Paddington vs Woollahra

Paddington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Woollahra. In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Paddington, about half of households rent. In Woollahra, most households own their home and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Woollahra: a median of $4.47 million, against $3.44 million in Paddington. Paddington is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 5.8 km. On these figures, Paddington 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

Woollahra

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (18% vs 7%)
  • carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 57/100)
  • But Paddington has more parks and reserves (18 vs 14)

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

First-home buyers

Paddington

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($3,440,000 vs $4,467,500)
  • has cheaper units ($1,305,000 vs $1,572,000)

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

Woollahra

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 15%)
  • carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 57/100)
  • But Paddington has more units and townhouses to downsize into (94% vs 82%)

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

Investors

Woollahra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.1% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Paddington Woollahra
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.

Paddington Woollahra
Walkability 96 / 96
Paddington — Walkability: 96/100 Woollahra — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 43 / 54
Paddington — Safety: 43/100 Woollahra — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Paddington — Low fire risk: 100/100 Woollahra — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Paddington has more residents (12,701 vs 7,189); Woollahra skews older (42 vs 38).

Paddington Woollahra
Population 12,701
+43% vs other
 7,189
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.6% -2.9%
Median age 38 42
Median household income $162,812/yr
+4% vs other
 $156,676/yr
Median weekly rent $650/wk $670/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Paddington Woollahra
0-4 4.7% / 5.0%
Paddington — 0-4: 4.7% Woollahra — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 8.4% / 10.3%
Paddington — 5-14: 8.4% Woollahra — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 3.5% / 4.1%
Paddington — 15-19: 3.5% Woollahra — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 6.2% / 4.9%
Paddington — 20-24: 6.2% Woollahra — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 21.7% / 15.9%
Paddington — 25-34: 21.7% Woollahra — 25-34: 15.9%
35-44 16.0% / 13.7%
Paddington — 35-44: 16.0% Woollahra — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 13.7% / 12.3%
Paddington — 45-54: 13.7% Woollahra — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 10.5% / 10.7%
Paddington — 55-64: 10.5% Woollahra — 55-64: 10.7%
65-74 8.1% / 11.0%
Paddington — 65-74: 8.1% Woollahra — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 5.3% / 8.2%
Paddington — 75-84: 5.3% Woollahra — 75-84: 8.2%
85+ 1.9% / 4.0%
Paddington — 85+: 1.9% Woollahra — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Paddington 50.9% lone person
Paddington — Lone Person: 50.9% Paddington — Couple Families: 27.9% Paddington — Group Household: 11.5% Paddington — One Parent Families: 8.6% Paddington — Other Families: 1.1%
Woollahra 46.1% lone person
Woollahra — Lone Person: 46.1% Woollahra — Couple Families: 31.9% Woollahra — Group Household: 8.8% Woollahra — One Parent Families: 11.3% Woollahra — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Paddington 45.9% renting
Paddington — Owned Outright: 27.9% Paddington — Mortgage: 26.2% Paddington — Renting: 45.9%
Woollahra 36.8% renting
Woollahra — Owned Outright: 37.6% Woollahra — Mortgage: 25.6% Woollahra — Renting: 36.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Paddington Woollahra
Bachelor Degree 34.7% / 32.1%
Paddington — Bachelor Degree: 34.7% Woollahra — Bachelor Degree: 32.1%
Postgraduate Degree 15.7% / 14.5%
Paddington — Postgraduate Degree: 15.7% Woollahra — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 6.6%
Paddington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Woollahra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Certificate III & IV 3.5% / 3.5%
Paddington — Certificate III & IV: 3.5% Woollahra — Certificate III & IV: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.6%
Paddington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Woollahra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.7%).

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.

Paddington Woollahra
England 8.0% / 6.7%
Paddington — England: 8.0% Woollahra — England: 6.7%
New Zealand 3.5% / 2.9%
Paddington — New Zealand: 3.5% Woollahra — New Zealand: 2.9%
South Africa 1.2% / 2.8%
Paddington — South Africa: 1.2% Woollahra — South Africa: 2.8%
France 0.9% / 0.8%
Paddington — France: 0.9% Woollahra — France: 0.8%
China — / 1.6%
Paddington — China: not among its largest Woollahra — China: 1.6%
Ireland 0.8% / —
Paddington — Ireland: 0.8% Woollahra — Ireland: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.8%
Paddington — Philippines: not among its largest Woollahra — Philippines: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Paddington 60.5% townhouses
Paddington — Townhouses: 60.5% Paddington — Flats / Apartments: 33.0% Paddington — Houses: 6.6%
Woollahra 31.1% townhouses
Woollahra — Townhouses: 31.1% Woollahra — Flats / Apartments: 51.1% Woollahra — Houses: 17.8%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Paddington Woollahra
Median house price $3,440,000 $4,467,500
Median unit price $1,305,000 $1,572,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 108 sales
 24 days
from 54 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.

