Frenchs Forest vs Killarney Heights

Frenchs Forest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 43 in Killarney Heights. 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 Killarney Heights: a median of $2.8 million, against $2.4 million in Frenchs Forest, and rent is higher there too.

Frenchs Forest is a larger, more walkable suburb with a population of 14,267 and a walkability score of 80, making it better suited to those who value pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods. Killarney Heights is smaller and quieter, with higher median household income at $178,152 versus $161,668, and a notably better liveability score of 68 compared to Frenchs Forest's 54. Both are affluent areas equidistant from the CBD at around 17 km, though Killarney Heights has lower bushfire and crime risk. House prices are higher in Killarney Heights at $2,800,000 versus $2,400,000, and weekly rent is also steeper at $923 compared to $800.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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 parks and reserves (29 vs 9)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

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 $2,800,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Frenchs Forest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($800/wk vs $923/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Frenchs Forest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 62/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Frenchs Forest

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 62/100)

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 0.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
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.

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Walkability 80 / 62
Frenchs Forest — Walkability: 80/100 Killarney Heights — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 71 / 74
Frenchs Forest — Safety: 71/100 Killarney Heights — Safety: 74/100
Low fire risk 10 / 23
Frenchs Forest — Low fire risk: 10/100 Killarney Heights — Low fire risk: 23/100

Demographics

Frenchs Forest has more residents (14,267 vs 4,502); Killarney Heights rents higher ($923/wk vs $800/wk).

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Population 14,267
+68% vs other
 4,502
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.9% +0.7%
Median age 40 43
Median household income $161,668/yr $178,152/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $800/wk $923/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
0-4 5.7% / 4.6%
Frenchs Forest — 0-4: 5.7% Killarney Heights — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 16.5% / 17.5%
Frenchs Forest — 5-14: 16.5% Killarney Heights — 5-14: 17.5%
15-19 7.7% / 9.2%
Frenchs Forest — 15-19: 7.7% Killarney Heights — 15-19: 9.2%
20-24 5.4% / 6.2%
Frenchs Forest — 20-24: 5.4% Killarney Heights — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 7.3% / 4.3%
Frenchs Forest — 25-34: 7.3% Killarney Heights — 25-34: 4.3%
35-44 13.5% / 11.1%
Frenchs Forest — 35-44: 13.5% Killarney Heights — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 16.9% / 17.9%
Frenchs Forest — 45-54: 16.9% Killarney Heights — 45-54: 17.9%
55-64 11.2% / 13.0%
Frenchs Forest — 55-64: 11.2% Killarney Heights — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 7.9% / 7.4%
Frenchs Forest — 65-74: 7.9% Killarney Heights — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 6.1% / 6.4%
Frenchs Forest — 75-84: 6.1% Killarney Heights — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.8% / 2.6%
Frenchs Forest — 85+: 1.8% Killarney Heights — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Killarney Heights 70.6% couple families
Killarney Heights — Couple Families: 70.6% Killarney Heights — Lone Person: 16.1% Killarney Heights — One Parent Families: 11.9% Killarney Heights — Group Household: 0.8% Killarney Heights — Other Families: 0.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Frenchs Forest 15.8% renting
Frenchs Forest — Owned Outright: 37.3% Frenchs Forest — Mortgage: 46.9% Frenchs Forest — Renting: 15.8%
Killarney Heights 12.4% renting
Killarney Heights — Owned Outright: 48.4% Killarney Heights — Mortgage: 39.2% Killarney Heights — Renting: 12.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Bachelor Degree 19.8% / 22.0%
Frenchs Forest — Bachelor Degree: 19.8% Killarney Heights — Bachelor Degree: 22.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 8.7%
Frenchs Forest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Killarney Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 10.2%
Frenchs Forest — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Killarney Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2%
Certificate III & IV 9.9% / 5.9%
Frenchs Forest — Certificate III & IV: 9.9% Killarney Heights — Certificate III & IV: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.2%
Frenchs Forest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Killarney Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

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.

