Surry Hills vs Redfern.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,345,000 and $1,825,000. Redfern edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Redfern (median $1,825,000) is roughly 28% cheaper to buy into than Surry Hills ($2,345,000). Over the past year, Redfern (+13.6%) ran 9.6 percentage points ahead of Surry Hills (+4%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Surry Hills (1080) sits above Redfern (1047).
For buyers
Redfern is the lower entry point at $1,825,000 median, 28% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Redfern carries both higher gross yield (2.21% vs 1.22%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Surry Hills edges out on average school ICSEA (1080 vs 1047).
Common questions
Is Surry Hills or Redfern cheaper to buy in?
Redfern has the lower median house price at $1,825,000, roughly 28% below Surry Hills ($2,345,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Surry Hills or Redfern?
Over the past 12 months, Redfern grew +13.6% vs +4% in Surry Hills, a gap of 9.6 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 Surry Hills or Redfern have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Surry Hills scores 1080 vs 1047 in Redfern. 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, Surry Hills or Redfern?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.21% in Redfern vs 1.22% in Surry Hills. 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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