Rathmines vs Kilaben Bay.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $870,000 and $1,051,250. Kilaben Bay edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Rathmines (median $870,000) is roughly 17% cheaper to buy into than Kilaben Bay ($1,051,250). Over the past year, Kilaben Bay (+12.7%) ran 10.3 percentage points ahead of Rathmines (+2.4%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Kilaben Bay (986) sits above Rathmines (984).
For buyers
Rathmines is the lower entry point at $870,000 median, 17% 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: Rathmines delivers the better gross yield (3.94% vs 3.26%), but Kilaben Bay 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
Kilaben Bay edges out on average school ICSEA (986 vs 984).
Common questions
Is Rathmines or Kilaben Bay cheaper to buy in?
Rathmines has the lower median house price at $870,000, roughly 17% below Kilaben Bay ($1,051,250). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Rathmines or Kilaben Bay?
Over the past 12 months, Kilaben Bay grew +12.7% vs +2.4% in Rathmines, a gap of 10.3 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 Rathmines or Kilaben Bay have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Kilaben Bay scores 986 vs 984 in Rathmines. 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, Rathmines or Kilaben Bay?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.94% in Rathmines vs 3.26% in Kilaben Bay. 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).
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