Elizabeth Bay vs Potts Point

Potts Point is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 43 in Elizabeth Bay. In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and the large majority of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Elizabeth Bay: a median of $1.01 million, against $920,000 in Potts Point. Potts Point is closer to the city centre: 3.3 km, against 4.6 km. On these figures, Elizabeth Bay tends to suit older residents, while Potts Point suits young adults.

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

Elizabeth Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 93/100)

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 unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Elizabeth Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 13%)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 93/100)
  • But Potts Point has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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

Investors

Elizabeth Bay

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-6.5% vs -23.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
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.

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Walkability 96 / 96
Elizabeth Bay — Walkability: 96/100 Potts Point — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 33 / 7
Elizabeth Bay — Safety: 33/100 Potts Point — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Elizabeth Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Potts Point — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Potts Point has more residents (7,183 vs 4,878); Elizabeth Bay skews older (43 vs 37).

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Population 4,878 7,183
+47% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.5% -23.8%
Median age 43 37
Median household income $110,032/yr
+3% vs other
 $106,808/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+2% vs other
 $490/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
0-4 1.9% / 1.2%
Elizabeth Bay — 0-4: 1.9% Potts Point — 0-4: 1.2%
5-14 2.0% / 1.3%
Elizabeth Bay — 5-14: 2.0% Potts Point — 5-14: 1.3%
15-19 0.8% / 1.7%
Elizabeth Bay — 15-19: 0.8% Potts Point — 15-19: 1.7%
20-24 3.5% / 7.5%
Elizabeth Bay — 20-24: 3.5% Potts Point — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 24.6% / 31.5%
Elizabeth Bay — 25-34: 24.6% Potts Point — 25-34: 31.5%
35-44 18.6% / 19.4%
Elizabeth Bay — 35-44: 18.6% Potts Point — 35-44: 19.4%
45-54 14.0% / 13.9%
Elizabeth Bay — 45-54: 14.0% Potts Point — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 13.4% / 10.6%
Elizabeth Bay — 55-64: 13.4% Potts Point — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 10.8% / 8.1%
Elizabeth Bay — 65-74: 10.8% Potts Point — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 6.1% / 3.8%
Elizabeth Bay — 75-84: 6.1% Potts Point — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 4.2% / 1.0%
Elizabeth Bay — 85+: 4.2% Potts Point — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Elizabeth Bay 83.6% lone person
Elizabeth Bay — Lone Person: 83.6% Elizabeth Bay — Group Household: 6.2% Elizabeth Bay — Couple Families: 6.7% Elizabeth Bay — One Parent Families: 2.9% Elizabeth Bay — Other Families: 0.5%
Potts Point 84.6% lone person
Potts Point — Lone Person: 84.6% Potts Point — Group Household: 7.6% Potts Point — Couple Families: 4.5% Potts Point — One Parent Families: 2.6% Potts Point — Other Families: 0.7%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Elizabeth Bay 60.5% renting
Elizabeth Bay — Owned Outright: 22.6% Elizabeth Bay — Mortgage: 16.8% Elizabeth Bay — Renting: 60.5%
Potts Point 66.2% renting
Potts Point — Owned Outright: 17.7% Potts Point — Mortgage: 16.0% Potts Point — Renting: 66.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Bachelor Degree 34.7% / 32.5%
Elizabeth Bay — Bachelor Degree: 34.7% Potts Point — Bachelor Degree: 32.5%
Postgraduate Degree 17.4% / 14.8%
Elizabeth Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 17.4% Potts Point — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 8.8%
Elizabeth Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Potts Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 6.7%
Elizabeth Bay — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% Potts Point — Certificate III & IV: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 3.2%
Elizabeth Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Potts Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.7%).

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.

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
England 5.8% / 5.8%
Elizabeth Bay — England: 5.8% Potts Point — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 4.1% / 4.1%
Elizabeth Bay — New Zealand: 4.1% Potts Point — New Zealand: 4.1%
Brazil 1.4% / 1.2%
Elizabeth Bay — Brazil: 1.4% Potts Point — Brazil: 1.2%
France 0.9% / 1.4%
Elizabeth Bay — France: 0.9% Potts Point — France: 1.4%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.0%
Elizabeth Bay — South Africa: 1.1% Potts Point — South Africa: 1.0%
Thailand — / 1.3%
Elizabeth Bay — Thailand: not among its largest Potts Point — Thailand: 1.3%
Germany 1.1% / —
Elizabeth Bay — Germany: 1.1% Potts Point — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Elizabeth Bay 99.2% flats / apartments
Elizabeth Bay — Flats / Apartments: 99.2% Elizabeth Bay — Townhouses: 0.5% Elizabeth Bay — Houses: 0.3%
Potts Point 89.0% flats / apartments
Potts Point — Flats / Apartments: 89.0% Potts Point — Townhouses: 10.8% Potts Point — Houses: 0.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Median house price — $4,140,000
Median unit price $1,010,000 $920,000
Median land price —
same for both

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
1 bed $810K / $800K
Elizabeth Bay — 1 bed: $810K (108 sales) Potts Point — 1 bed: $800K (221 sales)

108 vs 221 sales

2 bed $1.96M / $1.65M
Elizabeth Bay — 2 bed: $1.96M (56 sales) Potts Point — 2 bed: $1.65M (77 sales)

56 vs 77 sales

3 bed $4.97M / $4.85M
Elizabeth Bay — 3 bed: $4.97M (17 sales) Potts Point — 3 bed: $4.85M (13 sales)

17 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Residential 89% 38%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 48%
Commercial 0% 10%
Parks and recreation 9% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Elizabeth Bay and 96% of Potts Point. 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

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
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.

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Houses —
same for both
Units 5.5%
$788/wk on $740K
 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K

Ranking within NSW

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
House price Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Income Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Elizabeth Bay scores higher overall (87 vs 78).

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Grade A
same for both
Score 87/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Potts Point carries more crime risk (93 vs 67).

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
67/100
 High
93/100
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 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 1.7 km
 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.2% 1.4%

Schools in Elizabeth Bay

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Potts Point

  • St Vincent's College Independent · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 10 80
Parks & reserves 6 4
Childcare 0 1
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 0 6
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2
same for both

Mobility

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 4.6 km
+28% vs other
 3.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 9 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 96/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 35.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 81.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.4%
postcode 2011
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 1
postcode 2011
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.

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Worked from Home 65.9% / 61.9%
Elizabeth Bay — Worked from Home: 65.9% Potts Point — Worked from Home: 61.9%
Walked Only 11.1% / 14.1%
Elizabeth Bay — Walked Only: 11.1% Potts Point — Walked Only: 14.1%
Car (driver) 13.2% / 10.2%
Elizabeth Bay — Car (driver): 13.2% Potts Point — Car (driver): 10.2%
Train 6.3% / 9.5%
Elizabeth Bay — Train: 6.3% Potts Point — Train: 9.5%
Bus 1.5% / 1.7%
Elizabeth Bay — Bus: 1.5% Potts Point — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.9%).

Setting

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 3.7 km
1.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Connectivity score 73/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
4,219 premises
 4%
6,209 premises

Climate

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
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)

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
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

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Elizabeth Bay Potts Point
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Elizabeth Bay

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Potts Point

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Potts Point

Potts Point vs Darlinghurst Potts Point vs Woolloomooloo Potts Point vs Rushcutters Bay
Full data on Elizabeth Bay Full data on Potts Point
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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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