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
England 7.3% / 6.3%
Frenchs Forest — England: 7.3% Killarney Heights — England: 6.3%
China 2.3% / 3.5%
Frenchs Forest — China: 2.3% Killarney Heights — China: 3.5%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.0%
Frenchs Forest — New Zealand: 2.2% Killarney Heights — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa 1.9% / 1.6%
Frenchs Forest — South Africa: 1.9% Killarney Heights — South Africa: 1.6%
France — / 2.7%
Frenchs Forest — France: not among its largest Killarney Heights — France: 2.7%
India 0.9% / —
Frenchs Forest — India: 0.9% Killarney Heights — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Frenchs Forest 92.5% houses
Frenchs Forest — Houses: 92.5% Frenchs Forest — Townhouses: 4.3% Frenchs Forest — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Killarney Heights 95.6% houses
Killarney Heights — Houses: 95.6% Killarney Heights — Townhouses: 2.8% Killarney Heights — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Median house price $2,400,000 $2,800,000
Median unit price $1,900,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 112 sales
 26 days
from 30 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.

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
3 bed $2.25M / $2.98M
Frenchs Forest — 3 bed: $2.25M (45 sales) Killarney Heights — 3 bed: $2.98M (7 sales)

45 vs 7 sales

4 bed $2.4M / $2.83M
Frenchs Forest — 4 bed: $2.4M (63 sales) Killarney Heights — 4 bed: $2.83M (18 sales)

63 vs 18 sales

5 bed $2.78M / $2.81M
Frenchs Forest — 5 bed: $2.78M (44 sales) Killarney Heights — 5 bed: $2.81M (14 sales)

44 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Killarney Heights has more land zoned for conservation (54% vs 12%).

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Environmental 12% 54%
Residential 52% 35%
Parks and recreation 13% 8%
Commercial 8% 0%
Other and special use 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 4%
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

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
House price Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Income Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Schools Higher than 26% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of NSW —

Liveability

Frenchs Forest is more walkable (80 vs 62); Killarney Heights scores higher overall (68 vs 54).

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Frenchs Forest carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 77).

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
77/100
Crime Low
29/100
 Low
26/100
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 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 4 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 9.7 km
 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 7.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 4.1%

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

Schools in Killarney Heights

  • Killarney Heights High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Killarney Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 19 5
Parks & reserves 29 9
Childcare 9 3
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
EV chargers 3 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 17 2

Mobility

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Walkability score 80/100 62/100
Distance to Sydney 17 km 17.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 27 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 524.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2086
 2.4%
postcode 2087
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 2086
 39
postcode 2087

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.

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Worked from Home 53.0% / 62.0%
Frenchs Forest — Worked from Home: 53.0% Killarney Heights — Worked from Home: 62.0%
Car (driver) 39.4% / 31.1%
Frenchs Forest — Car (driver): 39.4% Killarney Heights — Car (driver): 31.1%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.3%
Frenchs Forest — Car (passenger): 2.8% Killarney Heights — Car (passenger): 2.3%
Bus 2.5% / 1.8%
Frenchs Forest — Bus: 2.5% Killarney Heights — Bus: 1.8%
Walked Only 1.7% / 2.4%
Frenchs Forest — Walked Only: 1.7% Killarney Heights — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.0%).

Setting

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Elevation 144 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 91 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.7 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 4.6 km
1.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Connectivity score 75/100 71/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
5,277 premises
 19%
1,544 premises

Climate

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
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

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Frenchs Forest

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

Killarney Heights

Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

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 East Killara Frenchs Forest vs Davidson

Other comparisons with Killarney Heights

Killarney Heights vs Forestville Killarney Heights vs Seaforth Killarney Heights vs Allambie Heights
Full data on Frenchs Forest Full data on Killarney Heights
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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