Naremburn vs St Leonards

St Leonards is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 39 in Naremburn. In Naremburn, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In St Leonards, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Naremburn: a median of $1.28 million, against $1.13 million in St Leonards. On these figures, Naremburn tends to suit families with children and couples, while St Leonards suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Naremburn

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (38% vs 3%)
  • carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 65/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 31%)
  • But St Leonards has more childcare (9 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

St Leonards

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,130,000 vs $1,277,500)

Weighs unit prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Naremburn leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)
  • St Leonards has a bigger rental market to choose from (70% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

St Leonards

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 2%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Naremburn carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 65/100)
  • St Leonards has more GPs (6 vs 0)

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

Investors

St Leonards

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (31.2% vs 0.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.3% vs 3.6%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Naremburn St Leonards
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.

Naremburn St Leonards
Walkability 99 / 99
Naremburn — Walkability: 99/100 St Leonards — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 71 / 35
Naremburn — Safety: 71/100 St Leonards — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Naremburn — Low fire risk: 100/100 St Leonards — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Naremburn has higher household incomes ($170,144 vs $128,700); Naremburn skews older (39 vs 34).

Naremburn St Leonards
Population 5,924 7,212
+22% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.7% +31.2%
Median age 39 34
Median household income $170,144/yr
+24% vs other
 $128,700/yr
Median weekly rent $602/wk $600/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Naremburn St Leonards
0-4 7.7% / 5.5%
Naremburn — 0-4: 7.7% St Leonards — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 12.3% / 5.5%
Naremburn — 5-14: 12.3% St Leonards — 5-14: 5.5%
15-19 4.1% / 1.6%
Naremburn — 15-19: 4.1% St Leonards — 15-19: 1.6%
20-24 3.5% / 5.6%
Naremburn — 20-24: 3.5% St Leonards — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 14.3% / 33.4%
Naremburn — 25-34: 14.3% St Leonards — 25-34: 33.4%
35-44 18.9% / 24.7%
Naremburn — 35-44: 18.9% St Leonards — 35-44: 24.7%
45-54 14.4% / 9.9%
Naremburn — 45-54: 14.4% St Leonards — 45-54: 9.9%
55-64 11.4% / 6.8%
Naremburn — 55-64: 11.4% St Leonards — 55-64: 6.8%
65-74 8.6% / 4.9%
Naremburn — 65-74: 8.6% St Leonards — 65-74: 4.9%
75-84 3.6% / 1.9%
Naremburn — 75-84: 3.6% St Leonards — 75-84: 1.9%
85+ 1.3% / 0.4%
Naremburn — 85+: 1.3% St Leonards — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Naremburn 36.1% lone person
Naremburn — Lone Person: 36.1% Naremburn — Couple Families: 46.9% Naremburn — One Parent Families: 10.7% Naremburn — Group Household: 4.9% Naremburn — Other Families: 1.3%
St Leonards 57.9% lone person
St Leonards — Lone Person: 57.9% St Leonards — Couple Families: 23.8% St Leonards — One Parent Families: 6.8% St Leonards — Group Household: 10.1% St Leonards — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Naremburn 36.3% renting
Naremburn — Owned Outright: 30.3% Naremburn — Mortgage: 33.4% Naremburn — Renting: 36.3%
St Leonards 69.6% renting
St Leonards — Owned Outright: 12.4% St Leonards — Mortgage: 17.9% St Leonards — Renting: 69.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Naremburn St Leonards
Bachelor Degree 29.0% / 36.4%
Naremburn — Bachelor Degree: 29.0% St Leonards — Bachelor Degree: 36.4%
Postgraduate Degree 13.6% / 19.6%
Naremburn — Postgraduate Degree: 13.6% St Leonards — Postgraduate Degree: 19.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.3%
Naremburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% St Leonards — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 4.9% / 3.9%
Naremburn — Certificate III & IV: 4.9% St Leonards — Certificate III & IV: 3.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.1%
Naremburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% St Leonards — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (36.4%).

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.

