Darlinghurst vs Paddington

In Darlinghurst, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Paddington, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Paddington: a median of $3.44 million, against $2.86 million in Darlinghurst, and rent is higher there too. Darlinghurst is closer to the city centre: 3.3 km, against 4.6 km. On these figures, Darlinghurst tends to suit 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

Paddington

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (36% vs 14%)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 92/100)

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

First-home buyers

Darlinghurst

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($960,000 vs $1,305,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,862,500 vs $3,440,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Darlinghurst

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (63% vs 46%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $650/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

Paddington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 92/100)

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

Investors

Darlinghurst

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Darlinghurst Paddington
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.

Darlinghurst Paddington
Walkability 99 / 96
Darlinghurst — Walkability: 99/100 Paddington — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 8 / 43
Darlinghurst — Safety: 8/100 Paddington — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Darlinghurst — Low fire risk: 100/100 Paddington — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Paddington has higher household incomes ($162,812 vs $118,508); Paddington rents higher ($650/wk vs $550/wk).

Darlinghurst Paddington
Population 10,615 12,701
+20% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.2% -1.6%
Median age 37 38
Median household income $118,508/yr $162,812/yr
+37% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk $650/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darlinghurst Paddington
0-4 2.2% / 4.7%
Darlinghurst — 0-4: 2.2% Paddington — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 3.0% / 8.4%
Darlinghurst — 5-14: 3.0% Paddington — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 1.5% / 3.5%
Darlinghurst — 15-19: 1.5% Paddington — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 6.6% / 6.2%
Darlinghurst — 20-24: 6.6% Paddington — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 30.8% / 21.7%
Darlinghurst — 25-34: 30.8% Paddington — 25-34: 21.7%
35-44 20.0% / 16.0%
Darlinghurst — 35-44: 20.0% Paddington — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 13.2% / 13.7%
Darlinghurst — 45-54: 13.2% Paddington — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 11.3% / 10.5%
Darlinghurst — 55-64: 11.3% Paddington — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 7.1% / 8.1%
Darlinghurst — 65-74: 7.1% Paddington — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 3.3% / 5.3%
Darlinghurst — 75-84: 3.3% Paddington — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 0.9% / 1.9%
Darlinghurst — 85+: 0.9% Paddington — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darlinghurst 72.6% lone person
Darlinghurst — Lone Person: 72.6% Darlinghurst — Couple Families: 9.2% Darlinghurst — Group Household: 12.8% Darlinghurst — One Parent Families: 4.5% Darlinghurst — Other Families: 0.9%
Paddington 50.9% lone person
Paddington — Lone Person: 50.9% Paddington — Couple Families: 27.9% Paddington — Group Household: 11.5% Paddington — One Parent Families: 8.6% Paddington — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Darlinghurst 63.1% renting
Darlinghurst — Owned Outright: 17.2% Darlinghurst — Mortgage: 19.7% Darlinghurst — Renting: 63.1%
Paddington 45.9% renting
Paddington — Owned Outright: 27.9% Paddington — Mortgage: 26.2% Paddington — Renting: 45.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darlinghurst Paddington
Bachelor Degree 34.8% / 34.7%
Darlinghurst — Bachelor Degree: 34.8% Paddington — Bachelor Degree: 34.7%
Postgraduate Degree 15.4% / 15.7%
Darlinghurst — Postgraduate Degree: 15.4% Paddington — Postgraduate Degree: 15.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 6.6%
Darlinghurst — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Paddington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 3.5%
Darlinghurst — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Paddington — Certificate III & IV: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.0%
Darlinghurst — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Paddington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.8%).

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.

Darlinghurst Paddington
England 6.3% / 8.0%
Darlinghurst — England: 6.3% Paddington — England: 8.0%
New Zealand 4.0% / 3.5%
Darlinghurst — New Zealand: 4.0% Paddington — New Zealand: 3.5%
South Africa 1.3% / 1.2%
Darlinghurst — South Africa: 1.3% Paddington — South Africa: 1.2%
Thailand 2.1% / —
Darlinghurst — Thailand: 2.1% Paddington — Thailand: not among its largest
France 1.1% / 0.9%
Darlinghurst — France: 1.1% Paddington — France: 0.9%
China 1.6% / —
Darlinghurst — China: 1.6% Paddington — China: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.8%
Darlinghurst — Ireland: not among its largest Paddington — Ireland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Darlinghurst 79.5% flats / apartments
Darlinghurst — Flats / Apartments: 79.5% Darlinghurst — Townhouses: 19.6% Darlinghurst — Houses: 0.9%
Paddington 33.0% flats / apartments
Paddington — Flats / Apartments: 33.0% Paddington — Townhouses: 60.5% Paddington — Houses: 6.6%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Darlinghurst Paddington
Median house price $2,862,500 $3,440,000
Median unit price $960,000 $1,305,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 31 sales
 21 days
from 108 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.

