Davidson vs Frenchs Forest

Frenchs Forest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 45 in Davidson. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Frenchs Forest is closer to the city centre: 17 km, against 20.8 km.

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

  • Davidson carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 29/100)
  • Frenchs Forest has more childcare (9 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Frenchs Forest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($800/wk vs $1,000/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Frenchs Forest

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 55/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (25 min vs 32 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (17 km vs 20.8 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Frenchs Forest

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 55/100)
  • But Davidson carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 29/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield.

Where they sit

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

Davidson Frenchs Forest
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.

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Walkability 55 / 80
Davidson — Walkability: 55/100 Frenchs Forest — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 86 / 71
Davidson — Safety: 86/100 Frenchs Forest — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 57 / 10
Davidson — Low fire risk: 57/100 Frenchs Forest — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Frenchs Forest has more residents (14,267 vs 2,725); Davidson rents higher ($1,000/wk vs $800/wk).

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Population 2,725 14,267
+424% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +5.9%
Median age 45 40
Median household income $169,208/yr
+4% vs other
 $161,668/yr
Median weekly rent $1,000/wk
+20% vs other
 $800/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Davidson Frenchs Forest
0-4 4.3% / 5.7%
Davidson — 0-4: 4.3% Frenchs Forest — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 15.6% / 16.5%
Davidson — 5-14: 15.6% Frenchs Forest — 5-14: 16.5%
15-19 8.3% / 7.7%
Davidson — 15-19: 8.3% Frenchs Forest — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 5.3% / 5.4%
Davidson — 20-24: 5.3% Frenchs Forest — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 4.8% / 7.3%
Davidson — 25-34: 4.8% Frenchs Forest — 25-34: 7.3%
35-44 11.0% / 13.5%
Davidson — 35-44: 11.0% Frenchs Forest — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 18.5% / 16.9%
Davidson — 45-54: 18.5% Frenchs Forest — 45-54: 16.9%
55-64 11.6% / 11.2%
Davidson — 55-64: 11.6% Frenchs Forest — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 12.6% / 7.9%
Davidson — 65-74: 12.6% Frenchs Forest — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 6.9% / 6.1%
Davidson — 75-84: 6.9% Frenchs Forest — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 1.0% / 1.8%
Davidson — 85+: 1.0% Frenchs Forest — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Davidson 73.3% couple families
Davidson — Couple Families: 73.3% Davidson — Lone Person: 12.8% Davidson — One Parent Families: 12.0% Davidson — Group Household: 1.4% Davidson — Other Families: 0.5%
Frenchs Forest 69.9% couple families
Frenchs Forest — Couple Families: 69.9% Frenchs Forest — Lone Person: 15.6% Frenchs Forest — One Parent Families: 11.7% Frenchs Forest — Group Household: 1.9% Frenchs Forest — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Davidson 6.7% renting
Davidson — Owned Outright: 45.8% Davidson — Mortgage: 47.5% Davidson — Renting: 6.7%
Frenchs Forest 15.8% renting
Frenchs Forest — Owned Outright: 37.3% Frenchs Forest — Mortgage: 46.9% Frenchs Forest — Renting: 15.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Bachelor Degree 20.4% / 19.8%
Davidson — Bachelor Degree: 20.4% Frenchs Forest — Bachelor Degree: 19.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.7% / 8.7%
Davidson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.7% Frenchs Forest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.6% / 9.9%
Davidson — Certificate III & IV: 8.6% Frenchs Forest — Certificate III & IV: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 6.9%
Davidson — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Frenchs Forest — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 2.4%
Davidson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% Frenchs Forest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

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.

