Curl Curl vs Brookvale

Brookvale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Curl Curl. In Curl Curl, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In Brookvale, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Curl Curl: a median of $4.11 million, against $2.3 million in Brookvale, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Curl Curl tends to suit families with children and couples, while Brookvale suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Curl Curl

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (76% vs 18%)
  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Brookvale has more childcare (15 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Brookvale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,302,000 vs $4,110,000)
  • has cheaper units ($1,050,000 vs $1,600,000)
  • But Curl Curl leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brookvale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $705/wk)
  • But Curl Curl leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Brookvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 65/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Brookvale

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (82% vs 24%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 65/100)
  • But Curl Curl carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 95/100)

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

Investors

Brookvale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.2% vs -2.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Curl Curl Brookvale
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.

Curl Curl Brookvale
Walkability 65 / 92
Curl Curl — Walkability: 65/100 Brookvale — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 54 / 5
Curl Curl — Safety: 54/100 Brookvale — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 58
Curl Curl — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brookvale — Low fire risk: 58/100

Demographics

Curl Curl has higher household incomes ($201,240 vs $110,604); Brookvale has more residents (3,389 vs 2,364).

Curl Curl Brookvale
Population 2,364 3,389
+43% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.1% +7.2%
Median age 40 37
Median household income $201,240/yr
+45% vs other
 $110,604/yr
Median weekly rent $705/wk
+22% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl Brookvale
0-4 5.0% / 6.7%
Curl Curl — 0-4: 5.0% Brookvale — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 15.5% / 7.9%
Curl Curl — 5-14: 15.5% Brookvale — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 8.6% / 3.8%
Curl Curl — 15-19: 8.6% Brookvale — 15-19: 3.8%
20-24 5.9% / 6.5%
Curl Curl — 20-24: 5.9% Brookvale — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 9.6% / 21.4%
Curl Curl — 25-34: 9.6% Brookvale — 25-34: 21.4%
35-44 11.6% / 18.3%
Curl Curl — 35-44: 11.6% Brookvale — 35-44: 18.3%
45-54 19.3% / 12.6%
Curl Curl — 45-54: 19.3% Brookvale — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 12.4% / 11.3%
Curl Curl — 55-64: 12.4% Brookvale — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 7.0% / 6.7%
Curl Curl — 65-74: 7.0% Brookvale — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 3.7% / 2.6%
Curl Curl — 75-84: 3.7% Brookvale — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 1.7% / 2.7%
Curl Curl — 85+: 1.7% Brookvale — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl 65.1% couple families
Curl Curl — Couple Families: 65.1% Curl Curl — Lone Person: 19.0% Curl Curl — One Parent Families: 10.6% Curl Curl — Group Household: 4.3% Curl Curl — Other Families: 1.1%
Brookvale 34.2% couple families
Brookvale — Couple Families: 34.2% Brookvale — Lone Person: 42.9% Brookvale — One Parent Families: 14.5% Brookvale — Group Household: 6.8% Brookvale — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl 22.5% renting
Curl Curl — Owned Outright: 37.4% Curl Curl — Mortgage: 40.1% Curl Curl — Renting: 22.5%
Brookvale 45.4% renting
Brookvale — Owned Outright: 16.4% Brookvale — Mortgage: 38.2% Brookvale — Renting: 45.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Curl Curl Brookvale
Bachelor Degree 23.0% / 19.9%
Curl Curl — Bachelor Degree: 23.0% Brookvale — Bachelor Degree: 19.9%
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 12.9%
Curl Curl — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Brookvale — Certificate III & IV: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 8.8%
Curl Curl — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Brookvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 8.4% / 6.1%
Curl Curl — Postgraduate Degree: 8.4% Brookvale — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.2%
Curl Curl — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Brookvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

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.