Darlinghurst Paddington
1 bed $730K / $714K
Darlinghurst — 1 bed: $730K (169 sales) Paddington — 1 bed: $714K (42 sales)

169 vs 42 sales

2 bed $1.72M / $1.42M
Darlinghurst — 2 bed: $1.72M (102 sales) Paddington — 2 bed: $1.42M (47 sales)

102 vs 47 sales

3 bed $4.2M / $2.85M
Darlinghurst — 3 bed: $4.2M (12 sales) Paddington — 3 bed: $2.85M (7 sales)

12 vs 7 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.

Darlinghurst Paddington
2 bed $1.8M / $2.48M
Darlinghurst — 2 bed: $1.8M (13 sales) Paddington — 2 bed: $2.48M (51 sales)

13 vs 51 sales

3 bed $2.89M / $3.56M
Darlinghurst — 3 bed: $2.89M (22 sales) Paddington — 3 bed: $3.56M (102 sales)

22 vs 102 sales

4 bed $3.27M / $4.96M
Darlinghurst — 4 bed: $3.27M (14 sales) Paddington — 4 bed: $4.96M (42 sales)

14 vs 42 sales

5 bed $5M / $7M
Darlinghurst — 5 bed: $5M (7 sales) Paddington — 5 bed: $7M (6 sales)

7 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Darlinghurst Paddington
Residential 75% 74%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 14%
Parks and recreation 2% 12%
Commercial 7% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Darlinghurst and 100% of Paddington. 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

Darlinghurst Paddington
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
 222
across Woollahra
Approvals change year on year +929% -21%

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.

Darlinghurst Paddington
Houses 2.5%
$1,200/wk on $2.5M
 2.8%
$1,750/wk on $3.2M
Units 5.3%
$880/wk on $860K
 3.1%
$652/wk on $1.1M

Ranking within NSW

Darlinghurst Paddington
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Schools Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 34% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 16% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW

Liveability

Paddington scores higher overall (71 vs 65).

Darlinghurst Paddington
Grade B A
Score 65/100 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Darlinghurst carries more crime risk (92 vs 57).

Darlinghurst Paddington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 Moderate
57/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Darlinghurst Paddington
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.1 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 2.9%

Schools in Darlinghurst

  • Darlinghurst Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • SCEGGS Darlinghurst Independent · Combined at peers
  • Sydney Grammar School Independent · Secondary below peers

Schools in Paddington

  • Glenmore Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Francis of Assisi Regional Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Paddington Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Grammar School - Edgecliff Preparatory School Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Darlinghurst Paddington
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 105 41
Parks & reserves 17 18
Childcare 3 7
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 3 2
Hospitals 4 0
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Darlinghurst Paddington
Walkability score 99/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 3.3 km 4.6 km
+39% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 11 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 327.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 285.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 2010
 3.2%
postcode 2021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 2
postcode 2010
 6
postcode 2021

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.

Darlinghurst Paddington
Worked from Home 62.4% / 68.5%
Darlinghurst — Worked from Home: 62.4% Paddington — Worked from Home: 68.5%
Car (driver) 11.6% / 14.7%
Darlinghurst — Car (driver): 11.6% Paddington — Car (driver): 14.7%
Walked Only 15.3% / 8.6%
Darlinghurst — Walked Only: 15.3% Paddington — Walked Only: 8.6%
Bus 3.9% / 3.7%
Darlinghurst — Bus: 3.9% Paddington — Bus: 3.7%
Train 4.6% / 1.7%
Darlinghurst — Train: 4.6% Paddington — Train: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.5%).

Setting

Darlinghurst Paddington
Elevation 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 59 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 4.3 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Darlinghurst Paddington
Connectivity score 71/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
9,094 premises
 3%
7,731 premises

Climate

Darlinghurst Paddington
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Darlinghurst Paddington
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

Darlinghurst Paddington
Average residential rate $875/yr $1,812/yr
Council Sydney Woollahra

Federal electorate

Darlinghurst Paddington
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Darlinghurst Paddington
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Darlinghurst

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Paddington

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darlinghurst

Darlinghurst vs Sydney Darlinghurst vs Surry Hills Darlinghurst vs Potts Point Darlinghurst vs Woolloomooloo Darlinghurst vs Edgecliff Darlinghurst vs Rushcutters Bay

Other comparisons with Paddington

Paddington vs Surry Hills Paddington vs Woollahra Paddington vs Edgecliff Paddington vs Rushcutters Bay Paddington vs Centennial Park
Full data on Darlinghurst Full data on Paddington
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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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