Narraweena
At a $2,300,000 median house price on Sydney's Northern Beaches, Narraweena delivers premium-suburb pricing despite a relatively muted growth trajectory of 0.43% per year. The contrast is the defining feature: prices rose 5.4% from $2,230,000 in 2024 to $2,350,000 in 2025, yet the population is expanding by only about 63 residents annually. Detached houses make up 72.6% of stock, well above what apartment-heavy Sydney suburbs offer, and 66.8% of mortgage holders, which locks in established owner-occupiers. With university qualifications at 37.2%, which is 7.1 points above the national figure, and SEIFA IRSAD in decile 9, the suburb sits firmly in the upper advantage tier nationally.
Population
6,971
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,935/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
57
Median House
$2.3M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $2,300,000 median reflects a detached-house market, with separate houses at 72.6% and apartments at just 12.2%. Larger family stock dominates: 3-bedroom homes make up 33.8% and 4-plus bedrooms 35.0%, so two-thirds of dwellings suit families rather than downsizers. Prices climbed 5.4% in a single year, from $2,230,000 to $2,350,000, indicating sustained demand for scarce house stock. Buying here is expensive relative to income: monthly mortgage repayments of $3,042 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.3%, above the 30% stress threshold, which is why the median age of 43 sits 3 years above national, as the entry cost favours established earners over first-home buyers. Outright owners (31.7%) and mortgage holders (33.7%) together hold 65.4% of homes.
For Buyers
The $2,300,000 median reflects a detached-house market, with separate houses at 72.6% and apartments at just 12.2%. Larger family stock dominates: 3-bedroom homes make up 33.8% and 4-plus bedrooms 35.0%, so two-thirds of dwellings suit families rather than downsizers. Prices climbed 5.4% in a single year, from $2,230,000 to $2,350,000, indicating sustained demand for scarce house stock. Buying here is expensive relative to income: monthly mortgage repayments of $3,042 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.3%, above the 30% stress threshold, which is why the median age of 43 sits 3 years above national, as the entry cost favours established earners over first-home buyers. Outright owners (31.7%) and mortgage holders (33.7%) together hold 65.4% of homes.
For Investors
Rental fundamentals are thin for capital-heavy investors. Weekly rent of $400 against a $2,300,000 median produces a gross yield near 0.9%, far below what cheaper suburbs return, because the house-dominated stock is priced for owner-occupiers rather than renters. The renter share is 34.6%, a smaller tenant pool than apartment-led suburbs, and the vacancy rate of 5.3% is moderate. Rents have grown 43.6% over the period, which supports income upside, while 52 development applications in the past 12 months show ongoing renovation and secondary-dwelling activity rather than large unit projects. Overseas migration at 194 per year adds demand, but internal migration runs at -202 annually, a net domestic outflow that caps tenant growth. The investment case rests on land value and house scarcity, not yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
269
Last 12 Months
57
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+21.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Narraweena iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St John the Apostle Catholic Primary School
K-6 · 247 students
Narraweena Public School
K-6 · 511 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, signalling an established, family-oriented population rather than a young-professional one. Overseas-born residents at 31.9% are 10.3 points above national, but the migrant base is European-led: English ancestry tops the list at 2,400, followed by Italian at 1,004, and Italian is the leading non-English language spoken at home with 189 speakers, ahead of Mandarin at 85. University qualifications at 37.2% are 7.1 points above national, consistent with the professional skew. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, reinforcing the family profile, as couples with children (2,546 families) far outnumber couples without (1,135). Residential stability is high, with 82.4% of residents staying put and turnover at only 17.6%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.6%
Houses
15.1%
Townhouse
12.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is evenly split three ways: 31.7% own outright, 33.7% carry a mortgage and 34.6% rent, an unusually balanced structure for a premium suburb. The stock is overwhelmingly detached at 72.6%, with semi-detached at 15.1% and apartments at just 12.2%, and it skews large, as 4-plus-bedroom homes (35.0%) slightly outnumber 3-bedroom homes (33.8%). The median rose 5.4% in a year, from $2,230,000 to $2,350,000, reflecting scarcity of family houses. The SEIFA IER score sits in decile 9, above most of the country, confirming genuine economic resources behind the high tenure rates rather than leverage alone. Rent-to-income at 20.7% is comfortable and below stress, but mortgage-to-income at 36.3% is elevated, so the affordability burden falls on recent buyers rather than long-term renters.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,042
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$790
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.3%
Unoccupied
136
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.0%
Couples, no children
5,676