Paddington Woollahra
1 bed $714K / $942K
Paddington — 1 bed: $714K (42 sales) Woollahra — 1 bed: $942K (6 sales)

42 vs 6 sales

2 bed $1.42M / $1.48M
Paddington — 2 bed: $1.42M (47 sales) Woollahra — 2 bed: $1.48M (46 sales)

47 vs 46 sales

3 bed $2.85M / $2.62M
Paddington — 3 bed: $2.85M (7 sales) Woollahra — 3 bed: $2.62M (15 sales)

7 vs 15 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.

Paddington Woollahra
2 bed $2.48M / $2.74M
Paddington — 2 bed: $2.48M (51 sales) Woollahra — 2 bed: $2.74M (14 sales)

51 vs 14 sales

3 bed $3.56M / $3.97M
Paddington — 3 bed: $3.56M (102 sales) Woollahra — 3 bed: $3.97M (17 sales)

102 vs 17 sales

4 bed $4.96M / $5.1M
Paddington — 4 bed: $4.96M (42 sales) Woollahra — 4 bed: $5.1M (31 sales)

42 vs 31 sales

5 bed $7M / $7.53M
Paddington — 5 bed: $7M (6 sales) Woollahra — 5 bed: $7.53M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Paddington Woollahra
Residential 74% 87%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 4%
Parks and recreation 12% 8%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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

Paddington Woollahra
New dwellings approved 222
across Woollahra
same for both
Approvals change year on year -21%
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.

Paddington Woollahra
Houses 2.8%
$1,750/wk on $3.2M
 3.2%
$2,000/wk on $3.2M
Units 3.1%
$652/wk on $1.1M
 4.1%
$1,035/wk on $1.3M

Ranking within NSW

Paddington Woollahra
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Income Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Schools Higher than 34% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 12% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW

Liveability

Woollahra scores higher overall (92 vs 71).

Paddington Woollahra
Grade A A+
Score 71/100 92/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Paddington carries more crime risk (57 vs 46).

Paddington Woollahra
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
46/100
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 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Paddington Woollahra
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.5 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 2.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.5%

Schools in Paddington

  • Glenmore Road Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Francis of Assisi Regional Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Paddington Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Grammar School - Edgecliff Preparatory School Independent · Primary

Schools in Woollahra

  • Reddam House Independent · Combined above peers
  • Woollahra Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Paddington Woollahra
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 41 12
Parks & reserves 18 14
Childcare 7 6
GPs 3
same for both
Pharmacies 2 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Paddington Woollahra
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 4.6 km 5.8 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 13 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 285.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 120.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 2021
 4.2%
postcode 2025
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 6
postcode 2021
 7
postcode 2025

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.

Paddington Woollahra
Worked from Home 68.5% / 67.7%
Paddington — Worked from Home: 68.5% Woollahra — Worked from Home: 67.7%
Car (driver) 14.7% / 18.8%
Paddington — Car (driver): 14.7% Woollahra — Car (driver): 18.8%
Walked Only 8.6% / 5.3%
Paddington — Walked Only: 8.6% Woollahra — Walked Only: 5.3%
Train 1.7% / 4.0%
Paddington — Train: 1.7% Woollahra — Train: 4.0%
Bus 3.7% / 1.6%
Paddington — Bus: 3.7% Woollahra — Bus: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 1.5% / 1.8%
Paddington — Car (passenger): 1.5% Woollahra — Car (passenger): 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.5%).

Setting

Paddington Woollahra
Elevation 59 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 2.9 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Paddington Woollahra
Connectivity score 74/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
7,731 premises
 0%
4,034 premises

Climate

Paddington Woollahra
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)

Paddington Woollahra
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

Paddington Woollahra
Average residential rate $1,812/yr
same for both
Council Woollahra
same for both

Federal electorate

Paddington Woollahra
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Paddington Woollahra
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Paddington

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Woollahra

Apartments Beach Coastal Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Paddington

Paddington vs Surry Hills Paddington vs Darlinghurst Paddington vs Edgecliff Paddington vs Rushcutters Bay Paddington vs Centennial Park

Other comparisons with Woollahra

Woollahra vs Bellevue Hill Woollahra vs Bondi Junction Woollahra vs Double Bay Woollahra vs Edgecliff Woollahra vs Centennial Park
Full data on Paddington Full data on Woollahra
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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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