Petersham vs Dulwich Hill

In both, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Petersham, about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Dulwich Hill, most homes are flats or apartments. Petersham is closer to the city centre: 8 km, against 10 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

Dulwich Hill

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 4)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Petersham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (8 km vs 10 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Petersham has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • Dulwich Hill carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Petersham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.1% vs 2.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Petersham Dulwich Hill
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.

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Walkability 99 / 93
Petersham — Walkability: 99/100 Dulwich Hill — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 36 / 53
Petersham — Safety: 36/100 Dulwich Hill — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Petersham — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dulwich Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Dulwich Hill has more residents (14,046 vs 8,200); Dulwich Hill skews older (38 vs 36).

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Population 8,200 14,046
+71% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.0% +2.4%
Median age 36 38
Median household income $115,284/yr
+6% vs other
 $108,940/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk $470/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Petersham Dulwich Hill
0-4 4.1% / 4.7%
Petersham — 0-4: 4.1% Dulwich Hill — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 8.5% / 9.4%
Petersham — 5-14: 8.5% Dulwich Hill — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 4.5% / 4.4%
Petersham — 15-19: 4.5% Dulwich Hill — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 7.4% / 5.5%
Petersham — 20-24: 7.4% Dulwich Hill — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 22.2% / 19.4%
Petersham — 25-34: 22.2% Dulwich Hill — 25-34: 19.4%
35-44 16.7% / 17.2%
Petersham — 35-44: 16.7% Dulwich Hill — 35-44: 17.2%
45-54 14.8% / 14.6%
Petersham — 45-54: 14.8% Dulwich Hill — 45-54: 14.6%
55-64 10.1% / 11.2%
Petersham — 55-64: 10.1% Dulwich Hill — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 6.8% / 7.0%
Petersham — 65-74: 6.8% Dulwich Hill — 65-74: 7.0%
75-84 3.5% / 4.6%
Petersham — 75-84: 3.5% Dulwich Hill — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 1.3% / 2.0%
Petersham — 85+: 1.3% Dulwich Hill — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Petersham 46.7% lone person
Petersham — Lone Person: 46.7% Petersham — Couple Families: 29.9% Petersham — One Parent Families: 9.8% Petersham — Group Household: 11.7% Petersham — Other Families: 1.8%
Dulwich Hill 45.5% lone person
Dulwich Hill — Lone Person: 45.5% Dulwich Hill — Couple Families: 31.2% Dulwich Hill — One Parent Families: 13.2% Dulwich Hill — Group Household: 8.6% Dulwich Hill — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Petersham 51.6% renting
Petersham — Owned Outright: 19.7% Petersham — Mortgage: 28.7% Petersham — Renting: 51.6%
Dulwich Hill 46.9% renting
Dulwich Hill — Owned Outright: 25.4% Dulwich Hill — Mortgage: 27.7% Dulwich Hill — Renting: 46.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Bachelor Degree 26.4% / 24.4%
Petersham — Bachelor Degree: 26.4% Dulwich Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.4%
Postgraduate Degree 12.2% / 10.4%
Petersham — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2% Dulwich Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 8.4%
Petersham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Dulwich Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.7% / 7.3%
Petersham — Certificate III & IV: 6.7% Dulwich Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 3.6%
Petersham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Dulwich Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

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.

Petersham Dulwich Hill
England 4.5% / 3.5%
Petersham — England: 4.5% Dulwich Hill — England: 3.5%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.8%
Petersham — New Zealand: 2.0% Dulwich Hill — New Zealand: 1.8%
Greece 0.9% / 2.7%
Petersham — Greece: 0.9% Dulwich Hill — Greece: 2.7%
Vietnam 1.0% / 1.9%
Petersham — Vietnam: 1.0% Dulwich Hill — Vietnam: 1.9%
China 1.3% / 1.4%
Petersham — China: 1.3% Dulwich Hill — China: 1.4%
Italy 1.2% / 1.0%
Petersham — Italy: 1.2% Dulwich Hill — Italy: 1.0%
Lebanon — / 1.5%
Petersham — Lebanon: not among its largest Dulwich Hill — Lebanon: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Petersham 51.0% flats / apartments
Petersham — Flats / Apartments: 51.0% Petersham — Houses: 22.5% Petersham — Townhouses: 26.5%
Dulwich Hill 60.3% flats / apartments
Dulwich Hill — Flats / Apartments: 60.3% Dulwich Hill — Houses: 28.8% Dulwich Hill — Townhouses: 10.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Median house price $2,147,500 $2,361,000
Median unit price $897,500 $935,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 36 sales
 24 days
from 76 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.

