Barangaroo vs Sydney

Sydney is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 40 in Barangaroo. In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Barangaroo: a median of $3.9 million, against $1.05 million in Sydney, and rent is higher there too. Sydney is closer to the city centre: 1.1 km, against 1.5 km. On these figures, Barangaroo tends to suit people living alone, while Sydney suits young adults and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Sydney

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (36 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 0)
  • But Barangaroo is already more of a family suburb (31% vs 19%)

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

First-home buyers

Sydney

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($1,050,000 vs $3,900,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 44%)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sydney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($600/wk vs $1,246/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sydney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (14% vs 4%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sydney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (27 vs 1)

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

Investors

Barangaroo

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.4% vs -3.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 4.0%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Barangaroo Sydney
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.

Barangaroo Sydney
Walkability 100 / 100
Barangaroo — Walkability: 100/100 Sydney — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 1 / 2
Barangaroo — Safety: 1/100 Sydney — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Barangaroo — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sydney — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sydney has more residents (16,667 vs 220); Barangaroo rents higher ($1,246/wk vs $600/wk).

Barangaroo Sydney
Population 220 16,667
+7476% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.4% -3.4%
Median age 40 32
Median household income $238,732/yr
+51% vs other
 $115,804/yr
Median weekly rent $1,246/wk
+52% vs other
 $600/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Barangaroo Sydney
0-4 1.8% / 2.5%
Barangaroo — 0-4: 1.8% Sydney — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 2.7% / 2.6%
Barangaroo — 5-14: 2.7% Sydney — 5-14: 2.6%
15-19 1.4% / 1.8%
Barangaroo — 15-19: 1.4% Sydney — 15-19: 1.8%
20-24 1.8% / 11.0%
Barangaroo — 20-24: 1.8% Sydney — 20-24: 11.0%
25-34 26.8% / 39.3%
Barangaroo — 25-34: 26.8% Sydney — 25-34: 39.3%
35-44 24.5% / 20.6%
Barangaroo — 35-44: 24.5% Sydney — 35-44: 20.6%
45-54 15.5% / 8.9%
Barangaroo — 45-54: 15.5% Sydney — 45-54: 8.9%
55-64 14.1% / 6.2%
Barangaroo — 55-64: 14.1% Sydney — 55-64: 6.2%
65-74 4.1% / 4.2%
Barangaroo — 65-74: 4.1% Sydney — 65-74: 4.2%
75-84 4.5% / 2.2%
Barangaroo — 75-84: 4.5% Sydney — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ — / 0.7%
Barangaroo — 85+: not among its largest Sydney — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (39.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Barangaroo 69.4% lone person
Barangaroo — Lone Person: 69.4% Barangaroo — Couple Families: 24.2% Barangaroo — Group Household: 0.0% Barangaroo — One Parent Families: 6.5% Barangaroo — Other Families: 0.0%
Sydney 56.1% lone person
Sydney — Lone Person: 56.1% Sydney — Couple Families: 13.0% Sydney — Group Household: 21.0% Sydney — One Parent Families: 6.2% Sydney — Other Families: 3.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Barangaroo 65.7% renting
Barangaroo — Owned Outright: 18.2% Barangaroo — Mortgage: 16.2% Barangaroo — Renting: 65.7%
Sydney 74.8% renting
Sydney — Owned Outright: 13.8% Sydney — Mortgage: 11.4% Sydney — Renting: 74.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Barangaroo Sydney
Bachelor Degree 32.3% / 31.3%
Barangaroo — Bachelor Degree: 32.3% Sydney — Bachelor Degree: 31.3%
Postgraduate Degree 16.8% / 13.5%
Barangaroo — Postgraduate Degree: 16.8% Sydney — Postgraduate Degree: 13.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.1% / 14.5%
Barangaroo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.1% Sydney — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 14.5%
Certificate III & IV 1.8% / 4.3%
Barangaroo — Certificate III & IV: 1.8% Sydney — Certificate III & IV: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.8%
Barangaroo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Sydney — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

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.

