Queenscliff vs North Manly

Queenscliff is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 40 in North Manly. In Queenscliff, about half of households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In North Manly, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Queenscliff: a median of $4.33 million, against $3.25 million in North Manly. On these figures, Queenscliff tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while North Manly suits families with children, couples, and 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

North Manly

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 17%)
  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 43%)

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

First-home buyers

North Manly

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($3,250,000 vs $4,327,500)
  • has cheaper units ($1,030,000 vs $1,295,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Queenscliff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 22%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Queenscliff

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (83% vs 18%)

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

Investors

North Manly

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.9% vs 0.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Queenscliff North Manly
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.

Queenscliff North Manly
Walkability 85 / 85
Queenscliff — Walkability: 85/100 North Manly — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 77 / 76
Queenscliff — Safety: 77/100 North Manly — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Queenscliff — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Manly — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Manly skews older (40 vs 36).

Queenscliff North Manly
Population 3,407 3,396
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +9.9%
Median age 36 40
Median household income $150,956/yr $164,788/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $650/wk $675/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Queenscliff North Manly
0-4 5.9% / 5.0%
Queenscliff — 0-4: 5.9% North Manly — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 6.8% / 17.7%
Queenscliff — 5-14: 6.8% North Manly — 5-14: 17.7%
15-19 3.6% / 7.7%
Queenscliff — 15-19: 3.6% North Manly — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 4.6% / 4.4%
Queenscliff — 20-24: 4.6% North Manly — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 26.4% / 9.1%
Queenscliff — 25-34: 26.4% North Manly — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 18.8% / 14.0%
Queenscliff — 35-44: 18.8% North Manly — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 12.2% / 18.0%
Queenscliff — 45-54: 12.2% North Manly — 45-54: 18.0%
55-64 11.1% / 10.3%
Queenscliff — 55-64: 11.1% North Manly — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 6.4% / 7.6%
Queenscliff — 65-74: 6.4% North Manly — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 3.2% / 4.3%
Queenscliff — 75-84: 3.2% North Manly — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.3% / 2.2%
Queenscliff — 85+: 1.3% North Manly — 85+: 2.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Queenscliff 33.6% couple families
Queenscliff — Couple Families: 33.6% Queenscliff — Lone Person: 42.5% Queenscliff — One Parent Families: 9.6% Queenscliff — Group Household: 12.4% Queenscliff — Other Families: 1.9%
North Manly 63.1% couple families
North Manly — Couple Families: 63.1% North Manly — Lone Person: 20.4% North Manly — One Parent Families: 12.5% North Manly — Group Household: 3.0% North Manly — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Queenscliff 45.9% renting
Queenscliff — Owned Outright: 26.5% Queenscliff — Mortgage: 27.6% Queenscliff — Renting: 45.9%
North Manly 22.0% renting
North Manly — Owned Outright: 34.5% North Manly — Mortgage: 43.5% North Manly — Renting: 22.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Queenscliff North Manly
Bachelor Degree 31.4% / 20.1%
Queenscliff — Bachelor Degree: 31.4% North Manly — Bachelor Degree: 20.1%
Postgraduate Degree 11.1% / 7.4%
Queenscliff — Postgraduate Degree: 11.1% North Manly — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.4%
Queenscliff — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% North Manly — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Certificate III & IV 7.8% / 8.1%
Queenscliff — Certificate III & IV: 7.8% North Manly — Certificate III & IV: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 1.9%
Queenscliff — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% North Manly — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.4%).

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.

