Waverley vs Clovelly

In Waverley, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Clovelly, most households own their home, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are couple families. Units cost more in Clovelly: a median of $1.74 million, against $1.45 million in Waverley, and rent is higher there too. Waverley is closer to the city centre: 8.7 km, against 9.7 km. On these figures, Waverley tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Clovelly 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Waverley has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 1)
  • Clovelly carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 62/100)

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

First-home buyers

Waverley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($4,210,000 vs $6,425,000)
  • has cheaper units ($1,450,000 vs $1,742,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Waverley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($630/wk vs $700/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Waverley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (18 min vs 23 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Waverley has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 12%)
  • Clovelly carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 62/100)

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

  • Waverley returns a higher gross yield on units (4.5% vs 3.0%)
  • Clovelly is growing faster (3.2% vs -3.0%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Waverley Clovelly
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.

Waverley Clovelly
Walkability 89 / 90
Waverley — Walkability: 89/100 Clovelly — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 38 / 67
Waverley — Safety: 38/100 Clovelly — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Waverley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Clovelly — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Clovelly has higher household incomes ($180,648 vs $149,396); Clovelly rents higher ($700/wk vs $630/wk).

Waverley Clovelly
Population 4,216 4,887
+16% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.0% +3.2%
Median age 38 37
Median household income $149,396/yr $180,648/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $630/wk $700/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Waverley Clovelly
0-4 6.1% / 6.2%
Waverley — 0-4: 6.1% Clovelly — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 11.2% / 13.7%
Waverley — 5-14: 11.2% Clovelly — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 5.1% / 4.8%
Waverley — 15-19: 5.1% Clovelly — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 3.3% / 4.2%
Waverley — 20-24: 3.3% Clovelly — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 17.4% / 16.8%
Waverley — 25-34: 17.4% Clovelly — 25-34: 16.8%
35-44 16.6% / 15.9%
Waverley — 35-44: 16.6% Clovelly — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 13.1% / 15.4%
Waverley — 45-54: 13.1% Clovelly — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 9.3% / 11.1%
Waverley — 55-64: 9.3% Clovelly — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 6.9% / 7.5%
Waverley — 65-74: 6.9% Clovelly — 65-74: 7.5%
75-84 5.8% / 3.3%
Waverley — 75-84: 5.8% Clovelly — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 5.1% / 0.9%
Waverley — 85+: 5.1% Clovelly — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Waverley 39.0% couple families
Waverley — Couple Families: 39.0% Waverley — Lone Person: 41.1% Waverley — One Parent Families: 10.8% Waverley — Group Household: 7.9% Waverley — Other Families: 1.2%
Clovelly 51.1% couple families
Clovelly — Couple Families: 51.1% Clovelly — Lone Person: 30.8% Clovelly — One Parent Families: 9.6% Clovelly — Group Household: 7.8% Clovelly — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Waverley 45.0% renting
Waverley — Owned Outright: 23.9% Waverley — Mortgage: 31.0% Waverley — Renting: 45.0%
Clovelly 37.8% renting
Clovelly — Owned Outright: 33.0% Clovelly — Mortgage: 29.2% Clovelly — Renting: 37.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Waverley Clovelly
Bachelor Degree 26.5% / 29.5%
Waverley — Bachelor Degree: 26.5% Clovelly — Bachelor Degree: 29.5%
Postgraduate Degree 11.4% / 13.1%
Waverley — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4% Clovelly — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 6.0%
Waverley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Clovelly — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0%
Certificate III & IV 5.6% / 5.6%
Waverley — Certificate III & IV: 5.6% Clovelly — Certificate III & IV: 5.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.7%
Waverley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Clovelly — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.5%).

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.

Waverley Clovelly
England 8.9% / 8.0%
Waverley — England: 8.9% Clovelly — England: 8.0%
New Zealand 2.9% / 2.6%
Waverley — New Zealand: 2.9% Clovelly — New Zealand: 2.6%
Ireland 2.3% / 1.7%
Waverley — Ireland: 2.3% Clovelly — Ireland: 1.7%
South Africa 1.7% / 1.7%
Waverley — South Africa: 1.7% Clovelly — South Africa: 1.7%
France 1.0% / 1.0%
Waverley — France: 1.0% Clovelly — France: 1.0%
Italy 1.5% / —
Waverley — Italy: 1.5% Clovelly — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Waverley 56.3% flats / apartments
Waverley — Flats / Apartments: 56.3% Waverley — Townhouses: 26.2% Waverley — Houses: 17.4%
Clovelly 48.7% flats / apartments
Clovelly — Flats / Apartments: 48.7% Clovelly — Townhouses: 26.3% Clovelly — Houses: 25.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Waverley Clovelly
Median house price $4,210,000 $6,425,000
Median unit price $1,450,000 $1,742,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 16 days
from 16 sales
 16 days
from 25 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.

