Fairlight vs Manly

In Fairlight, most households own their home, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are couple families. In Manly, about half of households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Fairlight: a median of $1.96 million, against $1.65 million in Manly. Fairlight is closer to the city centre: 13.6 km, against 15.8 km. On these figures, Fairlight tends to suit couples, while Manly suits renters, people living alone, and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Fairlight carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 76/100)
  • Manly has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Manly

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,650,000 vs $1,955,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Manly

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (53% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Fairlight

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (24 min vs 29 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (13.6 km vs 15.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Manly

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (89% vs 74%)
  • But Fairlight carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fairlight Manly
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.

Fairlight Manly
Walkability 91 / 90
Fairlight — Walkability: 91/100 Manly — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 78 / 24
Fairlight — Safety: 78/100 Manly — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 49
Fairlight — Low fire risk: 100/100 Manly — Low fire risk: 49/100

Demographics

Manly has more residents (16,296 vs 6,141).

Fairlight Manly
Population 6,141 16,296
+165% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.2% +2.7%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $169,052/yr
+3% vs other
 $164,528/yr
Median weekly rent $720/wk $725/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fairlight Manly
0-4 6.6% / 5.2%
Fairlight — 0-4: 6.6% Manly — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.6% / 8.2%
Fairlight — 5-14: 10.6% Manly — 5-14: 8.2%
15-19 4.9% / 3.6%
Fairlight — 15-19: 4.9% Manly — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 4.3% / 4.5%
Fairlight — 20-24: 4.3% Manly — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 15.6% / 21.8%
Fairlight — 25-34: 15.6% Manly — 25-34: 21.8%
35-44 15.9% / 17.2%
Fairlight — 35-44: 15.9% Manly — 35-44: 17.2%
45-54 13.9% / 12.6%
Fairlight — 45-54: 13.9% Manly — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 12.9% / 11.4%
Fairlight — 55-64: 12.9% Manly — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 8.6% / 8.0%
Fairlight — 65-74: 8.6% Manly — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 5.2% / 5.2%
Fairlight — 75-84: 5.2% Manly — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 1.7% / 2.2%
Fairlight — 85+: 1.7% Manly — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fairlight 33.8% lone person
Fairlight — Lone Person: 33.8% Fairlight — Couple Families: 46.3% Fairlight — Group Household: 9.0% Fairlight — One Parent Families: 10.0% Fairlight — Other Families: 0.9%
Manly 46.9% lone person
Manly — Lone Person: 46.9% Manly — Couple Families: 32.6% Manly — Group Household: 11.3% Manly — One Parent Families: 8.3% Manly — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fairlight 35.7% renting
Fairlight — Owned Outright: 34.1% Fairlight — Mortgage: 30.2% Fairlight — Renting: 35.7%
Manly 52.7% renting
Manly — Owned Outright: 28.7% Manly — Mortgage: 18.6% Manly — Renting: 52.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fairlight Manly
Bachelor Degree 28.0% / 32.1%
Fairlight — Bachelor Degree: 28.0% Manly — Bachelor Degree: 32.1%
Postgraduate Degree 12.1% / 13.3%
Fairlight — Postgraduate Degree: 12.1% Manly — Postgraduate Degree: 13.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 7.8%
Fairlight — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Manly — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 5.7% / 5.3%
Fairlight — Certificate III & IV: 5.7% Manly — Certificate III & IV: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 2.5%
Fairlight — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Manly — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.1%).

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.

Fairlight Manly
England 11.5% / 11.7%
Fairlight — England: 11.5% Manly — England: 11.7%
New Zealand 2.3% / 3.2%
Fairlight — New Zealand: 2.3% Manly — New Zealand: 3.2%
South Africa 2.1% / 1.7%
Fairlight — South Africa: 2.1% Manly — South Africa: 1.7%
Brazil 1.0% / 1.9%
Fairlight — Brazil: 1.0% Manly — Brazil: 1.9%
France 0.8% / 1.5%
Fairlight — France: 0.8% Manly — France: 1.5%
Ireland 1.0% / —
Fairlight — Ireland: 1.0% Manly — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fairlight 51.3% flats / apartments
Fairlight — Flats / Apartments: 51.3% Fairlight — Houses: 26.4% Fairlight — Townhouses: 22.4%
Manly 77.2% flats / apartments
Manly — Flats / Apartments: 77.2% Manly — Houses: 11.3% Manly — Townhouses: 11.5%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Fairlight Manly
Median house price $4,115,000 $4,175,000
Median unit price $1,955,000 $1,650,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 20 sales
 22 days
from 17 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.

