmerston or Nicholls cheaper to buy in?
Palmerston has the lower median house price at $1,038,000, roughly 17% below Nicholls ($1,250,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Palmerston or Nicholls have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Palmerston scores 1079 vs 1073 in Nicholls. 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, Palmerston or Nicholls?
Nicholls scores 18/100 on walkability vs 2/100. 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, Palmerston or Nicholls?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.30% in Palmerston vs 1.91% in Nicholls. 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.
Keep comparing
The two suburbs
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