Waterfall vs Heathcote
Waterfall (median $1,375,000) is roughly 4% cheaper to buy into than Heathcote ($1,432,321). Over the past year, Heathcote (+0.9%) ran 0.5 percentage points ahead of Waterfall (+0.4%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Waterfall or Heathcote?
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Waterfall and Heathcote side by side
| Measure | Waterfall | Heathcote |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,375,000 | $1,432,321 |
| Median unit | $411,840 | $411,840 |
| House price change, 12 months | +0.4% | +0.9% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $1000/wk | $1000/wk |
| Unit rent | $720/wk | $720/wk |
| Owner occupied | 82.0% | 83.0% |
| Renter occupied | 14.0% | 11.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 15 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 1063 | 1058 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 0 | 10 |
| Transit score | 0 | 20 |
| Bike score | 5 | 20 |
| Population | 522 | 6,148 |
| Median age | 41 | 43 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 1141 mm | 1039 mm |
| Mean max, January | 26.7°C | 27.1°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Heathcote scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 10/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Waterfall (1063) sits above Heathcote (1058).
- For buyers
- Waterfall is the lower entry point at $1,375,000 median, 4% 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: Waterfall delivers the better gross yield (3.78% vs 3.63%), but Heathcote 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
- Waterfall edges out on average school ICSEA (1063 vs 1058).
Waterfall vs Heathcote: common questions
Is Waterfall or Heathcote cheaper to buy in?
Waterfall has the lower median house price at $1,375,000, roughly 4% below Heathcote ($1,432,321). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Waterfall or Heathcote?
Over the past 12 months, Heathcote grew +0.9% vs +0.4% in Waterfall, a gap of 0.5 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 Waterfall or Heathcote have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Waterfall scores 1063 vs 1058 in Heathcote. 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, Waterfall or Heathcote?
Heathcote scores 10/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Waterfall or Heathcote?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.78% in Waterfall vs 3.63% in Heathcote. 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.
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