Little Bay vs Phillip Bay

In both, most households own their home. In Little Bay, most homes are flats or apartments. In Phillip Bay, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Little Bay: a median of $2.85 million, against $2.55 million in Phillip Bay, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Little Bay tends to suit people living alone, while Phillip Bay suits couples.

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

Phillip Bay

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 29%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 56%)
  • But Little Bay has more parks and reserves (7 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Phillip Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,550,000 vs $2,850,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Phillip Bay

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($313/wk vs $590/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 25%)
  • But Little Bay has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Little Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 62/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Little Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (71% vs 15%)
  • carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 60/100)
  • is more walkable (70/100 vs 62/100)

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 2.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Little Bay and Phillip 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.

Little Bay Phillip 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.

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Walkability 70 / 62
Little Bay — Walkability: 70/100 Phillip Bay — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 52 / 40
Little Bay — Safety: 52/100 Phillip Bay — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 55 / 100
Little Bay — Low fire risk: 55/100 Phillip Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Little Bay has more residents (4,817 vs 721); Little Bay rents higher ($590/wk vs $313/wk).

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Population 4,817
+85% vs other
 721
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.6% +2.4%
Median age 42 44
Median household income $122,928/yr
+7% vs other
 $114,036/yr
Median weekly rent $590/wk
+47% vs other
 $313/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Little Bay Phillip Bay
0-4 6.1% / 3.5%
Little Bay — 0-4: 6.1% Phillip Bay — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 10.9% / 13.5%
Little Bay — 5-14: 10.9% Phillip Bay — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 4.0% / 6.5%
Little Bay — 15-19: 4.0% Phillip Bay — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 3.7% / 6.0%
Little Bay — 20-24: 3.7% Phillip Bay — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 12.7% / 8.6%
Little Bay — 25-34: 12.7% Phillip Bay — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 16.3% / 11.4%
Little Bay — 35-44: 16.3% Phillip Bay — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 13.5% / 13.5%
Little Bay — 45-54: 13.5% Phillip Bay — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 11.0% / 14.0%
Little Bay — 55-64: 11.0% Phillip Bay — 55-64: 14.0%
65-74 10.3% / 11.7%
Little Bay — 65-74: 10.3% Phillip Bay — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 7.9% / 7.8%
Little Bay — 75-84: 7.9% Phillip Bay — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 3.7% / 2.8%
Little Bay — 85+: 3.7% Phillip Bay — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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%
Phillip Bay 56.8% couple families
Phillip Bay — Couple Families: 56.8% Phillip Bay — Lone Person: 22.7% Phillip Bay — One Parent Families: 13.6% Phillip Bay — Group Household: 5.1% Phillip Bay — Other Families: 1.7%
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%
Phillip Bay 22.2% renting
Phillip Bay — Owned Outright: 40.0% Phillip Bay — Mortgage: 37.8% Phillip Bay — Renting: 22.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 11.4%
Little Bay — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Phillip Bay — Bachelor Degree: 11.4%
Certificate III & IV 10.3% / 16.5%
Little Bay — Certificate III & IV: 10.3% Phillip Bay — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.2%
Little Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Phillip Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 9.4% / 6.4%
Little Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 9.4% Phillip Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.4%
Little Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Phillip Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

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 Phillip Bay
England 5.1% / 3.9%
Little Bay — England: 5.1% Phillip Bay — England: 3.9%
China 3.2% / 1.8%
Little Bay — China: 3.2% Phillip Bay — China: 1.8%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.7%
Little Bay — New Zealand: 2.3% Phillip Bay — New Zealand: 1.7%
Ireland 2.3% / 1.2%
Little Bay — Ireland: 2.3% Phillip Bay — Ireland: 1.2%
South Africa 1.3% / —
Little Bay — South Africa: 1.3% Phillip Bay — South Africa: not among its largest
Canada — / 1.2%
Little Bay — Canada: not among its largest Phillip Bay — Canada: 1.2%

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%
Phillip Bay 84.6% houses
Phillip Bay — Houses: 84.6% Phillip Bay — Flats / Apartments: 3.6% Phillip Bay — Townhouses: 11.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Median house price $2,850,000 $2,550,000
Median unit price $1,450,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 17 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Little Bay has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 0%); Phillip Bay has more rural and farming land (12% vs 0%).

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Residential 35% 44%
Parks and recreation 43% 32%
Environmental 17% 0%
Rural and farming 0% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 10%
Planning zones cover 100% of Little Bay and 98% of Phillip 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

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

Ranking within NSW

Little Bay Phillip Bay
House price Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 14% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW

Liveability

Little Bay is more walkable (70 vs 62).

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Grade B A
Score 68/100 70/100
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 0); Phillip Bay carries more crime risk (60 vs 48).

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
11/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 22
within 5 km
 23
within 5 km

Schools

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
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
 1
The University of New South Wales, 7.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 3.5%

Schools in Little Bay

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

Schools in Phillip Bay

  • La Perouse Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 7 3
Childcare 1 2
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 0

Mobility

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Walkability score 70/100 62/100
Distance to Sydney 17.2 km
+2% vs other
 16.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 44/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 105.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 8 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Phillip Bay
Car (driver) 43.7% / 50.5%
Little Bay — Car (driver): 43.7% Phillip Bay — Car (driver): 50.5%
Worked from Home 48.5% / 38.2%
Little Bay — Worked from Home: 48.5% Phillip Bay — Worked from Home: 38.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 4.9%
Little Bay — Car (passenger): 2.3% Phillip Bay — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Bus 2.3% / 3.5%
Little Bay — Bus: 2.3% Phillip Bay — Bus: 3.5%
Walked Only 1.7% / 2.8%
Little Bay — Walked Only: 1.7% Phillip Bay — Walked Only: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.5%).

Setting

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 611 m
1.6 km to a named beach
 332 m
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Little Bay Phillip Bay
Connectivity score 85/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
1,169 premises
 0%
264 premises

Climate

Little Bay Phillip 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)

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

Federal electorate

Little Bay Phillip Bay
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 Phillip Bay
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

Phillip Bay

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Little Bay

Little Bay vs Matraville Little Bay vs Malabar Little Bay vs Chifley Little Bay vs La Perouse

Other comparisons with Phillip Bay

Phillip Bay vs Matraville Phillip Bay vs La Perouse
Full data on Little Bay Full data on Phillip 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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