Avalon Beach vs Bilgola Plateau

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Avalon Beach: a median of $2.87 million, against $2.56 million in Bilgola Plateau, though rent is higher in Bilgola Plateau. On these figures, Bilgola Plateau tends to suit couples.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Avalon Beach has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • Bilgola Plateau has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Bilgola Plateau

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,562,500 vs $2,872,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Avalon Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($700/wk vs $895/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Avalon Beach is more walkable (81/100 vs 63/100)
  • Bilgola Plateau sits closer to the CBD (36.4 km vs 38.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Avalon Beach

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (19% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 63/100)

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

Investors

Bilgola Plateau

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Avalon Beach and Bilgola Plateau drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
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.

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Walkability 81 / 63
Avalon Beach — Walkability: 81/100 Bilgola Plateau — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 76 / 84
Avalon Beach — Safety: 76/100 Bilgola Plateau — Safety: 84/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Avalon Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bilgola Plateau — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Avalon Beach has more residents (10,379 vs 3,650); Bilgola Plateau rents higher ($895/wk vs $700/wk).

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Population 10,379
+65% vs other
 3,650
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +3.8%
Median age 46
same for both
Median household income $129,012/yr $148,512/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $700/wk $895/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
0-4 4.6% / 4.2%
Avalon Beach — 0-4: 4.6% Bilgola Plateau — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 14.4% / 15.8%
Avalon Beach — 5-14: 14.4% Bilgola Plateau — 5-14: 15.8%
15-19 6.8% / 6.5%
Avalon Beach — 15-19: 6.8% Bilgola Plateau — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 5.1% / 4.6%
Avalon Beach — 20-24: 5.1% Bilgola Plateau — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 6.3% / 5.2%
Avalon Beach — 25-34: 6.3% Bilgola Plateau — 25-34: 5.2%
35-44 11.0% / 11.1%
Avalon Beach — 35-44: 11.0% Bilgola Plateau — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 14.7% / 15.6%
Avalon Beach — 45-54: 14.7% Bilgola Plateau — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 15.4% / 15.0%
Avalon Beach — 55-64: 15.4% Bilgola Plateau — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 12.6% / 12.7%
Avalon Beach — 65-74: 12.6% Bilgola Plateau — 65-74: 12.7%
75-84 6.2% / 7.2%
Avalon Beach — 75-84: 6.2% Bilgola Plateau — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 2.8% / 1.9%
Avalon Beach — 85+: 2.8% Bilgola Plateau — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Avalon Beach 55.7% couple families
Avalon Beach — Couple Families: 55.7% Avalon Beach — Lone Person: 28.0% Avalon Beach — One Parent Families: 13.2% Avalon Beach — Group Household: 2.3% Avalon Beach — Other Families: 0.7%
Bilgola Plateau 66.2% couple families
Bilgola Plateau — Couple Families: 66.2% Bilgola Plateau — Lone Person: 18.8% Bilgola Plateau — One Parent Families: 13.3% Bilgola Plateau — Group Household: 1.7% Bilgola Plateau — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Avalon Beach 16.0% renting
Avalon Beach — Owned Outright: 45.9% Avalon Beach — Mortgage: 38.1% Avalon Beach — Renting: 16.0%
Bilgola Plateau 10.0% renting
Bilgola Plateau — Owned Outright: 42.3% Bilgola Plateau — Mortgage: 47.7% Bilgola Plateau — Renting: 10.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Bachelor Degree 19.4% / 19.9%
Avalon Beach — Bachelor Degree: 19.4% Bilgola Plateau — Bachelor Degree: 19.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 10.9%
Avalon Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Bilgola Plateau — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.9%
Certificate III & IV 10.6% / 9.7%
Avalon Beach — Certificate III & IV: 10.6% Bilgola Plateau — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.4% / 7.4%
Avalon Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4% Bilgola Plateau — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.1%
Avalon Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Bilgola Plateau — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

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.

