Overall score
Arcadia Vale
42.8/100
Brightwaters
35.4/100
Arcadia Vale vs Brightwaters, NSW Suburb Comparison
Arcadia Vale for retirees and investment; Brightwaters for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Arcadia ValeBrightwaters
Crime rate
Arcadia Vale
81.1 / 1k
Brightwaters
76.9 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Arcadia Vale
27
Brightwaters
18
Population
Arcadia Vale
1,431
Brightwaters
875
Metric leadArcadia Vale 7Brightwaters 42 tiedacross 13 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesArcadia Vale
- Best for investmentArcadia Vale
- Best for best valueArcadia Vale
- Best for best schoolsBrightwaters
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Arcadia Vale | Brightwaters |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 42.8/100 | 35.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 46.8/100 | 49.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 81.1 / 1k | 76.9 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 2 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 60.5/100 | 60.5/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 3 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | 31 | 27 |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 30.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 27 | 18 |
| Planning activity | 10 | 7 |
| Green cover | 34.1% | 0.3% |
| Population | 1,431 | 875 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 5/10 | 6/10 |
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Arcadia Vale is a sought-after metro smaller community where housing reflects strong local demand, and Brightwaters is a sought-after metro smaller community where housing reflects strong local demand.
On the data, Arcadia Vale is stronger for housing affordability, schools and education options, and parks and reserves; Brightwaters answers with a quieter safety profile, a calmer planning outlook, and stronger socioeconomic advantage.
On balance, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Arcadia Vale, while Brightwaters remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.