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads employment at 16.3% (351 workers), followed by Professional/Tech at 12.4% (268), Construction at 11.6% (250), Education at 8.9% (193) and Retail at 7.5% (161), a service-and-trades mix typical of an affluent residential suburb. Professionals (740) and Managers (547) dominate occupations, consistent with the IEO score in decile 8, above the national midpoint. The unemployment rate of 3.9% is below average, though the participation rate of 52.4% is suppressed by the older age profile and a large not-in-labour-force group. Full-time employment runs at 61.7%. Real incomes grew 20.6% over the decade, outpacing inflation, which helps explain how households absorb the high mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.3%.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
8,060
Unemployed
446
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.7%
Part-time
34.4%
Participation
52.4%
Employed
2,843
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.2%
Postgraduate
8.7%
Born Overseas
31.9%
Dwellings
2,418
Transport to Work
Transport here is car-dependent: 81.0% of residents drive to work, well above the national share, while public transport sits at just 6.3% and walking or cycling at 4.2%, reflecting the absence of a train line on this part of the Northern Beaches. The SEIFA IRSAD ranking in decile 9 confirms top-tier overall advantage nationally, and residential stability is high, with 82.4% of residents staying in place. The household income at the 72.3rd percentile places Narraweena above most Australian suburbs, and the volunteering rate of 12.0% points to community engagement. The trade-off for buyers is cost: the $2,300,000 median and a 36.3% mortgage-to-income ratio make this a suburb for established households rather than first entrants, with families drawn by the 72.6% detached-house stock and quieter, low-turnover streets.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
6.3%
Walk / Cycle
4.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.43%/yr
(+63 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow at 0.43% per year, around 63 residents annually, classifying Narraweena as an established rather than expanding suburb. The 10-year change was 11.6%, modest compared with greenfield Sydney growth corridors. Overseas migration at 194 per year is the primary growth driver, but it is largely offset by net internal outflow of -202 per year, meaning the suburb loses more domestic residents than it gains. The gentrification trajectory is stable, scored in the early-signs band, with the young-resident share down 0.9 points and the senior share up 0.2 points, a gentle aging trend rather than rapid demographic turnover. Affordability improved slightly, with the index easing from 63.6% in 2011 to 61.6% in 2021, even as house prices stayed high, supported by 20.6% real income growth.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+194
Net Internal / yr
-202
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -202/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Narraweena compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Narraweena a good suburb to live in?
Narraweena suits established families who value detached housing and stability. Separate houses make up 72.6% of stock, household income sits at the 72.3rd percentile nationally, and SEIFA IRSAD is in decile 9, the upper advantage tier. The trade-off is high entry cost, with a $2,300,000 median and car dependence at 81.0% of commuters.
What is the median house price in Narraweena?
The median house price is $2,300,000, based on 2024 to 2025 sales data. Prices rose 5.4% over the year, from $2,230,000 in 2024 to $2,350,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,042, while median weekly rent is $400, producing a gross rental yield near 0.9%.
What schools are in Narraweena?
No individual school data is available in this dataset for Narraweena. The suburb has a family profile, with 2,546 couple-with-children families and an average household size of 2.8, which is 0.3 above the national figure, so school-age demand is significant and families typically draw on nearby Northern Beaches schools.
Is Narraweena safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Narraweena in this dataset. Indirect indicators point to a settled area: residential turnover is low at 17.6%, with 82.4% of residents staying put, and SEIFA IRSAD sits in decile 9, the upper advantage tier nationally, which typically correlates with lower deprivation-driven crime.
Is Narraweena good for property investment?
Returns favour capital growth over income. Weekly rent of $400 on a $2,300,000 median gives a gross yield near 0.9%, very low, and the renter pool is 34.6%. Rents grew 43.6% over the period and 52 development applications were lodged in 12 months, but the case rests on land scarcity, not yield.
How is Narraweena's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.43% per year, about 63 residents annually, with a 10-year change of 11.6%. Overseas migration adds 194 people per year, but net internal migration is -202, a domestic outflow. The median age of 43 is 3 years above national, reflecting a gradually aging, established population.
What languages are spoken in Narraweena?
Overseas-born residents make up 31.9%, which is 10.3 points above the national figure, but the heritage is European-led. English ancestry leads at 2,400 and Italian at 1,004, and Italian is the top non-English language at home with 189 speakers, ahead of Mandarin at 85 and Portuguese at 49.
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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