Chippendale vs Surry Hills

Chippendale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 35 in Surry Hills. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Surry Hills is closer to the city centre: 2.9 km, against 3.5 km. On these figures, Chippendale tends to suit renters and young adults.

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

Surry Hills

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 4)
  • But Chippendale carries lower crime risk (83/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chippendale has cheaper houses ($1,840,000 vs $2,432,500)
  • Surry Hills leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 35%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chippendale has a bigger rental market to choose from (78% vs 67%)
  • Surry Hills leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 32%)

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

Surry Hills

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (10% vs 3%)
  • But Chippendale carries lower crime risk (83/100 vs 94/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chippendale returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 4.4%)
  • Surry Hills is growing faster (-3.6% vs -9.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Chippendale Surry Hills
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.

Chippendale Surry Hills
Walkability 98 / 100
Chippendale — Walkability: 98/100 Surry Hills — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 17 / 6
Chippendale — Safety: 17/100 Surry Hills — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Chippendale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Surry Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Surry Hills has more residents (15,828 vs 7,803); Surry Hills has higher household incomes ($120,016 vs $83,512).

Chippendale Surry Hills
Population 7,803 15,828
+103% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -9.4% -3.6%
Median age 28 35
Median household income $83,512/yr $120,016/yr
+44% vs other
Median weekly rent $520/wk $550/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chippendale Surry Hills
0-4 2.0% / 2.4%
Chippendale — 0-4: 2.0% Surry Hills — 0-4: 2.4%
5-14 1.5% / 3.2%
Chippendale — 5-14: 1.5% Surry Hills — 5-14: 3.2%
15-19 3.3% / 1.3%
Chippendale — 15-19: 3.3% Surry Hills — 15-19: 1.3%
20-24 25.6% / 8.1%
Chippendale — 20-24: 25.6% Surry Hills — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 39.5% / 32.6%
Chippendale — 25-34: 39.5% Surry Hills — 25-34: 32.6%
35-44 14.1% / 19.7%
Chippendale — 35-44: 14.1% Surry Hills — 35-44: 19.7%
45-54 6.2% / 12.7%
Chippendale — 45-54: 6.2% Surry Hills — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 4.4% / 9.5%
Chippendale — 55-64: 4.4% Surry Hills — 55-64: 9.5%
65-74 2.5% / 5.7%
Chippendale — 65-74: 2.5% Surry Hills — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 0.7% / 3.3%
Chippendale — 75-84: 0.7% Surry Hills — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 0.2% / 1.5%
Chippendale — 85+: 0.2% Surry Hills — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (39.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chippendale 63.7% lone person
Chippendale — Lone Person: 63.7% Chippendale — Group Household: 22.0% Chippendale — Couple Families: 7.2% Chippendale — One Parent Families: 3.5% Chippendale — Other Families: 3.6%
Surry Hills 66.1% lone person
Surry Hills — Lone Person: 66.1% Surry Hills — Group Household: 17.2% Surry Hills — Couple Families: 10.6% Surry Hills — One Parent Families: 4.4% Surry Hills — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chippendale 78.0% renting
Chippendale — Owned Outright: 9.0% Chippendale — Mortgage: 13.0% Chippendale — Renting: 78.0%
Surry Hills 67.1% renting
Surry Hills — Owned Outright: 14.1% Surry Hills — Mortgage: 18.8% Surry Hills — Renting: 67.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Chippendale Surry Hills
Bachelor Degree 33.5% / 34.0%
Chippendale — Bachelor Degree: 33.5% Surry Hills — Bachelor Degree: 34.0%
Postgraduate Degree 17.5% / 14.9%
Chippendale — Postgraduate Degree: 17.5% Surry Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 14.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.2%
Chippendale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Surry Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 5.2%
Chippendale — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Surry Hills — Certificate III & IV: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 3.0%
Chippendale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Surry Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.0%).

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.

Chippendale Surry Hills
China 19.6% / 3.3%
Chippendale — China: 19.6% Surry Hills — China: 3.3%
England 2.3% / 6.4%
Chippendale — England: 2.3% Surry Hills — England: 6.4%
Indonesia 5.6% / 1.4%
Chippendale — Indonesia: 5.6% Surry Hills — Indonesia: 1.4%
Thailand 3.0% / 3.0%
Chippendale — Thailand: 3.0% Surry Hills — Thailand: 3.0%
New Zealand 2.2% / 3.4%
Chippendale — New Zealand: 2.2% Surry Hills — New Zealand: 3.4%
Malaysia 2.4% / 1.2%
Chippendale — Malaysia: 2.4% Surry Hills — Malaysia: 1.2%
India 2.4% / —
Chippendale — India: 2.4% Surry Hills — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chippendale 90.1% flats / apartments
Chippendale — Flats / Apartments: 90.1% Chippendale — Townhouses: 9.8% Chippendale — Houses: 0.1%
Surry Hills 69.8% flats / apartments
Surry Hills — Flats / Apartments: 69.8% Surry Hills — Townhouses: 29.1% Surry Hills — Houses: 1.1%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Chippendale Surry Hills
Median house price $1,840,000 $2,432,500
Median unit price $880,000 $935,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 15 sales
 22 days
from 68 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.

