Waterloo vs Kensington

In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Waterloo, most households are people living alone. Waterloo is closer to the city centre: 6.2 km, against 6.9 km. On these figures, Waterloo tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Kensington

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (21% vs 0%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (43% vs 21%)

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 $3,480,888)

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 56%)

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

  • Waterloo has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 79%)
  • Kensington carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Waterloo

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (12.1% vs -20.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.6% vs 1.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 4.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Waterloo Kensington
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.

Waterloo Kensington
Walkability 99 / 96
Waterloo — Walkability: 99/100 Kensington — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 11 / 37
Waterloo — Safety: 11/100 Kensington — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Waterloo — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Waterloo has more residents (16,379 vs 11,927).

Waterloo Kensington
Population 16,379
+27% vs other
 11,927
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.1% -20.5%
Median age 33 32
Median household income $105,456/yr $110,136/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+6% vs other
 $500/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Waterloo Kensington
0-4 4.2% / 4.2%
Waterloo — 0-4: 4.2% Kensington — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 3.6% / 7.9%
Waterloo — 5-14: 3.6% Kensington — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 1.8% / 6.3%
Waterloo — 15-19: 1.8% Kensington — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 9.6% / 14.9%
Waterloo — 20-24: 9.6% Kensington — 20-24: 14.9%
25-34 35.6% / 21.0%
Waterloo — 25-34: 35.6% Kensington — 25-34: 21.0%
35-44 18.5% / 14.0%
Waterloo — 35-44: 18.5% Kensington — 35-44: 14.0%
45-54 8.8% / 10.3%
Waterloo — 45-54: 8.8% Kensington — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 7.5% / 8.5%
Waterloo — 55-64: 7.5% Kensington — 55-64: 8.5%
65-74 5.8% / 6.0%
Waterloo — 65-74: 5.8% Kensington — 65-74: 6.0%
75-84 3.3% / 4.4%
Waterloo — 75-84: 3.3% Kensington — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.3% / 2.4%
Waterloo — 85+: 1.3% Kensington — 85+: 2.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Waterloo 58.2% lone person
Waterloo — Lone Person: 58.2% Waterloo — Couple Families: 13.5% Waterloo — Group Household: 18.4% Waterloo — One Parent Families: 7.9% Waterloo — Other Families: 1.9%
Kensington 41.6% lone person
Kensington — Lone Person: 41.6% Kensington — Couple Families: 32.0% Kensington — Group Household: 13.2% Kensington — One Parent Families: 10.6% Kensington — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Waterloo 75.2% renting
Waterloo — Owned Outright: 6.4% Waterloo — Mortgage: 18.4% Waterloo — Renting: 75.2%
Kensington 56.1% renting
Kensington — Owned Outright: 24.9% Kensington — Mortgage: 19.1% Kensington — Renting: 56.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Waterloo Kensington
Bachelor Degree 28.6% / 24.6%
Waterloo — Bachelor Degree: 28.6% Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 13.1% / 12.6%
Waterloo — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1% Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.4%
Waterloo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.7% / 6.0%
Waterloo — Certificate III & IV: 6.7% Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.0%
Waterloo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.6%).

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.

Waterloo Kensington
China 11.5% / 6.1%
Waterloo — China: 11.5% Kensington — China: 6.1%
England 5.6% / 2.8%
Waterloo — England: 5.6% Kensington — England: 2.8%
India 1.6% / 2.9%
Waterloo — India: 1.6% Kensington — India: 2.9%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.8%
Waterloo — New Zealand: 2.6% Kensington — New Zealand: 1.8%
Indonesia 1.4% / 2.9%
Waterloo — Indonesia: 1.4% Kensington — Indonesia: 2.9%
Ireland 2.3% / —
Waterloo — Ireland: 2.3% Kensington — Ireland: not among its largest
Brazil 1.8% / —
Waterloo — Brazil: 1.8% Kensington — Brazil: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 1.8%
Waterloo — Malaysia: not among its largest Kensington — Malaysia: 1.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Waterloo 91.4% flats / apartments
Waterloo — Flats / Apartments: 91.4% Waterloo — Houses: 0.5% Waterloo — Townhouses: 8.1%
Kensington 72.0% flats / apartments
Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 72.0% Kensington — Houses: 21.0% Kensington — Townhouses: 7.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Waterloo Kensington
Median house price $1,710,000 $3,480,888
Median unit price $930,000 $988,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 13 sales
 35 days
from 31 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.

