Potts Point vs Rushcutters Bay

In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and the large majority of households are people living alone. Potts Point is closer to the city centre: 3.3 km, against 4.6 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

  • Potts Point has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)
  • Rushcutters Bay carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 93/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Potts Point leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 32%)
  • Rushcutters Bay has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $4,140,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rushcutters Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $490/wk)

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

Rushcutters Bay

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 93/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 13%)
  • But Potts Point has more GPs (4 vs 0)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Potts Point returns a higher gross yield on units (4.5% vs 3.5%)
  • Rushcutters Bay is growing faster (-8.3% vs -23.8%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Potts Point and Rushcutters 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.

Potts Point Rushcutters 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.

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Walkability 96 / 96
Potts Point — Walkability: 96/100 Rushcutters Bay — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 7 / 41
Potts Point — Safety: 7/100 Rushcutters Bay — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Potts Point — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rushcutters Bay — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Potts Point has more residents (7,183 vs 2,335).

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Population 7,183
+67% vs other
 2,335
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -23.8% -8.3%
Median age 37 38
Median household income $106,808/yr
+9% vs other
 $97,604/yr
Median weekly rent $490/wk
+8% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
0-4 1.2% / 2.6%
Potts Point — 0-4: 1.2% Rushcutters Bay — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 1.3% / 3.0%
Potts Point — 5-14: 1.3% Rushcutters Bay — 5-14: 3.0%
15-19 1.7% / 0.7%
Potts Point — 15-19: 1.7% Rushcutters Bay — 15-19: 0.7%
20-24 7.5% / 4.1%
Potts Point — 20-24: 7.5% Rushcutters Bay — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 31.5% / 29.0%
Potts Point — 25-34: 31.5% Rushcutters Bay — 25-34: 29.0%
35-44 19.4% / 20.7%
Potts Point — 35-44: 19.4% Rushcutters Bay — 35-44: 20.7%
45-54 13.9% / 11.0%
Potts Point — 45-54: 13.9% Rushcutters Bay — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 10.6% / 10.3%
Potts Point — 55-64: 10.6% Rushcutters Bay — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 8.1% / 8.5%
Potts Point — 65-74: 8.1% Rushcutters Bay — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 3.8% / 6.0%
Potts Point — 75-84: 3.8% Rushcutters Bay — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 1.0% / 4.1%
Potts Point — 85+: 1.0% Rushcutters Bay — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Potts Point 84.6% lone person
Potts Point — Lone Person: 84.6% Potts Point — Group Household: 7.6% Potts Point — Couple Families: 4.5% Potts Point — One Parent Families: 2.6% Potts Point — Other Families: 0.7%
Rushcutters Bay 80.2% lone person
Rushcutters Bay — Lone Person: 80.2% Rushcutters Bay — Group Household: 7.7% Rushcutters Bay — Couple Families: 7.9% Rushcutters Bay — One Parent Families: 3.9% Rushcutters Bay — Other Families: 0.4%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Potts Point 66.2% renting
Potts Point — Owned Outright: 17.7% Potts Point — Mortgage: 16.0% Potts Point — Renting: 66.2%
Rushcutters Bay 64.7% renting
Rushcutters Bay — Owned Outright: 18.3% Rushcutters Bay — Mortgage: 16.9% Rushcutters Bay — Renting: 64.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Bachelor Degree 32.5% / 34.0%
Potts Point — Bachelor Degree: 32.5% Rushcutters Bay — Bachelor Degree: 34.0%
Postgraduate Degree 14.8% / 15.5%
Potts Point — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8% Rushcutters Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 15.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.7%
Potts Point — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Rushcutters Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.7% / 5.8%
Potts Point — Certificate III & IV: 6.7% Rushcutters Bay — Certificate III & IV: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 3.6%
Potts Point — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Rushcutters Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.0%).

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.

