Beacon Hill vs Brookvale

Brookvale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 41 in Beacon Hill. In Beacon Hill, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In Brookvale, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. Brookvale is closer to the city centre: 16.6 km, against 20.3 km. On these figures, Beacon Hill tends to suit families with children and couples, while Brookvale suits 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

Beacon Hill

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 18%)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Brookvale has more childcare (15 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Brookvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,050,000 vs $1,825,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brookvale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $730/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Brookvale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 61/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (16.6 km vs 20.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brookvale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (82% vs 11%)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 61/100)
  • But Beacon Hill carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 95/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Beacon Hill Brookvale
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.

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Walkability 61 / 92
Beacon Hill — Walkability: 61/100 Brookvale — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 73 / 5
Beacon Hill — Safety: 73/100 Brookvale — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 6 / 58
Beacon Hill — Low fire risk: 6/100 Brookvale — Low fire risk: 58/100

Demographics

Beacon Hill has more residents (7,814 vs 3,389); Beacon Hill has higher household incomes ($152,724 vs $110,604).

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Population 7,814
+57% vs other
 3,389
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +7.2%
Median age 41 37
Median household income $152,724/yr
+28% vs other
 $110,604/yr
Median weekly rent $730/wk
+25% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Beacon Hill Brookvale
0-4 5.6% / 6.7%
Beacon Hill — 0-4: 5.6% Brookvale — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 14.7% / 7.9%
Beacon Hill — 5-14: 14.7% Brookvale — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 7.2% / 3.8%
Beacon Hill — 15-19: 7.2% Brookvale — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 6.4% / 6.5%
Beacon Hill — 20-24: 6.4% Brookvale — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 8.3% / 21.4%
Beacon Hill — 25-34: 8.3% Brookvale — 25-34: 21.4%
35-44 12.7% / 18.3%
Beacon Hill — 35-44: 12.7% Brookvale — 35-44: 18.3%
45-54 16.0% / 12.6%
Beacon Hill — 45-54: 16.0% Brookvale — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 13.4% / 11.3%
Beacon Hill — 55-64: 13.4% Brookvale — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 8.3% / 6.7%
Beacon Hill — 65-74: 8.3% Brookvale — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 5.5% / 2.6%
Beacon Hill — 75-84: 5.5% Brookvale — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 2.1% / 2.7%
Beacon Hill — 85+: 2.1% Brookvale — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Beacon Hill 66.9% couple families
Beacon Hill — Couple Families: 66.9% Beacon Hill — Lone Person: 15.3% Beacon Hill — One Parent Families: 14.6% Beacon Hill — Group Household: 2.4% Beacon Hill — Other Families: 0.8%
Brookvale 34.2% couple families
Brookvale — Couple Families: 34.2% Brookvale — Lone Person: 42.9% Brookvale — One Parent Families: 14.5% Brookvale — Group Household: 6.8% Brookvale — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Beacon Hill 16.9% renting
Beacon Hill — Owned Outright: 37.9% Beacon Hill — Mortgage: 45.2% Beacon Hill — Renting: 16.9%
Brookvale 45.4% renting
Brookvale — Owned Outright: 16.4% Brookvale — Mortgage: 38.2% Brookvale — Renting: 45.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Beacon Hill Brookvale
England 5.5% / 5.9%
Beacon Hill — England: 5.5% Brookvale — England: 5.9%
China 2.6% / 3.3%
Beacon Hill — China: 2.6% Brookvale — China: 3.3%
Italy 2.3% / 2.2%
Beacon Hill — Italy: 2.3% Brookvale — Italy: 2.2%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.4%
Beacon Hill — New Zealand: 2.0% Brookvale — New Zealand: 2.4%
Philippines 1.7% / 2.6%
Beacon Hill — Philippines: 1.7% Brookvale — Philippines: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

