Collaroy vs Dee Why

Dee Why is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 43 in Collaroy. In Collaroy, most households own their home and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Dee Why, about half of households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. Units cost more in Collaroy: a median of $1.21 million, against $982,000 in Dee Why, and rent is higher there too. Dee Why is closer to the city centre: 18.4 km, against 20.9 km. On these figures, Dee Why tends to suit renters, 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

Dee Why

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 9)
  • But Collaroy has more separate houses rather than flats (42% vs 15%)

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

First-home buyers

Dee Why

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,520,000 vs $3,822,500)
  • has cheaper units ($982,500 vs $1,205,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Dee Why

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Dee Why

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 60/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (18.4 km vs 20.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Dee Why

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 60/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (85% vs 58%)
  • But Collaroy has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Dee Why

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.5% vs 0.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.4% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Collaroy and Dee Why 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 Dee Why
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 Dee Why
Walkability 60 / 90
Collaroy — Walkability: 60/100 Dee Why — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 66 / 57
Collaroy — Safety: 66/100 Dee Why — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Collaroy — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dee Why — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Dee Why has more residents (23,354 vs 7,944); Collaroy skews older (43 vs 36).

Collaroy Dee Why
Population 7,944 23,354
+194% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +8.5%
Median age 43 36
Median household income $123,344/yr
+11% vs other
 $109,512/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+8% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Collaroy Dee Why
0-4 5.2% / 6.3%
Collaroy — 0-4: 5.2% Dee Why — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 10.0% / 8.7%
Collaroy — 5-14: 10.0% Dee Why — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 6.3% / 3.7%
Collaroy — 15-19: 6.3% Dee Why — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 5.8% / 6.3%
Collaroy — 20-24: 5.8% Dee Why — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 12.9% / 21.1%
Collaroy — 25-34: 12.9% Dee Why — 25-34: 21.1%
35-44 12.3% / 18.0%
Collaroy — 35-44: 12.3% Dee Why — 35-44: 18.0%
45-54 14.4% / 13.0%
Collaroy — 45-54: 14.4% Dee Why — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 13.3% / 10.9%
Collaroy — 55-64: 13.3% Dee Why — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 10.3% / 6.8%
Collaroy — 65-74: 10.3% Dee Why — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 6.3% / 3.7%
Collaroy — 75-84: 6.3% Dee Why — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 3.3% / 1.5%
Collaroy — 85+: 3.3% Dee Why — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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%
Dee Why 35.7% couple families
Dee Why — Couple Families: 35.7% Dee Why — Lone Person: 40.7% Dee Why — One Parent Families: 13.9% Dee Why — Group Household: 8.1% Dee Why — Other Families: 1.6%
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%
Dee Why 48.5% renting
Dee Why — Owned Outright: 21.5% Dee Why — Mortgage: 30.0% Dee Why — Renting: 48.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Collaroy Dee Why
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 21.2%
Collaroy — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Dee Why — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 11.4%
Collaroy — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Dee Why — Certificate III & IV: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 10.5%
Collaroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Dee Why — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 7.5%
Collaroy — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Dee Why — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.1%
Collaroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Dee Why — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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 Dee Why
England 6.4% / 5.9%
Collaroy — England: 6.4% Dee Why — England: 5.9%
Brazil 1.6% / 4.2%
Collaroy — Brazil: 1.6% Dee Why — Brazil: 4.2%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.6%
Collaroy — New Zealand: 2.2% Dee Why — New Zealand: 2.6%
China 1.2% / 3.6%
Collaroy — China: 1.2% Dee Why — China: 3.6%
Nepal — / 3.2%
Collaroy — Nepal: not among its largest Dee Why — Nepal: 3.2%
India — / 3.2%
Collaroy — India: not among its largest Dee Why — India: 3.2%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.3%
Collaroy — South Africa: 1.2% Dee Why — South Africa: 1.3%
Italy 1.3% / —
Collaroy — Italy: 1.3% Dee Why — Italy: 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 54.0% flats / apartments
Collaroy — Flats / Apartments: 54.0% Collaroy — Houses: 41.7% Collaroy — Townhouses: 4.3%
Dee Why 82.2% flats / apartments
Dee Why — Flats / Apartments: 82.2% Dee Why — Houses: 15.3% Dee Why — Townhouses: 2.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Collaroy Dee Why
Median house price $3,822,500 $2,520,000
Median unit price $1,205,000 $982,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 38 sales
 21 days
from 37 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 Dee Why
3 bed $4M / $2.33M
Collaroy — 3 bed: $4M (7 sales) Dee Why — 3 bed: $2.33M (20 sales)

