Wollongbar vs Mcleans Ridges.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $810,000 and $1,550,000. Wollongbar edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Wollongbar (median $810,000) is roughly 48% cheaper to buy into than Mcleans Ridges ($1,550,000). Over the past year, Mcleans Ridges (+8%) ran 20.2 percentage points ahead of Wollongbar (-12.2%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Wollongbar (1001) sits above Mcleans Ridges (1000). Mcleans Ridges skews owner-occupied (86%), Wollongbar runs more rental-dense (74% owner).
For buyers
Wollongbar is the lower entry point at $810,000 median, 48% 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: Wollongbar delivers the better gross yield (4.81% vs 2.08%), but Mcleans Ridges 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
Wollongbar edges out on average school ICSEA (1001 vs 1000).
Common questions
Is Wollongbar or Mcleans Ridges cheaper to buy in?
Wollongbar has the lower median house price at $810,000, roughly 48% below Mcleans Ridges ($1,550,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Wollongbar or Mcleans Ridges?
Over the past 12 months, Mcleans Ridges grew +8% vs -12.2% in Wollongbar, a gap of 20.2 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 Wollongbar or Mcleans Ridges have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Wollongbar scores 1001 vs 1000 in Mcleans Ridges. 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, Wollongbar or Mcleans Ridges?
Gross rental yield on houses is 4.81% in Wollongbar vs 2.08% in Mcleans Ridges. 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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