North Narrabeen vs Warriewood

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most households are couple families. In North Narrabeen, the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Warriewood: a median of $2.54 million, against $2.08 million in North Narrabeen, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, North Narrabeen 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

Warriewood

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 53/100)
  • But North Narrabeen has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 52%)

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

First-home buyers

North Narrabeen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,085,000 vs $2,537,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

North Narrabeen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($665/wk vs $750/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

North Narrabeen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (28.3 km vs 30.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Warriewood

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 11%)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 53/100)

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

Investors

Warriewood

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (11.7% vs 2.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

North Narrabeen and Warriewood 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 Narrabeen Warriewood
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 Narrabeen Warriewood
Walkability 78 / 83
North Narrabeen — Walkability: 78/100 Warriewood — Walkability: 83/100
Safety 47 / 59
North Narrabeen — Safety: 47/100 Warriewood — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 100 / 7
North Narrabeen — Low fire risk: 100/100 Warriewood — Low fire risk: 7/100

Demographics

Warriewood has more residents (8,379 vs 6,016); Warriewood rents higher ($750/wk vs $665/wk).

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Population 6,016 8,379
+39% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +11.7%
Median age 40 41
Median household income $140,972/yr
+4% vs other
 $135,096/yr
Median weekly rent $665/wk $750/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Narrabeen Warriewood
0-4 6.6% / 6.2%
North Narrabeen — 0-4: 6.6% Warriewood — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 15.2% / 15.6%
North Narrabeen — 5-14: 15.2% Warriewood — 5-14: 15.6%
15-19 6.9% / 6.7%
North Narrabeen — 15-19: 6.9% Warriewood — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 4.8% / 4.9%
North Narrabeen — 20-24: 4.8% Warriewood — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 10.0% / 7.8%
North Narrabeen — 25-34: 10.0% Warriewood — 25-34: 7.8%
35-44 13.6% / 14.3%
North Narrabeen — 35-44: 13.6% Warriewood — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 15.1% / 15.7%
North Narrabeen — 45-54: 15.1% Warriewood — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 12.7% / 10.7%
North Narrabeen — 55-64: 12.7% Warriewood — 55-64: 10.7%
65-74 9.1% / 8.1%
North Narrabeen — 65-74: 9.1% Warriewood — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 4.7% / 6.4%
North Narrabeen — 75-84: 4.7% Warriewood — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.4% / 3.6%
North Narrabeen — 85+: 1.4% Warriewood — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Narrabeen 60.2% couple families
North Narrabeen — Couple Families: 60.2% North Narrabeen — Lone Person: 21.3% North Narrabeen — One Parent Families: 14.7% North Narrabeen — Group Household: 2.9% North Narrabeen — Other Families: 1.0%
Warriewood 58.8% couple families
Warriewood — Couple Families: 58.8% Warriewood — Lone Person: 22.6% Warriewood — One Parent Families: 16.5% Warriewood — Group Household: 1.4% Warriewood — 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 Narrabeen 18.8% renting
North Narrabeen — Owned Outright: 37.9% North Narrabeen — Mortgage: 43.3% North Narrabeen — Renting: 18.8%
Warriewood 18.7% renting
Warriewood — Owned Outright: 33.1% Warriewood — Mortgage: 48.2% Warriewood — Renting: 18.7%
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.

North Narrabeen Warriewood
England 6.8% / 7.4%
North Narrabeen — England: 6.8% Warriewood — England: 7.4%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.7%
North Narrabeen — New Zealand: 1.8% Warriewood — New Zealand: 1.7%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.7%
North Narrabeen — South Africa: 1.1% Warriewood — South Africa: 1.7%
Brazil 0.9% / 1.3%
North Narrabeen — Brazil: 0.9% Warriewood — Brazil: 1.3%
Germany 0.7% / 0.7%
North Narrabeen — Germany: 0.7% Warriewood — Germany: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

