North Sydney vs Crows Nest

In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In North Sydney, most households are people living alone. In Crows Nest, about half of households are people living alone. North Sydney is closer to the city centre: 4.3 km, against 6.3 km.

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

North Sydney

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (11 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Crows Nest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,777,000 vs $3,200,000)

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

North Sydney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.3 km vs 6.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

North Sydney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

North Sydney

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.3% vs 3.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

North Sydney and Crows Nest 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 Sydney Crows Nest
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 Sydney Crows Nest
Walkability 100 / 97
North Sydney — Walkability: 100/100 Crows Nest — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 40 / 21
North Sydney — Safety: 40/100 Crows Nest — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Sydney — Low fire risk: 100/100 Crows Nest — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Sydney has more residents (8,964 vs 4,974).

North Sydney Crows Nest
Population 8,964
+45% vs other
 4,974
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.3% +3.7%
Median age 36
same for both
Median household income $125,060/yr $135,928/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $575/wk
+4% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Sydney Crows Nest
0-4 4.4% / 6.0%
North Sydney — 0-4: 4.4% Crows Nest — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 6.2% / 7.6%
North Sydney — 5-14: 6.2% Crows Nest — 5-14: 7.6%
15-19 3.2% / 3.0%
North Sydney — 15-19: 3.2% Crows Nest — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 5.7% / 5.1%
North Sydney — 20-24: 5.7% Crows Nest — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 26.3% / 23.9%
North Sydney — 25-34: 26.3% Crows Nest — 25-34: 23.9%
35-44 19.4% / 21.4%
North Sydney — 35-44: 19.4% Crows Nest — 35-44: 21.4%
45-54 11.3% / 13.4%
North Sydney — 45-54: 11.3% Crows Nest — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 9.4% / 9.3%
North Sydney — 55-64: 9.4% Crows Nest — 55-64: 9.3%
65-74 6.9% / 6.6%
North Sydney — 65-74: 6.9% Crows Nest — 65-74: 6.6%
75-84 5.2% / 2.8%
North Sydney — 75-84: 5.2% Crows Nest — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 2.1% / 0.9%
North Sydney — 85+: 2.1% Crows Nest — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Sydney 60.7% lone person
North Sydney — Lone Person: 60.7% North Sydney — Couple Families: 22.2% North Sydney — One Parent Families: 8.0% North Sydney — Group Household: 7.5% North Sydney — Other Families: 1.6%
Crows Nest 54.5% lone person
Crows Nest — Lone Person: 54.5% Crows Nest — Couple Families: 29.3% Crows Nest — One Parent Families: 8.3% Crows Nest — Group Household: 6.7% Crows Nest — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Sydney 62.6% renting
North Sydney — Owned Outright: 19.4% North Sydney — Mortgage: 18.0% North Sydney — Renting: 62.6%
Crows Nest 55.0% renting
Crows Nest — Owned Outright: 20.4% Crows Nest — Mortgage: 24.6% Crows Nest — Renting: 55.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Sydney Crows Nest
Bachelor Degree 32.3% / 32.4%
North Sydney — Bachelor Degree: 32.3% Crows Nest — Bachelor Degree: 32.4%
Postgraduate Degree 18.0% / 15.6%
North Sydney — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0% Crows Nest — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.0%
North Sydney — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Crows Nest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.2% / 5.0%
North Sydney — Certificate III & IV: 4.2% Crows Nest — Certificate III & IV: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.6%
North Sydney — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Crows Nest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.4%).

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.

North Sydney Crows Nest
England 5.4% / 5.6%
North Sydney — England: 5.4% Crows Nest — England: 5.6%
China 5.8% / 3.1%
North Sydney — China: 5.8% Crows Nest — China: 3.1%
India 4.6% / 2.3%
North Sydney — India: 4.6% Crows Nest — India: 2.3%
New Zealand 2.4% / 3.2%
North Sydney — New Zealand: 2.4% Crows Nest — New Zealand: 3.2%
Philippines 1.6% / 1.5%
North Sydney — Philippines: 1.6% Crows Nest — Philippines: 1.5%
Japan 1.2% / 1.8%
North Sydney — Japan: 1.2% Crows Nest — Japan: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Sydney 85.1% flats / apartments
North Sydney — Flats / Apartments: 85.1% North Sydney — Townhouses: 8.9% North Sydney — Houses: 6.0%
Crows Nest 62.5% flats / apartments
Crows Nest — Flats / Apartments: 62.5% Crows Nest — Townhouses: 26.3% Crows Nest — Houses: 11.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

