Malabar vs Matraville

Matraville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Malabar. In both, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Malabar, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Malabar: a median of $3.2 million, against $2.74 million in Matraville, though rent is higher in Matraville. Matraville is closer to the city centre: 14.1 km, against 16.4 km. On these figures, Malabar tends to suit people living alone, while Matraville suits families with children.

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 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (62% vs 48%)
  • But Matraville has more childcare (12 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Matraville

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($883,000 vs $2,157,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (31% vs 50%)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,740,000 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 $480/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (8% vs 23%)

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

Commuting to the city

Matraville

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (21 min vs 29 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (14.1 km vs 16.4 km)
  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 75/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Matraville

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (52% vs 38%)
  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 75/100)

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

Investors

Matraville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.2% vs -13.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Malabar Matraville
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.

Malabar Matraville
Walkability 75 / 87
Malabar — Walkability: 75/100 Matraville — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 37 / 38
Malabar — Safety: 37/100 Matraville — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 70 / 100
Malabar — Low fire risk: 70/100 Matraville — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Matraville rents higher ($480/wk vs $150/wk); Matraville has more residents (9,925 vs 4,714).

Malabar Matraville
Population 4,714 9,925
+111% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -13.0% +1.2%
Median age 46 42
Median household income $93,080/yr $107,900/yr
+16% vs other
Median weekly rent $150/wk $480/wk
+220% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Malabar Matraville
0-4 3.5% / 5.3%
Malabar — 0-4: 3.5% Matraville — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 9.4% / 13.0%
Malabar — 5-14: 9.4% Matraville — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.2% / 6.1%
Malabar — 15-19: 5.2% Matraville — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 5.2% / 5.6%
Malabar — 20-24: 5.2% Matraville — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 11.0% / 10.6%
Malabar — 25-34: 11.0% Matraville — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 13.2% / 13.2%
Malabar — 35-44: 13.2% Matraville — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 16.6% / 14.7%
Malabar — 45-54: 16.6% Matraville — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 14.5% / 13.0%
Malabar — 55-64: 14.5% Matraville — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 11.2% / 10.0%
Malabar — 65-74: 11.2% Matraville — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 7.4% / 6.2%
Malabar — 75-84: 7.4% Matraville — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.8% / 2.3%
Malabar — 85+: 2.8% Matraville — 85+: 2.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Matraville 48.3% couple families
Matraville — Couple Families: 48.3% Matraville — Lone Person: 28.3% Matraville — One Parent Families: 17.8% Matraville — Group Household: 4.0% Matraville — 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.

Malabar 35.5% renting
Malabar — Owned Outright: 37.4% Malabar — Mortgage: 27.1% Malabar — Renting: 35.5%
Matraville 35.6% renting
Matraville — Owned Outright: 32.5% Matraville — Mortgage: 31.8% Matraville — Renting: 35.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Malabar Matraville
Bachelor Degree 12.2% / 14.7%
Malabar — Bachelor Degree: 12.2% Matraville — Bachelor Degree: 14.7%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 11.3%
Malabar — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Matraville — Certificate III & IV: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 7.7%
Malabar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Matraville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.0% / 5.7%
Malabar — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0% Matraville — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.4%
Malabar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Matraville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

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.

Malabar Matraville
England 4.0% / 3.5%
Malabar — England: 4.0% Matraville — England: 3.5%
China 1.5% / 2.5%
Malabar — China: 1.5% Matraville — China: 2.5%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.0%
Malabar — New Zealand: 1.6% Matraville — New Zealand: 2.0%
Ireland 0.9% / 1.6%
Malabar — Ireland: 0.9% Matraville — Ireland: 1.6%
Indonesia — / 1.8%
Malabar — Indonesia: not among its largest Matraville — Indonesia: 1.8%
France 1.0% / —
Malabar — France: 1.0% Matraville — France: not among its largest
Malaysia 1.0% / —
Malabar — Malaysia: 1.0% Matraville — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Malabar 61.8% houses
Malabar — Houses: 61.8% Malabar — Flats / Apartments: 26.1% Malabar — Townhouses: 12.1%
Matraville 47.6% houses
Matraville — Houses: 47.6% Matraville — Flats / Apartments: 21.6% Matraville — Townhouses: 30.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Malabar Matraville
Median house price $3,200,000 $2,740,000
Median unit price $2,157,500 $883,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 11 sales
 27 days
from 53 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.

Malabar Matraville
3 bed $3.29M / $2.31M
Malabar — 3 bed: $3.29M (8 sales) Matraville — 3 bed: $2.31M (26 sales)

8 vs 26 sales

4 bed $2.83M / $2.66M
Malabar — 4 bed: $2.83M (13 sales) Matraville — 4 bed: $2.66M (56 sales)

13 vs 56 sales

Zoning mix

Matraville has more industrially zoned land (21% vs 0%); Malabar has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 1%).

Malabar Matraville
Residential 23% 45%
Parks and recreation 39% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 18% 26%
Industrial 0% 21%
Environmental 20% 1%
Commercial 0% 2%
Rural and farming 0% 1%
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

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

Malabar Matraville
Houses — 3.8%
$1,600/wk on $2.2M
Units — 4.9%
$770/wk on $812K

Ranking within NSW

Malabar Matraville
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 3% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 62% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 63% of NSW

Liveability

Matraville scores higher overall (75 vs 63); Matraville is more walkable (87 vs 75).

Malabar Matraville
Grade B A
Score 63/100 75/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Malabar carries more bushfire risk (30 vs 0).

Malabar Matraville
Bushfire Low
30/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
62/100
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

Malabar Matraville
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of New South Wales, 6.2 km
 3
The University of New South Wales, 5.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 2.7%

Schools in Malabar

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

Schools in Matraville

  • Matraville Soldiers Settlement Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Matraville Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Malabar Matraville
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 4 5
Parks & reserves 10 12
Childcare 5 12
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 3
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 0 3
Beaches 1 0

Mobility

Malabar sits further from the CBD (16.4 km vs 14.1 km).

Malabar Matraville
Walkability score 75/100 87/100
Distance to Sydney 16.4 km
+14% vs other
 14.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 21 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 198.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 356.5
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.

Malabar Matraville
Car (driver) 43.2% / 47.8%
Malabar — Car (driver): 43.2% Matraville — Car (driver): 47.8%
Worked from Home 48.6% / 40.2%
Malabar — Worked from Home: 48.6% Matraville — Worked from Home: 40.2%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 4.4%
Malabar — Car (passenger): 3.0% Matraville — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Bus 2.7% / 4.3%
Malabar — Bus: 2.7% Matraville — Bus: 4.3%
Walked Only 1.4% / 2.4%
Malabar — Walked Only: 1.4% Matraville — Walked Only: 2.4%

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

Setting

Malabar Matraville
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 125 m
144 m to a named beach
 1.6 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Malabar Matraville
Connectivity score 88/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 41%
1,595 premises
 38%
4,526 premises

Climate

Malabar Matraville
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)

Malabar Matraville
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Malabar

Beach Beachfront Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium

Matraville

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Malabar

Malabar vs Maroubra Malabar vs Little Bay Malabar vs Chifley

Other comparisons with Matraville

Matraville vs Maroubra Matraville vs Hillsdale Matraville vs Little Bay Matraville vs Chifley Matraville vs Phillip Bay Matraville vs Banksmeadow
Full data on Malabar Full data on Matraville
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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