Thinking about buying your first home in Northmead (2152)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Northmead is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Northmead a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Northmead (2152) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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53 min
50 min
8 min
27 min
58 min
Approximate off-peak driving times: straight-line distance × a Sydney detour factor at 35 km/h. Real road times will vary. Saved on this device.
The verdict
Who it is for
Northmead suits established families and upsizers who can comfortably clear the $1,640,000 house median and want a quiet, owner-occupier-heavy neighbourhood with solid school infrastructure. The public secondary school scores an ICSEA of 1066, above the national average, and 27 childcare options sit within 5 km. The SEIFA decile of 9 out of 10 signals a relatively affluent, stable community. Median household income of $1,924 per week suggests most residents here are dual-income couples or families.
Who would not love it
First home buyers are locked out at the house price point, and the FHBAS stamp duty concession does not apply here. The unit market looks shaky, with the median down 7.5 per cent year-on-year to $585,000, so you would be buying into a falling segment. Walkability sits at the 38th percentile with no gyms within 1.6 km, and 21.5 per cent of the postcode sits on bushfire-prone land. If you rely on walking or public transport for daily errands, this suburb will frustrate you.
What to verify before you bid
- Check the specific lot against the Parramatta LEP bushfire-prone land map before bidding, given 21.5 per cent of the postcode carries that designation, which affects insurance costs and building approvals. - Request a strata report and review the last two years of financials if considering a unit, given the 7.5 per cent price decline and high unit sales volume suggesting motivated sellers. - Confirm your commute independently. The 54 transport stops within 1.6 km sound promising, but verify actual journey times to your workplace before committing.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Northmead?
BOCSAR · NORTHMEAD 2152
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K3,70312 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−54%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Parramatta
Within LGA: Parramatta
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT67%201 reports
AGAINST JUSTICE PROCEDURES17%51 reports
ASSAULT16%47 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED60%
NON-DOMESTIC40%
Across 47 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Northmead
48
FairAQI · NSW DCCEEW
15:22 AEST
Parramatta North station · 1.8 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 31 · Good
Air quality is acceptable but sensitive groups may notice effects.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
12.1µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
15.9µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
1.4pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Parramatta North station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Bond count suppressed by DCJ (30 or fewer lodgements this quarter).
Rents here sit around the Sydney middle. A balance of rental stock and owner-occupier demand.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
Small sample
$600per week
Sep 2025 · bond count suppressed
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
North Parramatta2151
$590▼$10
1.9 km away
Baulkham Hills2153
$700▲$100
3.7 km away
Harris Park2150
$700▲$100
3.8 km away
Old Toongabbie2146
$600
3.9 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2152
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2152. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Northmead with another suburb
Also in Parramatta
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Parramatta postcodes, or explore the full Parramatta suburb index.
Northmead is the primary suburb with postcode 2152 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Northmead is the main locality.
Which local government area is Northmead in?
Northmead (2152) is located in the Parramatta local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Northmead?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Northmead (2152) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Northmead flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Northmead. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Northmead?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Northmead (2152), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Northmead (2152) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Northmead (2152). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Northmead changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Northmead (2152) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
