Prestons vs Carnes Hill.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,222,000 and $1,432,000. Carnes Hill edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Prestons (median $1,222,000) is roughly 15% cheaper to buy into than Carnes Hill ($1,432,000).
Carnes Hill scores higher on walkability (22/100 vs 80/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Carnes Hill (1017) sits above Prestons (981).
For buyers
Prestons is the lower entry point at $1,222,000 median, 15% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Prestons offers the higher gross rental yield (3.15% vs 2.96%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Carnes Hill edges out on average school ICSEA (1017 vs 981).
Common questions
Is Prestons or Carnes Hill cheaper to buy in?
Prestons has the lower median house price at $1,222,000, roughly 15% below Carnes Hill ($1,432,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Prestons or Carnes Hill have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Carnes Hill scores 1017 vs 981 in Prestons. 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, Prestons or Carnes Hill?
Carnes Hill scores 80/100 on walkability vs 22/100. 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, Prestons or Carnes Hill?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.15% in Prestons vs 2.96% in Carnes Hill. 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 Prestons against another suburb