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
England 5.8% / 6.6%
Potts Point — England: 5.8% Rushcutters Bay — England: 6.6%
New Zealand 4.1% / 3.8%
Potts Point — New Zealand: 4.1% Rushcutters Bay — New Zealand: 3.8%
France 1.4% / 1.2%
Potts Point — France: 1.4% Rushcutters Bay — France: 1.2%
Brazil 1.2% / 1.4%
Potts Point — Brazil: 1.2% Rushcutters Bay — Brazil: 1.4%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.3%
Potts Point — South Africa: 1.0% Rushcutters Bay — South Africa: 1.3%
China 1.1% / 1.2%
Potts Point — China: 1.1% Rushcutters Bay — China: 1.2%
Thailand 1.3% / —
Potts Point — Thailand: 1.3% Rushcutters Bay — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Potts Point 89.0% flats / apartments
Potts Point — Flats / Apartments: 89.0% Potts Point — Townhouses: 10.8% Potts Point — Houses: 0.2%
Rushcutters Bay 98.9% flats / apartments
Rushcutters Bay — Flats / Apartments: 98.9% Rushcutters Bay — Townhouses: 0.6% Rushcutters Bay — Houses: 0.5%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Median house price $4,140,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price $920,000 $860,000
Median land price —
same for both

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
1 bed $800K / $715K
Potts Point — 1 bed: $800K (221 sales) Rushcutters Bay — 1 bed: $715K (78 sales)

221 vs 78 sales

2 bed $1.65M / $1.7M
Potts Point — 2 bed: $1.65M (77 sales) Rushcutters Bay — 2 bed: $1.7M (39 sales)

77 vs 39 sales

3 bed $4.85M / $2.05M
Potts Point — 3 bed: $4.85M (13 sales) Rushcutters Bay — 3 bed: $2.05M (10 sales)

13 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Residential 38% 63%
Infrastructure and transport 48% 3%
Parks and recreation 0% 32%
Commercial 10% 1%
Planning zones cover 96% of Potts Point and 99% of Rushcutters 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

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
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.

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Houses —
same for both
Units 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K
 3.5%
$655/wk on $982K

Ranking within NSW

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
House price Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 64% of NSW
Income Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 42% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW

Liveability

Rushcutters Bay scores higher overall (87 vs 78).

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Grade A
same for both
Score 78/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Potts Point carries more crime risk (93 vs 59).

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
59/100
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 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 1.5 km
 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 1.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 1.1%

Schools in Potts Point

  • St Vincent's College Independent · Secondary at peers

Schools in Rushcutters Bay

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 80 6
Parks & reserves 4 1
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 6 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0

Mobility

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 3.3 km 4.6 km
+39% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 11 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 81.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.4%
postcode 2011
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 1
postcode 2011
same for both

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.

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Worked from Home 61.9% / 65.5%
Potts Point — Worked from Home: 61.9% Rushcutters Bay — Worked from Home: 65.5%
Walked Only 14.1% / 12.5%
Potts Point — Walked Only: 14.1% Rushcutters Bay — Walked Only: 12.5%
Car (driver) 10.2% / 10.6%
Potts Point — Car (driver): 10.2% Rushcutters Bay — Car (driver): 10.6%
Train 9.5% / 8.1%
Potts Point — Train: 9.5% Rushcutters Bay — Train: 8.1%
Bus 1.7% / 1.7%
Potts Point — Bus: 1.7% Rushcutters Bay — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.5%).

Setting

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.7 km
1.9 km to a named beach
 4.2 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Connectivity score 73/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
6,209 premises
 7%
2,106 premises

Climate

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
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)

Potts Point Rushcutters 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

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Potts Point Rushcutters Bay
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Potts Point

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Trains Transport Hub Urban

Rushcutters Bay

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Potts Point

Potts Point vs Darlinghurst Potts Point vs Elizabeth Bay Potts Point vs Woolloomooloo

Other comparisons with Rushcutters Bay

Rushcutters Bay vs Paddington Rushcutters Bay vs Darlinghurst Rushcutters Bay vs Elizabeth Bay Rushcutters Bay vs Darling Point Rushcutters Bay vs Edgecliff
Full data on Potts Point Full data on Rushcutters 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.

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