Manly vs Queenscliff

In both, about half of households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Manly, about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Manly: a median of $1.65 million, against $1.29 million in Queenscliff, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Queenscliff 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

Manly

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 4)
  • But Queenscliff carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 76/100)

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

First-home buyers

Queenscliff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,295,000 vs $1,650,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Queenscliff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($650/wk vs $725/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Manly has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • Queenscliff carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Queenscliff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.8% vs 3.9%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Manly Queenscliff
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.

Manly Queenscliff
Walkability 90 / 85
Manly — Walkability: 90/100 Queenscliff — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 24 / 77
Manly — Safety: 24/100 Queenscliff — Safety: 77/100
Low fire risk 49 / 100
Manly — Low fire risk: 49/100 Queenscliff — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Manly has more residents (16,296 vs 3,407); Manly rents higher ($725/wk vs $650/wk).

Manly Queenscliff
Population 16,296
+79% vs other
 3,407
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +0.9%
Median age 38 36
Median household income $164,528/yr
+8% vs other
 $150,956/yr
Median weekly rent $725/wk
+10% vs other
 $650/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Manly Queenscliff
0-4 5.2% / 5.9%
Manly — 0-4: 5.2% Queenscliff — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 8.2% / 6.8%
Manly — 5-14: 8.2% Queenscliff — 5-14: 6.8%
15-19 3.6% / 3.6%
Manly — 15-19: 3.6% Queenscliff — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 4.5% / 4.6%
Manly — 20-24: 4.5% Queenscliff — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 21.8% / 26.4%
Manly — 25-34: 21.8% Queenscliff — 25-34: 26.4%
35-44 17.2% / 18.8%
Manly — 35-44: 17.2% Queenscliff — 35-44: 18.8%
45-54 12.6% / 12.2%
Manly — 45-54: 12.6% Queenscliff — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 11.4% / 11.1%
Manly — 55-64: 11.4% Queenscliff — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 8.0% / 6.4%
Manly — 65-74: 8.0% Queenscliff — 65-74: 6.4%
75-84 5.2% / 3.2%
Manly — 75-84: 5.2% Queenscliff — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 2.2% / 1.3%
Manly — 85+: 2.2% Queenscliff — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Manly 46.9% lone person
Manly — Lone Person: 46.9% Manly — Couple Families: 32.6% Manly — Group Household: 11.3% Manly — One Parent Families: 8.3% Manly — Other Families: 0.9%
Queenscliff 42.5% lone person
Queenscliff — Lone Person: 42.5% Queenscliff — Couple Families: 33.6% Queenscliff — Group Household: 12.4% Queenscliff — One Parent Families: 9.6% Queenscliff — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Manly 52.7% renting
Manly — Owned Outright: 28.7% Manly — Mortgage: 18.6% Manly — Renting: 52.7%
Queenscliff 45.9% renting
Queenscliff — Owned Outright: 26.5% Queenscliff — Mortgage: 27.6% Queenscliff — Renting: 45.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Manly Queenscliff
England 11.7% / 11.2%
Manly — England: 11.7% Queenscliff — England: 11.2%
New Zealand 3.2% / 2.9%
Manly — New Zealand: 3.2% Queenscliff — New Zealand: 2.9%
Brazil 1.9% / 2.6%
Manly — Brazil: 1.9% Queenscliff — Brazil: 2.6%
South Africa 1.7% / 1.4%
Manly — South Africa: 1.7% Queenscliff — South Africa: 1.4%
France 1.5% / 1.3%
Manly — France: 1.5% Queenscliff — France: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.7%).

Qualifications

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

Manly Queenscliff
Bachelor Degree 32.1% / 31.4%
Manly — Bachelor Degree: 32.1% Queenscliff — Bachelor Degree: 31.4%
Postgraduate Degree 13.3% / 11.1%
Manly — Postgraduate Degree: 13.3% Queenscliff — Postgraduate Degree: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 9.2%
Manly — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Queenscliff — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Certificate III & IV 5.3% / 7.8%
Manly — Certificate III & IV: 5.3% Queenscliff — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.2%
Manly — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Queenscliff — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Manly 77.2% flats / apartments
Manly — Flats / Apartments: 77.2% Manly — Houses: 11.3% Manly — Townhouses: 11.5%
Queenscliff 80.1% flats / apartments
Queenscliff — Flats / Apartments: 80.1% Queenscliff — Houses: 17.0% Queenscliff — Townhouses: 2.9%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Manly Queenscliff
Median house price $4,175,000 $4,327,500
Median unit price $1,650,000 $1,295,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 17 sales
 50 days
from 5 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.