Davidson Frenchs Forest
England 10.7% / 7.3%
Davidson — England: 10.7% Frenchs Forest — England: 7.3%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.2%
Davidson — New Zealand: 2.2% Frenchs Forest — New Zealand: 2.2%
South Africa 1.7% / 1.9%
Davidson — South Africa: 1.7% Frenchs Forest — South Africa: 1.9%
China 1.3% / 2.3%
Davidson — China: 1.3% Frenchs Forest — China: 2.3%
Scotland 1.2% / —
Davidson — Scotland: 1.2% Frenchs Forest — Scotland: not among its largest
India — / 0.9%
Davidson — India: not among its largest Frenchs Forest — India: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Davidson 98.2% houses
Davidson — Houses: 98.2% Davidson — Townhouses: 0.5% Davidson — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Frenchs Forest 92.5% houses
Frenchs Forest — Houses: 92.5% Frenchs Forest — Townhouses: 4.3% Frenchs Forest — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Median house price $2,300,000 $2,400,000
Median unit price — $1,900,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 10 sales
 21 days
from 112 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.

Davidson Frenchs Forest
4 bed $2.31M / $2.4M
Davidson — 4 bed: $2.31M (18 sales) Frenchs Forest — 4 bed: $2.4M (63 sales)

18 vs 63 sales

5 bed $2.25M / $2.78M
Davidson — 5 bed: $2.25M (9 sales) Frenchs Forest — 5 bed: $2.78M (44 sales)

9 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

Davidson has more land zoned for conservation (37% vs 12%).

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Residential 39% 52%
Environmental 37% 12%
Parks and recreation 23% 13%
Commercial 0% 8%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 7%
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

Davidson Frenchs Forest
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.

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Houses 3.8%
$1,750/wk on $2.42M
 3.5%
$1,500/wk on $2.24M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Davidson Frenchs Forest
House price Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Schools Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW

Liveability

Frenchs Forest is more walkable (80 vs 55); Davidson scores higher overall (76 vs 54).

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Grade A B
Score 76/100 54/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Frenchs Forest carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 43); Frenchs Forest carries more crime risk (29 vs 14).

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Bushfire Moderate
43/100
 High
90/100
Crime Low
14/100
 Low
29/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 4
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 7.4 km
 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 3.3%

Schools in Davidson

  • Kambora Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Martin's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • EOC Broken Bay Catholic · Primary · Special school below peers

Schools in Frenchs Forest

  • Davidson High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Frenchs Forest Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mimosa Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • The Forest High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 19
Parks & reserves 8 29
Childcare 1 9
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
EV chargers 0 3
Waterways 1 17

Mobility

Davidson sits further from the CBD (20.8 km vs 17 km).

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Walkability score 55/100 80/100
Distance to Sydney 20.8 km
+18% vs other
 17 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 25 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 524.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 2085
 2.0%
postcode 2086
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 46
postcode 2085
 40
postcode 2086

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.

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Worked from Home 58.6% / 53.0%
Davidson — Worked from Home: 58.6% Frenchs Forest — Worked from Home: 53.0%
Car (driver) 36.9% / 39.4%
Davidson — Car (driver): 36.9% Frenchs Forest — Car (driver): 39.4%
Car (passenger) 1.9% / 2.8%
Davidson — Car (passenger): 1.9% Frenchs Forest — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Bus 2.0% / 2.5%
Davidson — Bus: 2.0% Frenchs Forest — Bus: 2.5%
Walked Only 0.3% / 1.7%
Davidson — Walked Only: 0.3% Frenchs Forest — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.6%).

Setting

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Elevation 123 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 144 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 6.7 km
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
896 premises
 12%
5,277 premises

Climate

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Davidson Frenchs Forest
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Davidson Frenchs Forest
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Davidson

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals

Frenchs Forest

Easy Commute Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Davidson

Davidson vs St Ives Davidson vs Belrose Davidson vs East Killara

Other comparisons with Frenchs Forest

Frenchs Forest vs Belrose Frenchs Forest vs Forestville Frenchs Forest vs Beacon Hill Frenchs Forest vs Allambie Heights Frenchs Forest vs Killarney Heights Frenchs Forest vs East Killara
Full data on Davidson Full data on Frenchs Forest
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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