North Balgowlah vs Allambie Heights

North Balgowlah is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Allambie Heights. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in North Balgowlah: a median of $3.38 million, against $2.7 million in Allambie Heights, and rent is higher there too. North Balgowlah is closer to the city centre: 13 km, against 17.5 km. On these figures, North Balgowlah tends to suit families with children and couples, while Allambie Heights suits 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

Allambie Heights

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • But North Balgowlah is already more of a family suburb (84% vs 73%)

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

First-home buyers

Allambie Heights

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,700,000 vs $3,375,000)
  • has cheaper units ($1,035,000 vs $1,290,000)
  • But North Balgowlah leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Allambie Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($600/wk vs $825/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

North Balgowlah

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (23 min vs 32 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (13 km vs 17.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Allambie Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 11%)

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

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

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
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.

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Walkability 66 / 67
North Balgowlah — Walkability: 66/100 Allambie Heights — Walkability: 67/100
Safety 84 / 79
North Balgowlah — Safety: 84/100 Allambie Heights — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 100 / 30
North Balgowlah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Allambie Heights — Low fire risk: 30/100

Demographics

Allambie Heights has more residents (7,317 vs 3,816); North Balgowlah has higher household incomes ($219,024 vs $150,280).

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Population 3,816 7,317
+92% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.1% +4.4%
Median age 39 43
Median household income $219,024/yr
+31% vs other
 $150,280/yr
Median weekly rent $825/wk
+27% vs other
 $600/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
0-4 6.3% / 5.3%
North Balgowlah — 0-4: 6.3% Allambie Heights — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 22.1% / 16.1%
North Balgowlah — 5-14: 22.1% Allambie Heights — 5-14: 16.1%
15-19 8.0% / 6.6%
North Balgowlah — 15-19: 8.0% Allambie Heights — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 3.9% / 5.2%
North Balgowlah — 20-24: 3.9% Allambie Heights — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 4.7% / 6.8%
North Balgowlah — 25-34: 4.7% Allambie Heights — 25-34: 6.8%
35-44 15.2% / 12.9%
North Balgowlah — 35-44: 15.2% Allambie Heights — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 18.7% / 16.7%
North Balgowlah — 45-54: 18.7% Allambie Heights — 45-54: 16.7%
55-64 9.9% / 11.1%
North Balgowlah — 55-64: 9.9% Allambie Heights — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 6.7% / 8.9%
North Balgowlah — 65-74: 6.7% Allambie Heights — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 3.5% / 6.6%
North Balgowlah — 75-84: 3.5% Allambie Heights — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 1.0% / 3.8%
North Balgowlah — 85+: 1.0% Allambie Heights — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Balgowlah 73.1% couple families
North Balgowlah — Couple Families: 73.1% North Balgowlah — Lone Person: 12.8% North Balgowlah — One Parent Families: 11.3% North Balgowlah — Group Household: 2.1% North Balgowlah — Other Families: 0.7%
Allambie Heights 62.6% couple families
Allambie Heights — Couple Families: 62.6% Allambie Heights — Lone Person: 24.2% Allambie Heights — One Parent Families: 10.7% Allambie Heights — Group Household: 1.7% Allambie Heights — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Balgowlah 13.9% renting
North Balgowlah — Owned Outright: 33.0% North Balgowlah — Mortgage: 53.1% North Balgowlah — Renting: 13.9%
Allambie Heights 18.6% renting
Allambie Heights — Owned Outright: 37.1% Allambie Heights — Mortgage: 44.3% Allambie Heights — Renting: 18.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Bachelor Degree 22.6% / 18.0%
North Balgowlah — Bachelor Degree: 22.6% Allambie Heights — Bachelor Degree: 18.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 9.2%
North Balgowlah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Allambie Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 10.2%
North Balgowlah — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Allambie Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Postgraduate Degree 8.0% / 6.3%
North Balgowlah — Postgraduate Degree: 8.0% Allambie Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.4%
North Balgowlah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Allambie Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.6%).

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.

