North Sydney vs Neutral Bay

In both, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In North Sydney, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In Neutral Bay, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Neutral Bay: a median of $1.15 million, against $1.04 million in North Sydney. North Sydney is closer to the city centre: 4.3 km, against 5.9 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • North Sydney has more schools inside the suburb (11 vs 2)
  • Neutral Bay carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 60/100)

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

First-home buyers

North Sydney

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,045,000 vs $1,150,000)

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

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

Neutral Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 60/100)

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 -3.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

North Sydney and Neutral Bay 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 Neutral Bay
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 Neutral Bay
Walkability 100 / 99
North Sydney — Walkability: 100/100 Neutral Bay — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 40 / 55
North Sydney — Safety: 40/100 Neutral Bay — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Sydney — Low fire risk: 100/100 Neutral Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Neutral Bay skews older (38 vs 36).

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Population 8,964 10,090
+13% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.3% -3.8%
Median age 36 38
Median household income $125,060/yr $127,036/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $575/wk
+4% vs other
 $550/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Sydney Neutral Bay
0-4 4.4% / 5.3%
North Sydney — 0-4: 4.4% Neutral Bay — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 6.2% / 8.0%
North Sydney — 5-14: 6.2% Neutral Bay — 5-14: 8.0%
15-19 3.2% / 3.1%
North Sydney — 15-19: 3.2% Neutral Bay — 15-19: 3.1%
20-24 5.7% / 5.3%
North Sydney — 20-24: 5.7% Neutral Bay — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 26.3% / 22.1%
North Sydney — 25-34: 26.3% Neutral Bay — 25-34: 22.1%
35-44 19.4% / 18.1%
North Sydney — 35-44: 19.4% Neutral Bay — 35-44: 18.1%
45-54 11.3% / 12.1%
North Sydney — 45-54: 11.3% Neutral Bay — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 9.4% / 10.1%
North Sydney — 55-64: 9.4% Neutral Bay — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 6.9% / 8.6%
North Sydney — 65-74: 6.9% Neutral Bay — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 5.2% / 5.1%
North Sydney — 75-84: 5.2% Neutral Bay — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 2.1% / 2.2%
North Sydney — 85+: 2.1% Neutral Bay — 85+: 2.2%

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%
Neutral Bay 54.7% lone person
Neutral Bay — Lone Person: 54.7% Neutral Bay — Couple Families: 25.0% Neutral Bay — One Parent Families: 10.2% Neutral Bay — Group Household: 8.4% Neutral Bay — Other Families: 1.7%
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%
Neutral Bay 53.4% renting
Neutral Bay — Owned Outright: 24.7% Neutral Bay — Mortgage: 21.9% Neutral Bay — Renting: 53.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Bachelor Degree 32.3% / 31.5%
North Sydney — Bachelor Degree: 32.3% Neutral Bay — Bachelor Degree: 31.5%
Postgraduate Degree 18.0% / 13.8%
North Sydney — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0% Neutral Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 9.2%
North Sydney — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Neutral Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.2% / 4.9%
North Sydney — Certificate III & IV: 4.2% Neutral Bay — Certificate III & IV: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.3%
North Sydney — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Neutral Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.3%).

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 Neutral Bay
England 5.4% / 6.5%
North Sydney — England: 5.4% Neutral Bay — England: 6.5%
China 5.8% / 2.6%
North Sydney — China: 5.8% Neutral Bay — China: 2.6%
India 4.6% / 1.7%
North Sydney — India: 4.6% Neutral Bay — India: 1.7%
New Zealand 2.4% / 2.7%
North Sydney — New Zealand: 2.4% Neutral Bay — New Zealand: 2.7%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.7%
North Sydney — South Africa: 1.4% Neutral Bay — South Africa: 1.7%
Philippines 1.6% / 1.2%
North Sydney — Philippines: 1.6% Neutral Bay — Philippines: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.5%).