Chippendale Surry Hills
2 bed $1.53M / $1.99M
Chippendale — 2 bed: $1.53M (6 sales) Surry Hills — 2 bed: $1.99M (46 sales)

6 vs 46 sales

3 bed $1.89M / $2.58M
Chippendale — 3 bed: $1.89M (14 sales) Surry Hills — 3 bed: $2.58M (61 sales)

14 vs 61 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.

Chippendale Surry Hills
1 bed $665K / $795K
Chippendale — 1 bed: $665K (89 sales) Surry Hills — 1 bed: $795K (163 sales)

89 vs 163 sales

2 bed $1.1M / $1.47M
Chippendale — 2 bed: $1.1M (69 sales) Surry Hills — 2 bed: $1.47M (104 sales)

69 vs 104 sales

3 bed $1.75M / $2.06M
Chippendale — 3 bed: $1.75M (19 sales) Surry Hills — 3 bed: $2.06M (7 sales)

19 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Chippendale Surry Hills
Residential 52% 84%
Infrastructure and transport 27% 4%
Parks and recreation 3% 8%
Commercial 5% 3%
Planning zones cover 86% of Chippendale and 100% of Surry Hills. 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

Chippendale Surry Hills
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.

Chippendale Surry Hills
Houses 3.5%
$1,200/wk on $1.8M
 3.1%
$1,272/wk on $2.1M
Units 5.6%
$950/wk on $875K
 4.4%
$810/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Chippendale Surry Hills
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 51% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 79% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 43% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Chippendale Surry Hills
Grade A
same for both
Score 80/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Surry Hills carries more crime risk (94 vs 83).

Chippendale Surry Hills
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
83/100
 High
94/100
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 7
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Chippendale Surry Hills
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
University of Technology Sydney (City Campus), 0.8 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 16.6% 2.6%

Schools in Chippendale

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

Schools in Surry Hills

  • Crown Street Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Sydney Distance Education Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Bourke Street Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Inner Sydney High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Oasis College Surry Hills Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Chippendale Surry Hills
Supermarkets 2 8
Cafes & restaurants 71 155
Parks & reserves 5 15
Childcare 4 10
GPs 1 10
Pharmacies 1 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 4
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Chippendale Surry Hills
Walkability score 98/100 100/100
Distance to Sydney 3.5 km
+17% vs other
 2.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 10 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 169.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 414.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 2008
 3.1%
postcode 2010
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 2
postcode 2008
 2
postcode 2010

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.

Chippendale Surry Hills
Worked from Home 59.8% / 64.8%
Chippendale — Worked from Home: 59.8% Surry Hills — Worked from Home: 64.8%
Walked Only 12.0% / 12.5%
Chippendale — Walked Only: 12.0% Surry Hills — Walked Only: 12.5%
Car (driver) 10.1% / 10.0%
Chippendale — Car (driver): 10.1% Surry Hills — Car (driver): 10.0%
Train 8.8% / 5.6%
Chippendale — Train: 8.8% Surry Hills — Train: 5.6%
Bus 5.1% / 3.1%
Chippendale — Bus: 5.1% Surry Hills — Bus: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Chippendale Surry Hills
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.5 km
4.3 km to a named beach
 5.6 km
3.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Chippendale Surry Hills
Connectivity score 75/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 16%
3,133 premises
 10%
14,268 premises

Climate

Chippendale Surry Hills
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)

Chippendale Surry Hills
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

Chippendale Surry Hills
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Chippendale Surry Hills
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Chippendale Surry Hills
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Chippendale

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals Students Transport Hub Urban

Surry Hills

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chippendale

Chippendale vs Redfern Chippendale vs Glebe Chippendale vs Camperdown Chippendale vs Haymarket Chippendale vs Ultimo Chippendale vs Darlington

Other comparisons with Surry Hills

Surry Hills vs Sydney Surry Hills vs Redfern Surry Hills vs Paddington Surry Hills vs Darlinghurst Surry Hills vs Haymarket
Full data on Chippendale Full data on Surry Hills
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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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