Double Bay
Double Bay packs 4,709 residents into 0.79 square kilometres, producing a density of 5,939 people per square kilometre. Its defining feature is a 76.7% apartment share, while household income sits at the 97.6th percentile nationally. A 69.4% work-from-home rate helps explain why compact homes remain practical for many professionals. Compared with nearby Woollahra and Edgecliff, Double Bay has a more apartment-led urban profile, with a 15.8% vacancy rate indicating a meaningful share of homes is not occupied on a long-term basis.
Population
4,709
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,077/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
134
Double Bay suits buyers prioritising location and apartment access over land, because 76.7% of dwellings are apartments and only 13.4% are separate houses. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 48.2%, followed by three-bedroom homes at 31.4%, so the stock fits singles, couples and smaller households better than large families. Housing costs are not automatically crushing for local earners: mortgage repayments average $3,000 a month, equal to 22.5% of household income, while rent is $720 a week or 23.4% of income. Household income sits at the 97.6th percentile nationally. Compare exact strata fees, parking and renovation rules before buying.
For Buyers
Double Bay suits buyers prioritising location and apartment access over land, because 76.7% of dwellings are apartments and only 13.4% are separate houses. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 48.2%, followed by three-bedroom homes at 31.4%, so the stock fits singles, couples and smaller households better than large families. Housing costs are not automatically crushing for local earners: mortgage repayments average $3,000 a month, equal to 22.5% of household income, while rent is $720 a week or 23.4% of income. Household income sits at the 97.6th percentile nationally. Compare exact strata fees, parking and renovation rules before buying.
For Investors
Double Bay's investor case rests on established rental demand and apartment availability, but vacancy is a clear risk. Renting accounts for 43.6% of households and weekly rent is $720, while the 15.8% vacancy rate signals more competition than a tightly supplied market. A development pipeline of 133 applications in 12 months may keep retail and housing activity moving, although not every application adds dwellings. Overseas migration is the primary forecast driver, which can support demand for well-located rental stock. Compared with a lower-density, owner-occupier market, the 76.7% apartment share creates more exposure to strata costs, building quality and competing listings. Screen vacancy periods, levies and sinking funds rather than relying on gross rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
645
Last 12 Months
134
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Double Bay
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Double Bay has 4,709 residents and a median age of 39, which is 1 year below the national comparison. Its 68.9% university-educated share is 38.8 percentage points above the national figure, matching the concentration of professionals and managers. Overseas-born residents make up 36.8%, 15.2 points above national levels, with English ancestry recorded for 1,512 people, Irish for 632 and Scottish for 434. Christianity counts 1,850 people, no religion 1,760 and Judaism 653. Average household size is 2.1, below the national comparison by 0.4, because the couple-without-children share is 51.5%. Compared with nearby Rose Bay, Double Bay's profile is especially compact and professional.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
13.4%
Houses
8.9%
Townhouse
76.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartment living sets Double Bay apart: 76.7% of dwellings are apartments, compared with 13.4% separate houses and 8.9% semi-detached homes. The bedroom mix is concentrated in two-bedroom stock at 48.2%, while 31.4% have three bedrooms and only 11.8% have four or more. Tenure is split between 34.4% owned outright, 19.6% mortgaged and 43.6% rented, leaving renting higher than outright ownership by 9.2 percentage points. That structure reflects a dense, established market where downsizers, professionals and investors share limited land. Double Bay contrasts with nearby Woollahra's more mixed housing feel, while its 15.8% vacancy rate is higher than in tightly held markets. Mortgage payments of $3,000 monthly are below the rent-to-income ratio of 23.4%, at 22.5% of household income.
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $720.
