Crows Nest vs Naremburn

Crows Nest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 39 in Naremburn. In Crows Nest, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Naremburn, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Naremburn: a median of $3.13 million, against $2.78 million in Crows Nest, and rent is higher there too. Crows Nest is closer to the city centre: 6.3 km, against 7.2 km. On these figures, Crows Nest tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Naremburn suits families with children and 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

Naremburn

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (38% vs 11%)
  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 79/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 38%)
  • But Crows Nest has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Crows Nest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($974,000 vs $1,277,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,777,000 vs $3,127,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Crows Nest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (55% vs 36%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $602/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Crows Nest

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (89% vs 62%)
  • But Naremburn carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Crows Nest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.1% vs 2.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Crows Nest Naremburn
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.

Crows Nest Naremburn
Walkability 97 / 99
Crows Nest — Walkability: 97/100 Naremburn — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 21 / 71
Crows Nest — Safety: 21/100 Naremburn — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Crows Nest — Low fire risk: 100/100 Naremburn — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Naremburn has higher household incomes ($170,144 vs $135,928); Naremburn skews older (39 vs 36).

Crows Nest Naremburn
Population 4,974 5,924
+19% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.7% +0.7%
Median age 36 39
Median household income $135,928/yr $170,144/yr
+25% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk $602/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Crows Nest Naremburn
0-4 6.0% / 7.7%
Crows Nest — 0-4: 6.0% Naremburn — 0-4: 7.7%
5-14 7.6% / 12.3%
Crows Nest — 5-14: 7.6% Naremburn — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 3.0% / 4.1%
Crows Nest — 15-19: 3.0% Naremburn — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 5.1% / 3.5%
Crows Nest — 20-24: 5.1% Naremburn — 20-24: 3.5%
25-34 23.9% / 14.3%
Crows Nest — 25-34: 23.9% Naremburn — 25-34: 14.3%
35-44 21.4% / 18.9%
Crows Nest — 35-44: 21.4% Naremburn — 35-44: 18.9%
45-54 13.4% / 14.4%
Crows Nest — 45-54: 13.4% Naremburn — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 9.3% / 11.4%
Crows Nest — 55-64: 9.3% Naremburn — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 6.6% / 8.6%
Crows Nest — 65-74: 6.6% Naremburn — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 2.8% / 3.6%
Crows Nest — 75-84: 2.8% Naremburn — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 0.9% / 1.3%
Crows Nest — 85+: 0.9% Naremburn — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Crows Nest 54.5% lone person
Crows Nest — Lone Person: 54.5% Crows Nest — Couple Families: 29.3% Crows Nest — One Parent Families: 8.3% Crows Nest — Group Household: 6.7% Crows Nest — Other Families: 1.1%
Naremburn 36.1% lone person
Naremburn — Lone Person: 36.1% Naremburn — Couple Families: 46.9% Naremburn — One Parent Families: 10.7% Naremburn — Group Household: 4.9% Naremburn — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Crows Nest 55.0% renting
Crows Nest — Owned Outright: 20.4% Crows Nest — Mortgage: 24.6% Crows Nest — Renting: 55.0%
Naremburn 36.3% renting
Naremburn — Owned Outright: 30.3% Naremburn — Mortgage: 33.4% Naremburn — Renting: 36.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Crows Nest Naremburn
Bachelor Degree 32.4% / 29.0%
Crows Nest — Bachelor Degree: 32.4% Naremburn — Bachelor Degree: 29.0%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 13.6%
Crows Nest — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% Naremburn — Postgraduate Degree: 13.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.6%
Crows Nest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Naremburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 5.0% / 4.9%
Crows Nest — Certificate III & IV: 5.0% Naremburn — Certificate III & IV: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.0%
Crows Nest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Naremburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.4%).

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.

Crows Nest Naremburn
England 5.6% / 5.7%
Crows Nest — England: 5.6% Naremburn — England: 5.7%
China 3.1% / 3.5%
Crows Nest — China: 3.1% Naremburn — China: 3.5%
New Zealand 3.2% / 2.1%
Crows Nest — New Zealand: 3.2% Naremburn — New Zealand: 2.1%
India 2.3% / 2.1%
Crows Nest — India: 2.3% Naremburn — India: 2.1%
South Africa 1.3% / 1.9%
Crows Nest — South Africa: 1.3% Naremburn — South Africa: 1.9%
Japan 1.8% / 0.9%
Crows Nest — Japan: 1.8% Naremburn — Japan: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Crows Nest 62.5% flats / apartments
Crows Nest — Flats / Apartments: 62.5% Crows Nest — Houses: 11.2% Crows Nest — Townhouses: 26.3%
Naremburn 42.7% flats / apartments
Naremburn — Flats / Apartments: 42.7% Naremburn — Houses: 37.8% Naremburn — Townhouses: 19.5%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Crows Nest Naremburn
Median house price $2,777,000 $3,127,500
Median unit price $974,000 $1,277,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 14 sales
 21 days
from 21 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.