Waverley Clovelly
3 bed $3.13M / $4.95M
Waverley — 3 bed: $3.13M (8 sales) Clovelly — 3 bed: $4.95M (15 sales)

8 vs 15 sales

4 bed $4.89M / $6.65M
Waverley — 4 bed: $4.89M (17 sales) Clovelly — 4 bed: $6.65M (31 sales)

17 vs 31 sales

5 bed $5.83M / $7.53M
Waverley — 5 bed: $5.83M (8 sales) Clovelly — 5 bed: $7.53M (12 sales)

8 vs 12 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.

Waverley Clovelly
1 bed $952K / $1.08M
Waverley — 1 bed: $952K (20 sales) Clovelly — 1 bed: $1.08M (11 sales)

20 vs 11 sales

2 bed $1.5M / $1.8M
Waverley — 2 bed: $1.5M (31 sales) Clovelly — 2 bed: $1.8M (38 sales)

31 vs 38 sales

3 bed $2.12M / $2.48M
Waverley — 3 bed: $2.12M (6 sales) Clovelly — 3 bed: $2.48M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Waverley Clovelly
Residential 68% 79%
Infrastructure and transport 19% 1%
Parks and recreation 5% 19%
Commercial 8% 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

Waverley Clovelly
New dwellings approved 180
across Waverley
 455
across Randwick
Approvals change year on year +42% -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.

Waverley Clovelly
Houses —
same for both
Units 4.5%
$995/wk on $1.15M
 3.0%
$900/wk on $1.55M

Ranking within NSW

Waverley Clovelly
House price Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Income Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Schools Higher than 37% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 4% of NSW

Liveability

Clovelly scores higher overall (93 vs 74).

Waverley Clovelly
Grade A A+
Score 74/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Waverley carries more crime risk (62 vs 33).

Waverley Clovelly
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Low
33/100
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 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Waverley Clovelly
Inside the suburb 7 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of New South Wales, 3.5 km
 3
The University of New South Wales, 3.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.8% 2.4%

Schools in Waverley

  • St Charles' Catholic Primary School Waverley Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Catherine's School Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Clare's College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Waverley Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Waverley College Independent · Secondary below peers
  • St Clare's College - Bronte Road Campus Catholic · Secondary

Schools in Clovelly

  • St Anthony's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Waverley Clovelly
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 11 8
Parks & reserves 5 4
Childcare 7 3
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Waverley Clovelly
Walkability score 89/100 90/100
Distance to Sydney 8.7 km 9.7 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 224.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 173.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 2024
 2.5%
postcode 2031
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 2024
 9
postcode 2031

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.

Waverley Clovelly
Worked from Home 62.3% / 63.3%
Waverley — Worked from Home: 62.3% Clovelly — Worked from Home: 63.3%
Car (driver) 23.5% / 27.2%
Waverley — Car (driver): 23.5% Clovelly — Car (driver): 27.2%
Walked Only 5.1% / 2.7%
Waverley — Walked Only: 5.1% Clovelly — Walked Only: 2.7%
Bus 2.4% / 2.7%
Waverley — Bus: 2.4% Clovelly — Bus: 2.7%
Train 3.1% / 1.2%
Waverley — Train: 3.1% Clovelly — Train: 1.2%
Bicycle 1.4% / 1.5%
Waverley — Bicycle: 1.4% Clovelly — Bicycle: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.3%).

Setting

Waverley Clovelly
Elevation 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.2 km
1.4 km to a named beach
 329 m
356 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Waverley Clovelly
Connectivity score 75/100 81/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
2,183 premises
 16%
2,246 premises

Climate

Waverley Clovelly
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)

Waverley Clovelly
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.64 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Waverley Clovelly
Average residential rate $1,277/yr $1,641/yr
Council Waverley Randwick

Federal electorate

Waverley Clovelly
Division Wentworth
same for both
Member Allegra Spender
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Waverley Clovelly
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Waverley

Apartments Beach Coastal Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Urban

Clovelly

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Waverley

Waverley vs Randwick Waverley vs Bondi Waverley vs Bondi Junction Waverley vs Bronte Waverley vs Queens Park

Other comparisons with Clovelly

Clovelly vs Randwick Clovelly vs Coogee Clovelly vs Bronte
Full data on Waverley Full data on Clovelly
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