Sylvania vs Gymea

Gymea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 46 in Sylvania. In both, most households own their home. In Sylvania, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Sylvania is closer to the city centre: 25.4 km, against 29.6 km. On these figures, Sylvania tends to suit older residents.

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

Sylvania

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (60% vs 45%)
  • But Gymea has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Sylvania

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($833,750 vs $955,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Gymea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Sylvania

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (25.4 km vs 29.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (33 min vs 38 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Gymea

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (55% vs 40%)
  • But Sylvania has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 18%)

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

Investors

Gymea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.3% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sylvania Gymea
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.

Sylvania Gymea
Walkability 86 / 84
Sylvania — Walkability: 86/100 Gymea — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 54 / 52
Sylvania — Safety: 54/100 Gymea — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 100 / 5
Sylvania — Low fire risk: 100/100 Gymea — Low fire risk: 5/100

Demographics

Sylvania has more residents (10,749 vs 8,219); Sylvania skews older (46 vs 39).

Sylvania Gymea
Population 10,749
+24% vs other
 8,219
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +8.3%
Median age 46 39
Median household income $101,972/yr $106,548/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+6% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sylvania Gymea
0-4 4.8% / 7.1%
Sylvania — 0-4: 4.8% Gymea — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 12.5% / 11.7%
Sylvania — 5-14: 12.5% Gymea — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 5.8% / 4.7%
Sylvania — 15-19: 5.8% Gymea — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 4.7% / 5.0%
Sylvania — 20-24: 4.7% Gymea — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 8.5% / 13.4%
Sylvania — 25-34: 8.5% Gymea — 25-34: 13.4%
35-44 12.2% / 15.1%
Sylvania — 35-44: 12.2% Gymea — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 14.0% / 13.3%
Sylvania — 45-54: 14.0% Gymea — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 11.9% / 12.1%
Sylvania — 55-64: 11.9% Gymea — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 10.8% / 8.8%
Sylvania — 65-74: 10.8% Gymea — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 9.8% / 6.2%
Sylvania — 75-84: 9.8% Gymea — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 5.1% / 2.6%
Sylvania — 85+: 5.1% Gymea — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sylvania 49.3% couple families
Sylvania — Couple Families: 49.3% Sylvania — Lone Person: 32.3% Sylvania — One Parent Families: 15.5% Sylvania — Group Household: 1.9% Sylvania — Other Families: 1.0%
Gymea 44.0% couple families
Gymea — Couple Families: 44.0% Gymea — Lone Person: 35.8% Gymea — One Parent Families: 15.4% Gymea — Group Household: 3.2% Gymea — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sylvania 22.0% renting
Sylvania — Owned Outright: 43.0% Sylvania — Mortgage: 35.0% Sylvania — Renting: 22.0%
Gymea 32.6% renting
Gymea — Owned Outright: 33.3% Gymea — Mortgage: 34.1% Gymea — Renting: 32.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sylvania Gymea
Bachelor Degree 14.0% / 15.3%
Sylvania — Bachelor Degree: 14.0% Gymea — Bachelor Degree: 15.3%
Certificate III & IV 12.4% / 14.7%
Sylvania — Certificate III & IV: 12.4% Gymea — Certificate III & IV: 14.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 10.4%
Sylvania — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Gymea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 4.6%
Sylvania — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Gymea — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.9%
Sylvania — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Gymea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

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.

Sylvania Gymea
England 2.5% / 4.0%
Sylvania — England: 2.5% Gymea — England: 4.0%
China 3.3% / 1.5%
Sylvania — China: 3.3% Gymea — China: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.5%
Sylvania — New Zealand: 1.5% Gymea — New Zealand: 1.5%
Greece 1.8% / —
Sylvania — Greece: 1.8% Gymea — Greece: not among its largest
Egypt 1.3% / 0.5%
Sylvania — Egypt: 1.3% Gymea — Egypt: 0.5%
Philippines — / 1.0%
Sylvania — Philippines: not among its largest Gymea — Philippines: 1.0%
South Africa — / 0.6%
Sylvania — South Africa: not among its largest Gymea — South Africa: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sylvania 59.8% houses
Sylvania — Houses: 59.8% Sylvania — Townhouses: 27.2% Sylvania — Flats / Apartments: 13.1%
Gymea 44.7% houses
Gymea — Houses: 44.7% Gymea — Townhouses: 22.8% Gymea — Flats / Apartments: 32.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sylvania Gymea
Median house price $1,905,000 $1,830,000
Median unit price $833,750 $955,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 102 sales
 24 days
from 42 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.

