Arncliffe vs Wolli Creek

Wolli Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 34 in Arncliffe. In Arncliffe, most households own their home and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Wolli Creek, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. On these figures, Wolli Creek tends to suit 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

Arncliffe

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (40% vs 1%)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Arncliffe has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $540/wk)
  • Wolli Creek has a bigger rental market to choose from (65% vs 42%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wolli Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (22% vs 11%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Arncliffe has more residents already 65 and over (13% vs 3%)
  • Wolli Creek has more units and townhouses to downsize into (99% vs 60%)

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

Investors

Wolli Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (66.6% vs 13.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
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.

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Walkability 96 / 96
Arncliffe — Walkability: 96/100 Wolli Creek — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 53 / 35
Arncliffe — Safety: 53/100 Wolli Creek — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Arncliffe — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wolli Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Arncliffe skews older (34 vs 30).

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Population 12,023
+11% vs other
 10,654
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.5% +66.6%
Median age 34 30
Median household income $106,392/yr $112,476/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $540/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
0-4 6.0% / 5.1%
Arncliffe — 0-4: 6.0% Wolli Creek — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 9.7% / 2.9%
Arncliffe — 5-14: 9.7% Wolli Creek — 5-14: 2.9%
15-19 4.6% / 1.6%
Arncliffe — 15-19: 4.6% Wolli Creek — 15-19: 1.6%
20-24 7.2% / 12.8%
Arncliffe — 20-24: 7.2% Wolli Creek — 20-24: 12.8%
25-34 23.7% / 46.7%
Arncliffe — 25-34: 23.7% Wolli Creek — 25-34: 46.7%
35-44 16.0% / 18.2%
Arncliffe — 35-44: 16.0% Wolli Creek — 35-44: 18.2%
45-54 11.0% / 5.6%
Arncliffe — 45-54: 11.0% Wolli Creek — 45-54: 5.6%
55-64 9.1% / 4.0%
Arncliffe — 55-64: 9.1% Wolli Creek — 55-64: 4.0%
65-74 6.4% / 2.3%
Arncliffe — 65-74: 6.4% Wolli Creek — 65-74: 2.3%
75-84 4.3% / 0.8%
Arncliffe — 75-84: 4.3% Wolli Creek — 75-84: 0.8%
85+ 2.0% / 0.1%
Arncliffe — 85+: 2.0% Wolli Creek — 85+: 0.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Arncliffe 29.9% lone person
Arncliffe — Lone Person: 29.9% Arncliffe — Couple Families: 43.0% Arncliffe — Group Household: 9.5% Arncliffe — One Parent Families: 15.2% Arncliffe — Other Families: 2.4%
Wolli Creek 41.8% lone person
Wolli Creek — Lone Person: 41.8% Wolli Creek — Couple Families: 22.8% Wolli Creek — Group Household: 24.8% Wolli Creek — One Parent Families: 6.1% Wolli Creek — Other Families: 4.6%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Arncliffe 41.9% renting
Arncliffe — Owned Outright: 24.8% Arncliffe — Mortgage: 33.3% Arncliffe — Renting: 41.9%
Wolli Creek 64.6% renting
Wolli Creek — Owned Outright: 7.3% Wolli Creek — Mortgage: 28.1% Wolli Creek — Renting: 64.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 32.3%
Arncliffe — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Wolli Creek — Bachelor Degree: 32.3%
Postgraduate Degree 7.8% / 17.4%
Arncliffe — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8% Wolli Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 17.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.9%
Arncliffe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Wolli Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Certificate III & IV 7.7% / 5.3%
Arncliffe — Certificate III & IV: 7.7% Wolli Creek — Certificate III & IV: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 2.0%
Arncliffe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Wolli Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.3%).

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.

