Collaroy vs Collaroy Plateau

Collaroy Plateau is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Collaroy. In both, most households own their home. In Collaroy, about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Collaroy Plateau, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Collaroy: a median of $3.82 million, against $2.81 million in Collaroy Plateau, though rent is higher in Collaroy Plateau. On these figures, Collaroy tends to suit people living alone, while Collaroy Plateau suits families with children, couples, 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

Collaroy Plateau

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 42%)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 34/100)
  • But Collaroy has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Collaroy Plateau

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,807,500 vs $3,822,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Collaroy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($600/wk vs $800/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Collaroy Plateau

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Collaroy has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 6%)
  • Collaroy Plateau carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 34/100)

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

Investors

Collaroy Plateau

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
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.

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Walkability 60 / 82
Collaroy — Walkability: 60/100 Collaroy Plateau — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 66 / 82
Collaroy — Safety: 66/100 Collaroy Plateau — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Collaroy — Low fire risk: 100/100 Collaroy Plateau — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Collaroy has more residents (7,944 vs 4,805); Collaroy Plateau has higher household incomes ($170,456 vs $123,344).

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Population 7,944
+40% vs other
 4,805
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +0.8%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $123,344/yr $170,456/yr
+38% vs other
Median weekly rent $600/wk $800/wk
+33% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
0-4 5.2% / 5.9%
Collaroy — 0-4: 5.2% Collaroy Plateau — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 10.0% / 16.4%
Collaroy — 5-14: 10.0% Collaroy Plateau — 5-14: 16.4%
15-19 6.3% / 8.1%
Collaroy — 15-19: 6.3% Collaroy Plateau — 15-19: 8.1%
20-24 5.8% / 5.9%
Collaroy — 20-24: 5.8% Collaroy Plateau — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 12.9% / 7.6%
Collaroy — 25-34: 12.9% Collaroy Plateau — 25-34: 7.6%
35-44 12.3% / 13.9%
Collaroy — 35-44: 12.3% Collaroy Plateau — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 14.4% / 17.2%
Collaroy — 45-54: 14.4% Collaroy Plateau — 45-54: 17.2%
55-64 13.3% / 11.9%
Collaroy — 55-64: 13.3% Collaroy Plateau — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 10.3% / 7.6%
Collaroy — 65-74: 10.3% Collaroy Plateau — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 6.3% / 4.3%
Collaroy — 75-84: 6.3% Collaroy Plateau — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 3.3% / 1.5%
Collaroy — 85+: 3.3% Collaroy Plateau — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Collaroy 44.0% couple families
Collaroy — Couple Families: 44.0% Collaroy — Lone Person: 35.0% Collaroy — One Parent Families: 14.0% Collaroy — Group Household: 4.9% Collaroy — Other Families: 2.0%
Collaroy Plateau 71.2% couple families
Collaroy Plateau — Couple Families: 71.2% Collaroy Plateau — Lone Person: 14.5% Collaroy Plateau — One Parent Families: 12.2% Collaroy Plateau — Group Household: 1.8% Collaroy Plateau — Other Families: 0.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Collaroy 30.7% renting
Collaroy — Owned Outright: 37.8% Collaroy — Mortgage: 31.5% Collaroy — Renting: 30.7%
Collaroy Plateau 12.7% renting
Collaroy Plateau — Owned Outright: 38.2% Collaroy Plateau — Mortgage: 49.0% Collaroy Plateau — Renting: 12.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 16.8%
Collaroy — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Collaroy Plateau — Bachelor Degree: 16.8%
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 12.5%
Collaroy — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Collaroy Plateau — Certificate III & IV: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 9.4%
Collaroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Collaroy Plateau — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 4.5%
Collaroy — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Collaroy Plateau — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.2%
Collaroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Collaroy Plateau — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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.

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
England 6.4% / 6.3%
Collaroy — England: 6.4% Collaroy Plateau — England: 6.3%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.1%
Collaroy — New Zealand: 2.2% Collaroy Plateau — New Zealand: 2.1%
China 1.2% / 1.4%
Collaroy — China: 1.2% Collaroy Plateau — China: 1.4%
Italy 1.3% / 1.2%
Collaroy — Italy: 1.3% Collaroy Plateau — Italy: 1.2%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.2%
Collaroy — South Africa: 1.2% Collaroy Plateau — South Africa: 1.2%
Brazil 1.6% / —
Collaroy — Brazil: 1.6% Collaroy Plateau — Brazil: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Collaroy 41.7% houses
Collaroy — Houses: 41.7% Collaroy — Flats / Apartments: 54.0% Collaroy — Townhouses: 4.3%
Collaroy Plateau 94.3% houses
Collaroy Plateau — Houses: 94.3% Collaroy Plateau — Flats / Apartments: 3.1% Collaroy Plateau — Townhouses: 2.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Median house price $3,822,500 $2,807,500
Median unit price $1,205,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 38 sales
 24 days
from 32 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.

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
3 bed $4M / $2.43M
Collaroy — 3 bed: $4M (7 sales) Collaroy Plateau — 3 bed: $2.43M (23 sales)

7 vs 23 sales

4 bed $3.4M / $2.77M
Collaroy — 4 bed: $3.4M (11 sales) Collaroy Plateau — 4 bed: $2.77M (35 sales)

11 vs 35 sales

5 bed $4.16M / $3.38M
Collaroy — 5 bed: $4.16M (23 sales) Collaroy Plateau — 5 bed: $3.38M (33 sales)

23 vs 33 sales

Zoning mix

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Residential 52% 95%
Parks and recreation 35% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 0%
Commercial 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Collaroy and 100% of Collaroy Plateau. 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

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
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.

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Houses 3.2%
$2,150/wk on $3.5M
 4.0%
$2,070/wk on $2.7M
Units 3.9%
$900/wk on $1.2M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 20% of NSW —

Liveability

Collaroy Plateau is more walkable (82 vs 60); Collaroy Plateau scores higher overall (90 vs 81).

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Grade A A+
Score 81/100 90/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Collaroy carries more crime risk (34 vs 18).

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
34/100
 Low
18/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
44/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Collaroy

  • Pittwater House Schools Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Collaroy Plateau

  • Collaroy Plateau Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 15 2
Parks & reserves 9 3
Childcare 0 6
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Walkability score 60/100 82/100
Distance to Sydney 20.9 km 21.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 36 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 208.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 121.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2097
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2097
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.

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Worked from Home 47.3% / 46.1%
Collaroy — Worked from Home: 47.3% Collaroy Plateau — Worked from Home: 46.1%
Car (driver) 43.9% / 46.3%
Collaroy — Car (driver): 43.9% Collaroy Plateau — Car (driver): 46.3%
Bus 3.9% / 2.1%
Collaroy — Bus: 3.9% Collaroy Plateau — Bus: 2.1%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 3.1%
Collaroy — Car (passenger): 2.6% Collaroy Plateau — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Walked Only 1.7% / 2.2%
Collaroy — Walked Only: 1.7% Collaroy Plateau — Walked Only: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.3%).

Setting

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 509 m
950 m to a named beach
 956 m
969 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Connectivity score 75/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
3,600 premises
 12%
1,562 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 5.4 µg/m³
PM10 13.8 µg/m³ 14.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.84 pphm 0.23 pphm

Council rates

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Collaroy Collaroy Plateau
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Collaroy

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub

Collaroy Plateau

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Family Middle-Ring Parks Premium Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Collaroy Plateau

Collaroy Plateau vs Narrabeen Collaroy Plateau vs Cromer Collaroy Plateau vs Wheeler Heights
Full data on Collaroy Full data on Collaroy Plateau
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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