Collaroy Plateau
A 98.6th-percentile household-income profile sets Collaroy Plateau apart from much of Sydney, with weekly household income of $3,278 and 59.8% of homes containing four or more bedrooms. The 4,805 residents live at a density of 3,937.9 people per square kilometre, but the housing stock remains 94.2% detached houses. Compared with nearby Cromer and Narrabeen, the suburb reads as a more owner-oriented, family-sized pocket, with 48.6% paying a mortgage and only 12.6% renting. Its age profile is close to the national average at 40 years, while 40.9% have university qualifications, 10.8 percentage points above the national comparison. This is an established, affluent area rather than a high-turnover growth market.
Population
4,805
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,278/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
64
Homebuyers are buying into a detached, family-sized market: 94.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 59.8% have four or more bedrooms, compared with only 3.2% apartments. The weekly rent of $800 and monthly mortgage cost of $3,467 point to a high-entry-cost suburb, although mortgage repayments equal 24.4% of household income, below a typical stress threshold. Ownership is relatively strong, with 37.9% owning outright and 48.6% holding a mortgage, while just 12.6% rent. The trade-off is limited product choice and likely competition for renovated homes. Compared with Narrabeen, buyers should expect a quieter plateau setting and more house-led stock, but should verify drainage, slope, parking and school catchments street by street.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are buying into a detached, family-sized market: 94.2% of dwellings are separate houses and 59.8% have four or more bedrooms, compared with only 3.2% apartments. The weekly rent of $800 and monthly mortgage cost of $3,467 point to a high-entry-cost suburb, although mortgage repayments equal 24.4% of household income, below a typical stress threshold. Ownership is relatively strong, with 37.9% owning outright and 48.6% holding a mortgage, while just 12.6% rent. The trade-off is limited product choice and likely competition for renovated homes. Compared with Narrabeen, buyers should expect a quieter plateau setting and more house-led stock, but should verify drainage, slope, parking and school catchments street by street.
For Investors
Investor appeal rests on scarcity and household stability rather than rapid expansion. Renting accounts for 12.6% of occupied dwellings, the weekly rent is $800, and vacancy is 3.4%, creating a relatively tight but small rental pool because 94.2% of housing is detached. Development activity is noticeable at 59 applications in 12 months, yet the examples centre on dwelling alterations and additions, so this is more likely to refresh existing stock than create large rental volumes. The forecast points to 0.36% annual growth, with overseas migration the primary driver, while the population trajectory is Aging. Compared with higher-turnover coastal markets, the case is stronger for long-term owner-occupier demand than for immediate yield or high-density redevelopment.
Development Activity
Total DAs
404
Last 12 Months
64
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Collaroy Plateau
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Collaroy Plateau has a settled, family-weighted profile: the average household contains 3.2 people, 62.2% of families are couples with children, and 85.2% of residents have stayed at the same address. Median age is 40, exactly aligned with the national comparison, but the trajectory is older, with the senior share up 3.5 percentage points and the young share down 1.7 points. University attainment is 40.9%, 10.8 points above the national level. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry are prominent at 1,946, 574 and 495 people, while overseas-born residents make up 23.4%, 1.8 points above the national comparison. Compared with Narrabeen, the suburb feels more settled and family oriented, with turnover at 14.8%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.2%
Houses
2.6%
Townhouse
3.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached and comparatively owner-held. Separate houses account for 94.2% of dwellings, while apartments represent 3.2% and semi-detached homes 2.6%. Tenure is split between 37.9% owning outright and 48.6% with a mortgage, leaving 12.6% renting. The bedroom mix reinforces the family market: 59.8% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 32.5% have three. Mortgage repayments and rent each equal 24.4% of household income, a lower burden than the price pressure implied by the $3,467 monthly mortgage and $800 weekly rent. Compared with nearby Cromer, Collaroy Plateau has a similarly house-led feel but a particularly high-income, low-rental profile, consistent with its household-income percentile of 98.6.
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $800.