Waterloo Kensington
1 bed $700K / $742K
Waterloo — 1 bed: $700K (103 sales) Kensington — 1 bed: $742K (50 sales)

103 vs 50 sales

2 bed $1.03M / $1.04M
Waterloo — 2 bed: $1.03M (156 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $1.04M (107 sales)

156 vs 107 sales

3 bed $1.34M / $1.49M
Waterloo — 3 bed: $1.34M (33 sales) Kensington — 3 bed: $1.49M (20 sales)

33 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Waterloo Kensington
Residential 73% 49%
Parks and recreation 6% 25%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 23%
Commercial 8% 3%
Planning zones cover 94% of Waterloo and 100% of Kensington. 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

Waterloo Kensington
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
 455
across Randwick
Approvals change year on year +929% -26%

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.

Waterloo Kensington
Houses 2.6%
$935/wk on $1.85M
 1.7%
$1,175/wk on $3.5M
Units 5.6%
$950/wk on $880K
 4.7%
$842/wk on $926K

Ranking within NSW

Waterloo Kensington
House price Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 72% of NSW —
Schools — Higher than 88% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 53% of NSW

Liveability

Kensington scores higher overall (85 vs 74).

Waterloo Kensington
Grade A
same for both
Score 74/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Waterloo carries more crime risk (89 vs 63).

Waterloo Kensington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 Moderate
63/100
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 8
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

Waterloo Kensington
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
1-37 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, 1.6 km
 3
The University of New South Wales, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 12.8%

Schools in Waterloo

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

Schools in Kensington

  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Kensington Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Rosebery, Kensington Campus Catholic · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Waterloo Kensington
Supermarkets 9 4
Cafes & restaurants 67 29
Parks & reserves 20 19
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 3 2
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 3
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Waterloo Kensington
Walkability score 99/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 6.2 km 6.9 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 14 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 351.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 393.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 2017
 2.2%
postcode 2033
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 1
postcode 2017
 8
postcode 2033

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.

Waterloo Kensington
Worked from Home 60.5% / 53.0%
Waterloo — Worked from Home: 60.5% Kensington — Worked from Home: 53.0%
Car (driver) 18.6% / 27.5%
Waterloo — Car (driver): 18.6% Kensington — Car (driver): 27.5%
Walked Only 6.6% / 5.2%
Waterloo — Walked Only: 6.6% Kensington — Walked Only: 5.2%
Bus 5.7% / 5.9%
Waterloo — Bus: 5.7% Kensington — Bus: 5.9%
Train 4.3% / 1.7%
Waterloo — Train: 4.3% Kensington — Train: 1.7%
Car (passenger) 1.8% / 2.6%
Waterloo — Car (passenger): 1.8% Kensington — Car (passenger): 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.5%).

Setting

Waterloo Kensington
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.2 km
4.5 km to a named beach
 3.5 km
3.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Waterloo Kensington
Connectivity score 77/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
10,571 premises
 10%
6,069 premises

Climate

Waterloo Kensington
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)

Waterloo Kensington
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

Waterloo Kensington
Average residential rate $875/yr $1,641/yr
Council Sydney Randwick

Federal electorate

Waterloo Kensington
Division Sydney Kingsford Smith
Member Tanya Plibersek Matt Thistlethwaite
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Waterloo

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Kensington

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Waterloo

Waterloo vs Redfern Waterloo vs Zetland Waterloo vs Alexandria

Other comparisons with Kensington

Kensington vs Randwick Kensington vs Rosebery Kensington vs Kingsford Kensington vs Zetland Kensington vs Eastlakes Kensington vs Centennial Park
Full data on Waterloo Full data on Kensington
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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