$1,100
Bond data Jun 2026 · units $1,050
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,662
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.8%
Unoccupied
399
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.6%
Couples with children
51.5%
Couples, no children
12.9%
Single parent
1,228
Total families
Economy & Employment
Double Bay's economy is weighted toward high-skill services. Professional and tech work accounts for 25.2% of industry employment, followed by finance at 17.0%, healthcare at 10.8%, education at 6.2% and real estate at 5.7%. The occupation mix reinforces that pattern, with 1,190 professionals and 638 managers. Labour-force participation is 66.1%, unemployment is 3.4% and full-time employment is 67.5%, indicating a strong working base despite 1,209 people outside the labour force. Household income is $3,077 weekly at the 97.6th percentile nationally, which helps explain why mortgage and rent ratios remain 22.5% and 23.4%. Compared with lower-income Sydney markets, spending power is materially higher, supporting premium services and commercial activity.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
2,727
Unemployed
93
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.5%
Part-time
23.6%
Participation
66.1%
Employed
2,634
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
68.9%
Postgraduate
20.3%
Born Overseas
36.8%
Dwellings
2,129
Transport to Work
Daily life is shaped by compact apartments, local services and home-based work. Work from home is recorded at 69.4%, while 19.1% drive and 2.8% use public transport, so access to shops and services can matter more than a large dwelling or long commute. Double Bay Public School is the local government primary option, and families should check enrolment zones against the exact address when considering nearby alternatives. The suburb has a 17.3% volunteering rate and only 2.8% needing assistance, consistent with strong social capacity. Its IRSAD and IRSD scores both sit in decile 10, above the national median. Compared with car-dependent suburbs, the 0.79 square kilometre footprint makes errands more manageable, but apartment noise, parking and strata rules deserve attention.
Drive
19.1%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
69.4%
Population Forecast
-0.07%/yr
(-7 people/yr)
EstablishedDouble Bay sits in an established, slow-growth phase. The forecast annual trend is -0.07%, while population change across the wider area is 3.4% over 10 years, so momentum is modest rather than expansionary. Overseas migration is the primary driver, even as the trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 3.4 percentage points and the working share down 3.3 points. The gentrification score is 10 and the stage is Not gentrifying, indicating change is more demographic than wholesale repositioning. Rent growth of 25.2% may keep investor attention elevated, but a 15.8% vacancy rate can soften near-term pressure. Compared with faster-growing outer suburbs, Double Bay's appeal is stability, amenity and established housing rather than rapid population gains.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+234
Net Internal / yr
-217
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -217/yr, Strong overseas inflow +234/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Double Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Double Bay a good suburb to live in?
Double Bay can suit professionals, couples and downsizers who value apartment living, local services and a short commute. The suburb has 4,709 residents, a 76.7% apartment share and a 69.4% work-from-home rate. Buyers and renters should check building quality, parking, noise and strata arrangements because apartment conditions vary.
What is the median house price in Double Bay?
A current median house price should be checked against settled sales rather than inferred from rent. Double Bay is 76.7% apartments, with 48.2% of dwellings containing 2 bedrooms and only 13.4% being separate houses. Filter sales by property type, parking, bedroom count and strata costs to make a meaningful comparison.
What schools are in Double Bay?
Double Bay Public School is the local government primary option. Families should confirm enrolment boundaries and investigate nearby secondary choices for the exact address. The suburb has 4,709 residents within 0.79 square kilometres, so practical school access can change across neighbouring suburbs such as Woollahra, Edgecliff and Rose Bay.
Is Double Bay safe?
Assess safety at street and building level by checking recent incidents, lighting, access control and common areas. Double Bay has 4,709 residents in 0.79 square kilometres, and its 76.7% apartment share means security arrangements can vary substantially between buildings. Inspect entry systems, lifts, parking areas and shared spaces before committing.
Is Double Bay good for property investment?
It can suit investors seeking established apartment demand, but it is not a low-risk vacancy story. Renting is 43.6%, weekly rent is $720 and vacancy is 15.8%, so tenant demand exists alongside competition. The 133 development applications in 12 months make building quality, strata levies and future competing stock important checks.
How is Double Bay's population changing?
Change is modest and aging. The forecast annual trend is -0.07%, while population change across the wider area is 3.4% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the senior share has risen 3.4 points and the working share has fallen 3.3 points, so household composition may shift more than total size.
What languages are spoken in Double Bay?
English ancestry is recorded for 1,512 residents, while Mandarin is the most numerous listed non-English language with 47 speakers. Overseas-born residents represent 36.8%, which is 15.2 percentage points above the national comparison. French, Cantonese, Greek and Russian are also represented, each with between 18 and 28 listed speakers.
What development is happening in Double Bay?
Development activity is notable, with 133 applications lodged over 12 months. Recent examples include shop-top housing trading-hours changes, alterations to retail premises and a dwelling-house review. Because 76.7% of homes are apartments and vacancy is 15.8%, check whether a project affects amenity, construction disruption or future competing supply.
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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