Petersham Dulwich Hill
1 bed $760K / $745K
Petersham — 1 bed: $760K (59 sales) Dulwich Hill — 1 bed: $745K (55 sales)

59 vs 55 sales

2 bed $1.21M / $990K
Petersham — 2 bed: $1.21M (50 sales) Dulwich Hill — 2 bed: $990K (132 sales)

50 vs 132 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.

Petersham Dulwich Hill
2 bed $1.8M / $1.89M
Petersham — 2 bed: $1.8M (18 sales) Dulwich Hill — 2 bed: $1.89M (20 sales)

18 vs 20 sales

3 bed $2.12M / $2.29M
Petersham — 3 bed: $2.12M (42 sales) Dulwich Hill — 3 bed: $2.29M (68 sales)

42 vs 68 sales

4 bed $2.65M / $2.95M
Petersham — 4 bed: $2.65M (15 sales) Dulwich Hill — 4 bed: $2.95M (28 sales)

15 vs 28 sales

5 bed $3.23M / $3.5M
Petersham — 5 bed: $3.23M (8 sales) Dulwich Hill — 5 bed: $3.5M (6 sales)

8 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Residential 72% 80%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 11%
Commercial 7% 4%
Parks and recreation 6% 4%
Planning zones cover 99% of Petersham and 100% of Dulwich Hill. 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

Petersham Dulwich Hill
New dwellings approved 849
across Inner West
same for both
Approvals change year on year -25%
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.

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Houses 3.1%
$1,200/wk on $2M
 2.5%
$1,100/wk on $2.3M
Units 4.5%
$688/wk on $799K
 4.4%
$692/wk on $825K

Ranking within NSW

Petersham Dulwich Hill
House price Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Income Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 21% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW

Liveability

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Grade A
same for both
Score 81/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Petersham carries more crime risk (64 vs 47).

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
47/100
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 6
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 2.6 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 4.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 2.1%

Schools in Petersham

  • Fort Street High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • NSW School of Languages Government · Secondary
  • Taverners Hill Infants School Government · Primary

Schools in Dulwich Hill

  • Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Dulwich Hill Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Maroun's College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 35 8
Parks & reserves 4 10
Childcare 5 8
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 1 3
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Dulwich Hill sits further from the CBD (10 km vs 8 km).

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Walkability score 99/100 93/100
Distance to Sydney 8 km 10 km
+25% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 19 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 178.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 211.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 2049
 1.8%
postcode 2203
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 12
postcode 2049
 12
postcode 2203

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.

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Worked from Home 62.8% / 60.2%
Petersham — Worked from Home: 62.8% Dulwich Hill — Worked from Home: 60.2%
Car (driver) 21.6% / 27.0%
Petersham — Car (driver): 21.6% Dulwich Hill — Car (driver): 27.0%
Train 6.5% / 4.8%
Petersham — Train: 6.5% Dulwich Hill — Train: 4.8%
Walked Only 3.5% / 2.3%
Petersham — Walked Only: 3.5% Dulwich Hill — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus 2.2% / 2.0%
Petersham — Bus: 2.2% Dulwich Hill — Bus: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.8%).

Setting

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 32 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.0 km 5.4 km

NBN connectivity

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
4,629 premises
 8%
7,282 premises

Climate

Petersham Dulwich Hill
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)

Petersham Dulwich Hill
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Average residential rate $1,342/yr
same for both
Council Inner West
same for both

Federal electorate

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Division Grayndler
same for both
Member Anthony Albanese
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Petersham Dulwich Hill
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Petersham

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Dulwich Hill

Apartments Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Petersham

Petersham vs Marrickville Petersham vs Leichhardt Petersham vs Stanmore Petersham vs Lewisham

Other comparisons with Dulwich Hill

Dulwich Hill vs Marrickville Dulwich Hill vs Ashfield Dulwich Hill vs Earlwood Dulwich Hill vs Summer Hill Dulwich Hill vs Hurlstone Park Dulwich Hill vs Lewisham
Full data on Petersham Full data on Dulwich Hill
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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