Queenscliff North Manly
England 11.2% / 7.2%
Queenscliff — England: 11.2% North Manly — England: 7.2%
New Zealand 2.9% / 2.8%
Queenscliff — New Zealand: 2.9% North Manly — New Zealand: 2.8%
Brazil 2.6% / 1.0%
Queenscliff — Brazil: 2.6% North Manly — Brazil: 1.0%
Italy 1.1% / 1.8%
Queenscliff — Italy: 1.1% North Manly — Italy: 1.8%
South Africa 1.4% / 1.4%
Queenscliff — South Africa: 1.4% North Manly — South Africa: 1.4%
Germany 1.3% / 1.1%
Queenscliff — Germany: 1.3% North Manly — Germany: 1.1%
France 1.3% / —
Queenscliff — France: 1.3% North Manly — France: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Queenscliff 17.0% houses
Queenscliff — Houses: 17.0% Queenscliff — Flats / Apartments: 80.1% Queenscliff — Townhouses: 2.9%
North Manly 81.6% houses
North Manly — Houses: 81.6% North Manly — Flats / Apartments: 11.5% North Manly — Townhouses: 6.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Queenscliff North Manly
Median house price $4,327,500 $3,250,000
Median unit price $1,295,000 $1,030,000
Median land price — $1,750,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 50 days
from 5 sales
 26 days
from 16 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.

Queenscliff North Manly
3 bed $4.05M / $2.95M
Queenscliff — 3 bed: $4.05M (5 sales) North Manly — 3 bed: $2.95M (15 sales)

5 vs 15 sales

4 bed $4.18M / $3.45M
Queenscliff — 4 bed: $4.18M (7 sales) North Manly — 4 bed: $3.45M (23 sales)

7 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Queenscliff North Manly
Residential 88% 68%
Parks and recreation 10% 23%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 6%
Industrial 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 99% of Queenscliff and 100% of North Manly. 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

Queenscliff North Manly
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
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.

Queenscliff North Manly
Houses —
same for both
Units 4.8%
$962/wk on $1.05M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Queenscliff North Manly
House price Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 94% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 3% of NSW Higher than 18% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 56% of NSW —

Liveability

Queenscliff North Manly
Grade A+
same for both
Score 93/100 91/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Queenscliff North Manly
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
23/100
 Low
24/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
11/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Queenscliff North Manly
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.3 km
 1
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 2.8%

Amenities in the suburb

Queenscliff North Manly
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 4 5
Childcare 0 3
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Queenscliff North Manly
Walkability score 85/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 16.9 km
+9% vs other
 15.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 28 min 26 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 86.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 128.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2096
 2.0%
postcode 2100
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2096
 33
postcode 2100

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.

Queenscliff North Manly
Worked from Home 63.0% / 54.1%
Queenscliff — Worked from Home: 63.0% North Manly — Worked from Home: 54.1%
Car (driver) 29.9% / 33.8%
Queenscliff — Car (driver): 29.9% North Manly — Car (driver): 33.8%
Bus 2.7% / 3.5%
Queenscliff — Bus: 2.7% North Manly — Bus: 3.5%
Walked Only 2.0% / 3.2%
Queenscliff — Walked Only: 2.0% North Manly — Walked Only: 3.2%
Car (passenger) 1.0% / 3.5%
Queenscliff — Car (passenger): 1.0% North Manly — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Bicycle 1.4% / 1.7%
Queenscliff — Bicycle: 1.4% North Manly — Bicycle: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.0%).

Setting

Queenscliff North Manly
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 392 m
525 m to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Queenscliff North Manly
Connectivity score 80/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
1,820 premises
 54%
1,220 premises

Climate

Queenscliff North Manly
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Queenscliff North Manly
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

Queenscliff North Manly
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Queenscliff North Manly
Division Warringah
same for both
Member Zali Steggall
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Queenscliff North Manly
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Queenscliff

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub Urban

North Manly

Coastal Easy Commute Family Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Queenscliff

Queenscliff vs Manly Queenscliff vs Freshwater

Other comparisons with North Manly

North Manly vs Manly North Manly vs Freshwater North Manly vs Allambie Heights North Manly vs Manly Vale North Manly vs Brookvale North Manly vs Curl Curl
Full data on Queenscliff Full data on North Manly
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