Cromer vs Narraweena

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Cromer, most households are couple families. In Narraweena, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Cromer 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

Cromer

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 7)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 64%)
  • But Narraweena has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 2)

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

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 36%)
  • has cheaper units ($925,000 vs $1,017,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Narraweena

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $650/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Narraweena

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 50/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Narraweena

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 50/100)

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

Investors

Cromer

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Cromer and Narraweena 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 Narraweena
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 Narraweena
Walkability 50 / 71
Cromer — Walkability: 50/100 Narraweena — Walkability: 71/100
Safety 67 / 70
Cromer — Safety: 67/100 Narraweena — Safety: 70/100
Low fire risk 8 / 4
Cromer — Low fire risk: 8/100 Narraweena — Low fire risk: 4/100

Demographics

Cromer rents higher ($650/wk vs $400/wk); Cromer has higher household incomes ($129,116 vs $100,620).

Cromer Narraweena
Population 8,030
+13% vs other
 6,971
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.8% +5.5%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $129,116/yr
+22% vs other
 $100,620/yr
Median weekly rent $650/wk
+38% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cromer Narraweena
0-4 6.0% / 6.0%
Cromer — 0-4: 6.0% Narraweena — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 14.9% / 13.1%
Cromer — 5-14: 14.9% Narraweena — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 7.3% / 5.8%
Cromer — 15-19: 7.3% Narraweena — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.1% / 5.6%
Cromer — 20-24: 5.1% Narraweena — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 8.1% / 9.2%
Cromer — 25-34: 8.1% Narraweena — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 13.3% / 12.9%
Cromer — 35-44: 13.3% Narraweena — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 15.7% / 14.5%
Cromer — 45-54: 15.7% Narraweena — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 11.1% / 12.1%
Cromer — 55-64: 11.1% Narraweena — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 9.1% / 9.1%
Cromer — 65-74: 9.1% Narraweena — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 6.8% / 7.9%
Cromer — 75-84: 6.8% Narraweena — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 2.7% / 3.7%
Cromer — 85+: 2.7% Narraweena — 85+: 3.7%

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%
Narraweena 49.1% couple families
Narraweena — Couple Families: 49.1% Narraweena — Lone Person: 32.2% Narraweena — One Parent Families: 14.7% Narraweena — Group Household: 2.5% Narraweena — Other Families: 1.5%
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%
Narraweena 34.6% renting
Narraweena — Owned Outright: 31.7% Narraweena — Mortgage: 33.7% Narraweena — Renting: 34.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cromer Narraweena
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 14.3%
Cromer — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Narraweena — Bachelor Degree: 14.3%
Certificate III & IV 12.8% / 12.8%
Cromer — Certificate III & IV: 12.8% Narraweena — Certificate III & IV: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 8.3%
Cromer — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Narraweena — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 4.4%
Cromer — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Narraweena — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.2%
Cromer — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Narraweena — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

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 Narraweena
England 6.5% / 5.9%
Cromer — England: 6.5% Narraweena — England: 5.9%
Italy 1.4% / 3.9%
Cromer — Italy: 1.4% Narraweena — Italy: 3.9%
China 1.0% / 3.4%
Cromer — China: 1.0% Narraweena — China: 3.4%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.0%
Cromer — New Zealand: 2.0% Narraweena — New Zealand: 2.0%
Philippines 1.0% / 1.4%
Cromer — Philippines: 1.0% Narraweena — Philippines: 1.4%
South Africa 1.1% / 0.7%
Cromer — South Africa: 1.1% Narraweena — South Africa: 0.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cromer 78.1% houses
Cromer — Houses: 78.1% Cromer — Townhouses: 12.3% Cromer — Flats / Apartments: 9.6%
Narraweena 72.7% houses
Narraweena — Houses: 72.7% Narraweena — Townhouses: 15.1% Narraweena — Flats / Apartments: 12.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cromer Narraweena
Median house price $2,400,000 $2,350,000
Median unit price $925,000 $1,017,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 59 sales
 20 days
from 28 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 Narraweena
3 bed $2.1M / $2.21M
Cromer — 3 bed: $2.1M (42 sales) Narraweena — 3 bed: $2.21M (29 sales)

42 vs 29 sales

4 bed $2.42M / $2.41M
Cromer — 4 bed: $2.42M (42 sales) Narraweena — 4 bed: $2.41M (16 sales)

42 vs 16 sales

5 bed $2.88M / $2.57M
Cromer — 5 bed: $2.88M (30 sales) Narraweena — 5 bed: $2.57M (14 sales)

30 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Cromer Narraweena
Residential 32% 92%
Other and special use 23% 0%
Parks and recreation 21% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 2%
Industrial 7% 0%
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 Narraweena
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 Narraweena
Houses 4.2%
$1,600/wk on $2M
 3.7%
$1,325/wk on $1.85M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Cromer Narraweena
House price Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 5% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW

Liveability

Narraweena is more walkable (71 vs 50); Cromer scores higher overall (55 vs 44).

Cromer Narraweena
Grade B C
Score 55/100 44/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Cromer Narraweena
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
96/100
Crime Low
33/100
 Low
30/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cromer Narraweena
Inside the suburb 2 5
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 Narraweena

  • Narraweena Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St John the Apostle Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Karuna Montessori School Independent · Primary
  • EOC Broken Bay - Narraweena Catholic · Primary · Special school
  • St Lucy's, St John's Narraweena campus Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Cromer Narraweena
Cafes & restaurants 3 4
Parks & reserves 24 7
Childcare 5 6
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 7 2

Mobility

Cromer Narraweena
Walkability score 50/100 71/100
Distance to Sydney 23.3 km
+8% vs other
 21.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 31 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 210.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 226.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2099
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2099
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.

Cromer Narraweena
Car (driver) 48.2% / 47.8%
Cromer — Car (driver): 48.2% Narraweena — Car (driver): 47.8%
Worked from Home 44.7% / 39.7%
Cromer — Worked from Home: 44.7% Narraweena — Worked from Home: 39.7%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 5.0%
Cromer — Car (passenger): 3.1% Narraweena — Car (passenger): 5.0%
Bus 2.4% / 4.4%
Cromer — Bus: 2.4% Narraweena — Bus: 4.4%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.9%
Cromer — Walked Only: 1.1% Narraweena — Walked Only: 1.9%

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

Setting

Cromer Narraweena
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.9 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 2.3 km
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cromer Narraweena
Connectivity score 76/100 85/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
3,226 premises
 33%
2,660 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Cromer Narraweena
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

Narraweena

Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cromer

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

Other comparisons with Narraweena

Narraweena vs Dee Why Narraweena vs Beacon Hill Narraweena vs Brookvale Narraweena vs Oxford Falls
Full data on Cromer Full data on Narraweena
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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