Crows Nest vs St Leonards

In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Crows Nest, about half of households are people living alone. In St Leonards, most households are people living alone. Units cost more in St Leonards: a median of $1.13 million, against $974,000 in Crows Nest, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, St Leonards tends to suit renters and young adults.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Crows Nest has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • St Leonards carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Crows Nest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($974,000 vs $1,130,000)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Crows Nest has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $600/wk)
  • St Leonards has a bigger rental market to choose from (70% vs 55%)

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

St Leonards

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

St Leonards

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (31.2% vs 3.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.3% vs 3.2%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Crows Nest and St Leonards 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 St Leonards
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 St Leonards
Walkability 97 / 99
Crows Nest — Walkability: 97/100 St Leonards — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 21 / 35
Crows Nest — Safety: 21/100 St Leonards — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Crows Nest — Low fire risk: 100/100 St Leonards — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

St Leonards has more residents (7,212 vs 4,974); Crows Nest skews older (36 vs 34).

Crows Nest St Leonards
Population 4,974 7,212
+45% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.7% +31.2%
Median age 36 34
Median household income $135,928/yr
+5% vs other
 $128,700/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk $600/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Crows Nest St Leonards
0-4 6.0% / 5.5%
Crows Nest — 0-4: 6.0% St Leonards — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 7.6% / 5.5%
Crows Nest — 5-14: 7.6% St Leonards — 5-14: 5.5%
15-19 3.0% / 1.6%
Crows Nest — 15-19: 3.0% St Leonards — 15-19: 1.6%
20-24 5.1% / 5.6%
Crows Nest — 20-24: 5.1% St Leonards — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 23.9% / 33.4%
Crows Nest — 25-34: 23.9% St Leonards — 25-34: 33.4%
35-44 21.4% / 24.7%
Crows Nest — 35-44: 21.4% St Leonards — 35-44: 24.7%
45-54 13.4% / 9.9%
Crows Nest — 45-54: 13.4% St Leonards — 45-54: 9.9%
55-64 9.3% / 6.8%
Crows Nest — 55-64: 9.3% St Leonards — 55-64: 6.8%
65-74 6.6% / 4.9%
Crows Nest — 65-74: 6.6% St Leonards — 65-74: 4.9%
75-84 2.8% / 1.9%
Crows Nest — 75-84: 2.8% St Leonards — 75-84: 1.9%
85+ 0.9% / 0.4%
Crows Nest — 85+: 0.9% St Leonards — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.4%).

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 — Group Household: 6.7% Crows Nest — One Parent Families: 8.3% Crows Nest — Other Families: 1.1%
St Leonards 57.9% lone person
St Leonards — Lone Person: 57.9% St Leonards — Couple Families: 23.8% St Leonards — Group Household: 10.1% St Leonards — One Parent Families: 6.8% St Leonards — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families 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%
St Leonards 69.6% renting
St Leonards — Owned Outright: 12.4% St Leonards — Mortgage: 17.9% St Leonards — Renting: 69.6%
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.

Crows Nest St Leonards
China 3.1% / 9.6%
Crows Nest — China: 3.1% St Leonards — China: 9.6%
England 5.6% / 3.3%
Crows Nest — England: 5.6% St Leonards — England: 3.3%
India 2.3% / 5.5%
Crows Nest — India: 2.3% St Leonards — India: 5.5%
Japan 1.8% / 4.4%
Crows Nest — Japan: 1.8% St Leonards — Japan: 4.4%
New Zealand 3.2% / 2.6%
Crows Nest — New Zealand: 3.2% St Leonards — New Zealand: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.6%).

Qualifications

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

Crows Nest St Leonards
Bachelor Degree 32.4% / 36.4%
Crows Nest — Bachelor Degree: 32.4% St Leonards — Bachelor Degree: 36.4%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 19.6%
Crows Nest — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% St Leonards — Postgraduate Degree: 19.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.3%
Crows Nest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% St Leonards — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 5.0% / 3.9%
Crows Nest — Certificate III & IV: 5.0% St Leonards — Certificate III & IV: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.1%
Crows Nest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% St Leonards — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (36.4%).

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 — Townhouses: 26.3% Crows Nest — Houses: 11.2%
St Leonards 96.9% flats / apartments
St Leonards — Flats / Apartments: 96.9% St Leonards — Townhouses: 0.3% St Leonards — Houses: 2.8%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Crows Nest St Leonards
Median house price $2,777,000 —
Median unit price $974,000 $1,130,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 14 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 St Leonards
1 bed $740K / $800K
Crows Nest — 1 bed: $740K (44 sales) St Leonards — 1 bed: $800K (114 sales)

44 vs 114 sales

2 bed $1.3M / $1.38M
Crows Nest — 2 bed: $1.3M (38 sales) St Leonards — 2 bed: $1.38M (109 sales)

38 vs 109 sales

3 bed $1.3M / $2.15M
Crows Nest — 3 bed: $1.3M (8 sales) St Leonards — 3 bed: $2.15M (29 sales)

8 vs 29 sales

Zoning mix

St Leonards has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 0%); St Leonards has more commercially zoned land (16% vs 3%).

Crows Nest St Leonards
Residential 77% 28%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 34%
Commercial 3% 16%
Industrial 0% 14%
Parks and recreation 4% 8%
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 St Leonards
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 St Leonards
Houses 3.1%
$1,200/wk on $2M
 —
Units 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.2M
 4.3%
$1,000/wk on $1.22M

Ranking within NSW

Crows Nest St Leonards
House price Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 11% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW

Liveability

Crows Nest St Leonards
Grade A A+
Score 84/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Crows Nest carries more crime risk (79 vs 65).

Crows Nest St Leonards
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
79/100
 Moderate
65/100
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 St Leonards
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 1.3 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 2.0%

Schools in Crows Nest

  • North Sydney Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers

Schools in St Leonards

  • International Chinese School Independent · Primary below peers
  • Royal North Shore Hospital School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Crows Nest St Leonards
Supermarkets 3 5
Cafes & restaurants 35 38
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 8 9
GPs 4 6
Pharmacies 4 3
Hospitals 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 2

Mobility

Crows Nest St Leonards
Walkability score 97/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 6.3 km 6.9 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min 14 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 273.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 155.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 St Leonards
Worked from Home 66.3% / 68.0%
Crows Nest — Worked from Home: 66.3% St Leonards — Worked from Home: 68.0%
Car (driver) 16.6% / 13.6%
Crows Nest — Car (driver): 16.6% St Leonards — Car (driver): 13.6%
Walked Only 8.4% / 7.8%
Crows Nest — Walked Only: 8.4% St Leonards — Walked Only: 7.8%
Train 2.8% / 7.5%
Crows Nest — Train: 2.8% St Leonards — Train: 7.5%
Bus 4.2% / 1.6%
Crows Nest — Bus: 4.2% St Leonards — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.0%).

Setting

Crows Nest St Leonards
Elevation 98 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 83 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km
2.2 km to a named beach
 5.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Crows Nest St Leonards
Connectivity score 78/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
3,999 premises
 29%
6,133 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Crows Nest St Leonards
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

St Leonards

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Crows Nest

Crows Nest vs North Sydney Crows Nest vs Wollstonecraft Crows Nest vs Cammeray Crows Nest vs Naremburn

Other comparisons with St Leonards

St Leonards vs Artarmon St Leonards vs Wollstonecraft St Leonards vs Naremburn St Leonards vs Greenwich
Full data on Crows Nest Full data on St Leonards
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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