7 vs 20 sales

4 bed $3.4M / $2.69M
Collaroy — 4 bed: $3.4M (11 sales) Dee Why — 4 bed: $2.69M (14 sales)

11 vs 14 sales

5 bed $4.16M / $2.98M
Collaroy — 5 bed: $4.16M (23 sales) Dee Why — 5 bed: $2.98M (5 sales)

23 vs 5 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.

Collaroy Dee Why
1 bed $838K / $770K
Collaroy — 1 bed: $838K (10 sales) Dee Why — 1 bed: $770K (109 sales)

10 vs 109 sales

2 bed $1.2M / $1.05M
Collaroy — 2 bed: $1.2M (77 sales) Dee Why — 2 bed: $1.05M (285 sales)

77 vs 285 sales

3 bed $3.05M / $1.7M
Collaroy — 3 bed: $3.05M (16 sales) Dee Why — 3 bed: $1.7M (36 sales)

16 vs 36 sales

Zoning mix

Collaroy Dee Why
Residential 52% 81%
Parks and recreation 35% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 2%
Commercial 1%
same for both
Industrial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Collaroy and 100% of Dee Why. 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 Dee Why
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 Dee Why
Houses 3.2%
$2,150/wk on $3.5M
 4.0%
$1,550/wk on $2M
Units 3.9%
$900/wk on $1.2M
 4.4%
$825/wk on $970K

Ranking within NSW

Collaroy Dee Why
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 54% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW

Liveability

Dee Why is more walkable (90 vs 60); Collaroy scores higher overall (81 vs 75).

Collaroy Dee Why
Grade A
same for both
Score 81/100 75/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Collaroy Dee Why
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
34/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
42/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Collaroy Dee Why
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Collaroy

  • Pittwater House Schools Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Dee Why

  • St Kevin's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Dee Why Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Luke's Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Fisher Road School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Collaroy Dee Why
Supermarkets 0 8
Cafes & restaurants 15 32
Parks & reserves 9 12
Childcare 0 9
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 1 9
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Collaroy sits further from the CBD (20.9 km vs 18.4 km).

Collaroy Dee Why
Walkability score 60/100 90/100
Distance to Sydney 20.9 km
+12% vs other
 18.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 30 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 208.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 472.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2097
 1.4%
postcode 2099
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2097
 17
postcode 2099

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 Dee Why
Car (driver) 43.9% / 42.5%
Collaroy — Car (driver): 43.9% Dee Why — Car (driver): 42.5%
Worked from Home 47.3% / 38.2%
Collaroy — Worked from Home: 47.3% Dee Why — Worked from Home: 38.2%
Bus 3.9% / 10.0%
Collaroy — Bus: 3.9% Dee Why — Bus: 10.0%
Walked Only 1.7% / 4.7%
Collaroy — Walked Only: 1.7% Dee Why — Walked Only: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 3.2%
Collaroy — Car (passenger): 2.6% Dee Why — Car (passenger): 3.2%

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

Setting

Collaroy Dee Why
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 509 m
950 m to a named beach
 694 m
886 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Collaroy Dee Why
Connectivity score 75/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
3,600 premises
 11%
11,525 premises

Climate

Collaroy Dee Why
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 Dee Why
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

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

Federal electorate

Collaroy Dee Why
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Collaroy Dee Why
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

Dee Why

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Collaroy

Collaroy vs Narrabeen Collaroy vs Cromer Collaroy vs Collaroy Plateau

Other comparisons with Dee Why

Dee Why vs Cromer Dee Why vs Narraweena Dee Why vs North Curl Curl Dee Why vs Brookvale
Full data on Collaroy Full data on Dee Why
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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