Manly Queenscliff
3 bed $4.14M / $4.05M
Manly — 3 bed: $4.14M (12 sales) Queenscliff — 3 bed: $4.05M (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

4 bed $5.1M / $4.18M
Manly — 4 bed: $5.1M (8 sales) Queenscliff — 4 bed: $4.18M (7 sales)

8 vs 7 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Manly Queenscliff
1 bed $1.05M / $935K
Manly — 1 bed: $1.05M (78 sales) Queenscliff — 1 bed: $935K (27 sales)

78 vs 27 sales

2 bed $1.77M / $1.32M
Manly — 2 bed: $1.77M (109 sales) Queenscliff — 2 bed: $1.32M (57 sales)

109 vs 57 sales

3 bed $2.8M / $2.35M
Manly — 3 bed: $2.8M (55 sales) Queenscliff — 3 bed: $2.35M (14 sales)

55 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Manly has more land zoned for conservation (47% vs 0%).

Manly Queenscliff
Residential 23% 88%
Environmental 47% 0%
Parks and recreation 13% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 0%
Commercial 4% 0%
Planning zones cover 97% of Manly and 99% of Queenscliff. 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

Manly Queenscliff
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.

Manly Queenscliff
Houses 2.8%
$1,950/wk on $3.6M
 —
Units 3.9%
$1,100/wk on $1.48M
 4.8%
$962/wk on $1.05M

Ranking within NSW

Manly Queenscliff
House price Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Income Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Schools Higher than 6% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 15% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 19% of NSW Higher than 56% of NSW

Liveability

Queenscliff scores higher overall (93 vs 55).

Manly Queenscliff
Grade B A+
Score 55/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Manly carries more bushfire risk (51 vs 0); Manly carries more crime risk (76 vs 23).

Manly Queenscliff
Bushfire Moderate
51/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
76/100
 Low
23/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
31/100
 Low
11/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Manly Queenscliff
Inside the suburb 8 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 8.4 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 1.9%

Schools in Manly

  • Manly Village Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Stella Maris College Independent · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Paul's Catholic College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Farmhouse Montessori School, North Head Independent · Primary
  • Headland Montessori ELC Independent · Primary

Schools in Queenscliff

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

Amenities in the suburb

Manly Queenscliff
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 77 1
Parks & reserves 14 4
Childcare 9 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 5 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 3 0
Beaches 6 0
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Manly Queenscliff
Walkability score 90/100 85/100
Distance to Sydney 15.8 km 16.9 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 28 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus · Ferry
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 426.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 86.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 2095
 2.3%
postcode 2096
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2095
 19
postcode 2096

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.

Manly Queenscliff
Worked from Home 67.5% / 63.0%
Manly — Worked from Home: 67.5% Queenscliff — Worked from Home: 63.0%
Car (driver) 21.3% / 29.9%
Manly — Car (driver): 21.3% Queenscliff — Car (driver): 29.9%
Walked Only 5.2% / 2.0%
Manly — Walked Only: 5.2% Queenscliff — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus 2.9% / 2.7%
Manly — Bus: 2.9% Queenscliff — Bus: 2.7%
Bicycle 1.3% / 1.4%
Manly — Bicycle: 1.3% Queenscliff — Bicycle: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.5%).

Setting

Manly Queenscliff
Elevation 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 351 m
397 m to a named beach
 392 m
525 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Manly Queenscliff
Connectivity score 76/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
10,634 premises
 14%
1,820 premises

Climate

Manly Queenscliff
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Manly Queenscliff
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Manly Queenscliff
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Manly Queenscliff
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Manly Queenscliff
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Manly

Apartments Beach Beachfront Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Nightlife Parks Premium Professionals Transport Hub

Queenscliff

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Manly

Manly vs Manly Vale Manly vs Fairlight Manly vs North Manly

Other comparisons with Queenscliff

Queenscliff vs Freshwater Queenscliff vs North Manly
Full data on Manly Full data on Queenscliff
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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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