East Killara vs Frenchs Forest

Frenchs Forest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in East Killara. In both, 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 East Killara: a median of $3.3 million, against $2.4 million in Frenchs Forest, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Frenchs Forest 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

Frenchs Forest

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 6)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • But East Killara carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 29/100)

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

First-home buyers

Frenchs Forest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,400,000 vs $3,298,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Frenchs Forest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 33%)
  • has cheaper rent ($800/wk vs $1,000/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

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • East Killara carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 29/100)
  • Frenchs Forest has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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

Investors

Frenchs Forest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.9% vs -2.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

East Killara 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.

East Killara 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.

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Walkability 73 / 80
East Killara — Walkability: 73/100 Frenchs Forest — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 83 / 71
East Killara — Safety: 83/100 Frenchs Forest — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 57 / 10
East Killara — Low fire risk: 57/100 Frenchs Forest — Low fire risk: 10/100

Demographics

Frenchs Forest has more residents (14,267 vs 2,895); East Killara rents higher ($1,000/wk vs $800/wk).

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Population 2,895 14,267
+393% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.8% +5.9%
Median age 43 40
Median household income $156,260/yr $161,668/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $1,000/wk
+20% vs other
 $800/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Killara Frenchs Forest
0-4 3.3% / 5.7%
East Killara — 0-4: 3.3% Frenchs Forest — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 15.4% / 16.5%
East Killara — 5-14: 15.4% Frenchs Forest — 5-14: 16.5%
15-19 8.0% / 7.7%
East Killara — 15-19: 8.0% Frenchs Forest — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 7.2% / 5.4%
East Killara — 20-24: 7.2% Frenchs Forest — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 7.7% / 7.3%
East Killara — 25-34: 7.7% Frenchs Forest — 25-34: 7.3%
35-44 10.4% / 13.5%
East Killara — 35-44: 10.4% Frenchs Forest — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 15.5% / 16.9%
East Killara — 45-54: 15.5% Frenchs Forest — 45-54: 16.9%
55-64 14.7% / 11.2%
East Killara — 55-64: 14.7% Frenchs Forest — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 9.7% / 7.9%
East Killara — 65-74: 9.7% Frenchs Forest — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 5.8% / 6.1%
East Killara — 75-84: 5.8% Frenchs Forest — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.2% / 1.8%
East Killara — 85+: 2.2% Frenchs Forest — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Killara 71.8% couple families
East Killara — Couple Families: 71.8% East Killara — Lone Person: 13.2% East Killara — One Parent Families: 12.7% East Killara — Group Household: 0.9% East Killara — Other Families: 1.4%
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.

East Killara 12.3% renting
East Killara — Owned Outright: 48.0% East Killara — Mortgage: 39.7% East Killara — Renting: 12.3%
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.

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Bachelor Degree 27.0% / 19.8%
East Killara — Bachelor Degree: 27.0% Frenchs Forest — Bachelor Degree: 19.8%
Postgraduate Degree 13.1% / 6.9%
East Killara — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1% Frenchs Forest — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 8.7%
East Killara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Frenchs Forest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 3.0% / 9.9%
East Killara — Certificate III & IV: 3.0% Frenchs Forest — Certificate III & IV: 9.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.4%
East Killara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Frenchs Forest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.0%).

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.

East Killara Frenchs Forest
China 19.4% / 2.3%
East Killara — China: 19.4% Frenchs Forest — China: 2.3%
England 4.3% / 7.3%
East Killara — England: 4.3% Frenchs Forest — England: 7.3%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.2%
East Killara — New Zealand: 1.7% Frenchs Forest — New Zealand: 2.2%
South Africa 1.3% / 1.9%
East Killara — South Africa: 1.3% Frenchs Forest — South Africa: 1.9%
India 1.7% / 0.9%
East Killara — India: 1.7% Frenchs Forest — India: 0.9%
Malaysia 2.4% / —
East Killara — Malaysia: 2.4% Frenchs Forest — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Killara 99.5% houses
East Killara — Houses: 99.5% East Killara — Townhouses: 0.3% East Killara — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
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

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Median house price $3,298,000 $2,400,000
Median unit price — $1,900,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 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.

East Killara Frenchs Forest
4 bed $3.16M / $2.4M
East Killara — 4 bed: $3.16M (8 sales) Frenchs Forest — 4 bed: $2.4M (63 sales)

8 vs 63 sales

5 bed $4M / $2.78M
East Killara — 5 bed: $4M (9 sales) Frenchs Forest — 5 bed: $2.78M (44 sales)

9 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

East Killara has more land zoned for conservation (82% vs 12%).

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Environmental 82% 12%
Residential 13% 52%
Parks and recreation 3% 13%
Commercial 0% 8%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 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

East Killara Frenchs Forest
New dwellings approved 908
across Ku-ring-gai
 620
across Northern Beaches
Approvals change year on year +0% +51%

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.

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Houses — 3.5%
$1,500/wk on $2.24M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

East Killara Frenchs Forest
House price Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 96% of NSW
same for both
Schools — Higher than 26% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 44% of NSW

Liveability

East Killara scores higher overall (83 vs 54).

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Grade A B
Score 83/100 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 17).

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Bushfire Moderate
43/100
 High
90/100
Crime Low
17/100
 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 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 4
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 5.7 km
 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.6% 3.3%

Schools in East Killara

  • Killara High School Government · Secondary at 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

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 19
Parks & reserves 6 29
Childcare 1 9
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 3
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
EV chargers 0 3
Waterways 3 17

Mobility

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Walkability score 73/100 80/100
Distance to Sydney 15.8 km 17 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min
same for both
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 48.8
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 4.8%
postcode 2071
 2.0%
postcode 2086
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2071
 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.

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Worked from Home 58.1% / 53.0%
East Killara — Worked from Home: 58.1% Frenchs Forest — Worked from Home: 53.0%
Car (driver) 32.5% / 39.4%
East Killara — Car (driver): 32.5% Frenchs Forest — Car (driver): 39.4%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 2.8%
East Killara — Car (passenger): 3.9% Frenchs Forest — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Train 4.0% / 0.3%
East Killara — Train: 4.0% Frenchs Forest — Train: 0.3%
Bus 1.5% / 2.5%
East Killara — Bus: 1.5% Frenchs Forest — Bus: 2.5%
Walked Only — / 1.7%
East Killara — Walked Only: not among its largest Frenchs Forest — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.1%).

Setting

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Elevation 109 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 144 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.5 km 6.7 km
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,017 premises
 12%
5,277 premises

Climate

East Killara 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)

East Killara 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

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Average residential rate $1,626/yr $1,696/yr
Council Ku-ring-gai Northern Beaches

Federal electorate

East Killara Frenchs Forest
Division Bradfield Mackellar
Member Nicolette Boele Sophie Scamps
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

East Killara

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Quiet

Frenchs Forest

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Killara

East Killara vs St Ives East Killara vs Lindfield East Killara vs Killara East Killara vs Gordon East Killara vs East Lindfield East Killara vs Davidson

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 Davidson
Full data on East Killara 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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or