Fairlight Manly
3 bed $3.75M / $4.14M
Fairlight — 3 bed: $3.75M (19 sales) Manly — 3 bed: $4.14M (12 sales)

19 vs 12 sales

4 bed $4.25M / $5.1M
Fairlight — 4 bed: $4.25M (15 sales) Manly — 4 bed: $5.1M (8 sales)

15 vs 8 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.

Fairlight Manly
1 bed $852K / $1.05M
Fairlight — 1 bed: $852K (8 sales) Manly — 1 bed: $1.05M (78 sales)

8 vs 78 sales

2 bed $1.73M / $1.77M
Fairlight — 2 bed: $1.73M (25 sales) Manly — 2 bed: $1.77M (109 sales)

25 vs 109 sales

3 bed $2.53M / $2.8M
Fairlight — 3 bed: $2.53M (26 sales) Manly — 3 bed: $2.8M (55 sales)

26 vs 55 sales

Zoning mix

Manly has more land zoned for conservation (47% vs 4%).

Fairlight Manly
Residential 67% 23%
Environmental 4% 47%
Parks and recreation 24% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 10%
Commercial 1% 4%
Planning zones cover 99% of Fairlight and 97% of Manly. 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

Fairlight Manly
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.

Fairlight Manly
Houses — 2.8%
$1,950/wk on $3.6M
Units 4.0%
$988/wk on $1.27M
 3.9%
$1,100/wk on $1.48M

Ranking within NSW

Fairlight Manly
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Income Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 6% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 15% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW

Liveability

Fairlight scores higher overall (95 vs 55).

Fairlight Manly
Grade A+ B
Score 95/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Manly carries more bushfire risk (51 vs 0); Manly carries more crime risk (76 vs 22).

Fairlight Manly
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
51/100
Crime Low
22/100
 High
76/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
31/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Fairlight Manly
Inside the suburb 0 8
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 7.7 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 8.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 2.2%

Schools in Fairlight

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

Schools in Manly

  • Manly Village Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Stella Maris College Independent · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Paul's Catholic College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Farmhouse Montessori School, North Head Independent · Primary
  • Headland Montessori ELC Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Fairlight Manly
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 5 77
Parks & reserves 2 14
Childcare 3 9
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 1 5
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 0 3
Beaches 0 6
Waterways 2 3

Mobility

Manly sits further from the CBD (15.8 km vs 13.6 km).

Fairlight Manly
Walkability score 91/100 90/100
Distance to Sydney 13.6 km 15.8 km
+16% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 29 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 154.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 426.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 2094
 2.8%
postcode 2095
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 15
postcode 2094
 8
postcode 2095

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.

Fairlight Manly
Worked from Home 66.3% / 67.5%
Fairlight — Worked from Home: 66.3% Manly — Worked from Home: 67.5%
Car (driver) 25.3% / 21.3%
Fairlight — Car (driver): 25.3% Manly — Car (driver): 21.3%
Walked Only 3.6% / 5.2%
Fairlight — Walked Only: 3.6% Manly — Walked Only: 5.2%
Bus 2.7% / 2.9%
Fairlight — Bus: 2.7% Manly — Bus: 2.9%
Car (passenger) 1.2% / 1.3%
Fairlight — Car (passenger): 1.2% Manly — Car (passenger): 1.3%
Bicycle 0.7% / 1.3%
Fairlight — Bicycle: 0.7% Manly — Bicycle: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.5%).

Setting

Fairlight Manly
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 628 m
663 m to a named beach
 351 m
397 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Fairlight Manly
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
2,783 premises
 9%
10,634 premises

Climate

Fairlight Manly
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Fairlight Manly
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

Fairlight Manly
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Fairlight Manly
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fairlight Manly
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Fairlight

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Manly

Apartments Beach Beachfront Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Nightlife Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fairlight

Fairlight vs Balgowlah Fairlight vs Manly Vale

Other comparisons with Manly

Manly vs Manly Vale Manly vs Queenscliff Manly vs North Manly
Full data on Fairlight Full data on Manly
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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