$945
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,290 · units $875
HH Size
3.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,071
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.4%
Unoccupied
51
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
62.2%
Couples with children
26.6%
Couples, no children
10.6%
Single parent
1,316
Total families
Economy & Employment
Local economic capacity is strong: weekly household income is $3,278, at the 98.6th percentile, and unemployment is 2.4% with a 69.9% participation rate. Employment is concentrated in Construction at 14.1% or 252 workers, Professional and Technical services at 13.9% or 247, and Healthcare at 13.4% or 238, followed by Education at 10.9% and Finance at 8.5%. Occupations are led by Professionals with 639 people and Managers with 509, ahead of Trades at 348. The mix supports a skilled, service-linked economy, while 46.2% working from home reduces dependence on daily commuting. SEIFA places the suburb in decile 10 for both IRSAD and IRSD, above the national average on socioeconomic advantage because high incomes and professional employment are widespread.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
2,614
Unemployed
63
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
34.4%
Participation
69.9%
Employed
2,551
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.9%
Postgraduate
8.7%
Born Overseas
23.4%
Dwellings
1,446
Transport to Work
Livability suits households that value space, local primary access and a quieter residential setting. Two nearby government primary schools serve the immediate area, giving families practical local options, while exact enrolment zones should be checked against the address. Transport is car-led: 46.4% drive to work, compared with 1.9% using public transport, and 46.2% work from home. Walking or cycling accounts for 2.5%, so daily convenience depends more on local services and road access than rail proximity. Socioeconomic advantage is exceptionally high, with IRSAD and IRSD both in decile 10, above the national average. Median age is 40 and household size is 3.2, supporting a settled family atmosphere, while 15.6% volunteer. Assess lighting, traffic and pedestrian conditions in person.
Drive
46.4%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
46.2%
Population Forecast
+0.36%/yr
(+51 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is measured rather than explosive. The annual trend is 0.36%, and population change across the wider area is 10.9% over 10 years, while the primary migration driver is overseas migration. The shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.5 percentage points and the working share down 2.8 points, so demand is likely to favour established homes and accessible services more than large new subdivisions. Gentrification is scored 10 and classified as Not gentrifying. The suburb recovered from a 2.7% COVID dip, with recovery recorded at 1.4%. Compared with faster-growing Northern Beaches pockets, Collaroy Plateau should be viewed as a slow-growth, established market rather than a rapid population expansion play.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+198
Net Internal / yr
-186
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -186/yr, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Collaroy Plateau compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Collaroy Plateau a good suburb to live in?
It suits households seeking detached homes and a settled setting. About 94.2% of dwellings are separate houses, median age is 40, and 46.2% work from home. Two nearby government primary schools add practical family access, but car use at 46.4% is higher than public transport at 1.9%.
What is the median house price in Collaroy Plateau?
A current median house price should be checked against live listings and recent settled sales in Collaroy Plateau, Cromer and Narrabeen. The cost context is substantial: rent is $800 per week, the mortgage figure is $3,467 per month, and 94.2% of dwellings are separate houses.
What schools are in Collaroy Plateau?
The area has 2 nearby government primary schools, including Collaroy Plateau Public School and Wheeler Heights Public School. Families should confirm the catchment for the exact address, as school access can vary more by enrolment boundary than by suburb label. Secondary options and travel times should be checked separately.
Is Collaroy Plateau safe?
Safety should be checked using current NSW Police information and an in-person visit, because lighting, traffic and pedestrian conditions vary by street. Public transport use is 1.9%, lower than car-driver travel at 46.4%, so road conditions matter for many households. Compare the exact address with nearby streets before buying or renting.
Is Collaroy Plateau good for property investment?
Investment demand is more likely to come from stable owner-occupier households than from a large rental market. Only 12.6% of dwellings are rented, vacancy is 3.4%, and weekly rent is $800. Development activity reached 59 applications in 12 months, but recent work mainly involves alterations and additions, so supply growth may be lower than the application count suggests.
How is Collaroy Plateau's population changing?
Collaroy Plateau is changing slowly and ageing. The annual growth trend is 0.36%, population change across the wider area is 10.9% over 10 years, and the trajectory is labelled Aging. The senior share rose 3.5 percentage points while the young share fell 1.7 points, so demand should tilt more toward established housing and services than rapid new development.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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