Little Bay vs Malabar

Little Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Malabar. In both, most households own their home. In Little Bay, most homes are flats or apartments. In Malabar, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Malabar: a median of $3.2 million, against $2.85 million in Little Bay, though rent is higher in Little Bay.

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

Malabar

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (62% vs 29%)
  • But Little Bay carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 63/100)

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

First-home buyers

Little Bay

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 50%)
  • has cheaper units ($1,450,000 vs $2,157,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,850,000 vs $3,200,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Malabar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($150/wk vs $590/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (8% vs 25%)

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

Little Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (71% vs 38%)
  • carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 63/100)

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

Investors

Little Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.6% vs -13.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Little Bay Malabar
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.

Little Bay Malabar
Walkability 70 / 75
Little Bay — Walkability: 70/100 Malabar — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 52 / 37
Little Bay — Safety: 52/100 Malabar — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 55 / 70
Little Bay — Low fire risk: 55/100 Malabar — Low fire risk: 70/100

Demographics

Little Bay rents higher ($590/wk vs $150/wk); Little Bay has higher household incomes ($122,928 vs $93,080).

Little Bay Malabar
Population 4,817
+2% vs other
 4,714
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.6% -13.0%
Median age 42 46
Median household income $122,928/yr
+24% vs other
 $93,080/yr
Median weekly rent $590/wk
+75% vs other
 $150/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Little Bay Malabar
0-4 6.1% / 3.5%
Little Bay — 0-4: 6.1% Malabar — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 10.9% / 9.4%
Little Bay — 5-14: 10.9% Malabar — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 4.0% / 5.2%
Little Bay — 15-19: 4.0% Malabar — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 3.7% / 5.2%
Little Bay — 20-24: 3.7% Malabar — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 12.7% / 11.0%
Little Bay — 25-34: 12.7% Malabar — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 16.3% / 13.2%
Little Bay — 35-44: 16.3% Malabar — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 13.5% / 16.6%
Little Bay — 45-54: 13.5% Malabar — 45-54: 16.6%
55-64 11.0% / 14.5%
Little Bay — 55-64: 11.0% Malabar — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 10.3% / 11.2%
Little Bay — 65-74: 10.3% Malabar — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 7.9% / 7.4%
Little Bay — 75-84: 7.9% Malabar — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 3.7% / 2.8%
Little Bay — 85+: 3.7% Malabar — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Little Bay 44.9% couple families
Little Bay — Couple Families: 44.9% Little Bay — Lone Person: 40.1% Little Bay — One Parent Families: 10.7% Little Bay — Group Household: 3.4% Little Bay — Other Families: 1.0%
Malabar 45.2% couple families
Malabar — Couple Families: 45.2% Malabar — Lone Person: 37.2% Malabar — One Parent Families: 13.9% Malabar — Group Household: 2.1% Malabar — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Little Bay 41.7% renting
Little Bay — Owned Outright: 29.0% Little Bay — Mortgage: 29.2% Little Bay — Renting: 41.7%
Malabar 35.5% renting
Malabar — Owned Outright: 37.4% Malabar — Mortgage: 27.1% Malabar — Renting: 35.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Little Bay Malabar
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 12.2%
Little Bay — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Malabar — Bachelor Degree: 12.2%
Certificate III & IV 10.3% / 9.4%
Little Bay — Certificate III & IV: 10.3% Malabar — Certificate III & IV: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 9.4% / 6.0%
Little Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 9.4% Malabar — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 6.2%
Little Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Malabar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.1%
Little Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Malabar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

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.

Little Bay Malabar
England 5.1% / 4.0%
Little Bay — England: 5.1% Malabar — England: 4.0%
China 3.2% / 1.5%
Little Bay — China: 3.2% Malabar — China: 1.5%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.6%
Little Bay — New Zealand: 2.3% Malabar — New Zealand: 1.6%
Ireland 2.3% / 0.9%
Little Bay — Ireland: 2.3% Malabar — Ireland: 0.9%
France 1.3% / 1.0%
Little Bay — France: 1.3% Malabar — France: 1.0%
Malaysia 1.3% / 1.0%
Little Bay — Malaysia: 1.3% Malabar — Malaysia: 1.0%
South Africa 1.3% / —
Little Bay — South Africa: 1.3% Malabar — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Little Bay 28.9% houses
Little Bay — Houses: 28.9% Little Bay — Flats / Apartments: 55.6% Little Bay — Townhouses: 15.5%
Malabar 61.8% houses
Malabar — Houses: 61.8% Malabar — Flats / Apartments: 26.1% Malabar — Townhouses: 12.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Little Bay Malabar
Median house price $2,850,000 $3,200,000
Median unit price $1,450,000 $2,157,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 17 sales
 28 days
from 11 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.

Little Bay Malabar
3 bed $2.33M / $3.29M
Little Bay — 3 bed: $2.33M (5 sales) Malabar — 3 bed: $3.29M (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

4 bed $2.8M / $2.83M
Little Bay — 4 bed: $2.8M (13 sales) Malabar — 4 bed: $2.83M (13 sales)

13 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Little Bay Malabar
Parks and recreation 43% 39%
Residential 35% 23%
Environmental 17% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 18%
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

Little Bay Malabar
New dwellings approved 455
across Randwick
same for both
Approvals change year on year -26%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Little Bay Malabar
House price Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 60% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Little Bay scores higher overall (68 vs 63).

Little Bay Malabar
Grade B
same for both
Score 68/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Little Bay carries more bushfire risk (45 vs 30); Malabar carries more crime risk (63 vs 48).

Little Bay Malabar
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 Low
30/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
63/100
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 22
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Little Bay Malabar
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of New South Wales, 8.1 km
 2
The University of New South Wales, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 2.1%

Schools in Little Bay

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

Schools in Malabar

  • Malabar Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Andrew's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Little Bay Malabar
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 7 10
Childcare 1 5
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Beaches 0 1

Mobility

Little Bay Malabar
Walkability score 70/100 75/100
Distance to Sydney 17.2 km
+5% vs other
 16.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 29 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 105.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 198.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2036
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2036
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.

Little Bay Malabar
Worked from Home 48.5% / 48.6%
Little Bay — Worked from Home: 48.5% Malabar — Worked from Home: 48.6%
Car (driver) 43.7% / 43.2%
Little Bay — Car (driver): 43.7% Malabar — Car (driver): 43.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 3.0%
Little Bay — Car (passenger): 2.3% Malabar — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Bus 2.3% / 2.7%
Little Bay — Bus: 2.3% Malabar — Bus: 2.7%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.4%
Little Bay — Walked Only: 1.7% Malabar — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.6%).

Setting

Little Bay Malabar
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 611 m
1.6 km to a named beach
 125 m
144 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Little Bay Malabar
Connectivity score 85/100 88/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
1,169 premises
 41%
1,595 premises

Climate

Little Bay Malabar
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)

Little Bay Malabar
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.64 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Little Bay Malabar
Average residential rate $1,641/yr
same for both
Council Randwick
same for both

Federal electorate

Little Bay Malabar
Division Kingsford Smith
same for both
Member Matt Thistlethwaite
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Little Bay Malabar
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Little Bay

Apartments Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals

Malabar

Beach Beachfront Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Little Bay

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Other comparisons with Malabar

Malabar vs Maroubra Malabar vs Matraville Malabar vs Chifley
Full data on Little Bay Full data on Malabar
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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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