Avalon Beach vs Palm Beach

Avalon Beach is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 against 58 in Palm Beach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Avalon Beach, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Palm Beach: a median of $4.65 million, against $2.87 million in Avalon Beach, and rent is higher there too. Avalon Beach is closer to the city centre: 38.8 km, against 44.4 km. On these figures, Avalon Beach tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Palm Beach suits people living alone and older residents.

Avalon Beach and Palm Beach are both affluent northern beaches suburbs, but they differ significantly in scale and character. Avalon Beach is substantially larger with 10,379 residents compared to Palm Beach's 1,652, and offers greater walkability (81 versus 41) and lower crime risk (23 versus 51). Palm Beach commands a much higher median house price at $4,800,000 against Avalon Beach's $2,870,000, and has higher median household income at $145,964 yearly. Avalon Beach presents lower bushfire risk (0 versus 38) and sits closer to the CBD at 38.8 km, making it better suited to those seeking a more connected, walkable community, while Palm Beach appeals to buyers prioritising exclusivity and privacy in a quieter, more established setting.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Avalon Beach

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 47/100)

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

First-home buyers

Avalon Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,872,500 vs $4,650,000)

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

Avalon Beach

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 41/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (53 min vs 62 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (38.8 km vs 44.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Avalon Beach

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 41/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 47/100)
  • But Palm Beach has more residents already 65 and over (38% vs 22%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Avalon Beach and Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach
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 Palm Beach
Walkability 81 / 41
Avalon Beach — Walkability: 81/100 Palm Beach — Walkability: 41/100
Safety 76 / 53
Avalon Beach — Safety: 76/100 Palm Beach — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 100 / 62
Avalon Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Palm Beach — Low fire risk: 62/100

Demographics

Avalon Beach has more residents (10,379 vs 1,652); Palm Beach rents higher ($895/wk vs $700/wk).

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Population 10,379
+84% vs other
 1,652
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +3.7%
Median age 46 58
Median household income $129,012/yr $145,964/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $700/wk $895/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
0-4 4.6% / 3.4%
Avalon Beach — 0-4: 4.6% Palm Beach — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 14.4% / 6.7%
Avalon Beach — 5-14: 14.4% Palm Beach — 5-14: 6.7%
15-19 6.8% / 4.9%
Avalon Beach — 15-19: 6.8% Palm Beach — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 5.1% / 3.5%
Avalon Beach — 20-24: 5.1% Palm Beach — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 6.3% / 5.6%
Avalon Beach — 25-34: 6.3% Palm Beach — 25-34: 5.6%
35-44 11.0% / 7.3%
Avalon Beach — 35-44: 11.0% Palm Beach — 35-44: 7.3%
45-54 14.7% / 12.2%
Avalon Beach — 45-54: 14.7% Palm Beach — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 15.4% / 18.5%
Avalon Beach — 55-64: 15.4% Palm Beach — 55-64: 18.5%
65-74 12.6% / 20.5%
Avalon Beach — 65-74: 12.6% Palm Beach — 65-74: 20.5%
75-84 6.2% / 14.5%
Avalon Beach — 75-84: 6.2% Palm Beach — 75-84: 14.5%
85+ 2.8% / 2.5%
Avalon Beach — 85+: 2.8% Palm Beach — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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%
Palm Beach 40.1% couple families
Palm Beach — Couple Families: 40.1% Palm Beach — Lone Person: 42.4% Palm Beach — One Parent Families: 13.5% Palm Beach — Group Household: 2.9% Palm Beach — Other Families: 1.0%
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%
Palm Beach 17.4% renting
Palm Beach — Owned Outright: 58.1% Palm Beach — Mortgage: 24.5% Palm Beach — Renting: 17.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Bachelor Degree 19.4% / 24.7%
Avalon Beach — Bachelor Degree: 19.4% Palm Beach — Bachelor Degree: 24.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 10.1%
Avalon Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Palm Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Certificate III & IV 10.6% / 9.5%
Avalon Beach — Certificate III & IV: 10.6% Palm Beach — Certificate III & IV: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.4% / 8.9%
Avalon Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4% Palm Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.2%
Avalon Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Palm Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.7%).

