District 8 (Little India) vs District 12 (Toa Payoh): North-Central Comparison

Comparison Updated 6 min read
Key Takeaways
  • District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park: 92 condos | District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier: 123 condos
  • Lower avg PSF: District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park
  • Higher transaction volume: District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier
  • Data sourced from URA REALIS and OneMap geospatial database.

Side-by-Side Comparison

District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park vs District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier
MetricDistrict 8 — Little India/Farrer ParkDistrict 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier
Condo Count92123
Avg PSF$1,450 psf$1,498 psf
Median Price$1,220,000$1,561,791
Transaction Volume1,4903,235
Avg Walkability75.5/10058.2/100
Avg Investment Score58.3/10048.8/100
Avg TOP Year20082006
Avg Gross Yield2.9%2.4%

Price Analysis

$1,450 psf
District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park Avg PSF
$1,498 psf
District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier Avg PSF

District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park is the more affordable option, with an average PSF that is $48 psf (3.2%) lower than District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier.

In terms of median transaction price, District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park also offers a lower entry point at $1,220,000 compared to $1,561,791.

Lifestyle & Accessibility

75.5/100
District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park Walkability
58.2/100
District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier Walkability

District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park scores higher on walkability, reflecting better proximity to MRT stations, schools, hawker centres, and other daily amenities. This composite score accounts for seven weighted categories of nearby facilities.

💡
Verdict

District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park wins on price. District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park wins on walkability. District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park wins on investment score. District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park wins on rental yield.

Investment Potential

58.3/100
District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park Investment Score
48.8/100
District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier Investment Score
2.9%
District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park Avg Yield
2.4%
District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier Avg Yield

District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park has a higher average investment score, which factors in price momentum, rental yield, liquidity, MRT proximity, lease remaining, and district desirability.

In terms of gross rental yield, District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park delivers stronger returns. Note that yields shown are gross (annual rent / price) and do not account for maintenance fees, property tax, or vacancy.

Top Condos in Each Area

Top 5 Condos in District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park

Top condos in District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park by transaction volume
CondoAvg PSFTransactionsUnitsTenure
PICCADILLY GRAND$2,163 psf41840799 yrs lease commencing from 2021
CITYLIGHTS$1,759 psf12960099 yrs lease commencing from 2004
CITY SQUARE RESIDENCES$1,889 psf112910Freehold
STURDEE RESIDENCES$1,999 psf10730599 yrs lease commencing from 2015
KERRISDALE$1,392 psf8948199 yrs lease commencing from 1998

Top 5 Condos in District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier

Top condos in District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier by transaction volume
CondoAvg PSFTransactionsUnitsTenure
THE ORIE$2,730 psf7405299 yrs lease commencing from 2024
EIGHT RIVERSUITES$1,639 psf29684399 yrs lease commencing from 2011
GEM RESIDENCES$1,831 psf19057899 yrs lease commencing from 2015
TREVISTA$1,696 psf14559099 yrs lease commencing from 2008
VERTICUS$2,122 psf128162Freehold
🧮Calculate Total Acquisition Cost

Final Verdict

District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park

Pros & Cons

✓ Strengths

  • More affordable average PSF ($1,450 psf)
  • Better walkability score (75.5/100)
  • Higher average investment score (58.3)
  • Higher gross rental yield (2.9%)
  • Newer average stock (avg TOP 2008)

✗ Considerations

  • Fewer condos available (92 developments)

District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier

Pros & Cons

✓ Strengths

  • More condos to choose from (123 developments)

✗ Considerations

  • Higher average PSF ($1,498 psf)
  • Lower walkability score (58.2/100)
  • Lower average investment score (48.8)
  • Lower gross rental yield (2.4%)
  • Older average stock (avg TOP 2006)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more affordable, District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park or District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier?
District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park has a lower average PSF based on historical transaction data. However, affordability depends on unit size, tenure, and specific development. Use our Total Acquisition Cost calculator for a full picture.
Is District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park or District 12 — Toa Payoh/Balestier better for families?
Based on walkability scores (which include school and park proximity), District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park edges ahead. However, school proximity, unit size availability, and community feel all matter. We recommend visiting both areas to assess your specific family needs.
Which area is a better investment?
Investment potential depends on your strategy. For rental yield, District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park performs better. For overall investment score (combining yield, growth, liquidity), District 8 — Little India/Farrer Park scores higher. Capital appreciation depends on future developments, government plans, and market conditions.
How current is this comparison data?
This comparison uses all available transaction data from URA and is regenerated periodically. Walkability and investment scores are computed from OneMap geospatial data and property attributes. Specific data freshness is indicated by the freshness badge at the top of the article.

Methodology & Sources

This analysis covers all available transaction data for the compared neighbourhoods and is updated periodically as new URA data is published.

Transaction data sourced from URA.

Median values used to minimize outlier impact. PSF = price per square foot.

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