Sylvania Gymea
2 bed $780K / $927K
Sylvania — 2 bed: $780K (30 sales) Gymea — 2 bed: $927K (49 sales)

30 vs 49 sales

3 bed $1.16M / $1.25M
Sylvania — 3 bed: $1.16M (6 sales) Gymea — 3 bed: $1.25M (13 sales)

6 vs 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.

Sylvania Gymea
3 bed $1.65M / $1.67M
Sylvania — 3 bed: $1.65M (42 sales) Gymea — 3 bed: $1.67M (38 sales)

42 vs 38 sales

4 bed $1.95M / $1.99M
Sylvania — 4 bed: $1.95M (62 sales) Gymea — 4 bed: $1.99M (38 sales)

62 vs 38 sales

5 bed $2.33M / $1.91M
Sylvania — 5 bed: $2.33M (36 sales) Gymea — 5 bed: $1.91M (7 sales)

36 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Sylvania has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 3%).

Sylvania Gymea
Residential 67% 73%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 17%
Environmental 17% 3%
Parks and recreation 5% 4%
Commercial 2% 3%
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

Sylvania Gymea
New dwellings approved 1,449
across Sutherland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +117%
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.

Sylvania Gymea
Houses 4.1%
$1,300/wk on $1.66M
 4.3%
$1,240/wk on $1.5M
Units 4.3%
$700/wk on $850K
 4.5%
$730/wk on $840K

Ranking within NSW

Sylvania Gymea
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Income Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Schools Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 44% of NSW

Liveability

Sylvania scores higher overall (77 vs 62).

Sylvania Gymea
Grade A B
Score 77/100 62/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Gymea carries more bushfire risk (95 vs 0).

Sylvania Gymea
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
95/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Moderate
48/100
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 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Sylvania Gymea
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Sylvania

  • Sylvania Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Sylvania Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Sylvania High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Gymea

  • Gymea North Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Gymea Technology High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Catherine Labouré Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Montessori School Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sylvania Gymea
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 9 3
Childcare 12 10
GPs 2 5
Pharmacies 2 5
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 2 8

Mobility

Gymea sits further from the CBD (29.6 km vs 25.4 km).

Sylvania Gymea
Walkability score 86/100 84/100
Distance to Sydney 25.4 km 29.6 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 38 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 135.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 136.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2224
 1.3%
postcode 2227
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2224
 25
postcode 2227

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.

Sylvania Gymea
Car (driver) 50.4% / 46.0%
Sylvania — Car (driver): 50.4% Gymea — Car (driver): 46.0%
Worked from Home 42.0% / 43.8%
Sylvania — Worked from Home: 42.0% Gymea — Worked from Home: 43.8%
Train 2.0% / 4.6%
Sylvania — Train: 2.0% Gymea — Train: 4.6%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 3.1%
Sylvania — Car (passenger): 3.3% Gymea — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Walked Only 1.7% / 2.2%
Sylvania — Walked Only: 1.7% Gymea — Walked Only: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.4%).

Setting

Sylvania Gymea
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 70 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km 4.2 km

NBN connectivity

Sylvania Gymea
Connectivity score 74/100 84/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
4,959 premises
 29%
3,979 premises

Climate

Sylvania Gymea
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm 1,038 mm
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C —
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Sylvania Gymea
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

Sylvania Gymea
Average residential rate $1,552/yr
same for both
Council Sutherland
same for both

Federal electorate

Sylvania Gymea
Division Cook
same for both
Member Simon Kennedy
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sylvania Gymea
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sylvania

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Retirees River Townhouses Urban

Gymea

Apartments Outer Parks Premium River Townhouses Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sylvania

Sylvania vs Miranda Sylvania vs Sans Souci Sylvania vs Blakehurst Sylvania vs Oyster Bay Sylvania vs Kareela Sylvania vs Sylvania Waters

Other comparisons with Gymea

Gymea vs Miranda Gymea vs Kirrawee Gymea vs Gymea Bay Gymea vs Kareela Gymea vs Grays Point
Full data on Sylvania Full data on Gymea
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