North Sydney Crows Nest
Median house price $3,200,000 $2,777,000
Median unit price $1,045,000 $974,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 15 sales
 22 days
from 14 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 Sydney Crows Nest
2 bed $2.9M / $2.58M
North Sydney — 2 bed: $2.9M (5 sales) Crows Nest — 2 bed: $2.58M (12 sales)

5 vs 12 sales

3 bed $3.03M / $3.02M
North Sydney — 3 bed: $3.03M (10 sales) Crows Nest — 3 bed: $3.02M (19 sales)

10 vs 19 sales

4 bed $3.97M / $3.14M
North Sydney — 4 bed: $3.97M (6 sales) Crows Nest — 4 bed: $3.14M (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.

North Sydney Crows Nest
1 bed $750K / $740K
North Sydney — 1 bed: $750K (111 sales) Crows Nest — 1 bed: $740K (44 sales)

111 vs 44 sales

2 bed $1.31M / $1.3M
North Sydney — 2 bed: $1.31M (99 sales) Crows Nest — 2 bed: $1.3M (38 sales)

99 vs 38 sales

3 bed $2.2M / $1.3M
North Sydney — 3 bed: $2.2M (27 sales) Crows Nest — 3 bed: $1.3M (8 sales)

27 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

North Sydney Crows Nest
Residential 37% 77%
Infrastructure and transport 39% 16%
Commercial 12% 3%
Parks and recreation 11% 4%
Planning zones cover 99% of North Sydney and 100% of Crows Nest. 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

North Sydney Crows Nest
New dwellings approved 455
across North Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year -69%
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 Sydney Crows Nest
Houses 2.9%
$1,550/wk on $2.77M
 3.1%
$1,200/wk on $2M
Units 5.4%
$850/wk on $825K
 3.2%
$750/wk on $1.2M

Ranking within NSW

North Sydney Crows Nest
House price Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Schools Higher than 35% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW

Liveability

Crows Nest scores higher overall (84 vs 76).

North Sydney Crows Nest
Grade A
same for both
Score 76/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Crows Nest carries more crime risk (79 vs 60).

North Sydney Crows Nest
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
60/100
 High
79/100
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

North Sydney Crows Nest
Inside the suburb 11 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 5 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 1.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 2.1%

Schools in North Sydney

  • North Sydney Boys High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Cammeraygal High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Marist Catholic College North Shore Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College Independent · Secondary at peers
  • North Sydney Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Wenona School Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Crows Nest

  • North Sydney Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Sydney Crows Nest
Supermarkets 6 3
Cafes & restaurants 104 35
Parks & reserves 16 5
Childcare 14 8
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 5 4
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 2
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Crows Nest sits further from the CBD (6.3 km vs 4.3 km).

North Sydney Crows Nest
Walkability score 100/100 97/100
Distance to Sydney 4.3 km 6.3 km
+47% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 12 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 534.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 273.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.6%
postcode 2060
 3.8%
postcode 2065
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 2060
 8
postcode 2065

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 Sydney Crows Nest
Worked from Home 68.7% / 66.3%
North Sydney — Worked from Home: 68.7% Crows Nest — Worked from Home: 66.3%
Car (driver) 13.3% / 16.6%
North Sydney — Car (driver): 13.3% Crows Nest — Car (driver): 16.6%
Walked Only 7.8% / 8.4%
North Sydney — Walked Only: 7.8% Crows Nest — Walked Only: 8.4%
Train 6.1% / 2.8%
North Sydney — Train: 6.1% Crows Nest — Train: 2.8%
Bus 2.0% / 4.2%
North Sydney — Bus: 2.0% Crows Nest — Bus: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.7%).

Setting

North Sydney Crows Nest
Elevation 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 98 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km
1.0 km to a named beach
 4.3 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Sydney Crows Nest
Connectivity score 73/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
10,586 premises
 15%
3,999 premises

Climate

North Sydney Crows Nest
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 Sydney Crows Nest
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 Sydney Crows Nest
Average residential rate $1,035/yr
same for both
Council North Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

North Sydney Crows Nest
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Sydney Crows Nest
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Sydney

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Crows Nest

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Sydney

North Sydney vs Neutral Bay North Sydney vs Wollstonecraft North Sydney vs Cammeray North Sydney vs Kirribilli North Sydney vs Waverton North Sydney vs Milsons Point

Other comparisons with Crows Nest

Crows Nest vs Wollstonecraft Crows Nest vs St Leonards Crows Nest vs Cammeray Crows Nest vs Naremburn
Full data on North Sydney Full data on Crows Nest
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.

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