Paterson vs Duns Creek.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $885,000 and $1,212,500. Paterson edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Paterson (median $885,000) is roughly 27% cheaper to buy into than Duns Creek ($1,212,500). Over the past year, Duns Creek (+5.4%) ran 10.7 percentage points ahead of Paterson (-5.3%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Paterson (986) sits above Duns Creek (980). Duns Creek skews owner-occupied (92%), Paterson runs more rental-dense (82% owner).
For buyers
Paterson is the lower entry point at $885,000 median, 27% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Duns Creek has run faster on 12-month capital growth, favouring growth-led investors.
For families
Paterson edges out on average school ICSEA (986 vs 980). Duns Creek also has a higher family-household share (89% vs 79%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Paterson or Duns Creek cheaper to buy in?
Paterson has the lower median house price at $885,000, roughly 27% below Duns Creek ($1,212,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Paterson or Duns Creek?
Over the past 12 months, Duns Creek grew +5.4% vs -5.3% in Paterson, a gap of 10.7 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 Paterson or Duns Creek have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Paterson scores 986 vs 980 in Duns Creek. 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.
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 Paterson against another suburb