Mcmahons Point vs Waverton

Waverton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 44 in McMahons Point. In both, about half of households rent. In McMahons Point, most homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Waverton, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, McMahons Point tends to suit people living alone, while Waverton suits share households.

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

Waverton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (41% vs 27%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

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

Mcmahons Point Waverton
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.

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Walkability 100 / 99
Mcmahons Point — Walkability: 100/100 Waverton — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 71 / 71
Mcmahons Point — Safety: 71/100 Waverton — Safety: 71/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Mcmahons Point — Low fire risk: 100/100 Waverton — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Waverton has more residents (2,981 vs 2,315); McMahons Point skews older (44 vs 39).

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Population 2,315 2,981
+29% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% -1.3%
Median age 44 39
Median household income $133,536/yr $150,280/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $580/wk $600/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mcmahons Point Waverton
0-4 3.7% / 5.1%
Mcmahons Point — 0-4: 3.7% Waverton — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 4.0% / 7.4%
Mcmahons Point — 5-14: 4.0% Waverton — 5-14: 7.4%
15-19 3.4% / 3.1%
Mcmahons Point — 15-19: 3.4% Waverton — 15-19: 3.1%
20-24 4.8% / 5.8%
Mcmahons Point — 20-24: 4.8% Waverton — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 19.9% / 21.3%
Mcmahons Point — 25-34: 19.9% Waverton — 25-34: 21.3%
35-44 14.7% / 15.8%
Mcmahons Point — 35-44: 14.7% Waverton — 35-44: 15.8%
45-54 13.1% / 11.7%
Mcmahons Point — 45-54: 13.1% Waverton — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 14.8% / 10.8%
Mcmahons Point — 55-64: 14.8% Waverton — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 12.1% / 10.9%
Mcmahons Point — 65-74: 12.1% Waverton — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 8.0% / 6.5%
Mcmahons Point — 75-84: 8.0% Waverton — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 1.2% / 1.7%
Mcmahons Point — 85+: 1.2% Waverton — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mcmahons Point 67.2% lone person
Mcmahons Point — Lone Person: 67.2% Mcmahons Point — Couple Families: 20.1% Mcmahons Point — Group Household: 4.6% Mcmahons Point — One Parent Families: 6.8% Mcmahons Point — Other Families: 1.4%
Waverton 45.9% lone person
Waverton — Lone Person: 45.9% Waverton — Couple Families: 32.0% Waverton — Group Household: 11.6% Waverton — One Parent Families: 9.3% Waverton — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mcmahons Point 53.0% renting
Mcmahons Point — Owned Outright: 31.9% Mcmahons Point — Mortgage: 15.1% Mcmahons Point — Renting: 53.0%
Waverton 48.0% renting
Waverton — Owned Outright: 33.7% Waverton — Mortgage: 18.3% Waverton — Renting: 48.0%
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.

Mcmahons Point Waverton
England 7.7% / 6.5%
Mcmahons Point — England: 7.7% Waverton — England: 6.5%
China 2.0% / 3.3%
Mcmahons Point — China: 2.0% Waverton — China: 3.3%
New Zealand 2.7% / 1.9%
Mcmahons Point — New Zealand: 2.7% Waverton — New Zealand: 1.9%
South Africa 2.0% / 1.5%
Mcmahons Point — South Africa: 2.0% Waverton — South Africa: 1.5%
India 1.5% / 1.8%
Mcmahons Point — India: 1.5% Waverton — India: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

Qualifications

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

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Bachelor Degree 34.8% / 33.8%
Mcmahons Point — Bachelor Degree: 34.8% Waverton — Bachelor Degree: 33.8%
Postgraduate Degree 19.7% / 17.9%
Mcmahons Point — Postgraduate Degree: 19.7% Waverton — Postgraduate Degree: 17.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 7.0%
Mcmahons Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Waverton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Certificate III & IV 5.1% / 4.3%
Mcmahons Point — Certificate III & IV: 5.1% Waverton — Certificate III & IV: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 4.4%
Mcmahons Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Waverton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mcmahons Point 63.4% flats / apartments
Mcmahons Point — Flats / Apartments: 63.4% Mcmahons Point — Townhouses: 23.6% Mcmahons Point — Houses: 13.0%
Waverton 49.7% flats / apartments
Waverton — Flats / Apartments: 49.7% Waverton — Townhouses: 32.6% Waverton — Houses: 17.7%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Median house price $3,925,000 $3,950,000
Median unit price $1,260,000 $1,324,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 9 sales
 22 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.

Mcmahons Point Waverton
3 bed $3.98M / $3.03M
Mcmahons Point — 3 bed: $3.98M (10 sales) Waverton — 3 bed: $3.03M (10 sales)

10 vs 10 sales

4 bed $4.7M / $7.62M
Mcmahons Point — 4 bed: $4.7M (6 sales) Waverton — 4 bed: $7.62M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 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.

Mcmahons Point Waverton
1 bed $1.1M / $820K
Mcmahons Point — 1 bed: $1.1M (40 sales) Waverton — 1 bed: $820K (11 sales)

40 vs 11 sales

2 bed $1.54M / $1.32M
Mcmahons Point — 2 bed: $1.54M (22 sales) Waverton — 2 bed: $1.32M (39 sales)

22 vs 39 sales

3 bed $4.05M / $1.78M
Mcmahons Point — 3 bed: $4.05M (13 sales) Waverton — 3 bed: $1.78M (10 sales)

13 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Waverton has more land zoned for conservation (30% vs 2%); McMahons Point has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Residential 63% 47%
Environmental 2% 30%
Parks and recreation 11% 12%
Industrial 11% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 10%
Commercial 4% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Mcmahons Point and 99% of Waverton. 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

Mcmahons Point Waverton
New dwellings approved 455
across North Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year -69%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Mcmahons Point Waverton
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Income Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW

Liveability

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Grade A+
same for both
Score 96/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
29/100
same for both
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 1.1 km
same for both
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.5%

Amenities in the suburb

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 14 7
Parks & reserves 14 12
Childcare 2 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 5 km 5.5 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 12 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 96/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 60.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.6%
postcode 2060
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 2060
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.

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Worked from Home 66.1% / 70.1%
Mcmahons Point — Worked from Home: 66.1% Waverton — Worked from Home: 70.1%
Car (driver) 19.5% / 15.2%
Mcmahons Point — Car (driver): 19.5% Waverton — Car (driver): 15.2%
Train 4.9% / 7.6%
Mcmahons Point — Train: 4.9% Waverton — Train: 7.6%
Walked Only 5.5% / 4.8%
Mcmahons Point — Walked Only: 5.5% Waverton — Walked Only: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 1.2%
Mcmahons Point — Car (passenger): 1.7% Waverton — Car (passenger): 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.1%).

Setting

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km
752 m to a named beach
 5.0 km
649 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Connectivity score 74/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,691 premises
 4%
1,655 premises

Climate

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Mcmahons Point Waverton
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

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Average residential rate $1,035/yr
same for both
Council North Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mcmahons Point Waverton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mcmahons Point

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Urban

Waverton

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Townhouses Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

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Mcmahons Point vs North Sydney Mcmahons Point vs Lavender Bay

Other comparisons with Waverton

Waverton vs North Sydney Waverton vs Wollstonecraft
Full data on Mcmahons Point Full data on Waverton
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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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