Cromer vs Narrabeen

Cromer is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 48 in Narrabeen. In both, most households own their home. In Cromer, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Narrabeen, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Narrabeen: a median of $3.3 million, against $2.4 million in Cromer, though rent is higher in Cromer. Cromer is closer to the city centre: 23.3 km, against 28.4 km. On these figures, Cromer tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Narrabeen suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Cromer

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 16%)
  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 8)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 41%)

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

First-home buyers

Cromer

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,400,000 vs $3,300,000)
  • has cheaper units ($925,000 vs $1,170,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Narrabeen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($565/wk vs $650/wk)
  • But Cromer leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Cromer sits closer to the CBD (23.3 km vs 28.4 km)
  • Narrabeen is more walkable (73/100 vs 50/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Narrabeen

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (84% vs 22%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 19%)
  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 50/100)

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

Investors

Cromer

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (5.8% vs 0.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cromer Narrabeen
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.

Cromer Narrabeen
Walkability 50 / 73
Cromer — Walkability: 50/100 Narrabeen — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 67 / 60
Cromer — Safety: 67/100 Narrabeen — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 8 / 47
Cromer — Low fire risk: 8/100 Narrabeen — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Cromer has higher household incomes ($129,116 vs $92,560); Narrabeen skews older (48 vs 41).

Cromer Narrabeen
Population 8,030 8,255
+3% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.8% +0.6%
Median age 41 48
Median household income $129,116/yr
+28% vs other
 $92,560/yr
Median weekly rent $650/wk
+13% vs other
 $565/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cromer Narrabeen
0-4 6.0% / 4.9%
Cromer — 0-4: 6.0% Narrabeen — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 14.9% / 7.2%
Cromer — 5-14: 14.9% Narrabeen — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 7.3% / 3.6%
Cromer — 15-19: 7.3% Narrabeen — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 5.1% / 4.3%
Cromer — 20-24: 5.1% Narrabeen — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 8.1% / 13.1%
Cromer — 25-34: 8.1% Narrabeen — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 13.3% / 12.7%
Cromer — 35-44: 13.3% Narrabeen — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 15.7% / 11.6%
Cromer — 45-54: 15.7% Narrabeen — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 11.1% / 11.5%
Cromer — 55-64: 11.1% Narrabeen — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 9.1% / 11.4%
Cromer — 65-74: 9.1% Narrabeen — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 6.8% / 10.3%
Cromer — 75-84: 6.8% Narrabeen — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 2.7% / 9.4%
Cromer — 85+: 2.7% Narrabeen — 85+: 9.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Narrabeen 27.3% couple families
Narrabeen — Couple Families: 27.3% Narrabeen — Lone Person: 54.0% Narrabeen — One Parent Families: 13.4% Narrabeen — Group Household: 4.3% Narrabeen — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cromer 16.2% renting
Cromer — Owned Outright: 38.8% Cromer — Mortgage: 45.0% Cromer — Renting: 16.2%
Narrabeen 42.7% renting
Narrabeen — Owned Outright: 32.3% Narrabeen — Mortgage: 25.0% Narrabeen — Renting: 42.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cromer Narrabeen
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 18.3%
Cromer — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Narrabeen — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 12.8% / 13.4%
Cromer — Certificate III & IV: 12.8% Narrabeen — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 10.6%
Cromer — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Narrabeen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 5.3%
Cromer — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Narrabeen — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.2%
Cromer — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Narrabeen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Cromer Narrabeen
England 6.5% / 6.8%
Cromer — England: 6.5% Narrabeen — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.0%
Cromer — New Zealand: 2.0% Narrabeen — New Zealand: 2.0%
Brazil 0.9% / 2.2%
Cromer — Brazil: 0.9% Narrabeen — Brazil: 2.2%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.5%
Cromer — South Africa: 1.1% Narrabeen — South Africa: 1.5%
Italy 1.4% / 0.5%
Cromer — Italy: 1.4% Narrabeen — Italy: 0.5%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.8%
Cromer — Scotland: 0.6% Narrabeen — Scotland: 0.8%
China 1.0% / —
Cromer — China: 1.0% Narrabeen — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cromer 78.1% houses
Cromer — Houses: 78.1% Cromer — Flats / Apartments: 9.6% Cromer — Townhouses: 12.3%
Narrabeen 15.8% houses
Narrabeen — Houses: 15.8% Narrabeen — Flats / Apartments: 65.5% Narrabeen — Townhouses: 18.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cromer Narrabeen
Median house price $2,400,000 $3,300,000
Median unit price $925,000 $1,170,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 59 sales
 30 days
from 15 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.

