Redfern vs Waterloo

Waterloo is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 36 in Redfern. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Redfern is closer to the city centre: 4.5 km, against 6.2 km. On these figures, Waterloo tends to suit renters and young adults.

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

Waterloo

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (20 vs 16)

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

First-home buyers

Waterloo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,710,000 vs $2,100,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Waterloo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (75% vs 64%)

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

Redfern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)

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

Investors

Waterloo

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (12.1% vs -1.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 3.9%)
  • But Redfern returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Redfern Waterloo
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.

Redfern Waterloo
Walkability 100 / 99
Redfern — Walkability: 100/100 Waterloo — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 6 / 11
Redfern — Safety: 6/100 Waterloo — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Redfern — Low fire risk: 100/100 Waterloo — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Waterloo has more residents (16,379 vs 13,072); Redfern skews older (36 vs 33).

Redfern Waterloo
Population 13,072 16,379
+25% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.1% +12.1%
Median age 36 33
Median household income $111,540/yr
+5% vs other
 $105,456/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk $530/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Redfern Waterloo
0-4 3.5% / 4.2%
Redfern — 0-4: 3.5% Waterloo — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 4.7% / 3.6%
Redfern — 5-14: 4.7% Waterloo — 5-14: 3.6%
15-19 2.0% / 1.8%
Redfern — 15-19: 2.0% Waterloo — 15-19: 1.8%
20-24 8.2% / 9.6%
Redfern — 20-24: 8.2% Waterloo — 20-24: 9.6%
25-34 27.4% / 35.6%
Redfern — 25-34: 27.4% Waterloo — 25-34: 35.6%
35-44 17.5% / 18.5%
Redfern — 35-44: 17.5% Waterloo — 35-44: 18.5%
45-54 12.6% / 8.8%
Redfern — 45-54: 12.6% Waterloo — 45-54: 8.8%
55-64 10.6% / 7.5%
Redfern — 55-64: 10.6% Waterloo — 55-64: 7.5%
65-74 7.5% / 5.8%
Redfern — 65-74: 7.5% Waterloo — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 4.4% / 3.3%
Redfern — 75-84: 4.4% Waterloo — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 1.6% / 1.3%
Redfern — 85+: 1.6% Waterloo — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (35.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Redfern 58.4% lone person
Redfern — Lone Person: 58.4% Redfern — Group Household: 17.6% Redfern — Couple Families: 15.8% Redfern — One Parent Families: 6.3% Redfern — Other Families: 2.0%
Waterloo 58.2% lone person
Waterloo — Lone Person: 58.2% Waterloo — Group Household: 18.4% Waterloo — Couple Families: 13.5% Waterloo — One Parent Families: 7.9% Waterloo — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Redfern 63.8% renting
Redfern — Owned Outright: 15.1% Redfern — Mortgage: 21.0% Redfern — Renting: 63.8%
Waterloo 75.2% renting
Waterloo — Owned Outright: 6.4% Waterloo — Mortgage: 18.4% Waterloo — Renting: 75.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Redfern Waterloo
Bachelor Degree 29.2% / 28.6%
Redfern — Bachelor Degree: 29.2% Waterloo — Bachelor Degree: 28.6%
Postgraduate Degree 13.1% / 13.1%
Redfern — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1% Waterloo — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 8.2%
Redfern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Waterloo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 5.9% / 6.7%
Redfern — Certificate III & IV: 5.9% Waterloo — Certificate III & IV: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.2%
Redfern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Waterloo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.2%).

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.

Redfern Waterloo
China 4.3% / 11.5%
Redfern — China: 4.3% Waterloo — China: 11.5%
England 4.8% / 5.6%
Redfern — England: 4.8% Waterloo — England: 5.6%
New Zealand 3.0% / 2.6%
Redfern — New Zealand: 3.0% Waterloo — New Zealand: 2.6%
Ireland 0.9% / 2.3%
Redfern — Ireland: 0.9% Waterloo — Ireland: 2.3%
India 1.4% / 1.6%
Redfern — India: 1.4% Waterloo — India: 1.6%
Brazil — / 1.8%
Redfern — Brazil: not among its largest Waterloo — Brazil: 1.8%
Thailand 1.2% / —
Redfern — Thailand: 1.2% Waterloo — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Redfern 70.0% flats / apartments
Redfern — Flats / Apartments: 70.0% Redfern — Townhouses: 28.6% Redfern — Houses: 1.4%
Waterloo 91.4% flats / apartments
Waterloo — Flats / Apartments: 91.4% Waterloo — Townhouses: 8.1% Waterloo — Houses: 0.5%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Redfern Waterloo
Median house price $2,100,000 $1,710,000
Median unit price $980,000 $930,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 80 sales
 20 days
from 13 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.

