Pennington vs Athol Park
Athol Park (median $880,000) is roughly 8% cheaper to buy into than Pennington ($960,000). Over the past year, Pennington (+21.1%) ran 18.8 percentage points ahead of Athol Park (+2.3%) on house-price growth.
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Pennington and Athol Park side by side
| Measure | Pennington | Athol Park |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $960,000 | $880,000 |
| Median unit | $228,240 | $238,320 |
| House price change, 12 months | +21.1% | +2.3% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $500/wk | $630/wk |
| Unit rent | $408/wk | $565/wk |
| Owner occupied | 59.0% | 58.0% |
| Renter occupied | 39.0% | 39.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 992 | 999 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 72 | 26 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 3,773 | 2,023 |
| Median age | 41 | 34 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 403 mm | 403 mm |
| Mean max, January | 29.9°C | 29.9°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
Pennington scores higher on walkability (72/100 vs 26/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Athol Park (999) sits above Pennington (992).
- For buyers
- Athol Park is the lower entry point at $880,000 median, 8% 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: Athol Park delivers the better gross yield (3.72% vs 2.71%), but Pennington 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
- Athol Park edges out on average school ICSEA (999 vs 992).
Pennington vs Athol Park: common questions
Is Pennington or Athol Park cheaper to buy in?
Athol Park has the lower median house price at $880,000, roughly 8% below Pennington ($960,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Pennington or Athol Park?
Over the past 12 months, Pennington grew +21.1% vs +2.3% in Athol Park, a gap of 18.8 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 Pennington or Athol Park have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Athol Park scores 999 vs 992 in Pennington. 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, Pennington or Athol Park?
Pennington scores 72/100 on walkability vs 26/100. 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, Pennington or Athol Park?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.72% in Athol Park vs 2.71% in Pennington. 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.
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