Garden Suburb vs Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)
The verdict
Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) is more affordable, with a median house price of $870K versus $974K in Garden Suburb. Garden Suburb rates higher for education (62 vs 46). On the separate residential safety score, Garden Suburb rates higher (100 vs 82/100 in Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)).
Scores
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 71 | 65 |
| Transport | 62 | 55 |
| Education | 62 | 46 |
| Liveability | 88 | 90 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,959 | 641 |
| Median age | 41 | 40 |
| Median household income (wk) | $2,361 | $1,970 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 42.7% | 22.7% |
| Born in Australia | 86.5% | 91.4% |
| Avg household size | 2.9 | 2.7 |
Growth: Garden Suburb Moderate Growth · Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) Moderate Growth
Property
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $974K | $870K |
| Median unit price | $1.07M | Data not available |
| House price YoY | 25.0% | Data not available |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $760 | $720 |
| Rental yield (house) | 3.6% | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | 35 | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 100 | 82 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 102 | 0 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 0 | 468 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 51 | 312 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 1,889 | 3,744 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 1 | 0 |
| Government | 1 | 0 |
| Independent | 0 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,045 | Data not available |
See the full school list on each profile: Garden Suburb · Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)
Transport
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 62 | 55 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 14 | 8 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 249 | 249 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 1.6 km | 2.4 km |
Liveability
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 27.5°C | 27.5°C |
| Winter max temp | 18.0°C | 18.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Supermarkets | 0 | 0 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 0 | 0 |
| Parks | 1 | 0 |
| Playgrounds | 1 | Data not available |
| Swimming pools | Data not available | Data not available |
| Medical GPs | 0 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 5.7 km | 5.2 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 112.0 km | 110.3 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 5.6 km | 5.3 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 3.3 km | 5.0 km |
Population & growth
| Garden Suburb | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 1,959 | 641 |
| Estimated 2025 | 2,025 | 663 |
| Projected 2041 | 2,282 | 747 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.83% | 0.85% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Garden Suburb or Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)?
Garden Suburb has the higher residential safety score (Garden Suburb 100/100 vs Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) 82/100).
Which is more affordable, Garden Suburb or Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)?
Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) is more affordable, with a median house price of $870K versus $974K.
Which has better public transport, Garden Suburb or Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)?
Garden Suburb has the higher transport score (Garden Suburb 62/100 vs Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) 55/100).
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