Parramatta vs Westmead.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,686,000 and $2,000,000. Parramatta edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Parramatta (median $1,686,000) is roughly 16% cheaper to buy into than Westmead ($2,000,000). Over the past year, Westmead (+18.9%) ran 19.0 percentage points ahead of Parramatta (-0.1%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Parramatta (1083) sits above Westmead (1080).
For buyers
Parramatta is the lower entry point at $1,686,000 median, 16% 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: Parramatta delivers the better gross yield (2.31% vs 1.99%), but Westmead 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
Parramatta edges out on average school ICSEA (1083 vs 1080).
Common questions
Is Parramatta or Westmead cheaper to buy in?
Parramatta has the lower median house price at $1,686,000, roughly 16% below Westmead ($2,000,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Parramatta or Westmead?
Over the past 12 months, Westmead grew +18.9% vs -0.1% in Parramatta, a gap of 19.0 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 Parramatta or Westmead have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Parramatta scores 1083 vs 1080 in Westmead. 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, Parramatta or Westmead?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.31% in Parramatta vs 1.99% in Westmead. 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).
Compare Parramatta against another suburb