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
China 5.9% / 20.2%
Arncliffe — China: 5.9% Wolli Creek — China: 20.2%
Lebanon 5.7% / —
Arncliffe — Lebanon: 5.7% Wolli Creek — Lebanon: not among its largest
Indonesia 1.2% / 4.3%
Arncliffe — Indonesia: 1.2% Wolli Creek — Indonesia: 4.3%
Brazil 1.4% / 3.7%
Arncliffe — Brazil: 1.4% Wolli Creek — Brazil: 3.7%
Philippines 2.1% / 2.6%
Arncliffe — Philippines: 2.1% Wolli Creek — Philippines: 2.6%
Vietnam 1.6% / 2.3%
Arncliffe — Vietnam: 1.6% Wolli Creek — Vietnam: 2.3%
India — / 2.5%
Arncliffe — India: not among its largest Wolli Creek — India: 2.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / —
Arncliffe — New Zealand: 1.4% Wolli Creek — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Arncliffe 49.2% flats / apartments
Arncliffe — Flats / Apartments: 49.2% Arncliffe — Houses: 40.0% Arncliffe — Townhouses: 10.7%
Wolli Creek 99.1% flats / apartments
Wolli Creek — Flats / Apartments: 99.1% Wolli Creek — Houses: 0.7% Wolli Creek — Townhouses: 0.2%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Median house price $1,850,000 —
Median unit price $770,000 $825,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 70 sales
 —

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
1 bed $605K / $630K
Arncliffe — 1 bed: $605K (24 sales) Wolli Creek — 1 bed: $630K (79 sales)

24 vs 79 sales

2 bed $782K / $867K
Arncliffe — 2 bed: $782K (92 sales) Wolli Creek — 2 bed: $867K (192 sales)

92 vs 192 sales

3 bed $953K / $1.07M
Arncliffe — 3 bed: $953K (12 sales) Wolli Creek — 3 bed: $1.07M (26 sales)

12 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Residential 57%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 10% 22%
Parks and recreation 6% 18%
Other and special use 17% 1%
Commercial 5% 0%
Environmental 2%
same for both
Industrial 2% 0%
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

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
New dwellings approved 857
across Bayside (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +98%
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.

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Houses 3.1%
$950/wk on $1.6M
 —
Units 5.2%
$750/wk on $750K
 5.4%
$890/wk on $850K

Ranking within NSW

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
House price Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Schools Higher than 41% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW

Liveability

Wolli Creek scores higher overall (82 vs 70).

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 82/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Wolli Creek carries more crime risk (65 vs 47).

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
65/100
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 7
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 6.5 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 5.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 5.7%

Schools in Arncliffe

  • Kingdom Culture Christian School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Al Zahra College Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Francis Xavier's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Arncliffe Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Athelstane Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Wolli Creek

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 7 19
Parks & reserves 10 8
Childcare 11 0
GPs 4 6
Pharmacies 4 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 16.4 km 17.1 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 22 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 98/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 74.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 57.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2205
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2205
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.

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Worked from Home 43.9% / 52.1%
Arncliffe — Worked from Home: 43.9% Wolli Creek — Worked from Home: 52.1%
Car (driver) 38.0% / 20.8%
Arncliffe — Car (driver): 38.0% Wolli Creek — Car (driver): 20.8%
Train 11.3% / 21.8%
Arncliffe — Train: 11.3% Wolli Creek — Train: 21.8%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 2.0%
Arncliffe — Car (passenger): 4.1% Wolli Creek — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.7%
Arncliffe — Walked Only: 1.7% Wolli Creek — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.1%).

Setting

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 1 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.0 km 2.2 km

NBN connectivity

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Connectivity score 86/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
4,997 premises
 59%
5,171 premises

Climate

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Average residential rate $1,217/yr
same for both
Council Bayside (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Division Barton
same for both
Member Ash Ambihaipahar
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Arncliffe Wolli Creek
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Arncliffe

Apartments Coastal Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Urban

Wolli Creek

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals River Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Arncliffe

Arncliffe vs Mascot Arncliffe vs Bexley Arncliffe vs Rockdale Arncliffe vs Tempe Arncliffe vs Banksia Arncliffe vs Turrella

Other comparisons with Wolli Creek

Wolli Creek vs Marrickville Wolli Creek vs Earlwood Wolli Creek vs Tempe Wolli Creek vs Turrella
Full data on Arncliffe Full data on Wolli Creek
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or