Balgowlah vs Fairlight

In both, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Fairlight, about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Fairlight: a median of $4.12 million, against $3.5 million in Balgowlah, and rent is higher there too.

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

Balgowlah

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 3)
  • But Fairlight carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 46/100)

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

First-home buyers

Balgowlah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($1,360,000 vs $1,955,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($3,500,000 vs $4,115,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balgowlah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($640/wk vs $720/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Balgowlah has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • Fairlight carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 46/100)

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

Investors

Fairlight

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.0% vs 3.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Balgowlah Fairlight
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.

Balgowlah Fairlight
Walkability 92 / 91
Balgowlah — Walkability: 92/100 Fairlight — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 54 / 78
Balgowlah — Safety: 54/100 Fairlight — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balgowlah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fairlight — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Balgowlah has more residents (8,068 vs 6,141); Fairlight has higher household incomes ($169,052 vs $139,412).

Balgowlah Fairlight
Population 8,068
+24% vs other
 6,141
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +5.2%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $139,412/yr $169,052/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $640/wk $720/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah Fairlight
0-4 6.7% / 6.6%
Balgowlah — 0-4: 6.7% Fairlight — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 13.4% / 10.6%
Balgowlah — 5-14: 13.4% Fairlight — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 5.8% / 4.9%
Balgowlah — 15-19: 5.8% Fairlight — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 4.5% / 4.3%
Balgowlah — 20-24: 4.5% Fairlight — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 10.5% / 15.6%
Balgowlah — 25-34: 10.5% Fairlight — 25-34: 15.6%
35-44 14.9% / 15.9%
Balgowlah — 35-44: 14.9% Fairlight — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 15.9% / 13.9%
Balgowlah — 45-54: 15.9% Fairlight — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 11.7% / 12.9%
Balgowlah — 55-64: 11.7% Fairlight — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 8.3% / 8.6%
Balgowlah — 65-74: 8.3% Fairlight — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 6.3% / 5.2%
Balgowlah — 75-84: 6.3% Fairlight — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 2.0% / 1.7%
Balgowlah — 85+: 2.0% Fairlight — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah 47.0% couple families
Balgowlah — Couple Families: 47.0% Balgowlah — Lone Person: 33.2% Balgowlah — One Parent Families: 13.3% Balgowlah — Group Household: 5.3% Balgowlah — Other Families: 1.1%
Fairlight 46.3% couple families
Fairlight — Couple Families: 46.3% Fairlight — Lone Person: 33.8% Fairlight — One Parent Families: 10.0% Fairlight — Group Household: 9.0% Fairlight — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah 31.8% renting
Balgowlah — Owned Outright: 34.8% Balgowlah — Mortgage: 33.4% Balgowlah — Renting: 31.8%
Fairlight 35.7% renting
Fairlight — Owned Outright: 34.1% Fairlight — Mortgage: 30.2% Fairlight — Renting: 35.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balgowlah Fairlight
Bachelor Degree 25.4% / 28.0%
Balgowlah — Bachelor Degree: 25.4% Fairlight — Bachelor Degree: 28.0%
Postgraduate Degree 9.7% / 12.1%
Balgowlah — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7% Fairlight — Postgraduate Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 9.0%
Balgowlah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Fairlight — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Certificate III & IV 6.4% / 5.7%
Balgowlah — Certificate III & IV: 6.4% Fairlight — Certificate III & IV: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.2%
Balgowlah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Fairlight — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.0%).

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.

Balgowlah Fairlight
England 9.6% / 11.5%
Balgowlah — England: 9.6% Fairlight — England: 11.5%
New Zealand 2.7% / 2.3%
Balgowlah — New Zealand: 2.7% Fairlight — New Zealand: 2.3%
South Africa 1.9% / 2.1%
Balgowlah — South Africa: 1.9% Fairlight — South Africa: 2.1%
Scotland 1.0% / 0.9%
Balgowlah — Scotland: 1.0% Fairlight — Scotland: 0.9%
Brazil 0.9% / 1.0%
Balgowlah — Brazil: 0.9% Fairlight — Brazil: 1.0%
Ireland 0.8% / 1.0%
Balgowlah — Ireland: 0.8% Fairlight — Ireland: 1.0%
China 1.0% / —
Balgowlah — China: 1.0% Fairlight — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balgowlah 42.3% flats / apartments
Balgowlah — Flats / Apartments: 42.3% Balgowlah — Houses: 34.6% Balgowlah — Townhouses: 23.1%
Fairlight 51.3% flats / apartments
Fairlight — Flats / Apartments: 51.3% Fairlight — Houses: 26.4% Fairlight — Townhouses: 22.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Balgowlah Fairlight
Median house price $3,500,000 $4,115,000
Median unit price $1,360,000 $1,955,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 30 sales
 22 days
from 20 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.