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
England 9.5% / 11.2%
Avalon Beach — England: 9.5% Bilgola Plateau — England: 11.2%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.9%
Avalon Beach — New Zealand: 1.9% Bilgola Plateau — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.8%
Avalon Beach — South Africa: 0.8% Bilgola Plateau — South Africa: 1.8%
Germany 1.0% / 1.2%
Avalon Beach — Germany: 1.0% Bilgola Plateau — Germany: 1.2%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.6%
Avalon Beach — Scotland: 0.8% Bilgola Plateau — Scotland: 0.6%
Canada 0.6% / 0.7%
Avalon Beach — Canada: 0.6% Bilgola Plateau — Canada: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Avalon Beach 81.2% houses
Avalon Beach — Houses: 81.2% Avalon Beach — Flats / Apartments: 14.1% Avalon Beach — Townhouses: 4.7%
Bilgola Plateau 98.2% houses
Bilgola Plateau — Houses: 98.2% Bilgola Plateau — Flats / Apartments: 1.8% Bilgola Plateau — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Median house price $2,872,500 $2,562,500
Median unit price $1,220,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 118 sales
 29 days
from 31 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.

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
3 bed $2.38M / $2.04M
Avalon Beach — 3 bed: $2.38M (48 sales) Bilgola Plateau — 3 bed: $2.04M (10 sales)

48 vs 10 sales

4 bed $2.9M / $2.51M
Avalon Beach — 4 bed: $2.9M (97 sales) Bilgola Plateau — 4 bed: $2.51M (36 sales)

97 vs 36 sales

5 bed $3.2M / $2.96M
Avalon Beach — 5 bed: $3.2M (29 sales) Bilgola Plateau — 5 bed: $2.96M (16 sales)

29 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Bilgola Plateau has more land zoned for conservation (80% vs 54%).

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Environmental 54% 80%
Residential 32% 14%
Parks and recreation 9% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 2%
Commercial 1%
same for both
Planning zones cover 99% of Avalon Beach and 100% of Bilgola Plateau. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
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.

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Houses 3.0%
$1,572/wk on $2.7M
 3.5%
$1,675/wk on $2.48M
Units 4.1%
$822/wk on $1.05M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
House price Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Schools Higher than 21% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 46% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 26% of NSW —

Liveability

Avalon Beach is more walkable (81 vs 63); Bilgola Plateau scores higher overall (85 vs 69).

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Grade B A
Score 69/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
24/100
 Low
16/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
17/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Avalon Beach

  • Avalon Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Barrenjoey High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Barrenjoey Montessori School Independent · Primary below peers
  • Maria Regina Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Bilgola Plateau

  • Bilgola Plateau Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 21 2
Parks & reserves 20 5
Childcare 8 2
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Avalon Beach sits further from the CBD (38.8 km vs 36.4 km).

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Walkability score 81/100 63/100
Distance to Sydney 38.8 km
+6% vs other
 36.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 53 min 51 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 277.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 42.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 2107
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 2107
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.

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Worked from Home 48.8% / 54.6%
Avalon Beach — Worked from Home: 48.8% Bilgola Plateau — Worked from Home: 54.6%
Car (driver) 44.0% / 40.9%
Avalon Beach — Car (driver): 44.0% Bilgola Plateau — Car (driver): 40.9%
Walked Only 3.3% / 1.4%
Avalon Beach — Walked Only: 3.3% Bilgola Plateau — Walked Only: 1.4%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 2.3%
Avalon Beach — Car (passenger): 2.1% Bilgola Plateau — Car (passenger): 2.3%
Bus 1.0% / 0.9%
Avalon Beach — Bus: 1.0% Bilgola Plateau — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.6%).

Setting

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 138 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 812 m
1.1 km to a named beach
 1.2 km
1.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Connectivity score 46/100 54/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
4,491 premises
 16%
1,343 premises

Climate

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Avalon Beach Bilgola Plateau
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Avalon Beach

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Outer Parks Premium River Transport Hub

Bilgola Plateau

Beach Coastal Outer Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Avalon Beach

Avalon Beach vs Palm Beach Avalon Beach vs Clareville Avalon Beach vs Whale Beach Avalon Beach vs Bilgola Beach

Other comparisons with Bilgola Plateau

Bilgola Plateau vs Newport Bilgola Plateau vs Clareville Bilgola Plateau vs Bilgola Beach
Full data on Avalon Beach Full data on Bilgola Plateau
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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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