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%
Neutral Bay 80.9% flats / apartments
Neutral Bay — Flats / Apartments: 80.9% Neutral Bay — Townhouses: 10.8% Neutral Bay — Houses: 8.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Median house price $3,200,000 $2,952,000
Median unit price $1,045,000 $1,150,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 15 sales
 26 days
from 26 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 Neutral Bay
2 bed $2.9M / $1.23M
North Sydney — 2 bed: $2.9M (5 sales) Neutral Bay — 2 bed: $1.23M (10 sales)

5 vs 10 sales

3 bed $3.03M / $3.25M
North Sydney — 3 bed: $3.03M (10 sales) Neutral Bay — 3 bed: $3.25M (27 sales)

10 vs 27 sales

4 bed $3.97M / $3.48M
North Sydney — 4 bed: $3.97M (6 sales) Neutral Bay — 4 bed: $3.48M (16 sales)

6 vs 16 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 Neutral Bay
1 bed $750K / $715K
North Sydney — 1 bed: $750K (111 sales) Neutral Bay — 1 bed: $715K (100 sales)

111 vs 100 sales

2 bed $1.31M / $1.3M
North Sydney — 2 bed: $1.31M (99 sales) Neutral Bay — 2 bed: $1.3M (134 sales)

99 vs 134 sales

3 bed $2.2M / $2.21M
North Sydney — 3 bed: $2.2M (27 sales) Neutral Bay — 3 bed: $2.21M (52 sales)

27 vs 52 sales

Zoning mix

North Sydney has more commercially zoned land (12% vs 0%).

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Residential 37% 82%
Infrastructure and transport 39% 9%
Commercial 12% 0%
Parks and recreation 11% 7%
Planning zones cover 99% of North Sydney and 100% of Neutral Bay. 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 Neutral Bay
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 Neutral Bay
Houses 2.9%
$1,550/wk on $2.77M
 2.8%
$1,435/wk on $2.7M
Units 5.4%
$850/wk on $825K
 3.9%
$825/wk on $1.1M

Ranking within NSW

North Sydney Neutral Bay
House price Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Income Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 88% 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 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 19% of NSW

Liveability

Neutral Bay scores higher overall (91 vs 76).

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Grade A A+
Score 76/100 91/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

North Sydney carries more crime risk (60 vs 45).

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
60/100
 Moderate
45/100
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 Neutral Bay
Inside the suburb 11 2
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, 0.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 2.4%

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 Neutral Bay

  • Neutral Bay Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cameragal Montessori School, Neutral Bay Campus Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Supermarkets 6 3
Cafes & restaurants 104 40
Parks & reserves 16 20
Childcare 14 5
GPs 5 6
Pharmacies 5
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 2
Fuel stations 0 2

Mobility

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 4.3 km 5.9 km
+37% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 11 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 534.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 459.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.6%
postcode 2060
 2.5%
postcode 2089
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 2060
 3
postcode 2089

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 Neutral Bay
Worked from Home 68.7% / 66.3%
North Sydney — Worked from Home: 68.7% Neutral Bay — Worked from Home: 66.3%
Car (driver) 13.3% / 20.5%
North Sydney — Car (driver): 13.3% Neutral Bay — Car (driver): 20.5%
Walked Only 7.8% / 5.2%
North Sydney — Walked Only: 7.8% Neutral Bay — Walked Only: 5.2%
Train 6.1% / 1.5%
North Sydney — Train: 6.1% Neutral Bay — Train: 1.5%
Bus 2.0% / 4.8%
North Sydney — Bus: 2.0% Neutral Bay — Bus: 4.8%

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

Setting

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Elevation 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km
1.0 km to a named beach
 3.2 km
764 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Connectivity score 73/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
10,586 premises
 4%
6,585 premises

Climate

North Sydney Neutral Bay
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 Neutral Bay
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 Neutral Bay
Average residential rate $1,035/yr
same for both
Council North Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

North Sydney Neutral Bay
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Sydney Neutral Bay
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

Neutral Bay

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Sydney

North Sydney vs Wollstonecraft North Sydney vs Cammeray North Sydney vs Crows Nest North Sydney vs Kirribilli North Sydney vs Waverton North Sydney vs Milsons Point

Other comparisons with Neutral Bay

Neutral Bay vs Cremorne Neutral Bay vs Cammeray Neutral Bay vs Kurraba Point
Full data on North Sydney Full data on Neutral Bay
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