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It's true - Croydon Park is a little hidden gem of Sydney's 'outer' (if you will), Inner West.

The suburb has a rich history with an Eastern European flavor throughout (It was very popular in the 60's and 70's with the Polish community, and remains so today). Nowadays it is emerging as a multicultural and culturally rich suburb, with working professionals, gay & lesbian, & growing families all moving in to the area.

I thought I'd tackle my review by addressing each of the 'Additional Rating' criteria above. My review is balanced, and whilst it is overall a positive one; some negatives are addressed also.

Neighbourly Spirit - being most family-driven, and with garden beds planted on street corners, and a village-like strip where people congregate, it is certainly pleasant

Clean & Green - The suburb contains several parks and recreation facilities in the south of it, along with most streets being tree-lined and old fashioned charm. The suburb is victim to unit-renters leaving trash on the sidewalk, though

Peace and Quiet - Georges River Road is indeed noisy at time, but head either direction north or south from this main road and it is very quiet

Nightlife - Only two stars here (hey, with a 'sleepy, peaceful' suburb, you get minimal bars/nightclub!), though there is the Croydon Park Hotel, plus a little Ex-Serviceman's club too

Shopping options - Four stars, because whilst there's just a small IGA supermarket, and basic facilities like Dentist, Servo, Pharmacy, Day Care, etc; the suburb is just a couple of km from many shopping destinations (Westfield Burwood, Ashfield Mall, Burwood Plaza), plus a 15 minute drive to Rhodes (Ikea, etc) and Marrickville Metro

Internet Access - Five stars - I've never had an issue

Parking - Three stars; wide streets make for plenty of on-street parking

Resale or Rental Value - Both pretty solid when you do the sums

Medical Facilities - Just two stars because it only has the pharmacy, though Ashfield offers further facilities

Childcare - Two great facilities, one in either end of the suburb. Five stars

Safe & Sound - Three stars. The south-west corner of the suburb towards Belmore is least safe. The eastern side (preferably anywhere on the eastern side of Burwood Road, onwards) is best and most safe areas

Pest Free - No problems as yet, though I live in a top-floor apartment so maybe I'm less affected than others? Three stars to be safe.

Eating Out - gave this four stars. Sure, the volume of restaurants isn't huge, but it's a 'quality vs quantity' thing. There is at least one restaurant of every flavor (2 x Italian, 1 x Thai, 1 x Indian, 2 x Lebanese, 1 x Morning Coffee Cafe, 2 x Chicken Shop, McDonalds, Subway). Plus the Croydon Park hotel has pub cuisine too.

Parks & Recreation - Five stars easily. It is leafy, green, and with multiple parks. Seeing people jogging, and walking dogs, is commonplace

Gym and Fitness - One star. There's no gym! You'll have to travel to neighbouring suburbs, which are plentiful in gym offering.

Cost of Living - Considering CBD proximity, safety, peace & quiet, and suburb integrity/reputation, you won't find a better cost of living than Croydon Park, anywhere in Sydney's Inner West

Public Transport - Four stars. I guess the biggest bugbear people have is it's proximity to train stations. However, city fast trains departing from Burwood and Ashfield on Western & Inner-West lines, are a 15-20 minute walk away, along with CBD-bound buses all along George's River Road. Plus to the south is Campsie train station on the Southern Line.

Schools - Four stars. Again, there are few schools in the actual suburb itself, however some excellent primary & high schools in the surrounding suburbs. Saint Francis Xavier's Primary School is in nearby Ashbury, with St Joseph's school in neighbouring Enfield.