Redfern Waterloo
2 bed $1.75M / $1.62M
Redfern — 2 bed: $1.75M (47 sales) Waterloo — 2 bed: $1.62M (7 sales)

47 vs 7 sales

3 bed $2.17M / $1.76M
Redfern — 3 bed: $2.17M (46 sales) Waterloo — 3 bed: $1.76M (8 sales)

46 vs 8 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.

Redfern Waterloo
1 bed $745K / $700K
Redfern — 1 bed: $745K (73 sales) Waterloo — 1 bed: $700K (103 sales)

73 vs 103 sales

2 bed $1.19M / $1.03M
Redfern — 2 bed: $1.19M (70 sales) Waterloo — 2 bed: $1.03M (156 sales)

70 vs 156 sales

3 bed $1.56M / $1.34M
Redfern — 3 bed: $1.56M (19 sales) Waterloo — 3 bed: $1.34M (33 sales)

19 vs 33 sales

Zoning mix

Redfern Waterloo
Residential 64% 73%
Commercial 5% 8%
Other and special use 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 7%
Parks and recreation 6%
same for both
Environmental 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 89% of Redfern and 94% of Waterloo. 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

Redfern Waterloo
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.

Redfern Waterloo
Houses 3.4%
$1,225/wk on $1.9M
 2.6%
$935/wk on $1.85M
Units 3.9%
$815/wk on $1.1M
 5.6%
$950/wk on $880K

Ranking within NSW

Redfern Waterloo
House price Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 18% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW

Liveability

Redfern Waterloo
Grade A
same for both
Score 73/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Redfern Waterloo
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
94/100
 High
89/100
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 7
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Redfern Waterloo
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.0 km
 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 4.7%

Schools in Redfern

  • Key College Independent · Secondary · Special school below peers
  • Redfern Jarjum College Independent · Primary · Special school

Schools in Waterloo

  • Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Yudi Gunyi School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Redfern Waterloo
Supermarkets 7 9
Cafes & restaurants 64 67
Parks & reserves 16 20
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 5 3
Pharmacies 4 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2
same for both

Mobility

Redfern Waterloo
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 4.5 km 6.2 km
+38% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min 13 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 386.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 351.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2016
 3.7%
postcode 2017
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 2016
 1
postcode 2017

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.

Redfern Waterloo
Worked from Home 62.7% / 60.5%
Redfern — Worked from Home: 62.7% Waterloo — Worked from Home: 60.5%
Car (driver) 14.5% / 18.6%
Redfern — Car (driver): 14.5% Waterloo — Car (driver): 18.6%
Walked Only 7.9% / 6.6%
Redfern — Walked Only: 7.9% Waterloo — Walked Only: 6.6%
Train 8.0% / 4.3%
Redfern — Train: 8.0% Waterloo — Train: 4.3%
Bus 2.3% / 5.7%
Redfern — Bus: 2.3% Waterloo — Bus: 5.7%
Bicycle 3.0% / 2.6%
Redfern — Bicycle: 3.0% Waterloo — Bicycle: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.7%).

Setting

Redfern Waterloo
Elevation 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.6 km
4.1 km to a named beach
 5.2 km
4.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Redfern Waterloo
Connectivity score 77/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
9,091 premises
 28%
10,571 premises

Climate

Redfern Waterloo
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)

Redfern Waterloo
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.73 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Redfern Waterloo
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Redfern Waterloo
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Redfern Waterloo
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Redfern

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

Waterloo

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Redfern

Redfern vs Surry Hills Redfern vs Alexandria Redfern vs Chippendale Redfern vs Darlington Redfern vs Eveleigh

Other comparisons with Waterloo

Waterloo vs Zetland Waterloo vs Kensington Waterloo vs Alexandria
Full data on Redfern Full data on Waterloo
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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