North Bondi vs Dover Heights

North Bondi is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 41 in Dover Heights. In both, most households own their home. In North Bondi, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are couple families. In Dover Heights, most homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Dover Heights: a median of $7.22 million, against $4.58 million in North Bondi, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, North Bondi tends to suit people living alone, share households, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Dover Heights suits couples.

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

Dover Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (66% vs 19%)
  • carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 43/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (75% vs 55%)
  • But North Bondi has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

North Bondi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($4,575,000 vs $7,225,000)
  • has cheaper units ($1,575,000 vs $2,040,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

North Bondi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($700/wk vs $798/wk)

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

They split

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

  • North Bondi has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • Dover Heights carries lower crime risk (20/100 vs 43/100)

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

Investors

Dover Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.4% vs 1.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

North Bondi and Dover 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 Bondi Dover 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 Bondi Dover Heights
Walkability 90 / 89
North Bondi — Walkability: 90/100 Dover Heights — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 57 / 80
North Bondi — Safety: 57/100 Dover Heights — Safety: 80/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Bondi — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dover Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Bondi has more residents (9,290 vs 4,044); Dover Heights has higher household incomes ($201,604 vs $171,184).

North Bondi Dover Heights
Population 9,290
+56% vs other
 4,044
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +6.4%
Median age 35 41
Median household income $171,184/yr $201,604/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $700/wk $798/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Bondi Dover Heights
0-4 6.8% / 4.9%
North Bondi — 0-4: 6.8% Dover Heights — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 13.2% / 15.5%
North Bondi — 5-14: 13.2% Dover Heights — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 5.7% / 7.7%
North Bondi — 15-19: 5.7% Dover Heights — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 4.3% / 6.1%
North Bondi — 20-24: 4.3% Dover Heights — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 19.8% / 9.4%
North Bondi — 25-34: 19.8% Dover Heights — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 17.6% / 11.0%
North Bondi — 35-44: 17.6% Dover Heights — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 14.5% / 16.1%
North Bondi — 45-54: 14.5% Dover Heights — 45-54: 16.1%
55-64 8.6% / 12.7%
North Bondi — 55-64: 8.6% Dover Heights — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 5.9% / 10.0%
North Bondi — 65-74: 5.9% Dover Heights — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 2.8% / 4.7%
North Bondi — 75-84: 2.8% Dover Heights — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.1% / 1.7%
North Bondi — 85+: 1.1% Dover Heights — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Bondi 45.8% couple families
North Bondi — Couple Families: 45.8% North Bondi — Lone Person: 30.9% North Bondi — One Parent Families: 9.2% North Bondi — Group Household: 12.9% North Bondi — Other Families: 1.2%
Dover Heights 62.7% couple families
Dover Heights — Couple Families: 62.7% Dover Heights — Lone Person: 20.9% Dover Heights — One Parent Families: 12.0% Dover Heights — Group Household: 3.0% Dover Heights — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Bondi 43.8% renting
North Bondi — Owned Outright: 25.6% North Bondi — Mortgage: 30.5% North Bondi — Renting: 43.8%
Dover Heights 19.8% renting
Dover Heights — Owned Outright: 43.8% Dover Heights — Mortgage: 36.4% Dover Heights — Renting: 19.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Bondi Dover Heights
Bachelor Degree 29.7% / 27.9%
North Bondi — Bachelor Degree: 29.7% Dover Heights — Bachelor Degree: 27.9%
Postgraduate Degree 10.5% / 11.2%
North Bondi — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5% Dover Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.9%
North Bondi — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Dover Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 3.8%
North Bondi — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Dover Heights — Certificate III & IV: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.2%
North Bondi — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Dover Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.7%).

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.

