Dee Why vs North Curl Curl

Dee Why is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 40 in North Curl Curl. In Dee Why, about half of households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In North Curl Curl, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in North Curl Curl: a median of $3.9 million, against $2.52 million in Dee Why, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Dee Why tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while North Curl Curl suits families with children and couples.

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

  • Dee Why has more childcare (9 vs 1)
  • North Curl Curl has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 15%)

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

First-home buyers

Dee Why

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,520,000 vs $3,900,000)
  • has cheaper units ($982,500 vs $1,443,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Dee Why

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $700/wk)
  • But North Curl Curl leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Dee Why

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 61/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Dee Why

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (85% vs 11%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 61/100)
  • But North Curl Curl carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 43/100)

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

Investors

Dee Why

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dee Why North Curl Curl
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.

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Walkability 90 / 61
Dee Why — Walkability: 90/100 North Curl Curl — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 57 / 78
Dee Why — Safety: 57/100 North Curl Curl — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Dee Why — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Curl Curl — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Dee Why has more residents (23,354 vs 4,288); North Curl Curl has higher household incomes ($187,772 vs $109,512).

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Population 23,354
+82% vs other
 4,288
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.5% +4.2%
Median age 36 40
Median household income $109,512/yr $187,772/yr
+71% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk $700/wk
+27% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dee Why North Curl Curl
0-4 6.3% / 4.9%
Dee Why — 0-4: 6.3% North Curl Curl — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 8.7% / 17.3%
Dee Why — 5-14: 8.7% North Curl Curl — 5-14: 17.3%
15-19 3.7% / 9.2%
Dee Why — 15-19: 3.7% North Curl Curl — 15-19: 9.2%
20-24 6.3% / 6.5%
Dee Why — 20-24: 6.3% North Curl Curl — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 21.1% / 6.6%
Dee Why — 25-34: 21.1% North Curl Curl — 25-34: 6.6%
35-44 18.0% / 11.8%
Dee Why — 35-44: 18.0% North Curl Curl — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 13.0% / 19.1%
Dee Why — 45-54: 13.0% North Curl Curl — 45-54: 19.1%
55-64 10.9% / 12.3%
Dee Why — 55-64: 10.9% North Curl Curl — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 6.8% / 6.9%
Dee Why — 65-74: 6.8% North Curl Curl — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 3.7% / 3.9%
Dee Why — 75-84: 3.7% North Curl Curl — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 1.5% / 1.2%
Dee Why — 85+: 1.5% North Curl Curl — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dee Why 35.7% couple families
Dee Why — Couple Families: 35.7% Dee Why — Lone Person: 40.7% Dee Why — One Parent Families: 13.9% Dee Why — Group Household: 8.1% Dee Why — Other Families: 1.6%
North Curl Curl 65.9% couple families
North Curl Curl — Couple Families: 65.9% North Curl Curl — Lone Person: 17.0% North Curl Curl — One Parent Families: 13.4% North Curl Curl — Group Household: 3.1% North Curl Curl — Other Families: 0.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Dee Why 48.5% renting
Dee Why — Owned Outright: 21.5% Dee Why — Mortgage: 30.0% Dee Why — Renting: 48.5%
North Curl Curl 18.5% renting
North Curl Curl — Owned Outright: 40.5% North Curl Curl — Mortgage: 41.0% North Curl Curl — Renting: 18.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Bachelor Degree 21.2% / 21.5%
Dee Why — Bachelor Degree: 21.2% North Curl Curl — Bachelor Degree: 21.5%
Certificate III & IV 11.4% / 8.6%
Dee Why — Certificate III & IV: 11.4% North Curl Curl — Certificate III & IV: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.5% / 8.3%
Dee Why — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.5% North Curl Curl — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 7.5% / 7.4%
Dee Why — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5% North Curl Curl — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.5%
Dee Why — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% North Curl Curl — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

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.

