Darlinghurst vs Woolloomooloo

In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Woolloomooloo: a median of $1.25 million, against $960,000 in Darlinghurst, though rent is higher in Darlinghurst. Woolloomooloo is closer to the city centre: 2.3 km, against 3.3 km. On these figures, Darlinghurst tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

  • Darlinghurst has more parks and reserves (17 vs 8)
  • Woolloomooloo 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

They split

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

  • Darlinghurst has cheaper units ($960,000 vs $1,250,000)
  • Woolloomooloo has cheaper houses ($1,570,000 vs $2,862,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Woolloomooloo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($500/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 the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 2.9%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo 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 Woolloomooloo
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 Woolloomooloo
Walkability 99 / 100
Darlinghurst — Walkability: 99/100 Woolloomooloo — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 8 / 7
Darlinghurst — Safety: 8/100 Woolloomooloo — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Darlinghurst — Low fire risk: 100/100 Woolloomooloo — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Darlinghurst has more residents (10,615 vs 3,792); Darlinghurst has higher household incomes ($118,508 vs $104,052).

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Population 10,615
+64% vs other
 3,792
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.2% -5.5%
Median age 37 39
Median household income $118,508/yr
+12% vs other
 $104,052/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+9% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
0-4 2.2% / 3.1%
Darlinghurst — 0-4: 2.2% Woolloomooloo — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 3.0% / 4.1%
Darlinghurst — 5-14: 3.0% Woolloomooloo — 5-14: 4.1%
15-19 1.5% / 2.0%
Darlinghurst — 15-19: 1.5% Woolloomooloo — 15-19: 2.0%
20-24 6.6% / 5.1%
Darlinghurst — 20-24: 6.6% Woolloomooloo — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 30.8% / 27.9%
Darlinghurst — 25-34: 30.8% Woolloomooloo — 25-34: 27.9%
35-44 20.0% / 17.6%
Darlinghurst — 35-44: 20.0% Woolloomooloo — 35-44: 17.6%
45-54 13.2% / 13.3%
Darlinghurst — 45-54: 13.2% Woolloomooloo — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 11.3% / 12.4%
Darlinghurst — 55-64: 11.3% Woolloomooloo — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 7.1% / 9.3%
Darlinghurst — 65-74: 7.1% Woolloomooloo — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 3.3% / 4.4%
Darlinghurst — 75-84: 3.3% Woolloomooloo — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 0.9% / 1.3%
Darlinghurst — 85+: 0.9% Woolloomooloo — 85+: 1.3%

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 — Group Household: 12.8% Darlinghurst — Couple Families: 9.2% Darlinghurst — One Parent Families: 4.5% Darlinghurst — Other Families: 0.9%
Woolloomooloo 69.0% lone person
Woolloomooloo — Lone Person: 69.0% Woolloomooloo — Group Household: 10.7% Woolloomooloo — Couple Families: 9.5% Woolloomooloo — One Parent Families: 9.3% Woolloomooloo — Other Families: 1.5%
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%
Woolloomooloo 72.3% renting
Woolloomooloo — Owned Outright: 13.4% Woolloomooloo — Mortgage: 14.3% Woolloomooloo — Renting: 72.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Bachelor Degree 34.8% / 27.3%
Darlinghurst — Bachelor Degree: 34.8% Woolloomooloo — Bachelor Degree: 27.3%
Postgraduate Degree 15.4% / 12.8%
Darlinghurst — Postgraduate Degree: 15.4% Woolloomooloo — Postgraduate Degree: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 9.1%
Darlinghurst — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Woolloomooloo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 6.8%
Darlinghurst — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Woolloomooloo — Certificate III & IV: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.9%
Darlinghurst — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Woolloomooloo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

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 Woolloomooloo
England 6.3% / 5.4%
Darlinghurst — England: 6.3% Woolloomooloo — England: 5.4%
New Zealand 4.0% / 3.7%
Darlinghurst — New Zealand: 4.0% Woolloomooloo — New Zealand: 3.7%
China 1.6% / 2.4%
Darlinghurst — China: 1.6% Woolloomooloo — China: 2.4%
Thailand 2.1% / —
Darlinghurst — Thailand: 2.1% Woolloomooloo — Thailand: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.6%
Darlinghurst — Vietnam: not among its largest Woolloomooloo — Vietnam: 1.6%
South Africa 1.3% / —
Darlinghurst — South Africa: 1.3% Woolloomooloo — South Africa: not among its largest
Brazil — / 1.2%
Darlinghurst — Brazil: not among its largest Woolloomooloo — 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%
Woolloomooloo 73.4% flats / apartments
Woolloomooloo — Flats / Apartments: 73.4% Woolloomooloo — Townhouses: 26.1% Woolloomooloo — Houses: 0.5%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Median house price $2,862,500 $1,570,000
Median unit price $960,000 $1,250,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 31 days
from 31 sales
 29 days
from 5 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 Woolloomooloo
1 bed $730K / $820K
Darlinghurst — 1 bed: $730K (169 sales) Woolloomooloo — 1 bed: $820K (52 sales)

169 vs 52 sales

2 bed $1.72M / $1.6M
Darlinghurst — 2 bed: $1.72M (102 sales) Woolloomooloo — 2 bed: $1.6M (41 sales)

102 vs 41 sales

3 bed $4.2M / $3.4M
Darlinghurst — 3 bed: $4.2M (12 sales) Woolloomooloo — 3 bed: $3.4M (10 sales)

12 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Residential 75% 82%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 9%
Commercial 7% 2%
Parks and recreation 2% 6%
Planning zones cover 99% of Darlinghurst and 99% of Woolloomooloo. 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 Woolloomooloo
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 Woolloomooloo
Houses 2.5%
$1,200/wk on $2.5M
 —
Units 5.3%
$880/wk on $860K
 2.9%
$900/wk on $1.6M

Ranking within NSW

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Income Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Schools Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW

Liveability

Woolloomooloo scores higher overall (73 vs 65).

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Grade B A
Score 65/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.1 km
 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 1.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 0.9%

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 Woolloomooloo

  • Sydney Distance Education High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Plunkett Street Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • William Street Campus Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 105 16
Parks & reserves 17 8
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 3 1
Hospitals 4 1
Police stations 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Walkability score 99/100 100/100
Distance to Sydney 3.3 km
+30% vs other
 2.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 7 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 327.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.0
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 Woolloomooloo
Worked from Home 62.4% / 61.6%
Darlinghurst — Worked from Home: 62.4% Woolloomooloo — Worked from Home: 61.6%
Walked Only 15.3% / 17.9%
Darlinghurst — Walked Only: 15.3% Woolloomooloo — Walked Only: 17.9%
Car (driver) 11.6% / 11.7%
Darlinghurst — Car (driver): 11.6% Woolloomooloo — Car (driver): 11.7%
Train 4.6% / 4.3%
Darlinghurst — Train: 4.6% Woolloomooloo — Train: 4.3%
Bus 3.9% / 2.3%
Darlinghurst — Bus: 3.9% Woolloomooloo — Bus: 2.3%

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

Setting

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Elevation 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km
2.3 km to a named beach
 4.5 km
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
Connectivity score 71/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
9,094 premises
 4%
3,309 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Darlinghurst Woolloomooloo
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

Woolloomooloo

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darlinghurst

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

Other comparisons with Woolloomooloo

Woolloomooloo vs Sydney Woolloomooloo vs Potts Point
Full data on Darlinghurst Full data on Woolloomooloo
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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