Elizabeth Bay vs Rushcutters Bay

Rushcutters Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 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 $860,000 in Rushcutters Bay, and rent is higher there too.

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

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Rushcutters Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($860,000 vs $1,010,000)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rushcutters Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $500/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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Elizabeth Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 3.5%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Elizabeth Bay and Rushcutters Bay 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 Rushcutters Bay
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 Rushcutters Bay
Walkability 96 / 96
Elizabeth Bay — Walkability: 96/100 Rushcutters Bay — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 33 / 41
Elizabeth Bay — Safety: 33/100 Rushcutters Bay — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Elizabeth Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rushcutters Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Elizabeth Bay has more residents (4,878 vs 2,335); Elizabeth Bay skews older (43 vs 38).

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Population 4,878
+52% vs other
 2,335
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.5% -8.3%
Median age 43 38
Median household income $110,032/yr
+11% vs other
 $97,604/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+10% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
0-4 1.9% / 2.6%
Elizabeth Bay — 0-4: 1.9% Rushcutters Bay — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 2.0% / 3.0%
Elizabeth Bay — 5-14: 2.0% Rushcutters Bay — 5-14: 3.0%
15-19 0.8% / 0.7%
Elizabeth Bay — 15-19: 0.8% Rushcutters Bay — 15-19: 0.7%
20-24 3.5% / 4.1%
Elizabeth Bay — 20-24: 3.5% Rushcutters Bay — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 24.6% / 29.0%
Elizabeth Bay — 25-34: 24.6% Rushcutters Bay — 25-34: 29.0%
35-44 18.6% / 20.7%
Elizabeth Bay — 35-44: 18.6% Rushcutters Bay — 35-44: 20.7%
45-54 14.0% / 11.0%
Elizabeth Bay — 45-54: 14.0% Rushcutters Bay — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 13.4% / 10.3%
Elizabeth Bay — 55-64: 13.4% Rushcutters Bay — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 10.8% / 8.5%
Elizabeth Bay — 65-74: 10.8% Rushcutters Bay — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 6.1% / 6.0%
Elizabeth Bay — 75-84: 6.1% Rushcutters Bay — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 4.2% / 4.1%
Elizabeth Bay — 85+: 4.2% Rushcutters Bay — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Elizabeth Bay 83.6% lone person
Elizabeth Bay — Lone Person: 83.6% Elizabeth Bay — Couple Families: 6.7% Elizabeth Bay — Group Household: 6.2% Elizabeth Bay — One Parent Families: 2.9% Elizabeth Bay — Other Families: 0.5%
Rushcutters Bay 80.2% lone person
Rushcutters Bay — Lone Person: 80.2% Rushcutters Bay — Couple Families: 7.9% Rushcutters Bay — Group Household: 7.7% Rushcutters Bay — One Parent Families: 3.9% Rushcutters Bay — Other Families: 0.4%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household 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%
Rushcutters Bay 64.7% renting
Rushcutters Bay — Owned Outright: 18.3% Rushcutters Bay — Mortgage: 16.9% Rushcutters Bay — Renting: 64.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Bachelor Degree 34.7% / 34.0%
Elizabeth Bay — Bachelor Degree: 34.7% Rushcutters Bay — Bachelor Degree: 34.0%
Postgraduate Degree 17.4% / 15.5%
Elizabeth Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 17.4% Rushcutters Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 15.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 8.7%
Elizabeth Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Rushcutters Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 5.8%
Elizabeth Bay — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% Rushcutters Bay — Certificate III & IV: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 3.6%
Elizabeth Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Rushcutters Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

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 Rushcutters Bay
England 5.8% / 6.6%
Elizabeth Bay — England: 5.8% Rushcutters Bay — England: 6.6%
New Zealand 4.1% / 3.8%
Elizabeth Bay — New Zealand: 4.1% Rushcutters Bay — New Zealand: 3.8%
Brazil 1.4% / 1.4%
Elizabeth Bay — Brazil: 1.4% Rushcutters Bay — Brazil: 1.4%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.3%
Elizabeth Bay — South Africa: 1.1% Rushcutters Bay — South Africa: 1.3%
China — / 1.2%
Elizabeth Bay — China: not among its largest Rushcutters Bay — China: 1.2%
Germany 1.1% / —
Elizabeth Bay — Germany: 1.1% Rushcutters Bay — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

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%
Rushcutters Bay 98.9% flats / apartments
Rushcutters Bay — Flats / Apartments: 98.9% Rushcutters Bay — Townhouses: 0.6% Rushcutters Bay — Houses: 0.5%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Median house price — $1,100,000
Median unit price $1,010,000 $860,000
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 Rushcutters Bay
1 bed $810K / $715K
Elizabeth Bay — 1 bed: $810K (108 sales) Rushcutters Bay — 1 bed: $715K (78 sales)

108 vs 78 sales

2 bed $1.96M / $1.7M
Elizabeth Bay — 2 bed: $1.96M (56 sales) Rushcutters Bay — 2 bed: $1.7M (39 sales)

56 vs 39 sales

3 bed $4.97M / $2.05M
Elizabeth Bay — 3 bed: $4.97M (17 sales) Rushcutters Bay — 3 bed: $2.05M (10 sales)

17 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Residential 89% 63%
Parks and recreation 9% 32%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 3%
Commercial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Elizabeth Bay and 99% of Rushcutters Bay. 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 Rushcutters Bay
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 Rushcutters Bay
Houses —
same for both
Units 5.5%
$788/wk on $740K
 3.5%
$655/wk on $982K

Ranking within NSW

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
House price Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Income Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW

Liveability

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

Risk profile

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
59/100
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
same for both

Schools

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
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, 1.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.2% 1.1%

Amenities in the suburb

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 10 6
Parks & reserves 6 1
Childcare 0 1
GPs 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0

Mobility

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 4.6 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 35.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Rushcutters Bay
Worked from Home 65.9% / 65.5%
Elizabeth Bay — Worked from Home: 65.9% Rushcutters Bay — Worked from Home: 65.5%
Car (driver) 13.2% / 10.6%
Elizabeth Bay — Car (driver): 13.2% Rushcutters Bay — Car (driver): 10.6%
Walked Only 11.1% / 12.5%
Elizabeth Bay — Walked Only: 11.1% Rushcutters Bay — Walked Only: 12.5%
Train 6.3% / 8.1%
Elizabeth Bay — Train: 6.3% Rushcutters Bay — Train: 8.1%
Bus 1.5% / 1.7%
Elizabeth Bay — Bus: 1.5% Rushcutters Bay — Bus: 1.7%

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

Setting

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach
 4.2 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
Connectivity score 73/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
4,219 premises
 7%
2,106 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay
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

Rushcutters Bay

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Elizabeth Bay

Elizabeth Bay vs Potts Point

Other comparisons with Rushcutters Bay

Rushcutters Bay vs Paddington Rushcutters Bay vs Darlinghurst Rushcutters Bay vs Potts Point Rushcutters Bay vs Darling Point Rushcutters Bay vs Edgecliff
Full data on Elizabeth Bay Full data on Rushcutters Bay
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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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