Richmond vs Marleston.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,325,000 and $982,000.
Marleston (median $982,000) is roughly 35% cheaper to buy into than Richmond ($1,325,000). Over the past year, Richmond (+16.2%) ran 19.0 percentage points ahead of Marleston (-2.8%) on house-price growth.
Richmond scores higher on walkability (40/100 vs 28/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Marleston (1077) sits above Richmond (1067).
For buyers
Marleston is the lower entry point at $982,000 median, 35% 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: Marleston delivers the better gross yield (3.36% vs 2.47%), but Richmond 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
Marleston edges out on average school ICSEA (1077 vs 1067).
Common questions
Is Richmond or Marleston cheaper to buy in?
Marleston has the lower median house price at $982,000, roughly 35% below Richmond ($1,325,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Richmond or Marleston?
Over the past 12 months, Richmond grew +16.2% vs -2.8% in Marleston, 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 Richmond or Marleston have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Marleston scores 1077 vs 1067 in Richmond. 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, Richmond or Marleston?
Richmond scores 40/100 on walkability vs 28/100. 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, Richmond or Marleston?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.36% in Marleston vs 2.47% in Richmond. 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 Richmond against another suburb