Darlinghurst vs Potts Point

In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. On these figures, Potts Point tends to suit 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

Darlinghurst

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 4)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Darlinghurst

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,862,500 vs $4,140,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Potts Point

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($490/wk vs $550/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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Darlinghurst

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-6.2% vs -23.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 4.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Darlinghurst and Potts Point 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 Potts Point
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 Potts Point
Walkability 99 / 96
Darlinghurst — Walkability: 99/100 Potts Point — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 8 / 7
Darlinghurst — Safety: 8/100 Potts Point — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Darlinghurst — Low fire risk: 100/100 Potts Point — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Darlinghurst has more residents (10,615 vs 7,183); Darlinghurst rents higher ($550/wk vs $490/wk).

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Population 10,615
+32% vs other
 7,183
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.2% -23.8%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $118,508/yr
+10% vs other
 $106,808/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+11% vs other
 $490/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darlinghurst Potts Point
0-4 2.2% / 1.2%
Darlinghurst — 0-4: 2.2% Potts Point — 0-4: 1.2%
5-14 3.0% / 1.3%
Darlinghurst — 5-14: 3.0% Potts Point — 5-14: 1.3%
15-19 1.5% / 1.7%
Darlinghurst — 15-19: 1.5% Potts Point — 15-19: 1.7%
20-24 6.6% / 7.5%
Darlinghurst — 20-24: 6.6% Potts Point — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 30.8% / 31.5%
Darlinghurst — 25-34: 30.8% Potts Point — 25-34: 31.5%
35-44 20.0% / 19.4%
Darlinghurst — 35-44: 20.0% Potts Point — 35-44: 19.4%
45-54 13.2% / 13.9%
Darlinghurst — 45-54: 13.2% Potts Point — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 11.3% / 10.6%
Darlinghurst — 55-64: 11.3% Potts Point — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 7.1% / 8.1%
Darlinghurst — 65-74: 7.1% Potts Point — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 3.3% / 3.8%
Darlinghurst — 75-84: 3.3% Potts Point — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 0.9% / 1.0%
Darlinghurst — 85+: 0.9% Potts Point — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darlinghurst 72.6% lone person
Darlinghurst — Lone Person: 72.6% Darlinghurst — Group Household: 12.8% Darlinghurst — Couple Families: 9.2% Darlinghurst — One Parent Families: 4.5% Darlinghurst — Other Families: 0.9%
Potts Point 84.6% lone person
Potts Point — Lone Person: 84.6% Potts Point — Group Household: 7.6% Potts Point — Couple Families: 4.5% Potts Point — One Parent Families: 2.6% Potts Point — Other Families: 0.7%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families 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%
Potts Point 66.2% renting
Potts Point — Owned Outright: 17.7% Potts Point — Mortgage: 16.0% Potts Point — Renting: 66.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Bachelor Degree 34.8% / 32.5%
Darlinghurst — Bachelor Degree: 34.8% Potts Point — Bachelor Degree: 32.5%
Postgraduate Degree 15.4% / 14.8%
Darlinghurst — Postgraduate Degree: 15.4% Potts Point — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.8%
Darlinghurst — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Potts Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 6.7%
Darlinghurst — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Potts Point — Certificate III & IV: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.2%
Darlinghurst — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Potts Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

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 Potts Point
England 6.3% / 5.8%
Darlinghurst — England: 6.3% Potts Point — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 4.0% / 4.1%
Darlinghurst — New Zealand: 4.0% Potts Point — New Zealand: 4.1%
Thailand 2.1% / 1.3%
Darlinghurst — Thailand: 2.1% Potts Point — Thailand: 1.3%
China 1.6% / 1.1%
Darlinghurst — China: 1.6% Potts Point — China: 1.1%
France 1.1% / 1.4%
Darlinghurst — France: 1.1% Potts Point — France: 1.4%
South Africa 1.3% / 1.0%
Darlinghurst — South Africa: 1.3% Potts Point — South Africa: 1.0%
Brazil — / 1.2%
Darlinghurst — Brazil: not among its largest Potts Point — Brazil: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

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%
Potts Point 89.0% flats / apartments
Potts Point — Flats / Apartments: 89.0% Potts Point — Townhouses: 10.8% Potts Point — Houses: 0.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Median house price $2,862,500 $4,140,000
Median unit price $960,000 $920,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 31 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 Potts Point
1 bed $730K / $800K
Darlinghurst — 1 bed: $730K (169 sales) Potts Point — 1 bed: $800K (221 sales)

169 vs 221 sales

2 bed $1.72M / $1.65M
Darlinghurst — 2 bed: $1.72M (102 sales) Potts Point — 2 bed: $1.65M (77 sales)

102 vs 77 sales

3 bed $4.2M / $4.85M
Darlinghurst — 3 bed: $4.2M (12 sales) Potts Point — 3 bed: $4.85M (13 sales)

12 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Residential 75% 38%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 48%
Commercial 7% 10%
Parks and recreation 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Darlinghurst and 96% of Potts Point. 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 Potts Point
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
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.

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Houses 2.5%
$1,200/wk on $2.5M
 —
Units 5.3%
$880/wk on $860K
 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K

Ranking within NSW

Darlinghurst Potts Point
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Income Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools Higher than 20% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Potts Point scores higher overall (78 vs 65).

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Grade B A
Score 65/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
93/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.1 km
 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 1.4%

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 Potts Point

  • St Vincent's College Independent · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 105 80
Parks & reserves 17 4
Childcare 3 1
GPs 4
same for both
Pharmacies 3 6
Hospitals 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2

Mobility

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Walkability score 99/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 3.3 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 96/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 327.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 81.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 2010
 3.4%
postcode 2011
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 2
postcode 2010
 1
postcode 2011

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 Potts Point
Worked from Home 62.4% / 61.9%
Darlinghurst — Worked from Home: 62.4% Potts Point — Worked from Home: 61.9%
Walked Only 15.3% / 14.1%
Darlinghurst — Walked Only: 15.3% Potts Point — Walked Only: 14.1%
Car (driver) 11.6% / 10.2%
Darlinghurst — Car (driver): 11.6% Potts Point — Car (driver): 10.2%
Train 4.6% / 9.5%
Darlinghurst — Train: 4.6% Potts Point — Train: 9.5%
Bus 3.9% / 1.7%
Darlinghurst — Bus: 3.9% Potts Point — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.4%).

Setting

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Elevation 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 3.7 km
1.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Connectivity score 71/100 73/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
9,094 premises
 4%
6,209 premises

Climate

Darlinghurst Potts Point
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 Potts Point
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 Potts Point
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Darlinghurst Potts Point
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Darlinghurst Potts Point
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

Potts Point

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darlinghurst

Darlinghurst vs Sydney Darlinghurst vs Surry Hills Darlinghurst vs Paddington Darlinghurst vs Woolloomooloo Darlinghurst vs Edgecliff Darlinghurst vs Rushcutters Bay

Other comparisons with Potts Point

Potts Point vs Elizabeth Bay Potts Point vs Woolloomooloo Potts Point vs Rushcutters Bay
Full data on Darlinghurst Full data on Potts Point
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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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