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 Palm Beach
England 9.5% / 7.6%
Avalon Beach — England: 9.5% Palm Beach — England: 7.6%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.7%
Avalon Beach — New Zealand: 1.9% Palm Beach — New Zealand: 2.7%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.8%
Avalon Beach — South Africa: 0.8% Palm Beach — South Africa: 0.8%
Germany 1.0% / 0.5%
Avalon Beach — Germany: 1.0% Palm Beach — Germany: 0.5%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.5%
Avalon Beach — Scotland: 0.8% Palm Beach — Scotland: 0.5%
Ireland 0.4% / 0.6%
Avalon Beach — Ireland: 0.4% Palm Beach — Ireland: 0.6%
Italy — / 0.7%
Avalon Beach — Italy: not among its largest Palm Beach — Italy: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.5%).

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%
Palm Beach 88.9% houses
Palm Beach — Houses: 88.9% Palm Beach — Flats / Apartments: 9.9% Palm Beach — Townhouses: 1.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Median house price $2,872,500 $4,650,000
Median unit price $1,220,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 118 sales
 92 days
from 18 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 Palm Beach
3 bed $2.38M / $2.9M
Avalon Beach — 3 bed: $2.38M (48 sales) Palm Beach — 3 bed: $2.9M (11 sales)

48 vs 11 sales

4 bed $2.9M / $5.12M
Avalon Beach — 4 bed: $2.9M (97 sales) Palm Beach — 4 bed: $5.12M (16 sales)

97 vs 16 sales

5 bed $3.2M / $5.6M
Avalon Beach — 5 bed: $3.2M (29 sales) Palm Beach — 5 bed: $5.6M (12 sales)

29 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Palm Beach has more land zoned for conservation (77% vs 54%).

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Environmental 54% 77%
Residential 32% 3%
Parks and recreation 9% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 3%
same for both
Commercial 1%
same for both
Planning zones cover 99% of Avalon Beach and 99% of Palm Beach. 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 Palm Beach
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 Palm Beach
Houses 3.0%
$1,572/wk on $2.7M
 2.7%
$2,812/wk on $5.4M
Units 4.1%
$822/wk on $1.05M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
House price Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 99% 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 79% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 26% of NSW —

Liveability

Avalon Beach is more walkable (81 vs 41).

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Grade B
same for both
Score 69/100 65/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Palm Beach carries more bushfire risk (38 vs 0); Palm Beach carries more crime risk (47 vs 24).

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
38/100
Crime Low
24/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
17/100
 Moderate
55/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
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 Palm Beach

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

Amenities in the suburb

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 21 6
Parks & reserves 20 14
Childcare 8 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 1
same for both
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Palm Beach sits further from the CBD (44.4 km vs 38.8 km).

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Walkability score 81/100 41/100
Distance to Sydney 38.8 km 44.4 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 53 min 62 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 277.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 146.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 2107
 4.0%
postcode 2108
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 2107
 20
postcode 2108

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 Palm Beach
Worked from Home 48.8% / 52.5%
Avalon Beach — Worked from Home: 48.8% Palm Beach — Worked from Home: 52.5%
Car (driver) 44.0% / 42.0%
Avalon Beach — Car (driver): 44.0% Palm Beach — Car (driver): 42.0%
Walked Only 3.3% / 2.5%
Avalon Beach — Walked Only: 3.3% Palm Beach — Walked Only: 2.5%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 3.1%
Avalon Beach — Car (passenger): 2.1% Palm Beach — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Bus 1.0% / —
Avalon Beach — Bus: 1.0% Palm Beach — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.5%).

Setting

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 812 m
1.1 km to a named beach
 9 m
608 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
Connectivity score 46/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
4,491 premises
 0%
1,346 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Avalon Beach Palm Beach
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

Palm Beach

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Luxury Outer Parks Professionals Quiet Retirees

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Other comparisons with Palm Beach

Palm Beach vs Whale Beach
Full data on Avalon Beach Full data on Palm Beach
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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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