Killarney Heights vs Seaforth

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 Seaforth: a median of $3.73 million, against $2.8 million in Killarney Heights, though rent is higher in Killarney Heights. Seaforth is closer to the city centre: 13 km, against 17.1 km. On these figures, Killarney Heights tends to suit 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

Seaforth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more childcare (9 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Killarney Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,800,000 vs $3,725,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Seaforth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Seaforth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (13 km vs 17.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Seaforth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Killarney Heights Seaforth
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.

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Walkability 62 / 67
Killarney Heights — Walkability: 62/100 Seaforth — Walkability: 67/100
Safety 74 / 73
Killarney Heights — Safety: 74/100 Seaforth — Safety: 73/100
Low fire risk 23 / 22
Killarney Heights — Low fire risk: 23/100 Seaforth — Low fire risk: 22/100

Demographics

Seaforth has more residents (7,384 vs 4,502); Seaforth has higher household incomes ($217,568 vs $178,152).

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Population 4,502 7,384
+64% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.7% +3.4%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $178,152/yr $217,568/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $923/wk
+5% vs other
 $875/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Killarney Heights Seaforth
0-4 4.6% / 5.9%
Killarney Heights — 0-4: 4.6% Seaforth — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 17.5% / 17.3%
Killarney Heights — 5-14: 17.5% Seaforth — 5-14: 17.3%
15-19 9.2% / 8.0%
Killarney Heights — 15-19: 9.2% Seaforth — 15-19: 8.0%
20-24 6.2% / 4.9%
Killarney Heights — 20-24: 6.2% Seaforth — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 4.3% / 5.9%
Killarney Heights — 25-34: 4.3% Seaforth — 25-34: 5.9%
35-44 11.1% / 12.2%
Killarney Heights — 35-44: 11.1% Seaforth — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 17.9% / 17.9%
Killarney Heights — 45-54: 17.9% Seaforth — 45-54: 17.9%
55-64 13.0% / 12.7%
Killarney Heights — 55-64: 13.0% Seaforth — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 7.4% / 8.0%
Killarney Heights — 65-74: 7.4% Seaforth — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 6.4% / 5.3%
Killarney Heights — 75-84: 6.4% Seaforth — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.6% / 2.0%
Killarney Heights — 85+: 2.6% Seaforth — 85+: 2.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Seaforth 70.6% couple families
Seaforth — Couple Families: 70.6% Seaforth — Lone Person: 14.9% Seaforth — One Parent Families: 11.7% Seaforth — Group Household: 2.1% Seaforth — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Killarney Heights 12.4% renting
Killarney Heights — Owned Outright: 48.4% Killarney Heights — Mortgage: 39.2% Killarney Heights — Renting: 12.4%
Seaforth 16.5% renting
Seaforth — Owned Outright: 39.3% Seaforth — Mortgage: 44.3% Seaforth — Renting: 16.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Bachelor Degree 22.0% / 24.6%
Killarney Heights — Bachelor Degree: 22.0% Seaforth — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 10.2% / 9.0%
Killarney Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2% Seaforth — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 7.9%
Killarney Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Seaforth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Certificate III & IV 5.9% / 5.5%
Killarney Heights — Certificate III & IV: 5.9% Seaforth — Certificate III & IV: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.2%
Killarney Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Seaforth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.6%).

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.

Killarney Heights Seaforth
England 6.3% / 9.5%
Killarney Heights — England: 6.3% Seaforth — England: 9.5%
China 3.5% / 2.5%
Killarney Heights — China: 3.5% Seaforth — China: 2.5%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.2%
Killarney Heights — New Zealand: 2.0% Seaforth — New Zealand: 2.2%
South Africa 1.6% / 1.7%
Killarney Heights — South Africa: 1.6% Seaforth — South Africa: 1.7%
France 2.7% / —
Killarney Heights — France: 2.7% Seaforth — France: not among its largest
Ireland 0.8% / 1.1%
Killarney Heights — Ireland: 0.8% Seaforth — Ireland: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Killarney Heights 95.6% houses
Killarney Heights — Houses: 95.6% Killarney Heights — Townhouses: 2.8% Killarney Heights — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Seaforth 86.6% houses
Seaforth — Houses: 86.6% Seaforth — Townhouses: 8.0% Seaforth — Flats / Apartments: 5.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Median house price $2,800,000 $3,725,000
Median unit price — $2,340,000
Median land price — $2,355,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 30 sales
 29 days
from 56 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.

Killarney Heights Seaforth
3 bed $2.98M / $3.2M
Killarney Heights — 3 bed: $2.98M (7 sales) Seaforth — 3 bed: $3.2M (21 sales)

7 vs 21 sales

4 bed $2.83M / $3.55M
Killarney Heights — 4 bed: $2.83M (18 sales) Seaforth — 4 bed: $3.55M (35 sales)

18 vs 35 sales

5 bed $2.81M / $4.65M
Killarney Heights — 5 bed: $2.81M (14 sales) Seaforth — 5 bed: $4.65M (27 sales)

14 vs 27 sales

Zoning mix

Killarney Heights has more land zoned for conservation (54% vs 19%).

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Residential 35% 63%
Environmental 54% 19%
Parks and recreation 8% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 6%
Commercial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Killarney Heights and 98% of Seaforth. 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

Killarney Heights Seaforth
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.

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Houses — 2.9%
$2,048/wk on $3.65M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Killarney Heights Seaforth
House price Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 27% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 19% of NSW

Liveability

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Grade B
same for both
Score 68/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Bushfire High
77/100
 High
78/100
Crime Low
26/100
 Low
27/100
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 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 7.2 km
 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 5.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 3.8%

Schools in Killarney Heights

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

Schools in Seaforth

  • Seaforth Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Cafes & restaurants 5 8
Parks & reserves 9 7
Childcare 3 9
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Killarney Heights sits further from the CBD (17.1 km vs 13 km).

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Walkability score 62/100 67/100
Distance to Sydney 17.1 km
+24% vs other
 13 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 79.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 207.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 2087
 4.2%
postcode 2092
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 2087
 38
postcode 2092

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.

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Worked from Home 62.0% / 64.2%
Killarney Heights — Worked from Home: 62.0% Seaforth — Worked from Home: 64.2%
Car (driver) 31.1% / 29.2%
Killarney Heights — Car (driver): 31.1% Seaforth — Car (driver): 29.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.6%
Killarney Heights — Car (passenger): 2.3% Seaforth — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Bus 1.8% / 2.3%
Killarney Heights — Bus: 1.8% Seaforth — Bus: 2.3%
Walked Only 2.4% / 1.0%
Killarney Heights — Walked Only: 2.4% Seaforth — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.2%).

Setting

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Elevation 91 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km
1.1 km to a named beach
 1.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Connectivity score 71/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
1,544 premises
 2%
2,649 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Killarney Heights Seaforth
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 14.2 µg/m³ 13.8 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.23 pphm 0.84 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Killarney Heights Seaforth
Division Mackellar Warringah
Member Sophie Scamps Zali Steggall
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Killarney Heights

Family Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

Seaforth

Coastal Easy Commute Family Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Killarney Heights

Killarney Heights vs Frenchs Forest Killarney Heights vs Forestville Killarney Heights vs Allambie Heights

Other comparisons with Seaforth

Seaforth vs Balgowlah Seaforth vs Allambie Heights Seaforth vs North Balgowlah Seaforth vs Clontarf
Full data on Killarney Heights Full data on Seaforth
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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