Manly
Renter-majority coastal prestige defines Manly: 52.7% of homes are rented, 76.8% are apartments and the median house price is $2.04m. That combination is unusual because the suburb sits in the 98.0 household income percentile while still functioning as a high-turnover beach and ferry centre. Compared with nearby Fairlight and Queenscliff, Manly has a stronger visitor, apartment and town-centre role. Its 16,296 residents live at 2,927.4 people per sq km, above a low-density suburban pattern, and 42.5% were born overseas.
Population
16,296
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,164/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
154
Median House
$2.0M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Buying in Manly is mainly about access, lifestyle and scarcity rather than land size. The $2.04m median house price sits in a market where only 11.3% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 76.8% apartments, so detached homes face higher competition. Prices were 3.1% below the 2024 peak by 2025, giving buyers a small reset rather than a cheap entry point. Mortgage payments of $3,467 per month equal 25.3% of income, below common stress thresholds because household incomes are high.
For Buyers
Buying in Manly is mainly about access, lifestyle and scarcity rather than land size. The $2.04m median house price sits in a market where only 11.3% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 76.8% apartments, so detached homes face higher competition. Prices were 3.1% below the 2024 peak by 2025, giving buyers a small reset rather than a cheap entry point. Mortgage payments of $3,467 per month equal 25.3% of income, below common stress thresholds because household incomes are high.
For Investors
Manly has a deep tenant pool, with 52.7% renting and median rent at $725 per week, but the 16.3% vacancy rate is higher than a tight-market setting and changes the risk profile. Investors are buying liquidity and demand near the beach, ferry and hospitality core, not just scarcity. The 142 development applications over 12 months point to ongoing renewal, which can lift amenity but also adds competing stock. Smaller dwellings dominate, with 20.4% at 0 to 1 bedrooms and 41.4% at 2 bedrooms.
Development Activity
Total DAs
790
Last 12 Months
154
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Manly iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 330 students
Manly Village Public School
K-6 · 532 students
Stella Maris College
7-12 · 1006 students
St Paul's Catholic College
7-12 · 468 students
Demographics
Manly is highly educated, internationally connected and slightly younger than the national benchmark. The median age is 38, which is 2.0 years below national, while 65.1% hold a university qualification, 35.0 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 42.5%, which is 20.9 points above national, and average household size is 2.2, or 0.3 below national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestries lead, while French, Portuguese and German are notable non-English language groups.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
11.3%
Houses
11.5%
Townhouse
76.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Manly's housing mix explains both its premium pricing and high renter share. The latest median house price is $2.025m for 2025, down 3.1% from the 2024 peak of $2.09m, so the market is below peak but still expensive. Tenure is more rental-oriented than owner-occupied, with 28.7% owned outright, 18.6% mortgaged and 52.7% rented. Apartments account for 76.8% of homes, compared with 11.3% separate houses, while the price-to-income ratio is about 12.4 times annual household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,467
Rent / wk
$725
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,595
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.3%
Unoccupied
1,362
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.2%
Couples, no children
11,117
Total families
Economy & Employment
Manly's economy is led by high-income knowledge work. Professional and tech roles account for 25.9% of local employment, followed by finance at 12.9%, healthcare at 10.5%, education at 7.5% and construction at 6.6%. Occupations reinforce that pattern, with 3,986 professionals and 2,346 managers. Unemployment is 3.8% and full-time work is 73.1%, below a weak-labour-market reading. SEIFA ranks are high: IEO, IRSD and IRSAD are all decile 10, while IER is decile 7 because rental and apartment patterns moderate economic resources.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
73.1%
Part-time
23.1%
Participation
64.7%
Employed
8,783
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.1%
Postgraduate
19.1%
Born Overseas
42.5%
Dwellings
6,971
Transport to Work
Manly's livability rests on beach access, walkability and strong school options rather than car-free commuting. Four local schools span Catholic, Government and Independent sectors, with ICSEA scores from 1091 to 1159, all higher than the 1000 national reference point. St Mary's Catholic Primary leads at 1159, Manly Village Public follows at 1151 and Stella Maris College provides a large secondary option with 1,006 enrolments. Commuting is still car-heavy at 67.3%, but 20.6% walked or cycled, well above many outer-suburban patterns.
Drive
67.3%
Public Transport
8.1%
Walk / Cycle
20.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Manly compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manly a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if you value beach access, walkability and a high-service town centre. Manly has 16,296 residents, 20.6% walk or cycle to work and household income sits in the 98.0 percentile, higher than most suburbs nationally.
What is the median house price in Manly?
The median house price is $2.04m, with the latest price series showing $2.025m in 2025. That is 3.1% below the 2024 peak of $2.09m, so prices are lower than peak but still firmly premium.
What schools are in Manly?
Manly has 4 local schools: St Mary's Catholic Primary, Manly Village Public, Stella Maris College and St Paul's Catholic College. ICSEA scores range from 1091 to 1159, above the 1000 national reference point.
Is Manly safe?
A current crime rate per 1,000 is not available for Manly, so safety should be checked at street and building level. Practical indicators include 20.6% walking or cycling to work and 67.3% driving, meaning activity varies by corridor and time.
Is Manly good for property investment?
Manly suits investors who can handle premium pricing and vacancy risk. Renting is high at 52.7% and median rent is $725 per week, but vacancy is 16.3%, higher than a tight rental market, so asset selection matters.
How is Manly's population changing?
Manly's change is mainly redevelopment-led rather than expansion-led. It already has 16,296 people at 2,927.4 people per sq km, and 142 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing renewal above simple greenfield growth.
What languages are spoken in Manly?
Manly is more internationally mixed than the national average, with 42.5% born overseas, 20.9 percentage points above national. Notable non-English language counts include French 151, Portuguese 133, German 104 and Italian 90.
Is there much development in Manly?
Yes. There were 142 development applications over 12 months, which is high for a 5.57 sq km suburb. Activity includes shop-top housing, business premises changes and alterations, so renewal is higher than a static coastal market.
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.
Explore Manly on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map