Sydney vs Ultimo

In both, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Sydney, most households are people living alone. In Ultimo, about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Sydney: a median of $1.05 million, against $804,000 in Ultimo, and rent is higher there too. Sydney is closer to the city centre: 1.1 km, against 2.6 km. On these figures, Ultimo 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

Sydney

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (36 vs 9)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • But Ultimo carries lower crime risk (88/100 vs 98/100)

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

  • Sydney has cheaper houses ($650,000 vs $1,580,000)
  • Ultimo has cheaper units ($804,000 vs $1,050,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ultimo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $600/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

They split

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

  • Sydney has more GPs (27 vs 1)
  • Ultimo carries lower crime risk (88/100 vs 98/100)

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

  • Sydney is growing faster (-3.4% vs -16.2%)
  • Ultimo returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.0%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sydney Ultimo
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.

Sydney Ultimo
Walkability 100 / 100
Sydney — Walkability: 100/100 Ultimo — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 2 / 12
Sydney — Safety: 2/100 Ultimo — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sydney — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ultimo — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sydney has more residents (16,667 vs 7,410); Sydney has higher household incomes ($115,804 vs $93,860).

Sydney Ultimo
Population 16,667
+56% vs other
 7,410
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.4% -16.2%
Median age 32 30
Median household income $115,804/yr
+19% vs other
 $93,860/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+17% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sydney Ultimo
0-4 2.5% / 3.0%
Sydney — 0-4: 2.5% Ultimo — 0-4: 3.0%
5-14 2.6% / 3.6%
Sydney — 5-14: 2.6% Ultimo — 5-14: 3.6%
15-19 1.8% / 3.6%
Sydney — 15-19: 1.8% Ultimo — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 11.0% / 17.0%
Sydney — 20-24: 11.0% Ultimo — 20-24: 17.0%
25-34 39.3% / 35.8%
Sydney — 25-34: 39.3% Ultimo — 25-34: 35.8%
35-44 20.6% / 17.3%
Sydney — 35-44: 20.6% Ultimo — 35-44: 17.3%
45-54 8.9% / 8.1%
Sydney — 45-54: 8.9% Ultimo — 45-54: 8.1%
55-64 6.2% / 5.2%
Sydney — 55-64: 6.2% Ultimo — 55-64: 5.2%
65-74 4.2% / 3.9%
Sydney — 65-74: 4.2% Ultimo — 65-74: 3.9%
75-84 2.2% / 1.6%
Sydney — 75-84: 2.2% Ultimo — 75-84: 1.6%
85+ 0.7% / 0.8%
Sydney — 85+: 0.7% Ultimo — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (39.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sydney 56.1% lone person
Sydney — Lone Person: 56.1% Sydney — Group Household: 21.0% Sydney — Couple Families: 13.0% Sydney — One Parent Families: 6.2% Sydney — Other Families: 3.8%
Ultimo 50.0% lone person
Ultimo — Lone Person: 50.0% Ultimo — Group Household: 24.6% Ultimo — Couple Families: 14.6% Ultimo — One Parent Families: 7.0% Ultimo — Other Families: 3.8%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sydney 74.8% renting
Sydney — Owned Outright: 13.8% Sydney — Mortgage: 11.4% Sydney — Renting: 74.8%
Ultimo 73.4% renting
Ultimo — Owned Outright: 13.4% Ultimo — Mortgage: 13.2% Ultimo — Renting: 73.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sydney Ultimo
Bachelor Degree 31.3% / 29.2%
Sydney — Bachelor Degree: 31.3% Ultimo — Bachelor Degree: 29.2%
Postgraduate Degree 13.5% / 15.3%
Sydney — Postgraduate Degree: 13.5% Ultimo — Postgraduate Degree: 15.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 14.5% / 9.7%
Sydney — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 14.5% Ultimo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Certificate III & IV 4.3% / 4.7%
Sydney — Certificate III & IV: 4.3% Ultimo — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.8%
Sydney — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Ultimo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.3%).

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.

