Collaroy
Apartments outnumber houses in Collaroy (53.3% vs 41.7%), an unusual ratio for Sydney's Northern Beaches that reflects decades of coastal unit development. Household incomes at the 90th percentile ($2,372/week) and SEIFA IRSAD decile 10 place it among Sydney's most advantaged suburbs. The median house price of $1,575,000 delivered a 45.5% gain from 2024 to 2025 based on PSI data, though this single-year figure should be interpreted cautiously given low sale volumes. With 64 development applications in 12 months, renewal activity is high for a beachside suburb.
Population
7,944
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,372/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
67
Median House
$1.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $1,575,000 median sits below the Northern Beaches average for detached housing, partly because 53.3% of stock is apartments, pulling the overall median down. The 2-bedroom configuration dominates at 38.8%, typical of the coastal unit stock, while 30.1% have 4-plus bedrooms for house buyers. Mortgage-to-income at 27.3% is below the stress threshold. A high outright-ownership rate (37.8%) indicates long-term residents. With only 1 school in-suburb (Pittwater House, ICSEA 1,158), families may need to look to neighbouring suburbs for options. Walking/cycling at 3.9% reflects the beachside lifestyle.
For Buyers
The $1,575,000 median sits below the Northern Beaches average for detached housing, partly because 53.3% of stock is apartments, pulling the overall median down. The 2-bedroom configuration dominates at 38.8%, typical of the coastal unit stock, while 30.1% have 4-plus bedrooms for house buyers. Mortgage-to-income at 27.3% is below the stress threshold. A high outright-ownership rate (37.8%) indicates long-term residents. With only 1 school in-suburb (Pittwater House, ICSEA 1,158), families may need to look to neighbouring suburbs for options. Walking/cycling at 3.9% reflects the beachside lifestyle.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $600 against a $1,575,000 median implies a gross yield of roughly 2.0%. The 30.7% renter share is substantial for a premium suburb, providing tenant depth. Vacancy at 7.2% is above average, likely influenced by seasonal holiday rentals. With 64 development applications in 12 months (including dwelling alterations, CDCs, and new builds), the stock is being upgraded. SEIFA IER decile 10 and IRSD decile 10 mean tenants tend to be high-income professionals. Capital growth is the primary return driver in a beachside premium market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
356
Last 12 Months
67
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+1.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Collaroy iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Pittwater House Schools
K-12 · 1002 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 sits 3 years above the national median, reflecting established residents rather than retirees. English ancestry dominates (3,319), followed by Irish (1,136), Scottish (874), and Italian (561). Only 27.3% were born overseas, 6pp above the national average. University education at 45.5% is 15 percentage points above the national rate. Professionals (1,188) and Managers (840) lead occupations. Couples without children at 30.1% and couples with children at 37.2% balance the household mix. Italian (73 speakers) and Portuguese (67) are the top non-English languages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
41.7%
Houses
4.3%
Townhouse
53.3%
Apartment
Tenure
PSI-derived data shows $1,357,500 in 2024 and $1,975,000 in 2025, a 45.5% jump, though limited sale volumes mean this could reflect compositional shift (more houses vs units sold). The apartment dominance at 53.3% sets Collaroy apart from neighbouring beach suburbs. Semi-detached at 4.3% is minimal. Ownership: 37.8% outright, 31.5% mortgage, 30.7% renting. The 10.1% share of studio/1-bed units and 38.8% two-bedroom reflects the original beachside unit stock. Rent-to-income at 25.3% is below stress levels, and mortgage-to-income at 27.3% confirms affordability for the income bracket.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,800
Rent / wk
$600
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,074
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.2%
Unoccupied
232
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.1%
Couples, no children
6,230
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Tech services lead at 15.4% (473 workers), followed by Healthcare (13.3%, 411) and Construction (12.1%, 373). Education (10.1%) and Finance (7.2%) round out the top 5. The construction share is notably high, likely reflecting the suburb's ongoing renovation cycle. Professionals (1,188) and Managers (840) together form over half the workforce. Unemployment at 3.7% is well below the national average, and the participation rate of 57.6% reflects a mix of working professionals and semi-retired coastal residents. SEIFA IEO decile 9 confirms high education/occupation concentration.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.4%
Part-time
31.9%
Participation
57.6%
Employed
3,744
Occupations
Top Industries
University
45.5%
Postgraduate
10.5%
Born Overseas
27.3%
Dwellings
2,984
Transport to Work
Pittwater House Schools (Combined, Independent, ICSEA 1,158, 1,002 students) is the sole in-suburb school, scoring well above the national benchmark. Public transport at 6.6% is moderate for the Northern Beaches. Car usage at 84.4% dominates, though walking/cycling at 3.9% reflects beach proximity. Volunteering at 16.3% is above the national average. The beachside location provides natural amenity, and SEIFA IRSD decile 10 correlates with high-quality local infrastructure. Need-for-assistance at 4.8% is below the national average.
Drive
84.4%
Public Transport
6.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Collaroy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Collaroy a good suburb to live in?
Collaroy ranks in SEIFA decile 10 (top 10% nationally) for advantage. Household incomes at the 90th percentile, unemployment at 3.7%, and beachside amenity make it one of Sydney's most desirable addresses. The trade-off is a $1,575,000 median entry price and 53% apartment-dominant stock.
What is the median house price in Collaroy?
The PSI-derived median is $1,575,000 (2024-2025). Prices moved from $1,357,500 in 2024 to $1,975,000 in 2025, though low sale volumes make year-to-year swings less reliable. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,800.
What schools are in Collaroy?
Collaroy has 1 school: Pittwater House Schools (Combined, Independent, ICSEA 1,158, 1,002 students), scoring 158 points above the national ICSEA benchmark of 1,000. Additional schools in neighbouring Dee Why and Narrabeen are within easy reach.
Is Collaroy safe?
Crime data is not available for Collaroy in the current dataset. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 10 (least disadvantaged nationally) and 3.7% unemployment rate are both strong indicators that correlate with lower-than-average crime in similar suburbs across NSW.
Is Collaroy good for property investment?
Gross yield is approximately 2.0% ($600/week on $1,575,000 median), typical of premium beachside suburbs. The 30.7% renter share provides tenant depth, though 7.2% vacancy is above average. With 64 development applications in 12 months, renewal is active. Capital appreciation rather than yield drives returns here.
How is Collaroy's population changing?
Census population is 7,944 with a median age of 43 (3 years above national). Turnover at 23.0% indicates moderate mobility. The 53.3% apartment stock and 30.1% couples-without-children profile suggest a mix of established families and professional downsizers. University rates at 45.5% run 15pp above the national average.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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