Allambie Heights vs Brookvale

Brookvale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 43 in Allambie Heights. In Allambie Heights, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In Brookvale, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Allambie Heights: a median of $2.7 million, against $2.3 million in Brookvale, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Allambie Heights tends to suit families with children and couples, while Brookvale suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Allambie Heights

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 18%)
  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Brookvale has more childcare (15 vs 4)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Brookvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,302,000 vs $2,700,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brookvale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $600/wk)
  • But Allambie Heights leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 26%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Brookvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 67/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Brookvale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (82% vs 13%)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 67/100)
  • But Allambie Heights carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 95/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Allambie Heights and Brookvale drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Walkability 67 / 92
Allambie Heights — Walkability: 67/100 Brookvale — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 79 / 5
Allambie Heights — Safety: 79/100 Brookvale — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 30 / 58
Allambie Heights — Low fire risk: 30/100 Brookvale — Low fire risk: 58/100

Demographics

Allambie Heights has more residents (7,317 vs 3,389); Allambie Heights has higher household incomes ($150,280 vs $110,604).

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Population 7,317
+54% vs other
 3,389
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.4% +7.2%
Median age 43 37
Median household income $150,280/yr
+26% vs other
 $110,604/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+8% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
0-4 5.3% / 6.7%
Allambie Heights — 0-4: 5.3% Brookvale — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 16.1% / 7.9%
Allambie Heights — 5-14: 16.1% Brookvale — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 6.6% / 3.8%
Allambie Heights — 15-19: 6.6% Brookvale — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 5.2% / 6.5%
Allambie Heights — 20-24: 5.2% Brookvale — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 6.8% / 21.4%
Allambie Heights — 25-34: 6.8% Brookvale — 25-34: 21.4%
35-44 12.9% / 18.3%
Allambie Heights — 35-44: 12.9% Brookvale — 35-44: 18.3%
45-54 16.7% / 12.6%
Allambie Heights — 45-54: 16.7% Brookvale — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 11.1% / 11.3%
Allambie Heights — 55-64: 11.1% Brookvale — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 8.9% / 6.7%
Allambie Heights — 65-74: 8.9% Brookvale — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 6.6% / 2.6%
Allambie Heights — 75-84: 6.6% Brookvale — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 3.8% / 2.7%
Allambie Heights — 85+: 3.8% Brookvale — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Allambie Heights 62.6% couple families
Allambie Heights — Couple Families: 62.6% Allambie Heights — Lone Person: 24.2% Allambie Heights — One Parent Families: 10.7% Allambie Heights — Group Household: 1.7% Allambie Heights — Other Families: 0.8%
Brookvale 34.2% couple families
Brookvale — Couple Families: 34.2% Brookvale — Lone Person: 42.9% Brookvale — One Parent Families: 14.5% Brookvale — Group Household: 6.8% Brookvale — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Allambie Heights 18.6% renting
Allambie Heights — Owned Outright: 37.1% Allambie Heights — Mortgage: 44.3% Allambie Heights — Renting: 18.6%
Brookvale 45.4% renting
Brookvale — Owned Outright: 16.4% Brookvale — Mortgage: 38.2% Brookvale — Renting: 45.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Bachelor Degree 18.0% / 19.9%
Allambie Heights — Bachelor Degree: 18.0% Brookvale — Bachelor Degree: 19.9%
Certificate III & IV 10.2% / 12.9%
Allambie Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.2% Brookvale — Certificate III & IV: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.8%
Allambie Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Brookvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 6.1%
Allambie Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Brookvale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.2%
Allambie Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Brookvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
England 8.0% / 5.9%
Allambie Heights — England: 8.0% Brookvale — England: 5.9%
China 1.5% / 3.3%
Allambie Heights — China: 1.5% Brookvale — China: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.4%
Allambie Heights — New Zealand: 1.9% Brookvale — New Zealand: 2.4%
Italy 1.7% / 2.2%
Allambie Heights — Italy: 1.7% Brookvale — Italy: 2.2%
South Africa 1.2% / 2.0%
Allambie Heights — South Africa: 1.2% Brookvale — South Africa: 2.0%
Philippines — / 2.6%
Allambie Heights — Philippines: not among its largest Brookvale — Philippines: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Allambie Heights 87.0% houses
Allambie Heights — Houses: 87.0% Allambie Heights — Flats / Apartments: 9.7% Allambie Heights — Townhouses: 3.3%
Brookvale 18.3% houses
Brookvale — Houses: 18.3% Brookvale — Flats / Apartments: 65.5% Brookvale — Townhouses: 16.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Median house price $2,700,000 $2,302,000
Median unit price $1,035,000 $1,050,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 36 sales
 23 days
from 4 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
3 bed $2.22M / $2.2M
Allambie Heights — 3 bed: $2.22M (37 sales) Brookvale — 3 bed: $2.2M (5 sales)

37 vs 5 sales

4 bed $2.72M / $2.37M
Allambie Heights — 4 bed: $2.72M (30 sales) Brookvale — 4 bed: $2.37M (7 sales)

30 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Brookvale has more industrially zoned land (55% vs 0%).

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Parks and recreation 65% 6%
Industrial 0% 55%
Residential 31% 23%
Commercial 0% 8%
Environmental 1% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Allambie Heights Brookvale
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Houses —
same for both
Units — 4.3%
$732/wk on $890K

Ranking within NSW

Allambie Heights Brookvale
House price Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools Higher than 24% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 35% of NSW

Liveability

Brookvale is more walkable (92 vs 67).

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 59/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brookvale carries more crime risk (95 vs 21); Allambie Heights carries more bushfire risk (70 vs 42).

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Bushfire High
70/100
 Moderate
42/100
Crime Low
21/100
 High
95/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 8.3 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 2.2%

Schools in Allambie Heights

  • Allambie Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Arranounbai School Government · Combined · Special school
  • The Beach School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Brookvale

  • Brookvale Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Augustine's College Sydney Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 6 23
Parks & reserves 13 2
Childcare 4 15
GPs 1 6
Pharmacies 2 6
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Walkability score 67/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 17.5 km
+5% vs other
 16.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 28 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 266.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 300.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2100
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2100
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Worked from Home 51.8% / 38.4%
Allambie Heights — Worked from Home: 51.8% Brookvale — Worked from Home: 38.4%
Car (driver) 38.7% / 42.1%
Allambie Heights — Car (driver): 38.7% Brookvale — Car (driver): 42.1%
Walked Only 2.6% / 8.6%
Allambie Heights — Walked Only: 2.6% Brookvale — Walked Only: 8.6%
Bus 2.7% / 5.8%
Allambie Heights — Bus: 2.7% Brookvale — Bus: 5.8%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.5%
Allambie Heights — Car (passenger): 3.0% Brookvale — Car (passenger): 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.8%).

Setting

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Elevation 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.6 km
2.6 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Connectivity score 81/100 56/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
2,623 premises
 7%
4,530 premises

Climate

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Allambie Heights Brookvale
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Allambie Heights Brookvale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Allambie Heights

Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet Transport Hub

Brookvale

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Allambie Heights

Allambie Heights vs Frenchs Forest Allambie Heights vs Beacon Hill Allambie Heights vs Seaforth Allambie Heights vs Manly Vale Allambie Heights vs Killarney Heights Allambie Heights vs North Balgowlah

Other comparisons with Brookvale

Brookvale vs Dee Why Brookvale vs Beacon Hill Brookvale vs Narraweena Brookvale vs North Curl Curl Brookvale vs North Manly Brookvale vs Curl Curl
Full data on Allambie Heights Full data on Brookvale
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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