Barangaroo Sydney
China 13.2% / 9.7%
Barangaroo — China: 13.2% Sydney — China: 9.7%
Indonesia — / 12.9%
Barangaroo — Indonesia: not among its largest Sydney — Indonesia: 12.9%
Thailand — / 12.4%
Barangaroo — Thailand: not among its largest Sydney — Thailand: 12.4%
India 1.8% / 3.5%
Barangaroo — India: 1.8% Sydney — India: 3.5%
England 2.3% / 2.4%
Barangaroo — England: 2.3% Sydney — England: 2.4%
Germany 3.6% / —
Barangaroo — Germany: 3.6% Sydney — Germany: not among its largest
Japan 3.6% / —
Barangaroo — Japan: 3.6% Sydney — Japan: not among its largest
Singapore 2.3% / —
Barangaroo — Singapore: 2.3% Sydney — Singapore: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Barangaroo 100.0% flats / apartments
Barangaroo — Flats / Apartments: 100.0% Barangaroo — Houses: 0.0%
Sydney 99.9% flats / apartments
Sydney — Flats / Apartments: 99.9% Sydney — Houses: 0.1%
Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Barangaroo Sydney
Median house price — $650,000
Median unit price $3,900,000 $1,050,000
Median land price —
same for both

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Barangaroo Sydney
1 bed $2.26M / $790K
Barangaroo — 1 bed: $2.26M (12 sales) Sydney — 1 bed: $790K (145 sales)

12 vs 145 sales

2 bed $4M / $1.26M
Barangaroo — 2 bed: $4M (14 sales) Sydney — 2 bed: $1.26M (125 sales)

14 vs 125 sales

3 bed $10.3M / $2.81M
Barangaroo — 3 bed: $10.3M (10 sales) Sydney — 3 bed: $2.81M (33 sales)

10 vs 33 sales

Zoning mix

Sydney has more commercially zoned land (51% vs 38%).

Barangaroo Sydney
Parks and recreation 61% 30%
Commercial 38% 51%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
Planning zones cover 99% of Barangaroo and 85% of Sydney. 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

Barangaroo Sydney
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
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.

Barangaroo Sydney
Houses —
same for both
Units 5.4%
$2,400/wk on $2.33M
 4.0%
$1,050/wk on $1.35M

Ranking within NSW

Barangaroo Sydney
House price Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 60% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW

Liveability

Barangaroo Sydney
Grade — A
Score — 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Barangaroo Sydney
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
99/100
 High
98/100
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 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Barangaroo Sydney
Inside the suburb 0 7
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 1.2 km
 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.0% 2.9%

Schools in Barangaroo

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

Schools in Sydney

  • St Andrew's Cathedral Gawura School Independent · Primary above peers
  • St Andrew's Cathedral School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Conservatorium High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Macquarie Grammar School Independent · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Cathedral College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Australian International High School Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Barangaroo Sydney
Supermarkets 1 17
Cafes & restaurants 32 465
Parks & reserves 2 36
Childcare 1 11
GPs 1 27
Pharmacies 1 33
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1 48
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 4

Mobility

Barangaroo Sydney
Walkability score 100/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 1.5 km
+27% vs other
 1.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 5 min 4 min
Public transport score 76/100
Rail · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 23.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2139.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 3 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 7.1%
postcode 2000
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 2000
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.

Barangaroo Sydney
Worked from Home 67.9% / 46.7%
Barangaroo — Worked from Home: 67.9% Sydney — Worked from Home: 46.7%
Walked Only 15.2% / 21.1%
Barangaroo — Walked Only: 15.2% Sydney — Walked Only: 21.1%
Car (driver) 13.4% / 8.2%
Barangaroo — Car (driver): 13.4% Sydney — Car (driver): 8.2%
Train 3.6% / 13.0%
Barangaroo — Train: 3.6% Sydney — Train: 13.0%
Bus — / 6.7%
Barangaroo — Bus: not among its largest Sydney — Bus: 6.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.9%).

Setting

Barangaroo Sydney
Elevation 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.2 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 5.0 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Barangaroo Sydney
Connectivity score 79/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
228 premises
 7%
33,598 premises

Climate

Barangaroo Sydney
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)

Barangaroo Sydney
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

Barangaroo Sydney
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Barangaroo Sydney
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Barangaroo Sydney
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Barangaroo

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Luxury Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Trains

Sydney

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Sydney

Sydney vs Surry Hills Sydney vs Pyrmont Sydney vs Darlinghurst Sydney vs Haymarket Sydney vs Ultimo Sydney vs Woolloomooloo
Full data on Barangaroo Full data on Sydney
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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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