Naremburn St Leonards
China 3.5% / 9.6%
Naremburn — China: 3.5% St Leonards — China: 9.6%
England 5.7% / 3.3%
Naremburn — England: 5.7% St Leonards — England: 3.3%
India 2.1% / 5.5%
Naremburn — India: 2.1% St Leonards — India: 5.5%
Japan 0.9% / 4.4%
Naremburn — Japan: 0.9% St Leonards — Japan: 4.4%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.6%
Naremburn — New Zealand: 2.1% St Leonards — New Zealand: 2.6%
South Africa 1.9% / —
Naremburn — South Africa: 1.9% St Leonards — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Naremburn 42.7% flats / apartments
Naremburn — Flats / Apartments: 42.7% Naremburn — Houses: 37.8% Naremburn — Townhouses: 19.5%
St Leonards 96.9% flats / apartments
St Leonards — Flats / Apartments: 96.9% St Leonards — Houses: 2.8% St Leonards — Townhouses: 0.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Naremburn St Leonards
Median house price $3,127,500 —
Median unit price $1,277,500 $1,130,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 21 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.

Naremburn St Leonards
1 bed $845K / $800K
Naremburn — 1 bed: $845K (18 sales) St Leonards — 1 bed: $800K (114 sales)

18 vs 114 sales

2 bed $1.34M / $1.38M
Naremburn — 2 bed: $1.34M (35 sales) St Leonards — 2 bed: $1.38M (109 sales)

35 vs 109 sales

3 bed $1.76M / $2.15M
Naremburn — 3 bed: $1.76M (10 sales) St Leonards — 3 bed: $2.15M (29 sales)

10 vs 29 sales

Zoning mix

St Leonards has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 0%); St Leonards has more commercially zoned land (16% vs 2%).

Naremburn St Leonards
Residential 74% 28%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 34%
Commercial 2% 16%
Industrial 0% 14%
Parks and recreation 9% 8%
Environmental 7% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Naremburn and 100% of St Leonards. 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

Naremburn St Leonards
New dwellings approved 249
across Willoughby
same for both
Approvals change year on year +458%
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.

Naremburn St Leonards
Houses 2.0%
$1,300/wk on $3.3M
 —
Units 3.6%
$888/wk on $1.3M
 4.3%
$1,000/wk on $1.22M

Ranking within NSW

Naremburn St Leonards
House price Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW

Liveability

Naremburn scores higher overall (96 vs 88).

Naremburn St Leonards
Grade A+
same for both
Score 96/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

St Leonards carries more crime risk (65 vs 29).

Naremburn St Leonards
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
29/100
 Moderate
65/100
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Naremburn St Leonards
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 2.3 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 2.0%

Schools in Naremburn

  • Naremburn School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in St Leonards

  • International Chinese School Independent · Primary below peers
  • Royal North Shore Hospital School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Naremburn St Leonards
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 0 38
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 4 9
GPs 0 6
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 2

Mobility

Naremburn St Leonards
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 7.2 km
+4% vs other
 6.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min 14 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 95/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 53.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 155.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.8%
postcode 2065
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2065
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.

Naremburn St Leonards
Worked from Home 68.3% / 68.0%
Naremburn — Worked from Home: 68.3% St Leonards — Worked from Home: 68.0%
Car (driver) 20.1% / 13.6%
Naremburn — Car (driver): 20.1% St Leonards — Car (driver): 13.6%
Walked Only 5.5% / 7.8%
Naremburn — Walked Only: 5.5% St Leonards — Walked Only: 7.8%
Train 2.5% / 7.5%
Naremburn — Train: 2.5% St Leonards — Train: 7.5%
Bus 1.5% / 1.6%
Naremburn — Bus: 1.5% St Leonards — Bus: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 1.1%
Naremburn — Car (passenger): 1.7% St Leonards — Car (passenger): 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.3%).

Setting

Naremburn St Leonards
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 83 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 5.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Naremburn St Leonards
Connectivity score 75/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
2,733 premises
 29%
6,133 premises

Climate

Naremburn St Leonards
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Naremburn St Leonards
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.62 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Naremburn St Leonards
Average residential rate $1,275/yr
same for both
Council Willoughby
same for both

Federal electorate

Naremburn St Leonards
Division Bradfield
same for both
Member Nicolette Boele
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Naremburn St Leonards
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Naremburn

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Parks Professionals Urban

St Leonards

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Naremburn

Naremburn vs Artarmon Naremburn vs Willoughby Naremburn vs Cammeray Naremburn vs Northbridge Naremburn vs Crows Nest

Other comparisons with St Leonards

St Leonards vs Artarmon St Leonards vs Wollstonecraft St Leonards vs Greenwich St Leonards vs Crows Nest
Full data on Naremburn Full data on St Leonards
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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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