Dover Heights vs Vaucluse

In both, most households own their home. In Dover Heights, most homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Vaucluse, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Vaucluse: a median of $10 million, against $7.22 million in Dover Heights, though rent is higher in Dover Heights. On these figures, Dover Heights 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

Dover Heights

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 32/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (66% vs 49%)
  • But Vaucluse has more parks and reserves (18 vs 3)

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

  • Dover Heights has cheaper houses ($7,225,000 vs $10,000,000)
  • Vaucluse has cheaper units ($1,525,000 vs $2,040,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Vaucluse

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($700/wk vs $798/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Dover Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 68/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Dover Heights

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 32/100)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 68/100)
  • But Vaucluse has more units and townhouses to downsize into (51% vs 34%)

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 population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dover Heights Vaucluse
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.

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Walkability 89 / 68
Dover Heights — Walkability: 89/100 Vaucluse — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 80 / 68
Dover Heights — Safety: 80/100 Vaucluse — Safety: 68/100
Low fire risk 100 / 75
Dover Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Vaucluse — Low fire risk: 75/100

Demographics

Vaucluse has more residents (9,510 vs 4,044); Dover Heights rents higher ($798/wk vs $700/wk).

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Population 4,044 9,510
+135% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.4% +1.9%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $201,604/yr
+12% vs other
 $177,736/yr
Median weekly rent $798/wk
+12% vs other
 $700/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dover Heights Vaucluse
0-4 4.9% / 4.6%
Dover Heights — 0-4: 4.9% Vaucluse — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 15.5% / 14.4%
Dover Heights — 5-14: 15.5% Vaucluse — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 7.7% / 7.5%
Dover Heights — 15-19: 7.7% Vaucluse — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 6.1% / 5.2%
Dover Heights — 20-24: 6.1% Vaucluse — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 9.4% / 8.2%
Dover Heights — 25-34: 9.4% Vaucluse — 25-34: 8.2%
35-44 11.0% / 12.4%
Dover Heights — 35-44: 11.0% Vaucluse — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 16.1% / 16.2%
Dover Heights — 45-54: 16.1% Vaucluse — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 12.7% / 12.6%
Dover Heights — 55-64: 12.7% Vaucluse — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 10.0% / 9.6%
Dover Heights — 65-74: 10.0% Vaucluse — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 4.7% / 6.0%
Dover Heights — 75-84: 4.7% Vaucluse — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 1.7% / 3.5%
Dover Heights — 85+: 1.7% Vaucluse — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dover Heights 62.7% couple families
Dover Heights — Couple Families: 62.7% Dover Heights — Lone Person: 20.9% Dover Heights — One Parent Families: 12.0% Dover Heights — Group Household: 3.0% Dover Heights — Other Families: 1.5%
Vaucluse 54.7% couple families
Vaucluse — Couple Families: 54.7% Vaucluse — Lone Person: 29.9% Vaucluse — One Parent Families: 11.4% Vaucluse — Group Household: 3.1% Vaucluse — 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.

Dover Heights 19.8% renting
Dover Heights — Owned Outright: 43.8% Dover Heights — Mortgage: 36.4% Dover Heights — Renting: 19.8%
Vaucluse 25.3% renting
Vaucluse — Owned Outright: 41.0% Vaucluse — Mortgage: 33.6% Vaucluse — Renting: 25.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Bachelor Degree 27.9% / 27.1%
Dover Heights — Bachelor Degree: 27.9% Vaucluse — Bachelor Degree: 27.1%
Postgraduate Degree 11.2% / 10.3%
Dover Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2% Vaucluse — Postgraduate Degree: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 7.2%
Dover Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Vaucluse — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Certificate III & IV 3.8% / 4.1%
Dover Heights — Certificate III & IV: 3.8% Vaucluse — Certificate III & IV: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.3%
Dover Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Vaucluse — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.9%).

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.

