Wheeler Heights vs Narrabeen

Wheeler Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 48 in Narrabeen. In both, most households own their home. In Wheeler Heights, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Narrabeen, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Narrabeen: a median of $3.3 million, against $2.27 million in Wheeler Heights, though rent is higher in Wheeler Heights. Wheeler Heights is closer to the city centre: 24.2 km, against 28.4 km. On these figures, Wheeler Heights tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Narrabeen suits people living alone and 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

Wheeler Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 16%)
  • carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 40/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (82% vs 41%)
  • But Narrabeen has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Wheeler Heights

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,265,000 vs $3,300,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 34%)
  • But Narrabeen has cheaper units ($1,170,000 vs $1,400,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Narrabeen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($565/wk vs $750/wk)
  • But Wheeler Heights leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wheeler Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (24.2 km vs 28.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Narrabeen

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (84% vs 8%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 15%)
  • But Wheeler Heights carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 40/100)

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

Investors

Wheeler Heights

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.2% vs 0.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.3% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
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.

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Walkability 79 / 73
Wheeler Heights — Walkability: 79/100 Narrabeen — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 83 / 60
Wheeler Heights — Safety: 83/100 Narrabeen — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 47
Wheeler Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Narrabeen — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Narrabeen has more residents (8,255 vs 3,232); Wheeler Heights has higher household incomes ($151,528 vs $92,560).

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Population 3,232 8,255
+155% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.2% +0.6%
Median age 40 48
Median household income $151,528/yr
+39% vs other
 $92,560/yr
Median weekly rent $750/wk
+25% vs other
 $565/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
0-4 6.3% / 4.9%
Wheeler Heights — 0-4: 6.3% Narrabeen — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 16.0% / 7.2%
Wheeler Heights — 5-14: 16.0% Narrabeen — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 7.5% / 3.6%
Wheeler Heights — 15-19: 7.5% Narrabeen — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 5.9% / 4.3%
Wheeler Heights — 20-24: 5.9% Narrabeen — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 7.9% / 13.1%
Wheeler Heights — 25-34: 7.9% Narrabeen — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 13.4% / 12.7%
Wheeler Heights — 35-44: 13.4% Narrabeen — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 17.4% / 11.6%
Wheeler Heights — 45-54: 17.4% Narrabeen — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 11.0% / 11.5%
Wheeler Heights — 55-64: 11.0% Narrabeen — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 7.4% / 11.4%
Wheeler Heights — 65-74: 7.4% Narrabeen — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 6.1% / 10.3%
Wheeler Heights — 75-84: 6.1% Narrabeen — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 1.4% / 9.4%
Wheeler Heights — 85+: 1.4% Narrabeen — 85+: 9.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wheeler Heights 70.8% couple families
Wheeler Heights — Couple Families: 70.8% Wheeler Heights — Lone Person: 14.4% Wheeler Heights — One Parent Families: 11.4% Wheeler Heights — Group Household: 2.1% Wheeler Heights — Other Families: 1.4%
Narrabeen 27.3% couple families
Narrabeen — Couple Families: 27.3% Narrabeen — Lone Person: 54.0% Narrabeen — One Parent Families: 13.4% Narrabeen — Group Household: 4.3% Narrabeen — 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.