North Bondi Dover Heights
South Africa 5.8% / 14.3%
North Bondi — South Africa: 5.8% Dover Heights — South Africa: 14.3%
England 7.8% / 3.3%
North Bondi — England: 7.8% Dover Heights — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.2%
North Bondi — New Zealand: 2.0% Dover Heights — New Zealand: 1.2%
France 1.3% / 0.7%
North Bondi — France: 1.3% Dover Heights — France: 0.7%
China — / 2.0%
North Bondi — China: not among its largest Dover Heights — China: 2.0%
Italy 1.2% / 0.7%
North Bondi — Italy: 1.2% Dover Heights — Italy: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Bondi 19.3% houses
North Bondi — Houses: 19.3% North Bondi — Flats / Apartments: 52.7% North Bondi — Townhouses: 28.1%
Dover Heights 66.2% houses
Dover Heights — Houses: 66.2% Dover Heights — Flats / Apartments: 23.1% Dover Heights — Townhouses: 10.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Bondi Dover Heights
Median house price $4,575,000 $7,225,000
Median unit price $1,575,000 $2,040,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 8 sales
 34 days
from 14 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.

North Bondi Dover Heights
1 bed $1.38M / $1.19M
North Bondi — 1 bed: $1.38M (10 sales) Dover Heights — 1 bed: $1.19M (5 sales)

10 vs 5 sales

2 bed $1.61M / $1.5M
North Bondi — 2 bed: $1.61M (16 sales) Dover Heights — 2 bed: $1.5M (9 sales)

16 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

North Bondi Dover Heights
Residential 80% 84%
Parks and recreation 10% 7%
Environmental 4%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
Commercial 4% 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

North Bondi Dover Heights
New dwellings approved 180
across Waverley
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

North Bondi Dover Heights
House price Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Income Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Schools Higher than 85% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 6% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW

Liveability

Dover Heights scores higher overall (95 vs 89).

North Bondi Dover Heights
Grade A+
same for both
Score 89/100 95/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

North Bondi carries more crime risk (43 vs 20).

North Bondi Dover Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Low
20/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
16/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

North Bondi Dover Heights
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 6.1 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 6.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.8% 5.3%

Schools in North Bondi

  • Galilee Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • WAYS Secondary Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Reddam House, Bondi Campus Independent · Secondary
  • Wairoa School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Dover Heights

  • Kesser Torah College Independent · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Bondi Dover Heights
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 16 1
Parks & reserves 8 3
Childcare 5 3
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

North Bondi Dover Heights
Walkability score 90/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 10.1 km
+6% vs other
 9.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 252.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 93.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 2026
 5.2%
postcode 2030
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 2026
 18
postcode 2030

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 Bondi Dover Heights
Worked from Home 65.1% / 59.3%
North Bondi — Worked from Home: 65.1% Dover Heights — Worked from Home: 59.3%
Car (driver) 25.3% / 34.5%
North Bondi — Car (driver): 25.3% Dover Heights — Car (driver): 34.5%
Walked Only 3.2% / 1.7%
North Bondi — Walked Only: 3.2% Dover Heights — Walked Only: 1.7%
Bus 2.1% / 1.6%
North Bondi — Bus: 2.1% Dover Heights — Bus: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 1.6% / 1.9%
North Bondi — Car (passenger): 1.6% Dover Heights — Car (passenger): 1.9%
Train 1.6% / 0.9%
North Bondi — Train: 1.6% Dover Heights — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.1%).

Setting

North Bondi Dover Heights
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 83 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 580 m
791 m to a named beach
 314 m
1.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Bondi Dover Heights
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
4,233 premises
 5%
1,539 premises

Climate

North Bondi Dover Heights
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)

North Bondi Dover 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 Bondi Dover Heights
Average residential rate $1,277/yr
same for both
Council Waverley
same for both

Federal electorate

North Bondi Dover Heights
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Bondi

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Dover Heights

Beach Coastal Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Bondi

North Bondi vs Bondi Beach North Bondi vs Bellevue Hill North Bondi vs Rose Bay

Other comparisons with Dover Heights

Dover Heights vs Rose Bay Dover Heights vs Vaucluse
Full data on North Bondi Full data on Dover Heights
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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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