St Marys vs Tonsley.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,115,500 and $800,000.
Tonsley (median $800,000) is roughly 39% cheaper to buy into than St Marys ($1,115,500). Over the past year, St Marys (+21.9%) ran 1.4 percentage points ahead of Tonsley (+20.5%) on house-price growth.
Tonsley scores higher on walkability (16/100 vs 18/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving St Marys (1073) sits above Tonsley (1054).
For buyers
Tonsley is the lower entry point at $800,000 median, 39% 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: Tonsley delivers the better gross yield (4.30% vs 3.25%), but St Marys 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
St Marys edges out on average school ICSEA (1073 vs 1054). St Marys also has a higher family-household share (63% vs 50%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is St Marys or Tonsley cheaper to buy in?
Tonsley has the lower median house price at $800,000, roughly 39% below St Marys ($1,115,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, St Marys or Tonsley?
Over the past 12 months, St Marys grew +21.9% vs +20.5% in Tonsley, a gap of 1.4 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 St Marys or Tonsley have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), St Marys scores 1073 vs 1054 in Tonsley. 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, St Marys or Tonsley?
Tonsley scores 18/100 on walkability vs 16/100. 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, St Marys or Tonsley?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.30% in Tonsley vs 3.25% in St Marys. 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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