Wheeler Heights 15.1% renting
Wheeler Heights — Owned Outright: 35.3% Wheeler Heights — Mortgage: 49.6% Wheeler Heights — Renting: 15.1%
Narrabeen 42.7% renting
Narrabeen — Owned Outright: 32.3% Narrabeen — Mortgage: 25.0% Narrabeen — Renting: 42.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 18.3%
Wheeler Heights — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Narrabeen — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 13.4%
Wheeler Heights — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Narrabeen — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 10.6%
Wheeler Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Narrabeen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 5.3%
Wheeler Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Narrabeen — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.2%
Wheeler Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Narrabeen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
England 7.7% / 6.8%
Wheeler Heights — England: 7.7% Narrabeen — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.0%
Wheeler Heights — New Zealand: 2.0% Narrabeen — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.5%
Wheeler Heights — South Africa: 0.9% Narrabeen — South Africa: 1.5%
Brazil — / 2.2%
Wheeler Heights — Brazil: not among its largest Narrabeen — Brazil: 2.2%
Italy 0.7% / 0.5%
Wheeler Heights — Italy: 0.7% Narrabeen — Italy: 0.5%
Scotland — / 0.8%
Wheeler Heights — Scotland: not among its largest Narrabeen — Scotland: 0.8%
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Wheeler Heights — Netherlands: 0.7% Narrabeen — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wheeler Heights 91.4% houses
Wheeler Heights — Houses: 91.4% Wheeler Heights — Flats / Apartments: 6.0% Wheeler Heights — Townhouses: 2.5%
Narrabeen 15.8% houses
Narrabeen — Houses: 15.8% Narrabeen — Flats / Apartments: 65.5% Narrabeen — Townhouses: 18.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Median house price $2,265,000 $3,300,000
Median unit price $1,400,000 $1,170,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 18 sales
 30 days
from 15 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.

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
3 bed $2.27M / $2.55M
Wheeler Heights — 3 bed: $2.27M (33 sales) Narrabeen — 3 bed: $2.55M (9 sales)

33 vs 9 sales

4 bed $2.22M / $3M
Wheeler Heights — 4 bed: $2.22M (10 sales) Narrabeen — 4 bed: $3M (11 sales)

10 vs 11 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.

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
2 bed $1.29M / $1.22M
Wheeler Heights — 2 bed: $1.29M (6 sales) Narrabeen — 2 bed: $1.22M (107 sales)

6 vs 107 sales

3 bed $2.08M / $2.54M
Wheeler Heights — 3 bed: $2.08M (5 sales) Narrabeen — 3 bed: $2.54M (14 sales)

5 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Residential 96% 43%
Parks and recreation 3% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 15%
Environmental 0% 9%
Commercial 0% 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

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
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.

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Houses 5.3%
$1,950/wk on $1.9M
 1.8%
$1,475/wk on $4.22M
Units — 4.7%
$850/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
House price Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 15% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 31% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 51% of NSW

Liveability

Wheeler Heights scores higher overall (88 vs 51).

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Grade A+ B
Score 88/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Narrabeen carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0); Narrabeen carries more crime risk (40 vs 17).

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
27/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Wheeler Heights

  • St Rose Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Wheeler Heights Public School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Narrabeen

  • Narrabeen Lakes Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Lucy's, St Joseph's Narrabeen campus Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 25
Parks & reserves 2 8
Childcare 2 6
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Narrabeen sits further from the CBD (28.4 km vs 24.2 km).

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Walkability score 79/100 73/100
Distance to Sydney 24.2 km 28.4 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 36 min 38 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 70.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 163.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2097
 1.5%
postcode 2101
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2097
 21
postcode 2101

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.

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Car (driver) 51.5% / 45.2%
Wheeler Heights — Car (driver): 51.5% Narrabeen — Car (driver): 45.2%
Worked from Home 42.8% / 45.9%
Wheeler Heights — Worked from Home: 42.8% Narrabeen — Worked from Home: 45.9%
Bus 1.9% / 3.9%
Wheeler Heights — Bus: 1.9% Narrabeen — Bus: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 2.0%
Wheeler Heights — Car (passenger): 2.6% Narrabeen — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.9%
Wheeler Heights — Walked Only: 1.2% Narrabeen — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.5%).

Setting

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
1.9 km to a named beach
 381 m
487 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Connectivity score 82/100 73/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 28%
999 premises
 8%
5,215 premises

Climate

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wheeler Heights Narrabeen
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wheeler Heights

Coastal Easy Commute Family Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet River Transport Hub Urban

Narrabeen

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wheeler Heights

Wheeler Heights vs Cromer Wheeler Heights vs Collaroy Plateau

Other comparisons with Narrabeen

Narrabeen vs Cromer Narrabeen vs Collaroy Narrabeen vs North Narrabeen Narrabeen vs Collaroy Plateau Narrabeen vs Elanora Heights Narrabeen vs Ingleside
Full data on Wheeler Heights Full data on Narrabeen
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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