Elanora Heights vs Narrabeen

Elanora Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 48 in Narrabeen. In both, most households own their home. In Elanora Heights, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Narrabeen, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Narrabeen: a median of $3.3 million, against $2.39 million in Elanora Heights, though rent is higher in Elanora Heights. On these figures, Elanora Heights tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Narrabeen suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Elanora Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 16%)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 40/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (82% vs 41%)
  • But Narrabeen has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Elanora Heights

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,387,500 vs $3,300,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 34%)
  • But Narrabeen has cheaper units ($1,170,000 vs $1,540,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Narrabeen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($565/wk vs $750/wk)
  • But Elanora Heights leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Narrabeen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (38 min vs 43 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Elanora Heights has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • Narrabeen has more units and townhouses to downsize into (84% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Elanora Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
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.

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Walkability 73 / 73
Elanora Heights — Walkability: 73/100 Narrabeen — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 82 / 60
Elanora Heights — Safety: 82/100 Narrabeen — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 6 / 47
Elanora Heights — Low fire risk: 6/100 Narrabeen — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Narrabeen has more residents (8,255 vs 4,581); Elanora Heights has higher household incomes ($158,704 vs $92,560).

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Population 4,581 8,255
+80% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.1% +0.6%
Median age 41 48
Median household income $158,704/yr
+42% vs other
 $92,560/yr
Median weekly rent $750/wk
+25% vs other
 $565/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
0-4 5.6% / 4.9%
Elanora Heights — 0-4: 5.6% Narrabeen — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 16.3% / 7.2%
Elanora Heights — 5-14: 16.3% Narrabeen — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 7.4% / 3.6%
Elanora Heights — 15-19: 7.4% Narrabeen — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 5.0% / 4.3%
Elanora Heights — 20-24: 5.0% Narrabeen — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 7.1% / 13.1%
Elanora Heights — 25-34: 7.1% Narrabeen — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 13.5% / 12.7%
Elanora Heights — 35-44: 13.5% Narrabeen — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 15.9% / 11.6%
Elanora Heights — 45-54: 15.9% Narrabeen — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 12.4% / 11.5%
Elanora Heights — 55-64: 12.4% Narrabeen — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 8.8% / 11.4%
Elanora Heights — 65-74: 8.8% Narrabeen — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 6.3% / 10.3%
Elanora Heights — 75-84: 6.3% Narrabeen — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 2.0% / 9.4%
Elanora Heights — 85+: 2.0% Narrabeen — 85+: 9.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Elanora Heights 69.0% couple families
Elanora Heights — Couple Families: 69.0% Elanora Heights — Lone Person: 15.1% Elanora Heights — One Parent Families: 12.9% Elanora Heights — Group Household: 2.2% Elanora Heights — Other Families: 0.8%
Narrabeen 27.3% couple families
Narrabeen — Couple Families: 27.3% Narrabeen — Lone Person: 54.0% Narrabeen — One Parent Families: 13.4% Narrabeen — Group Household: 4.3% Narrabeen — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Elanora Heights 12.9% renting
Elanora Heights — Owned Outright: 42.8% Elanora Heights — Mortgage: 44.3% Elanora Heights — Renting: 12.9%
Narrabeen 42.7% renting
Narrabeen — Owned Outright: 32.3% Narrabeen — Mortgage: 25.0% Narrabeen — Renting: 42.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Bachelor Degree 18.0% / 18.3%
Elanora Heights — Bachelor Degree: 18.0% Narrabeen — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 11.5% / 13.4%
Elanora Heights — Certificate III & IV: 11.5% Narrabeen — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 10.6%
Elanora Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Narrabeen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 5.0% / 5.3%
Elanora Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0% Narrabeen — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.2%
Elanora Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Narrabeen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
England 6.9% / 6.8%
Elanora Heights — England: 6.9% Narrabeen — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.0%
Elanora Heights — New Zealand: 1.7% Narrabeen — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.5%
Elanora Heights — South Africa: 1.4% Narrabeen — South Africa: 1.5%
Brazil 0.4% / 2.2%
Elanora Heights — Brazil: 0.4% Narrabeen — Brazil: 2.2%
Germany 1.0% / 0.8%
Elanora Heights — Germany: 1.0% Narrabeen — Germany: 0.8%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.8%
Elanora Heights — Scotland: 0.7% Narrabeen — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Elanora Heights 93.6% houses
Elanora Heights — Houses: 93.6% Elanora Heights — Flats / Apartments: 6.4% Elanora Heights — Townhouses: 0.0%
Narrabeen 15.8% houses
Narrabeen — Houses: 15.8% Narrabeen — Flats / Apartments: 65.5% Narrabeen — Townhouses: 18.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Median house price $2,387,500 $3,300,000
Median unit price $1,540,000 $1,170,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 14 sales
 30 days
from 15 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.

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
3 bed $2.22M / $2.55M
Elanora Heights — 3 bed: $2.22M (13 sales) Narrabeen — 3 bed: $2.55M (9 sales)

13 vs 9 sales

4 bed $2.52M / $3M
Elanora Heights — 4 bed: $2.52M (19 sales) Narrabeen — 4 bed: $3M (11 sales)

19 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Elanora Heights has more land zoned for conservation (30% vs 9%).

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Residential 42% 43%
Environmental 30% 9%
Parks and recreation 24% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 15%
Commercial 1% 3%
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

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
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.

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Houses 3.8%
$1,600/wk on $2.17M
 1.8%
$1,475/wk on $4.22M
Units — 4.7%
$850/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
House price Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 15% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 90% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 51% of NSW

Liveability

Elanora Heights scores higher overall (65 vs 51).

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Grade B
same for both
Score 65/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Narrabeen carries more crime risk (40 vs 18); Elanora Heights carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 53).

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Bushfire High
94/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Low
18/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
27/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Elanora Heights

  • Elanora Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Narrabeen

  • Narrabeen Lakes Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Lucy's, St Joseph's Narrabeen campus Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 5 25
Parks & reserves 10 8
Childcare 4 6
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Walkability score 73/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 28.3 km 28.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 43 min 38 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 36.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 163.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2101
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 2101
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.

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Worked from Home 51.0% / 45.9%
Elanora Heights — Worked from Home: 51.0% Narrabeen — Worked from Home: 45.9%
Car (driver) 44.0% / 45.2%
Elanora Heights — Car (driver): 44.0% Narrabeen — Car (driver): 45.2%
Bus 1.3% / 3.9%
Elanora Heights — Bus: 1.3% Narrabeen — Bus: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 2.0%
Elanora Heights — Car (passenger): 2.5% Narrabeen — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.9%
Elanora Heights — Walked Only: 1.1% Narrabeen — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.0%).

Setting

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Elevation 122 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.0 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 381 m
487 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Connectivity score 89/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
1,545 premises
 8%
5,215 premises

Climate

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
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

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Elanora Heights Narrabeen
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Elanora Heights

Coastal Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet

Narrabeen

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Elanora Heights

Elanora Heights vs North Narrabeen Elanora Heights vs Ingleside

Other comparisons with Narrabeen

Narrabeen vs Cromer Narrabeen vs Collaroy Narrabeen vs North Narrabeen Narrabeen vs Collaroy Plateau Narrabeen vs Wheeler Heights Narrabeen vs Ingleside
Full data on Elanora Heights Full data on Narrabeen
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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