Qualifications

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

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 16.7%
North Narrabeen — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Warriewood — Bachelor Degree: 16.7%
Certificate III & IV 14.6% / 11.7%
North Narrabeen — Certificate III & IV: 14.6% Warriewood — Certificate III & IV: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 9.9%
North Narrabeen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Warriewood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.9% / 5.3%
North Narrabeen — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9% Warriewood — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.7%
North Narrabeen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Warriewood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Narrabeen 89.4% houses
North Narrabeen — Houses: 89.4% North Narrabeen — Flats / Apartments: 7.5% North Narrabeen — Townhouses: 3.1%
Warriewood 52.3% houses
Warriewood — Houses: 52.3% Warriewood — Flats / Apartments: 22.6% Warriewood — Townhouses: 25.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Median house price $2,085,000 $2,537,500
Median unit price — $1,350,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 22 sales
 26 days
from 48 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 Narrabeen Warriewood
3 bed $2M / $2.33M
North Narrabeen — 3 bed: $2M (15 sales) Warriewood — 3 bed: $2.33M (11 sales)

15 vs 11 sales

4 bed $2.23M / $2.6M
North Narrabeen — 4 bed: $2.23M (24 sales) Warriewood — 4 bed: $2.6M (41 sales)

24 vs 41 sales

5 bed $2.57M / $2.69M
North Narrabeen — 5 bed: $2.57M (6 sales) Warriewood — 5 bed: $2.69M (23 sales)

6 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

North Narrabeen has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 20%).

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Residential 34% 41%
Environmental 34% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 17% 7%
Parks and recreation 10% 15%
Rural and farming 0% 7%
Commercial 2% 6%
Industrial 2% 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 Narrabeen Warriewood
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 Narrabeen Warriewood
Houses 3.6%
$1,292/wk on $1.85M
 4.2%
$1,595/wk on $1.99M
Units — 4.0%
$1,035/wk on $1.35M

Ranking within NSW

North Narrabeen Warriewood
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 23% of NSW

Liveability

North Narrabeen scores higher overall (79 vs 59).

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Grade A B
Score 79/100 59/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Warriewood carries more bushfire risk (93 vs 0); North Narrabeen carries more crime risk (53 vs 41).

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
93/100
Crime Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
24/100
 Low
16/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in North Narrabeen

  • Narrabeen North Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Narrabeen Sports High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Warriewood

  • Mater Maria Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 8 5
Parks & reserves 13
same for both
Childcare 3 8
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 1 11

Mobility

Warriewood sits further from the CBD (30.6 km vs 28.3 km).

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Walkability score 78/100 83/100
Distance to Sydney 28.3 km 30.6 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 39 min 42 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 159.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 212.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2101
 1.6%
postcode 2102
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 2101
 33
postcode 2102

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 Narrabeen Warriewood
Car (driver) 48.2% / 45.4%
North Narrabeen — Car (driver): 48.2% Warriewood — Car (driver): 45.4%
Worked from Home 43.9% / 46.0%
North Narrabeen — Worked from Home: 43.9% Warriewood — Worked from Home: 46.0%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 3.3%
North Narrabeen — Car (passenger): 2.7% Warriewood — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 2.4% / 2.4%
North Narrabeen — Walked Only: 2.4% Warriewood — Walked Only: 2.4%
Bus 2.1% / 2.1%
North Narrabeen — Bus: 2.1% Warriewood — Bus: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.2%).

Setting

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Elevation 13 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.4 km
1.4 km to a named beach
 1.2 km
1.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Connectivity score 89/100 85/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
2,288 premises
 41%
3,775 premises

Climate

North Narrabeen Warriewood
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 Narrabeen Warriewood
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Narrabeen Warriewood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Narrabeen

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Transport Hub

Warriewood

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Outer Parks Premium River Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Narrabeen

North Narrabeen vs Narrabeen North Narrabeen vs Elanora Heights North Narrabeen vs Ingleside

Other comparisons with Warriewood

Warriewood vs Mona Vale Warriewood vs Ingleside
Full data on North Narrabeen Full data on Warriewood
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