Sylvania vs Sylvania Waters

Sylvania Waters is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 46 in Sylvania. In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Sylvania, about half of households are couple families. In Sylvania Waters, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Sylvania Waters: a median of $2.55 million, against $1.91 million in Sylvania, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Sylvania tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Sylvania Waters suits couples.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (12 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Sylvania Waters has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 60%)

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 houses ($1,905,000 vs $2,550,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sylvania

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($530/wk vs $600/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sylvania

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 59/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sylvania

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 59/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Sylvania and Sylvania Waters 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 Sylvania Waters
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 Sylvania Waters
Walkability 86 / 59
Sylvania — Walkability: 86/100 Sylvania Waters — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 54 / 63
Sylvania — Safety: 54/100 Sylvania Waters — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sylvania — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sylvania Waters — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sylvania has more residents (10,749 vs 3,200); Sylvania Waters has higher household incomes ($123,292 vs $101,972).

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Population 10,749
+70% vs other
 3,200
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +1.0%
Median age 46 43
Median household income $101,972/yr $123,292/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $530/wk $600/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
0-4 4.8% / 5.0%
Sylvania — 0-4: 4.8% Sylvania Waters — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 12.5% / 11.8%
Sylvania — 5-14: 12.5% Sylvania Waters — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 5.8% / 6.8%
Sylvania — 15-19: 5.8% Sylvania Waters — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 4.7% / 6.2%
Sylvania — 20-24: 4.7% Sylvania Waters — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 8.5% / 10.4%
Sylvania — 25-34: 8.5% Sylvania Waters — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 12.2% / 11.2%
Sylvania — 35-44: 12.2% Sylvania Waters — 35-44: 11.2%
45-54 14.0% / 15.0%
Sylvania — 45-54: 14.0% Sylvania Waters — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 11.9% / 13.6%
Sylvania — 55-64: 11.9% Sylvania Waters — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 10.8% / 9.7%
Sylvania — 65-74: 10.8% Sylvania Waters — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 9.8% / 7.5%
Sylvania — 75-84: 9.8% Sylvania Waters — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 5.1% / 2.7%
Sylvania — 85+: 5.1% Sylvania Waters — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

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%
Sylvania Waters 60.4% couple families
Sylvania Waters — Couple Families: 60.4% Sylvania Waters — Lone Person: 20.9% Sylvania Waters — One Parent Families: 14.3% Sylvania Waters — Group Household: 3.3% Sylvania Waters — Other Families: 1.1%
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%
Sylvania Waters 15.4% renting
Sylvania Waters — Owned Outright: 44.0% Sylvania Waters — Mortgage: 40.5% Sylvania Waters — Renting: 15.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Bachelor Degree 14.0% / 15.7%
Sylvania — Bachelor Degree: 14.0% Sylvania Waters — Bachelor Degree: 15.7%
Certificate III & IV 12.4% / 12.6%
Sylvania — Certificate III & IV: 12.4% Sylvania Waters — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 8.9%
Sylvania — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Sylvania Waters — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 5.2%
Sylvania — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Sylvania Waters — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.3%
Sylvania — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Sylvania Waters — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

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 Sylvania Waters
China 3.3% / 6.2%
Sylvania — China: 3.3% Sylvania Waters — China: 6.2%
England 2.5% / 1.8%
Sylvania — England: 2.5% Sylvania Waters — England: 1.8%
Greece 1.8% / 1.9%
Sylvania — Greece: 1.8% Sylvania Waters — Greece: 1.9%
Egypt 1.3% / 1.7%
Sylvania — Egypt: 1.3% Sylvania Waters — Egypt: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.2%
Sylvania — New Zealand: 1.5% Sylvania Waters — New Zealand: 1.2%
Italy 1.0% / 1.2%
Sylvania — Italy: 1.0% Sylvania Waters — Italy: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

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%
Sylvania Waters 79.8% houses
Sylvania Waters — Houses: 79.8% Sylvania Waters — Townhouses: 10.4% Sylvania Waters — Flats / Apartments: 9.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Median house price $1,905,000 $2,550,000
Median unit price $833,750 $762,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 102 sales
 30 days
from 24 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 Sylvania Waters
2 bed $780K / $760K
Sylvania — 2 bed: $780K (30 sales) Sylvania Waters — 2 bed: $760K (5 sales)

30 vs 5 sales

3 bed $1.16M / $810K
Sylvania — 3 bed: $1.16M (6 sales) Sylvania Waters — 3 bed: $810K (7 sales)

6 vs 7 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 Sylvania Waters
3 bed $1.65M / $1.99M
Sylvania — 3 bed: $1.65M (42 sales) Sylvania Waters — 3 bed: $1.99M (14 sales)

42 vs 14 sales

4 bed $1.95M / $2.5M
Sylvania — 4 bed: $1.95M (62 sales) Sylvania Waters — 4 bed: $2.5M (33 sales)

62 vs 33 sales

5 bed $2.33M / $3.15M
Sylvania — 5 bed: $2.33M (36 sales) Sylvania Waters — 5 bed: $3.15M (19 sales)

36 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Sylvania has more land zoned for conservation (17% vs 6%).

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Residential 67% 79%
Environmental 17% 6%
Parks and recreation 5% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 1%
Commercial 2% 1%
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 Sylvania Waters
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 Sylvania Waters
Houses 4.1%
$1,300/wk on $1.66M
 4.5%
$1,350/wk on $1.55M
Units 4.3%
$700/wk on $850K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Schools Higher than 69% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 36% of NSW —

Liveability

Sylvania is more walkable (86 vs 59).

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Grade A
same for both
Score 77/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
37/100
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 Sylvania Waters
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

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 Sylvania Waters

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

Amenities in the suburb

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Supermarkets 2 0
Parks & reserves 9 1
Childcare 12 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Walkability score 86/100 59/100
Distance to Sydney 25.4 km 26.2 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 35 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 69/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 135.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 21.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2224
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2224
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.

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Car (driver) 50.4% / 55.9%
Sylvania — Car (driver): 50.4% Sylvania Waters — Car (driver): 55.9%
Worked from Home 42.0% / 36.6%
Sylvania — Worked from Home: 42.0% Sylvania Waters — Worked from Home: 36.6%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 4.3%
Sylvania — Car (passenger): 3.3% Sylvania Waters — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Train 2.0% / 1.3%
Sylvania — Train: 2.0% Sylvania Waters — Train: 1.3%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.2%
Sylvania — Walked Only: 1.7% Sylvania Waters — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.9%).

Setting

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Elevation 19 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km 1.4 km

NBN connectivity

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
Connectivity score 74/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
4,959 premises
 0%
1,235 premises

Climate

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
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)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Sylvania Sylvania Waters
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

Sylvania Waters

Coastal Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Quiet Urban

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Sylvania Waters

Sylvania Waters vs Miranda Sylvania Waters vs Taren Point
Full data on Sylvania Full data on Sylvania Waters
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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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