Crows Nest Naremburn
2 bed $2.58M / $2.88M
Crows Nest — 2 bed: $2.58M (12 sales) Naremburn — 2 bed: $2.88M (8 sales)

12 vs 8 sales

3 bed $3.02M / $3.05M
Crows Nest — 3 bed: $3.02M (19 sales) Naremburn — 3 bed: $3.05M (25 sales)

19 vs 25 sales

4 bed $3.14M / $3.6M
Crows Nest — 4 bed: $3.14M (6 sales) Naremburn — 4 bed: $3.6M (19 sales)

6 vs 19 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.

Crows Nest Naremburn
1 bed $740K / $845K
Crows Nest — 1 bed: $740K (44 sales) Naremburn — 1 bed: $845K (18 sales)

44 vs 18 sales

2 bed $1.3M / $1.34M
Crows Nest — 2 bed: $1.3M (38 sales) Naremburn — 2 bed: $1.34M (35 sales)

38 vs 35 sales

3 bed $1.3M / $1.76M
Crows Nest — 3 bed: $1.3M (8 sales) Naremburn — 3 bed: $1.76M (10 sales)

8 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Crows Nest Naremburn
Residential 77% 74%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 8%
Parks and recreation 4% 9%
Environmental 0% 7%
Commercial 3% 2%
Planning zones cover 100% of Crows Nest and 99% of Naremburn. 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

Crows Nest Naremburn
New dwellings approved 455
across North Sydney
 249
across Willoughby
Approvals change year on year -69% +458%

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.

Crows Nest Naremburn
Houses 3.1%
$1,200/wk on $2M
 2.0%
$1,300/wk on $3.3M
Units 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.2M
 3.6%
$888/wk on $1.3M

Ranking within NSW

Crows Nest Naremburn
House price Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 21% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 2% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW

Liveability

Naremburn scores higher overall (96 vs 84).

Crows Nest Naremburn
Grade A A+
Score 84/100 96/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Crows Nest carries more crime risk (79 vs 29).

Crows Nest Naremburn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
79/100
 Low
29/100
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Crows Nest Naremburn
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 1.3 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 2.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 2.2%

Schools in Crows Nest

  • North Sydney Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers

Schools in Naremburn

  • Naremburn School Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Crows Nest Naremburn
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 35 0
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 8 4
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both

Mobility

Crows Nest Naremburn
Walkability score 97/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 6.3 km 7.2 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 273.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.8%
postcode 2065
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2065
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.

Crows Nest Naremburn
Worked from Home 66.3% / 68.3%
Crows Nest — Worked from Home: 66.3% Naremburn — Worked from Home: 68.3%
Car (driver) 16.6% / 20.1%
Crows Nest — Car (driver): 16.6% Naremburn — Car (driver): 20.1%
Walked Only 8.4% / 5.5%
Crows Nest — Walked Only: 8.4% Naremburn — Walked Only: 5.5%
Bus 4.2% / 1.5%
Crows Nest — Bus: 4.2% Naremburn — Bus: 1.5%
Train 2.8% / 2.5%
Crows Nest — Train: 2.8% Naremburn — Train: 2.5%
Car (passenger) 1.2% / 1.7%
Crows Nest — Car (passenger): 1.2% Naremburn — Car (passenger): 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.3%).

Setting

Crows Nest Naremburn
Elevation 98 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km
2.2 km to a named beach
 4.3 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Crows Nest Naremburn
Connectivity score 78/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
3,999 premises
 4%
2,733 premises

Climate

Crows Nest Naremburn
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Crows Nest Naremburn
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 13.8 µg/m³ 15.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.84 pphm 0.62 pphm

Council rates

Crows Nest Naremburn
Average residential rate $1,035/yr $1,275/yr
Council North Sydney Willoughby

Federal electorate

Crows Nest Naremburn
Division Warringah Bradfield
Member Zali Steggall Nicolette Boele
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Crows Nest Naremburn
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Crows Nest

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Urban

Naremburn

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Crows Nest

Crows Nest vs North Sydney Crows Nest vs Wollstonecraft Crows Nest vs St Leonards Crows Nest vs Cammeray

Other comparisons with Naremburn

Naremburn vs Artarmon Naremburn vs St Leonards Naremburn vs Willoughby Naremburn vs Cammeray Naremburn vs Northbridge
Full data on Crows Nest Full data on Naremburn
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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