Dover Heights Vaucluse
South Africa 14.3% / 8.0%
Dover Heights — South Africa: 14.3% Vaucluse — South Africa: 8.0%
England 3.3% / 5.2%
Dover Heights — England: 3.3% Vaucluse — England: 5.2%
China 2.0% / 3.2%
Dover Heights — China: 2.0% Vaucluse — China: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.7%
Dover Heights — New Zealand: 1.2% Vaucluse — New Zealand: 1.7%
France 0.7% / —
Dover Heights — France: 0.7% Vaucluse — France: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.7%
Dover Heights — Germany: not among its largest Vaucluse — Germany: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dover Heights 66.2% houses
Dover Heights — Houses: 66.2% Dover Heights — Flats / Apartments: 23.1% Dover Heights — Townhouses: 10.7%
Vaucluse 48.7% houses
Vaucluse — Houses: 48.7% Vaucluse — Flats / Apartments: 42.9% Vaucluse — Townhouses: 8.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Median house price $7,225,000 $10,000,000
Median unit price $2,040,000 $1,525,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 14 sales
 29 days
from 72 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.

Dover Heights Vaucluse
1 bed $1.19M / $1.15M
Dover Heights — 1 bed: $1.19M (5 sales) Vaucluse — 1 bed: $1.15M (7 sales)

5 vs 7 sales

2 bed $1.5M / $1.42M
Dover Heights — 2 bed: $1.5M (9 sales) Vaucluse — 2 bed: $1.42M (65 sales)

9 vs 65 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.

Dover Heights Vaucluse
3 bed $5.83M / $4.7M
Dover Heights — 3 bed: $5.83M (12 sales) Vaucluse — 3 bed: $4.7M (13 sales)

12 vs 13 sales

4 bed $7.51M / $8.54M
Dover Heights — 4 bed: $7.51M (12 sales) Vaucluse — 4 bed: $8.54M (40 sales)

12 vs 40 sales

5 bed $7.62M / $12.9M
Dover Heights — 5 bed: $7.62M (10 sales) Vaucluse — 5 bed: $12.9M (44 sales)

10 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Residential 84% 71%
Parks and recreation 7% 12%
Environmental 4% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 5%
Planning zones cover 100% of Dover Heights and 98% of Vaucluse. 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

Dover Heights Vaucluse
New dwellings approved 180
across Waverley
 222
across Woollahra
Approvals change year on year +42% -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.

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Houses —
same for both
Units — 3.1%
$990/wk on $1.65M

Ranking within NSW

Dover Heights Vaucluse
House price Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Income Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 6% of NSW

Liveability

Dover Heights is more walkable (89 vs 68); Dover Heights scores higher overall (95 vs 83).

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Grade A+ A
Score 95/100 83/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Vaucluse carries more bushfire risk (25 vs 0); Vaucluse carries more crime risk (32 vs 20).

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
25/100
Crime Low
20/100
 Low
32/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
20/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 6.5 km
 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.3% 3.8%

Schools in Dover Heights

  • Kesser Torah College Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Vaucluse

  • Vaucluse Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Kincoppal - Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Cafes & restaurants 1 11
Parks & reserves 3 18
Childcare 3 8
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Beaches 0 7

Mobility

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Walkability score 89/100 68/100
Distance to Sydney 9.5 km 10.1 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 93.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 342.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.2%
postcode 2030
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 2030
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.

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Worked from Home 59.3% / 58.9%
Dover Heights — Worked from Home: 59.3% Vaucluse — Worked from Home: 58.9%
Car (driver) 34.5% / 33.4%
Dover Heights — Car (driver): 34.5% Vaucluse — Car (driver): 33.4%
Car (passenger) 1.9% / 3.2%
Dover Heights — Car (passenger): 1.9% Vaucluse — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.9%
Dover Heights — Walked Only: 1.7% Vaucluse — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 1.6% / 1.7%
Dover Heights — Bus: 1.6% Vaucluse — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.3%).

Setting

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Elevation 83 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 314 m
1.3 km to a named beach
 476 m
807 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Connectivity score 76/100 80/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
1,539 premises
 17%
4,075 premises

Climate

Dover Heights Vaucluse
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)

Dover Heights Vaucluse
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

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Average residential rate $1,277/yr $1,812/yr
Council Waverley Woollahra

Federal electorate

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dover Heights Vaucluse
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dover Heights

Beach Coastal Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

Vaucluse

Apartments Beach Coastal Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dover Heights

Dover Heights vs Rose Bay Dover Heights vs North Bondi

Other comparisons with Vaucluse

Vaucluse vs Rose Bay Vaucluse vs Watsons Bay
Full data on Dover Heights Full data on Vaucluse
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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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