Sydney Ultimo
China 9.7% / 16.8%
Sydney — China: 9.7% Ultimo — China: 16.8%
Thailand 12.4% / 7.1%
Sydney — Thailand: 12.4% Ultimo — Thailand: 7.1%
Indonesia 12.9% / 4.0%
Sydney — Indonesia: 12.9% Ultimo — Indonesia: 4.0%
India 3.5% / 4.4%
Sydney — India: 3.5% Ultimo — India: 4.4%
Malaysia 2.2% / 2.5%
Sydney — Malaysia: 2.2% Ultimo — Malaysia: 2.5%
England 2.4% / 2.0%
Sydney — England: 2.4% Ultimo — England: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sydney 99.9% flats / apartments
Sydney — Flats / Apartments: 99.9% Sydney — Townhouses: 0.0% Sydney — Houses: 0.1%
Ultimo 88.2% flats / apartments
Ultimo — Flats / Apartments: 88.2% Ultimo — Townhouses: 11.7% Ultimo — Houses: 0.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Sydney Ultimo
Median house price $650,000 $1,580,000
Median unit price $1,050,000 $804,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 36 days
from 10 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.

Sydney Ultimo
1 bed $790K / $685K
Sydney — 1 bed: $790K (145 sales) Ultimo — 1 bed: $685K (58 sales)

145 vs 58 sales

2 bed $1.26M / $1M
Sydney — 2 bed: $1.26M (125 sales) Ultimo — 2 bed: $1M (48 sales)

125 vs 48 sales

3 bed $2.81M / $1.6M
Sydney — 3 bed: $2.81M (33 sales) Ultimo — 3 bed: $1.6M (9 sales)

33 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Sydney has more commercially zoned land (51% vs 2%).

Sydney Ultimo
Residential 1% 79%
Commercial 51% 2%
Parks and recreation 30% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 9%
Planning zones cover 85% of Sydney and 94% of Ultimo. 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

Sydney Ultimo
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.

Sydney Ultimo
Houses —
same for both
Units 4.0%
$1,050/wk on $1.35M
 5.5%
$800/wk on $750K

Ranking within NSW

Sydney Ultimo
House price Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Income Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 61% of NSW
Schools Higher than 60% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 1% of NSW Higher than 22% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW

Liveability

Sydney scores higher overall (71 vs 60).

Sydney Ultimo
Grade A B
Score 71/100 60/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Sydney carries more crime risk (98 vs 88).

Sydney Ultimo
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
98/100
 High
88/100
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 4
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Sydney Ultimo
Inside the suburb 7 4
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Sydney C.Q.U. Campus, 0.0 km
 3
University of Technology Sydney (City Campus), 0.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 11.2%

Schools in Sydney

  • St Andrew's Cathedral Gawura School Independent · Primary above peers
  • St Andrew's Cathedral School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Conservatorium High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Macquarie Grammar School Independent · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's Cathedral College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Australian International High School Independent · Secondary

Schools in Ultimo

  • International Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Ultimo Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Westbourne College Sydney Independent · Secondary
  • GOAL College Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Sydney Ultimo
Supermarkets 17 0
Cafes & restaurants 465 60
Parks & reserves 36 9
Childcare 11
same for both
GPs 27 1
Pharmacies 33 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 48 0
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Sydney Ultimo
Walkability score 100/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 1.1 km 2.6 km
+136% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 4 min 7 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus · Ferry
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 2139.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 185.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 7.1%
postcode 2000
 2.1%
postcode 2007
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 2000
 1
postcode 2007

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.

Sydney Ultimo
Worked from Home 46.7% / 50.0%
Sydney — Worked from Home: 46.7% Ultimo — Worked from Home: 50.0%
Walked Only 21.1% / 16.2%
Sydney — Walked Only: 21.1% Ultimo — Walked Only: 16.2%
Train 13.0% / 9.2%
Sydney — Train: 13.0% Ultimo — Train: 9.2%
Car (driver) 8.2% / 11.6%
Sydney — Car (driver): 8.2% Ultimo — Car (driver): 11.6%
Bus 6.7% / 6.6%
Sydney — Bus: 6.7% Ultimo — Bus: 6.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.0%).

Setting

Sydney Ultimo
Elevation 66 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 6.6 km
3.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Sydney Ultimo
Connectivity score 68/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
33,598 premises
 18%
5,723 premises

Climate

Sydney Ultimo
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)

Sydney Ultimo
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

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

Federal electorate

Sydney Ultimo
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sydney Ultimo
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sydney

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

Ultimo

Apartments Arts Cafe Culture Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Students Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sydney

Sydney vs Surry Hills Sydney vs Pyrmont Sydney vs Darlinghurst Sydney vs Haymarket Sydney vs Woolloomooloo Sydney vs Millers Point

Other comparisons with Ultimo

Ultimo vs Pyrmont Ultimo vs Glebe Ultimo vs Haymarket Ultimo vs Chippendale
Full data on Sydney Full data on Ultimo
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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