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
England 11.5% / 8.0%
North Balgowlah — England: 11.5% Allambie Heights — England: 8.0%
South Africa 3.1% / 1.2%
North Balgowlah — South Africa: 3.1% Allambie Heights — South Africa: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.9%
North Balgowlah — New Zealand: 1.8% Allambie Heights — New Zealand: 1.9%
China 0.7% / 1.5%
North Balgowlah — China: 0.7% Allambie Heights — China: 1.5%
Scotland 1.2% / 0.8%
North Balgowlah — Scotland: 1.2% Allambie Heights — Scotland: 0.8%
Ireland 0.9% / 1.0%
North Balgowlah — Ireland: 0.9% Allambie Heights — Ireland: 1.0%
Italy — / 1.7%
North Balgowlah — Italy: not among its largest Allambie Heights — Italy: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Balgowlah 89.8% houses
North Balgowlah — Houses: 89.8% North Balgowlah — Flats / Apartments: 6.6% North Balgowlah — Townhouses: 3.7%
Allambie Heights 87.0% houses
Allambie Heights — Houses: 87.0% Allambie Heights — Flats / Apartments: 9.7% Allambie Heights — Townhouses: 3.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Median house price $3,375,000 $2,700,000
Median unit price $1,290,000 $1,035,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 12 sales
 22 days
from 36 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.

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
3 bed $2.53M / $2.22M
North Balgowlah — 3 bed: $2.53M (9 sales) Allambie Heights — 3 bed: $2.22M (37 sales)

9 vs 37 sales

4 bed $3.45M / $2.72M
North Balgowlah — 4 bed: $3.45M (14 sales) Allambie Heights — 4 bed: $2.72M (30 sales)

14 vs 30 sales

5 bed $4.1M / $3.3M
North Balgowlah — 5 bed: $4.1M (10 sales) Allambie Heights — 5 bed: $3.3M (31 sales)

10 vs 31 sales

Zoning mix

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Residential 87% 31%
Parks and recreation 12% 65%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 4%
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

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
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.

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Houses 4.0%
$1,995/wk on $2.6M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 24% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of NSW —

Liveability

North Balgowlah scores higher overall (90 vs 56).

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Grade A+ B
Score 90/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Allambie Heights carries more bushfire risk (70 vs 0).

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
70/100
Crime Low
16/100
 Low
21/100
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 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 6.8 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 8.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 3.1%

Schools in North Balgowlah

  • Balgowlah North Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Farmhouse Montessori School Independent · Primary below peers

Schools in Allambie Heights

  • Allambie Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Arranounbai School Government · Combined · Special school
  • The Beach School Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 6
Parks & reserves 3 13
Childcare 1 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 4

Mobility

Allambie Heights sits further from the CBD (17.5 km vs 13 km).

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Walkability score 66/100 67/100
Distance to Sydney 13 km 17.5 km
+35% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 32 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 69.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 266.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.9%
postcode 2093
 2.0%
postcode 2100
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2093
 33
postcode 2100

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.

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Worked from Home 65.6% / 51.8%
North Balgowlah — Worked from Home: 65.6% Allambie Heights — Worked from Home: 51.8%
Car (driver) 28.5% / 38.7%
North Balgowlah — Car (driver): 28.5% Allambie Heights — Car (driver): 38.7%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 3.0%
North Balgowlah — Car (passenger): 2.1% Allambie Heights — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Bus 1.8% / 2.7%
North Balgowlah — Bus: 1.8% Allambie Heights — Bus: 2.7%
Walked Only 1.1% / 2.6%
North Balgowlah — Walked Only: 1.1% Allambie Heights — Walked Only: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.6%).

Setting

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Elevation 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.9 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 3.6 km
2.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Connectivity score 74/100 81/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
1,234 premises
 33%
2,623 premises

Climate

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
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

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Balgowlah Allambie Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Balgowlah

Coastal Easy Commute Family Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub Urban

Allambie Heights

Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Balgowlah

North Balgowlah vs Balgowlah North Balgowlah vs Seaforth North Balgowlah vs Manly Vale

Other comparisons with Allambie Heights

Allambie Heights vs Frenchs Forest Allambie Heights vs Beacon Hill Allambie Heights vs Seaforth Allambie Heights vs Manly Vale Allambie Heights vs Killarney Heights Allambie Heights vs North Manly
Full data on North Balgowlah Full data on Allambie Heights
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or