Centennial Park vs Paddington

In Centennial Park, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Paddington, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Paddington is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 8.3 km. On these figures, Centennial Park tends to suit renters 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

Paddington

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Centennial Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($840,500 vs $1,305,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Centennial Park

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $650/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 46%)

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

Commuting to the city

Paddington

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.6 km vs 8.3 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (11 min vs 19 min)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 62/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Paddington

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 62/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Centennial Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.7% vs 3.1%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Centennial Park Paddington
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.

Centennial Park Paddington
Walkability 62 / 96
Centennial Park — Walkability: 62/100 Paddington — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 32 / 43
Centennial Park — Safety: 32/100 Paddington — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Centennial Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 Paddington — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Paddington has more residents (12,701 vs 2,225); Paddington has higher household incomes ($162,812 vs $112,008).

Centennial Park Paddington
Population 2,225 12,701
+471% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.4% -1.6%
Median age 36 38
Median household income $112,008/yr $162,812/yr
+45% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $650/wk
+30% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park Paddington
0-4 4.8% / 4.7%
Centennial Park — 0-4: 4.8% Paddington — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 7.5% / 8.4%
Centennial Park — 5-14: 7.5% Paddington — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 4.2% / 3.5%
Centennial Park — 15-19: 4.2% Paddington — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 6.4% / 6.2%
Centennial Park — 20-24: 6.4% Paddington — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 23.6% / 21.7%
Centennial Park — 25-34: 23.6% Paddington — 25-34: 21.7%
35-44 16.4% / 16.0%
Centennial Park — 35-44: 16.4% Paddington — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 14.2% / 13.7%
Centennial Park — 45-54: 14.2% Paddington — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 9.4% / 10.5%
Centennial Park — 55-64: 9.4% Paddington — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 7.4% / 8.1%
Centennial Park — 65-74: 7.4% Paddington — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 4.3% / 5.3%
Centennial Park — 75-84: 4.3% Paddington — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 1.5% / 1.9%
Centennial Park — 85+: 1.5% Paddington — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park 59.9% lone person
Centennial Park — Lone Person: 59.9% Centennial Park — Couple Families: 22.3% Centennial Park — Group Household: 8.6% Centennial Park — One Parent Families: 8.0% Centennial Park — Other Families: 1.3%
Paddington 50.9% lone person
Paddington — Lone Person: 50.9% Paddington — Couple Families: 27.9% Paddington — Group Household: 11.5% Paddington — One Parent Families: 8.6% Paddington — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park 56.1% renting
Centennial Park — Owned Outright: 22.2% Centennial Park — Mortgage: 21.7% Centennial Park — Renting: 56.1%
Paddington 45.9% renting
Paddington — Owned Outright: 27.9% Paddington — Mortgage: 26.2% Paddington — Renting: 45.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Centennial Park Paddington
Bachelor Degree 30.4% / 34.7%
Centennial Park — Bachelor Degree: 30.4% Paddington — Bachelor Degree: 34.7%
Postgraduate Degree 13.0% / 15.7%
Centennial Park — Postgraduate Degree: 13.0% Paddington — Postgraduate Degree: 15.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 6.6%
Centennial Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Paddington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Certificate III & IV 6.0% / 3.5%
Centennial Park — Certificate III & IV: 6.0% Paddington — Certificate III & IV: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.0%
Centennial Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Paddington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.7%).

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.

Centennial Park Paddington
England 6.1% / 8.0%
Centennial Park — England: 6.1% Paddington — England: 8.0%
New Zealand 2.6% / 3.5%
Centennial Park — New Zealand: 2.6% Paddington — New Zealand: 3.5%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.2%
Centennial Park — South Africa: 1.2% Paddington — South Africa: 1.2%
France 0.9% / 0.9%
Centennial Park — France: 0.9% Paddington — France: 0.9%
Ireland 0.9% / 0.8%
Centennial Park — Ireland: 0.9% Paddington — Ireland: 0.8%
Philippines 1.3% / —
Centennial Park — Philippines: 1.3% Paddington — Philippines: not among its largest
China 1.2% / —
Centennial Park — China: 1.2% Paddington — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Centennial Park 80.8% flats / apartments
Centennial Park — Flats / Apartments: 80.8% Centennial Park — Townhouses: 10.1% Centennial Park — Houses: 9.1%
Paddington 33.0% flats / apartments
Paddington — Flats / Apartments: 33.0% Paddington — Townhouses: 60.5% Paddington — Houses: 6.6%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Centennial Park Paddington
Median house price $3,688,500 $3,440,000
Median unit price $840,500 $1,305,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 21 days
from 108 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.

