Collaroy Plateau vs Cromer

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Collaroy Plateau: a median of $2.81 million, against $2.4 million in Cromer, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Collaroy Plateau tends to suit couples.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 33/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 78%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (83% vs 72%)
  • But Cromer has more parks and reserves (24 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Cromer

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,400,000 vs $2,807,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cromer

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($650/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 50/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Collaroy Plateau carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 33/100)
  • Cromer has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Cromer

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.8% vs 0.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Collaroy Plateau and Cromer 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 Plateau Cromer
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 Plateau Cromer
Walkability 82 / 50
Collaroy Plateau — Walkability: 82/100 Cromer — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 82 / 67
Collaroy Plateau — Safety: 82/100 Cromer — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 100 / 8
Collaroy Plateau — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cromer — Low fire risk: 8/100

Demographics

Cromer has more residents (8,030 vs 4,805); Collaroy Plateau has higher household incomes ($170,456 vs $129,116).

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Population 4,805 8,030
+67% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.8% +5.8%
Median age 40 41
Median household income $170,456/yr
+24% vs other
 $129,116/yr
Median weekly rent $800/wk
+19% vs other
 $650/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
0-4 5.9% / 6.0%
Collaroy Plateau — 0-4: 5.9% Cromer — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 16.4% / 14.9%
Collaroy Plateau — 5-14: 16.4% Cromer — 5-14: 14.9%
15-19 8.1% / 7.3%
Collaroy Plateau — 15-19: 8.1% Cromer — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 5.9% / 5.1%
Collaroy Plateau — 20-24: 5.9% Cromer — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 7.6% / 8.1%
Collaroy Plateau — 25-34: 7.6% Cromer — 25-34: 8.1%
35-44 13.9% / 13.3%
Collaroy Plateau — 35-44: 13.9% Cromer — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 17.2% / 15.7%
Collaroy Plateau — 45-54: 17.2% Cromer — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 11.9% / 11.1%
Collaroy Plateau — 55-64: 11.9% Cromer — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 7.6% / 9.1%
Collaroy Plateau — 65-74: 7.6% Cromer — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 4.3% / 6.8%
Collaroy Plateau — 75-84: 4.3% Cromer — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 1.5% / 2.7%
Collaroy Plateau — 85+: 1.5% Cromer — 85+: 2.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Cromer 60.2% couple families
Cromer — Couple Families: 60.2% Cromer — Lone Person: 24.7% Cromer — One Parent Families: 12.2% Cromer — Group Household: 2.1% Cromer — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Collaroy Plateau 12.7% renting
Collaroy Plateau — Owned Outright: 38.2% Collaroy Plateau — Mortgage: 49.0% Collaroy Plateau — Renting: 12.7%
Cromer 16.2% renting
Cromer — Owned Outright: 38.8% Cromer — Mortgage: 45.0% Cromer — Renting: 16.2%
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.

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
England 6.3% / 6.5%
Collaroy Plateau — England: 6.3% Cromer — England: 6.5%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.0%
Collaroy Plateau — New Zealand: 2.1% Cromer — New Zealand: 2.0%
Italy 1.2% / 1.4%
Collaroy Plateau — Italy: 1.2% Cromer — Italy: 1.4%
China 1.4% / 1.0%
Collaroy Plateau — China: 1.4% Cromer — China: 1.0%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.1%
Collaroy Plateau — South Africa: 1.2% Cromer — South Africa: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.5%).

Qualifications

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

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Bachelor Degree 16.8% / 15.6%
Collaroy Plateau — Bachelor Degree: 16.8% Cromer — Bachelor Degree: 15.6%
Certificate III & IV 12.5% / 12.8%
Collaroy Plateau — Certificate III & IV: 12.5% Cromer — Certificate III & IV: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.7%
Collaroy Plateau — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Cromer — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.5% / 4.2%
Collaroy Plateau — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5% Cromer — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.8%
Collaroy Plateau — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Cromer — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Collaroy Plateau 94.3% houses
Collaroy Plateau — Houses: 94.3% Collaroy Plateau — Townhouses: 2.6% Collaroy Plateau — Flats / Apartments: 3.1%
Cromer 78.1% houses
Cromer — Houses: 78.1% Cromer — Townhouses: 12.3% Cromer — Flats / Apartments: 9.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Median house price $2,807,500 $2,400,000
Median unit price — $925,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 32 sales
 22 days
from 59 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 Plateau Cromer
3 bed $2.43M / $2.1M
Collaroy Plateau — 3 bed: $2.43M (23 sales) Cromer — 3 bed: $2.1M (42 sales)

23 vs 42 sales

4 bed $2.77M / $2.42M
Collaroy Plateau — 4 bed: $2.77M (35 sales) Cromer — 4 bed: $2.42M (42 sales)

35 vs 42 sales

5 bed $3.38M / $2.88M
Collaroy Plateau — 5 bed: $3.38M (33 sales) Cromer — 5 bed: $2.88M (30 sales)

33 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Residential 95% 32%
Other and special use 0% 23%
Parks and recreation 5% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 16%
Industrial 0% 7%
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 Plateau Cromer
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 Plateau Cromer
Houses 4.0%
$2,070/wk on $2.7M
 4.2%
$1,600/wk on $2M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Collaroy Plateau is more walkable (82 vs 50); Collaroy Plateau scores higher overall (90 vs 55).

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Grade A+ B
Score 90/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Cromer carries more bushfire risk (92 vs 0); Cromer carries more crime risk (33 vs 18).

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
92/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Low
33/100
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 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Collaroy Plateau

  • Collaroy Plateau Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Cromer

  • Cromer Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 3 24
Childcare 6 5
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Walkability score 82/100 50/100
Distance to Sydney 21.4 km 23.3 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 36 min 35 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 121.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 210.8
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 Plateau Cromer
Car (driver) 46.3% / 48.2%
Collaroy Plateau — Car (driver): 46.3% Cromer — Car (driver): 48.2%
Worked from Home 46.1% / 44.7%
Collaroy Plateau — Worked from Home: 46.1% Cromer — Worked from Home: 44.7%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 3.1%
Collaroy Plateau — Car (passenger): 3.1% Cromer — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Bus 2.1% / 2.4%
Collaroy Plateau — Bus: 2.1% Cromer — Bus: 2.4%
Walked Only 2.2% / 1.1%
Collaroy Plateau — Walked Only: 2.2% Cromer — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.2%).

Setting

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Elevation 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 956 m
969 m to a named beach
 2.9 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
Connectivity score 78/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
1,562 premises
 8%
3,226 premises

Climate

Collaroy Plateau Cromer
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 Plateau Cromer
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Collaroy Plateau

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

Cromer

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Collaroy Plateau

Collaroy Plateau vs Narrabeen Collaroy Plateau vs Collaroy Collaroy Plateau vs Wheeler Heights

Other comparisons with Cromer

Cromer vs Dee Why Cromer vs Narrabeen Cromer vs Collaroy Cromer vs Narraweena Cromer vs Wheeler Heights Cromer vs Ingleside
Full data on Collaroy Plateau Full data on Cromer
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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