Ultimo vs Glebe

Ultimo is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 38 in Glebe. In both, most households rent. In Ultimo, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. In Glebe, about half of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Glebe: a median of $942,000, against $804,000 in Ultimo, though rent is higher in Ultimo. Ultimo is closer to the city centre: 2.6 km, against 3 km. On these figures, Ultimo tends to suit young adults and share households.

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

Glebe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Ultimo

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,580,000 vs $2,725,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (32% vs 39%)
  • has cheaper units ($804,000 vs $942,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Glebe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $500/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Ultimo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 3%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Glebe

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Glebe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.3% vs -16.2%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ultimo Glebe
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.

Ultimo Glebe
Walkability 100 / 99
Ultimo — Walkability: 100/100 Glebe — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 12 / 6
Ultimo — Safety: 12/100 Glebe — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ultimo — Low fire risk: 100/100 Glebe — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Glebe has more residents (11,680 vs 7,410); Glebe skews older (38 vs 30).

Ultimo Glebe
Population 7,410 11,680
+58% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -16.2% +1.3%
Median age 30 38
Median household income $93,860/yr
+3% vs other
 $91,312/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+16% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ultimo Glebe
0-4 3.0% / 3.4%
Ultimo — 0-4: 3.0% Glebe — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 3.6% / 6.4%
Ultimo — 5-14: 3.6% Glebe — 5-14: 6.4%
15-19 3.6% / 3.6%
Ultimo — 15-19: 3.6% Glebe — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 17.0% / 9.8%
Ultimo — 20-24: 17.0% Glebe — 20-24: 9.8%
25-34 35.8% / 21.7%
Ultimo — 25-34: 35.8% Glebe — 25-34: 21.7%
35-44 17.3% / 14.4%
Ultimo — 35-44: 17.3% Glebe — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 8.1% / 12.3%
Ultimo — 45-54: 8.1% Glebe — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 5.2% / 11.9%
Ultimo — 55-64: 5.2% Glebe — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 3.9% / 10.3%
Ultimo — 65-74: 3.9% Glebe — 65-74: 10.3%
75-84 1.6% / 4.9%
Ultimo — 75-84: 1.6% Glebe — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 0.8% / 1.3%
Ultimo — 85+: 0.8% Glebe — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (35.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Glebe 57.0% lone person
Glebe — Lone Person: 57.0% Glebe — Group Household: 11.9% Glebe — Couple Families: 18.0% Glebe — One Parent Families: 11.4% Glebe — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ultimo 73.4% renting
Ultimo — Owned Outright: 13.4% Ultimo — Mortgage: 13.2% Ultimo — Renting: 73.4%
Glebe 63.6% renting
Glebe — Owned Outright: 20.1% Glebe — Mortgage: 16.3% Glebe — Renting: 63.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ultimo Glebe
Bachelor Degree 29.2% / 26.4%
Ultimo — Bachelor Degree: 29.2% Glebe — Bachelor Degree: 26.4%
Postgraduate Degree 15.3% / 15.6%
Ultimo — Postgraduate Degree: 15.3% Glebe — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 7.0%
Ultimo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Glebe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.7% / 5.6%
Ultimo — Certificate III & IV: 4.7% Glebe — Certificate III & IV: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.9%
Ultimo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Glebe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

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.