Curl Curl Brookvale
England 8.1% / 5.9%
Curl Curl — England: 8.1% Brookvale — England: 5.9%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.4%
Curl Curl — New Zealand: 2.2% Brookvale — New Zealand: 2.4%
China — / 3.3%
Curl Curl — China: not among its largest Brookvale — China: 3.3%
South Africa 1.2% / 2.0%
Curl Curl — South Africa: 1.2% Brookvale — South Africa: 2.0%
Italy 0.6% / 2.2%
Curl Curl — Italy: 0.6% Brookvale — Italy: 2.2%
Philippines — / 2.6%
Curl Curl — Philippines: not among its largest Brookvale — Philippines: 2.6%
Ireland 0.8% / —
Curl Curl — Ireland: 0.8% Brookvale — Ireland: not among its largest
Scotland 0.7% / —
Curl Curl — Scotland: 0.7% Brookvale — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Curl Curl 75.5% houses
Curl Curl — Houses: 75.5% Curl Curl — Flats / Apartments: 16.8% Curl Curl — Townhouses: 7.7%
Brookvale 18.3% houses
Brookvale — Houses: 18.3% Brookvale — Flats / Apartments: 65.5% Brookvale — Townhouses: 16.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Curl Curl Brookvale
Median house price $4,110,000 $2,302,000
Median unit price $1,600,000 $1,050,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 7 sales
 23 days
from 4 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.

Curl Curl Brookvale
3 bed $3.92M / $2.2M
Curl Curl — 3 bed: $3.92M (12 sales) Brookvale — 3 bed: $2.2M (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

4 bed $3.77M / $2.37M
Curl Curl — 4 bed: $3.77M (12 sales) Brookvale — 4 bed: $2.37M (7 sales)

12 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Brookvale has more industrially zoned land (55% vs 0%).

Curl Curl Brookvale
Industrial 0% 55%
Parks and recreation 55% 6%
Residential 44% 23%
Commercial 0% 8%
Environmental 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Curl Curl Brookvale
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.

Curl Curl Brookvale
Houses —
same for both
Units — 4.3%
$732/wk on $890K

Ranking within NSW

Curl Curl Brookvale
House price Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Income Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 15% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 68% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 35% of NSW

Liveability

Curl Curl scores higher overall (84 vs 59); Brookvale is more walkable (92 vs 65).

Curl Curl Brookvale
Grade A B
Score 84/100 59/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brookvale carries more bushfire risk (42 vs 0); Brookvale carries more crime risk (95 vs 46).

Curl Curl Brookvale
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
42/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 High
95/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
24/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Curl Curl Brookvale
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km None 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.9 km

Schools in Curl Curl

  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus Government · Secondary
  • Stewart House School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Brookvale

  • Brookvale Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Augustine's College Sydney Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Curl Curl Brookvale
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 23
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 0 15
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 6
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Curl Curl Brookvale
Walkability score 65/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 18 km
+8% vs other
 16.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 28 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 136.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 300.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2096
 2.0%
postcode 2100
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2096
 33
postcode 2100

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.

Curl Curl Brookvale
Worked from Home 55.3% / 38.4%
Curl Curl — Worked from Home: 55.3% Brookvale — Worked from Home: 38.4%
Car (driver) 36.8% / 42.1%
Curl Curl — Car (driver): 36.8% Brookvale — Car (driver): 42.1%
Walked Only 2.0% / 8.6%
Curl Curl — Walked Only: 2.0% Brookvale — Walked Only: 8.6%
Bus 2.0% / 5.8%
Curl Curl — Bus: 2.0% Brookvale — Bus: 5.8%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 3.5%
Curl Curl — Car (passenger): 2.7% Brookvale — Car (passenger): 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.3%).

Setting

Curl Curl Brookvale
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 504 m
628 m to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Curl Curl Brookvale
Connectivity score 88/100 56/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
876 premises
 7%
4,530 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Curl Curl Brookvale
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Curl Curl Brookvale
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Curl Curl Brookvale
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Curl Curl Brookvale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Curl Curl

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

Brookvale

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Curl Curl

Curl Curl vs Freshwater Curl Curl vs North Curl Curl Curl Curl vs North Manly

Other comparisons with Brookvale

Brookvale vs Dee Why Brookvale vs Beacon Hill Brookvale vs Allambie Heights Brookvale vs Narraweena Brookvale vs North Curl Curl Brookvale vs North Manly
Full data on Curl Curl Full data on Brookvale
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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