Balgowlah Fairlight
3 bed $3.09M / $3.75M
Balgowlah — 3 bed: $3.09M (35 sales) Fairlight — 3 bed: $3.75M (19 sales)

35 vs 19 sales

4 bed $3.92M / $4.25M
Balgowlah — 4 bed: $3.92M (25 sales) Fairlight — 4 bed: $4.25M (15 sales)

25 vs 15 sales

5 bed $5.25M / $5.03M
Balgowlah — 5 bed: $5.25M (7 sales) Fairlight — 5 bed: $5.03M (7 sales)

7 vs 7 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.

Balgowlah Fairlight
1 bed $1.11M / $852K
Balgowlah — 1 bed: $1.11M (15 sales) Fairlight — 1 bed: $852K (8 sales)

15 vs 8 sales

2 bed $1.3M / $1.73M
Balgowlah — 2 bed: $1.3M (74 sales) Fairlight — 2 bed: $1.73M (25 sales)

74 vs 25 sales

3 bed $1.95M / $2.53M
Balgowlah — 3 bed: $1.95M (19 sales) Fairlight — 3 bed: $2.53M (26 sales)

19 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Balgowlah Fairlight
Residential 68% 67%
Parks and recreation 12% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 4%
Industrial 6% 0%
Environmental 4%
same for both
Commercial 3% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Balgowlah and 99% of Fairlight. 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

Balgowlah Fairlight
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.

Balgowlah Fairlight
Houses 2.9%
$1,498/wk on $2.7M
 —
Units 3.5%
$850/wk on $1.25M
 4.0%
$988/wk on $1.27M

Ranking within NSW

Balgowlah Fairlight
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Schools Higher than 21% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW

Liveability

Fairlight scores higher overall (95 vs 70).

Balgowlah Fairlight
Grade A A+
Score 70/100 95/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balgowlah carries more crime risk (46 vs 22).

Balgowlah Fairlight
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
22/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
12/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Balgowlah Fairlight
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 6.8 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 7.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 2.5%

Schools in Balgowlah

  • Manly West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Fairlight

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

Amenities in the suburb

Balgowlah Fairlight
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 15 5
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 7 3
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 3 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 8 2

Mobility

Balgowlah Fairlight
Walkability score 92/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 12.5 km 13.6 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 24 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 343.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 154.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.9%
postcode 2093
 3.5%
postcode 2094
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2093
 15
postcode 2094

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.

Balgowlah Fairlight
Worked from Home 62.1% / 66.3%
Balgowlah — Worked from Home: 62.1% Fairlight — Worked from Home: 66.3%
Car (driver) 27.5% / 25.3%
Balgowlah — Car (driver): 27.5% Fairlight — Car (driver): 25.3%
Walked Only 3.3% / 3.6%
Balgowlah — Walked Only: 3.3% Fairlight — Walked Only: 3.6%
Bus 4.1% / 2.7%
Balgowlah — Bus: 4.1% Fairlight — Bus: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 1.2%
Balgowlah — Car (passenger): 2.0% Fairlight — Car (passenger): 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.3%).

Setting

Balgowlah Fairlight
Elevation 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 575 m
700 m to a named beach
 628 m
663 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Balgowlah Fairlight
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
3,960 premises
 0%
2,783 premises

Climate

Balgowlah Fairlight
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Balgowlah Fairlight
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

Balgowlah Fairlight
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Balgowlah Fairlight
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balgowlah Fairlight
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balgowlah

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Fairlight

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balgowlah

Balgowlah vs Seaforth Balgowlah vs Manly Vale Balgowlah vs North Balgowlah Balgowlah vs Balgowlah Heights Balgowlah vs Clontarf

Other comparisons with Fairlight

Fairlight vs Manly Fairlight vs Manly Vale
Full data on Balgowlah Full data on Fairlight
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.

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