Cromer Narrabeen
3 bed $2.1M / $2.55M
Cromer — 3 bed: $2.1M (42 sales) Narrabeen — 3 bed: $2.55M (9 sales)

42 vs 9 sales

4 bed $2.42M / $3M
Cromer — 4 bed: $2.42M (42 sales) Narrabeen — 4 bed: $3M (11 sales)

42 vs 11 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.

Cromer Narrabeen
1 bed $768K / $852K
Cromer — 1 bed: $768K (6 sales) Narrabeen — 1 bed: $852K (36 sales)

6 vs 36 sales

2 bed $974K / $1.22M
Cromer — 2 bed: $974K (6 sales) Narrabeen — 2 bed: $1.22M (107 sales)

6 vs 107 sales

Zoning mix

Cromer Narrabeen
Residential 32% 43%
Parks and recreation 21% 29%
Other and special use 23% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 15%
Environmental 1% 9%
Industrial 7% 0%
Commercial 0% 3%
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

Cromer Narrabeen
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.

Cromer Narrabeen
Houses 4.2%
$1,600/wk on $2M
 1.8%
$1,475/wk on $4.22M
Units — 4.7%
$850/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Cromer Narrabeen
House price Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 15% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 51% of NSW

Liveability

Narrabeen is more walkable (73 vs 50).

Cromer Narrabeen
Grade B
same for both
Score 55/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Cromer carries more bushfire risk (92 vs 53).

Cromer Narrabeen
Bushfire High
92/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Low
33/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
27/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cromer Narrabeen
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Cromer

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

Schools in Narrabeen

  • Narrabeen Lakes Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Lucy's, St Joseph's Narrabeen campus Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Cromer Narrabeen
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 25
Parks & reserves 24 8
Childcare 5 6
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 7 2

Mobility

Narrabeen sits further from the CBD (28.4 km vs 23.3 km).

Cromer Narrabeen
Walkability score 50/100 73/100
Distance to Sydney 23.3 km 28.4 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 38 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 210.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 163.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2099
 1.5%
postcode 2101
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2099
 21
postcode 2101

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.

Cromer Narrabeen
Car (driver) 48.2% / 45.2%
Cromer — Car (driver): 48.2% Narrabeen — Car (driver): 45.2%
Worked from Home 44.7% / 45.9%
Cromer — Worked from Home: 44.7% Narrabeen — Worked from Home: 45.9%
Bus 2.4% / 3.9%
Cromer — Bus: 2.4% Narrabeen — Bus: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 2.0%
Cromer — Car (passenger): 3.1% Narrabeen — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.9%
Cromer — Walked Only: 1.1% Narrabeen — Walked Only: 1.9%

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

Setting

Cromer Narrabeen
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.9 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 381 m
487 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cromer Narrabeen
Connectivity score 76/100 73/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
3,226 premises
 8%
5,215 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Cromer Narrabeen
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

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

Federal electorate

Cromer Narrabeen
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Cromer

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet

Narrabeen

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cromer

Cromer vs Dee Why Cromer vs Collaroy Cromer vs Narraweena Cromer vs Collaroy Plateau Cromer vs Wheeler Heights Cromer vs Ingleside

Other comparisons with Narrabeen

Narrabeen vs Collaroy Narrabeen vs North Narrabeen Narrabeen vs Collaroy Plateau Narrabeen vs Elanora Heights Narrabeen vs Wheeler Heights Narrabeen vs Ingleside
Full data on Cromer Full data on Narrabeen
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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