Centennial Park Paddington
1 bed $685K / $714K
Centennial Park — 1 bed: $685K (37 sales) Paddington — 1 bed: $714K (42 sales)

37 vs 42 sales

2 bed $1.14M / $1.42M
Centennial Park — 2 bed: $1.14M (24 sales) Paddington — 2 bed: $1.42M (47 sales)

24 vs 47 sales

Zoning mix

Centennial Park Paddington
Parks and recreation 85% 12%
Residential 13% 74%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 14%
Commercial 0% 1%
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

Centennial Park Paddington
New dwellings approved 455
across Randwick
 222
across Woollahra
Approvals change year on year -26% -21%

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.

Centennial Park Paddington
Houses — 2.8%
$1,750/wk on $3.2M
Units 5.7%
$750/wk on $680K
 3.1%
$652/wk on $1.1M

Ranking within NSW

Centennial Park Paddington
House price Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 34% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 16% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW

Liveability

Paddington is more walkable (96 vs 62); Centennial Park scores higher overall (77 vs 71).

Centennial Park Paddington
Grade A
same for both
Score 77/100 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Centennial Park carries more crime risk (68 vs 57).

Centennial Park Paddington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
57/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Centennial Park Paddington
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of New South Wales, 2.1 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 2.9%

Schools in Centennial Park

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

Schools in Paddington

  • Glenmore Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Francis of Assisi Regional Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Paddington Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Grammar School - Edgecliff Preparatory School Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Centennial Park Paddington
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 3 41
Parks & reserves 6 18
Childcare 4 7
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Centennial Park sits further from the CBD (8.3 km vs 4.6 km).

Centennial Park Paddington
Walkability score 62/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 8.3 km
+45% vs other
 4.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 11 min
Public transport score 93/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 103.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 285.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 2021
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 6
postcode 2021
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.

Centennial Park Paddington
Worked from Home 56.9% / 68.5%
Centennial Park — Worked from Home: 56.9% Paddington — Worked from Home: 68.5%
Car (driver) 25.9% / 14.7%
Centennial Park — Car (driver): 25.9% Paddington — Car (driver): 14.7%
Walked Only 5.8% / 8.6%
Centennial Park — Walked Only: 5.8% Paddington — Walked Only: 8.6%
Bus 4.7% / 3.7%
Centennial Park — Bus: 4.7% Paddington — Bus: 3.7%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 1.5%
Centennial Park — Car (passenger): 2.3% Paddington — Car (passenger): 1.5%
Train 1.6% / 1.7%
Centennial Park — Train: 1.6% Paddington — Train: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.5%).

Setting

Centennial Park Paddington
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 59 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.2 km
2.8 km to a named beach
 4.3 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Centennial Park Paddington
Connectivity score 75/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,338 premises
 3%
7,731 premises

Climate

Centennial Park Paddington
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)

Centennial Park Paddington
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

Centennial Park Paddington
Average residential rate $1,641/yr $1,812/yr
Council Randwick Woollahra

Federal electorate

Centennial Park Paddington
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Centennial Park Paddington
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Centennial Park

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub

Paddington

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Centennial Park

Centennial Park vs Randwick Centennial Park vs Kensington Centennial Park vs Bondi Junction Centennial Park vs Woollahra Centennial Park vs Queens Park

Other comparisons with Paddington

Paddington vs Surry Hills Paddington vs Darlinghurst Paddington vs Woollahra Paddington vs Edgecliff Paddington vs Rushcutters Bay
Full data on Centennial Park Full data on Paddington
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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