Ultimo Glebe
China 16.8% / 4.0%
Ultimo — China: 16.8% Glebe — China: 4.0%
Thailand 7.1% / 0.9%
Ultimo — Thailand: 7.1% Glebe — Thailand: 0.9%
England 2.0% / 4.4%
Ultimo — England: 2.0% Glebe — England: 4.4%
India 4.4% / 1.4%
Ultimo — India: 4.4% Glebe — India: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.7%
Ultimo — New Zealand: 1.6% Glebe — New Zealand: 2.7%
Indonesia 4.0% / —
Ultimo — Indonesia: 4.0% Glebe — Indonesia: not among its largest
Vietnam 1.8% / 2.2%
Ultimo — Vietnam: 1.8% Glebe — Vietnam: 2.2%
Malaysia 2.5% / 0.8%
Ultimo — Malaysia: 2.5% Glebe — Malaysia: 0.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ultimo 88.2% flats / apartments
Ultimo — Flats / Apartments: 88.2% Ultimo — Townhouses: 11.7% Ultimo — Houses: 0.2%
Glebe 47.8% flats / apartments
Glebe — Flats / Apartments: 47.8% Glebe — Townhouses: 47.2% Glebe — Houses: 5.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Ultimo Glebe
Median house price $1,580,000 $2,725,000
Median unit price $804,000 $942,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 10 sales
 24 days
from 71 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.

Ultimo Glebe
1 bed $685K / $680K
Ultimo — 1 bed: $685K (58 sales) Glebe — 1 bed: $680K (64 sales)

58 vs 64 sales

2 bed $1M / $1.31M
Ultimo — 2 bed: $1M (48 sales) Glebe — 2 bed: $1.31M (66 sales)

48 vs 66 sales

3 bed $1.6M / $1.48M
Ultimo — 3 bed: $1.6M (9 sales) Glebe — 3 bed: $1.48M (8 sales)

9 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Ultimo Glebe
Residential 79% 67%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 7%
Parks and recreation 3% 9%
Commercial 2% 8%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Planning zones cover 94% of Ultimo and 99% of Glebe. 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

Ultimo Glebe
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.

Ultimo Glebe
Houses — 3.7%
$1,150/wk on $1.6M
Units 5.5%
$800/wk on $750K
 5.2%
$760/wk on $760K

Ranking within NSW

Ultimo Glebe
House price Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Income Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Schools Higher than 6% of NSW
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 7% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 59% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW

Liveability

Ultimo Glebe
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 59/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Ultimo Glebe
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
88/100
 High
94/100
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 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Ultimo Glebe
Inside the suburb 4 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 4
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
University of Technology Sydney (City Campus), 0.7 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 1.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 11.2% 5.5%

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

Schools in Glebe

  • Australian Performing Arts Grammar School Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Glebe Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St James Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Scholastica's College Glebe Point Independent · Secondary at peers
  • Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Ultimo Glebe
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 60 40
Parks & reserves 9 24
Childcare 11 9
GPs 1 3
Pharmacies 0 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 2

Mobility

Ultimo Glebe
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 2.6 km 3 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 7 min 9 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 185.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 427.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2007
 2.4%
postcode 2037
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 1
postcode 2007
 6
postcode 2037

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.

Ultimo Glebe
Worked from Home 50.0% / 63.9%
Ultimo — Worked from Home: 50.0% Glebe — Worked from Home: 63.9%
Car (driver) 11.6% / 17.4%
Ultimo — Car (driver): 11.6% Glebe — Car (driver): 17.4%
Walked Only 16.2% / 7.4%
Ultimo — Walked Only: 16.2% Glebe — Walked Only: 7.4%
Train 9.2% / 2.2%
Ultimo — Train: 9.2% Glebe — Train: 2.2%
Bus 6.6% / 4.6%
Ultimo — Bus: 6.6% Glebe — Bus: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.9%).

Setting

Ultimo Glebe
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km
3.9 km to a named beach
 7.3 km
3.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Ultimo Glebe
Connectivity score 72/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
5,723 premises
 12%
7,827 premises

Climate

Ultimo Glebe
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)

Ultimo Glebe
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ultimo

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

Glebe

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ultimo

Ultimo vs Sydney Ultimo vs Pyrmont Ultimo vs Haymarket Ultimo vs Chippendale

Other comparisons with Glebe

Glebe vs Pyrmont Glebe vs Annandale Glebe vs Camperdown Glebe vs Chippendale Glebe vs Forest Lodge
Full data on Ultimo Full data on Glebe
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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