Qualifications

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

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 19.9%
Beacon Hill — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Brookvale — Bachelor Degree: 19.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.1% / 12.9%
Beacon Hill — Certificate III & IV: 11.1% Brookvale — Certificate III & IV: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.8%
Beacon Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Brookvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 5.5% / 6.1%
Beacon Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5% Brookvale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.2%
Beacon Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Brookvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Beacon Hill 89.1% houses
Beacon Hill — Houses: 89.1% Beacon Hill — Flats / Apartments: 5.3% Beacon Hill — Townhouses: 5.6%
Brookvale 18.3% houses
Brookvale — Houses: 18.3% Brookvale — Flats / Apartments: 65.5% Brookvale — Townhouses: 16.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Median house price $2,400,000 $2,302,000
Median unit price $1,825,000 $1,050,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 33 sales
 23 days
from 4 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.

Beacon Hill Brookvale
3 bed $2.29M / $2.2M
Beacon Hill — 3 bed: $2.29M (21 sales) Brookvale — 3 bed: $2.2M (5 sales)

21 vs 5 sales

4 bed $2.4M / $2.37M
Beacon Hill — 4 bed: $2.4M (27 sales) Brookvale — 4 bed: $2.37M (7 sales)

27 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Brookvale has more industrially zoned land (55% vs 0%).

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Residential 71% 23%
Industrial 0% 55%
Parks and recreation 16% 6%
Other and special use 11% 0%
Commercial 0% 8%
Environmental 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
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

Beacon Hill Brookvale
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.

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Houses 3.7%
$1,500/wk on $2.1M
 —
Units — 4.3%
$732/wk on $890K

Ranking within NSW

Beacon Hill Brookvale
House price Higher than 88% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 57% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 35% of NSW

Liveability

Brookvale is more walkable (92 vs 61).

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Grade B
same for both
Score 59/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brookvale carries more crime risk (95 vs 27); Beacon Hill carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 42).

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Bushfire High
94/100
 Moderate
42/100
Crime Low
27/100
 High
95/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.9 km

Schools in Beacon Hill

  • Beacon Hill Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Brookvale

  • Brookvale Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Augustine's College Sydney Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 23
Parks & reserves 11 2
Childcare 3 15
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 6
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 2 3
Waterways 6 0

Mobility

Beacon Hill sits further from the CBD (20.3 km vs 16.6 km).

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Walkability score 61/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 20.3 km
+18% vs other
 16.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 28 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 177.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 300.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2100
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 2100
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.

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Car (driver) 45.2% / 42.1%
Beacon Hill — Car (driver): 45.2% Brookvale — Car (driver): 42.1%
Worked from Home 46.4% / 38.4%
Beacon Hill — Worked from Home: 46.4% Brookvale — Worked from Home: 38.4%
Walked Only 1.6% / 8.6%
Beacon Hill — Walked Only: 1.6% Brookvale — Walked Only: 8.6%
Bus 2.3% / 5.8%
Beacon Hill — Bus: 2.3% Brookvale — Bus: 5.8%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.5%
Beacon Hill — Car (passenger): 3.9% Brookvale — Car (passenger): 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.4%).

Setting

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Elevation 120 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.6 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Connectivity score 77/100 56/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
2,491 premises
 7%
4,530 premises

Climate

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Beacon Hill Brookvale
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 14.2 µg/m³ 13.8 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.23 pphm 0.84 pphm

Council rates

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Division Mackellar Warringah
Member Sophie Scamps Zali Steggall
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Beacon Hill Brookvale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Beacon Hill

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet River Transport Hub

Brookvale

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill vs Frenchs Forest Beacon Hill vs Allambie Heights Beacon Hill vs Narraweena Beacon Hill vs Oxford Falls

Other comparisons with Brookvale

Brookvale vs Dee Why Brookvale vs Allambie Heights Brookvale vs Narraweena Brookvale vs North Curl Curl Brookvale vs North Manly Brookvale vs Curl Curl
Full data on Beacon Hill Full data on Brookvale
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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