Overall score
Barden Ridge
54.9/100
Waterfall
50.5/100
Barden Ridge for retirees and families; Waterfall for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Barden Ridge
54.9/100
Waterfall
50.5/100
Crime rate
Barden Ridge
20.7 / 1k
Waterfall
22.8 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Barden Ridge
118
Waterfall
18
Population
Barden Ridge
4,129
Waterfall
522
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Barden Ridge | Waterfall |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 54.9/100 | 50.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 40.6/100 | 52.3/100 |
| Crime rate | 20.7 / 1k | 22.8 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 2 | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 2 | 2 |
| Public transport stops | 54 | 11 |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 16.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 118 | 18 |
| Planning activity | 15 | 12 |
| Green cover | 23.4% | 1.0% |
| Population | 4,129 | 522 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Put side by side, Barden Ridge is a hills mid-sized suburb where tree cover and calm define the mood, and Waterfall is a hills smaller community where tree cover and calm define the mood. Barden Ridge sits in a middle-ring position, whereas Waterfall is within day-trip reach of the capital.
Barden Ridge tends to lead on a quieter safety profile, schools and education options, and public transport access, while Waterfall stands out for housing affordability.
On balance, retirees, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Barden Ridge, while Waterfall 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.