Dee Why North Curl Curl
England 5.9% / 8.6%
Dee Why — England: 5.9% North Curl Curl — England: 8.6%
Brazil 4.2% / 0.8%
Dee Why — Brazil: 4.2% North Curl Curl — Brazil: 0.8%
China 3.6% / 0.7%
Dee Why — China: 3.6% North Curl Curl — China: 0.7%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.4%
Dee Why — New Zealand: 2.6% North Curl Curl — New Zealand: 1.4%
Nepal 3.2% / —
Dee Why — Nepal: 3.2% North Curl Curl — Nepal: not among its largest
India 3.2% / —
Dee Why — India: 3.2% North Curl Curl — India: not among its largest
South Africa 1.3% / 1.0%
Dee Why — South Africa: 1.3% North Curl Curl — South Africa: 1.0%
Italy — / 0.8%
Dee Why — Italy: not among its largest North Curl Curl — Italy: 0.8%
Canada — / 0.8%
Dee Why — Canada: not among its largest North Curl Curl — Canada: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dee Why 15.3% houses
Dee Why — Houses: 15.3% Dee Why — Flats / Apartments: 82.2% Dee Why — Townhouses: 2.4%
North Curl Curl 88.8% houses
North Curl Curl — Houses: 88.8% North Curl Curl — Flats / Apartments: 6.9% North Curl Curl — Townhouses: 4.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Median house price $2,520,000 $3,900,000
Median unit price $982,500 $1,443,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 37 sales
 36 days
from 18 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.

Dee Why North Curl Curl
3 bed $2.33M / $3.4M
Dee Why — 3 bed: $2.33M (20 sales) North Curl Curl — 3 bed: $3.4M (19 sales)

20 vs 19 sales

4 bed $2.69M / $4.4M
Dee Why — 4 bed: $2.69M (14 sales) North Curl Curl — 4 bed: $4.4M (25 sales)

14 vs 25 sales

5 bed $2.98M / $4.4M
Dee Why — 5 bed: $2.98M (5 sales) North Curl Curl — 5 bed: $4.4M (24 sales)

5 vs 24 sales

Zoning mix

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Residential 81% 83%
Parks and recreation 15%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Industrial 1%
same for both
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

Dee Why North Curl Curl
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.

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Houses 4.0%
$1,550/wk on $2M
 1.8%
$1,525/wk on $4.5M
Units 4.4%
$825/wk on $970K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Dee Why North Curl Curl
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Schools Higher than 54% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 41% of NSW —

Liveability

Dee Why is more walkable (90 vs 61); North Curl Curl scores higher overall (86 vs 75).

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Grade A
same for both
Score 75/100 86/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Dee Why carries more crime risk (43 vs 22).

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Low
22/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
42/100
 Low
21/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Dee Why

  • St Kevin's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Dee Why Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Luke's Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Fisher Road School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in North Curl Curl

  • Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus Government · Secondary at peers
  • Curl Curl North Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Supermarkets 8 0
Cafes & restaurants 32 4
Parks & reserves 12 2
Childcare 9 1
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 9 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Walkability score 90/100 61/100
Distance to Sydney 18.4 km 18.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 31 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 472.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 72.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2099
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 2099
same for both

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.

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Worked from Home 38.2% / 55.5%
Dee Why — Worked from Home: 38.2% North Curl Curl — Worked from Home: 55.5%
Car (driver) 42.5% / 36.0%
Dee Why — Car (driver): 42.5% North Curl Curl — Car (driver): 36.0%
Bus 10.0% / 2.1%
Dee Why — Bus: 10.0% North Curl Curl — Bus: 2.1%
Walked Only 4.7% / 2.7%
Dee Why — Walked Only: 4.7% North Curl Curl — Walked Only: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 2.9%
Dee Why — Car (passenger): 3.2% North Curl Curl — Car (passenger): 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.5%).

Setting

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 15 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 694 m
886 m to a named beach
 837 m
888 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Connectivity score 77/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 11%
11,525 premises
 50%
1,421 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Dee Why North Curl Curl
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

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

Federal electorate

Dee Why North Curl Curl
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Dee Why

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub Urban

North Curl Curl

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dee Why

Dee Why vs Cromer Dee Why vs Collaroy Dee Why vs Narraweena Dee Why vs Brookvale

Other comparisons with North Curl Curl

North Curl Curl vs Brookvale North Curl Curl vs Curl Curl
Full data on Dee Why Full data on North Curl Curl
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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