North Sydney
Almost half of North Sydney's residents (49.9%) were born overseas, and 67.2% hold university degrees, placing educational attainment 37.1 percentage points above the national rate. Despite household income in the 90.7th percentile, the suburb's economic resources SEIFA decile drops to 3, because 62.6% of residents rent rather than own, creating a paradox of high earners with low accumulated housing wealth. Population surged 30.8% in the past decade at 1.79% annually, adding 246 people per year, driven overwhelmingly by overseas migration (+432/year).
Population
8,964
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,405/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
205
Median House
$1.6M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Apartments dominate at 84.9%, making North Sydney one of the most apartment-heavy suburbs in Australia. The median house price of $1,562,500 applies to the small 6.1% of stock that is detached housing. For buyers, the real market is units: 38.6% are studios/1-bed and 39.2% are 2-bed, reflecting the young professional demographic. Mortgage-to-income at 27.1% is manageable but higher than comparable high-income suburbs because the median price reflects scarce houses, not typical apartments. Walking and cycling (28.2%) plus public transport (21.7%) mean nearly half of commuters avoid driving, a major lifestyle draw.
For Buyers
Apartments dominate at 84.9%, making North Sydney one of the most apartment-heavy suburbs in Australia. The median house price of $1,562,500 applies to the small 6.1% of stock that is detached housing. For buyers, the real market is units: 38.6% are studios/1-bed and 39.2% are 2-bed, reflecting the young professional demographic. Mortgage-to-income at 27.1% is manageable but higher than comparable high-income suburbs because the median price reflects scarce houses, not typical apartments. Walking and cycling (28.2%) plus public transport (21.7%) mean nearly half of commuters avoid driving, a major lifestyle draw.
For Investors
With 62.6% renters and $575/week median rent, North Sydney has the tenant demand, but vacancy at 14.9% is among the highest in Sydney and roughly 5 times the metro equilibrium. This surplus likely stems from the 202 development applications in 12 months, many for commercial office premises, adding to already substantial apartment stock. Population growth at 1.79% annually (+246/year) is strong, but internal migration runs at -211/year, meaning residents leave for cheaper suburbs while overseas arrivals (+432/year) refill the pipeline. Rent-to-income at 23.9% is below stress levels.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1,133
Last 12 Months
205
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+13.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Sydney iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
SHORE - Sydney Church of England Grammar School
K-12 · 1724 students
Wenona School
K-12 · 1385 students
Cameragal Montessori School
K-6 · 40 students
Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College
7-12 · 1186 students
Marist Catholic College North Shore
K-12 · 1609 students
Demographics
Median age of 36 sits 4 years below the national figure, consistent with a young professional suburb. Overseas-born residents at 49.9% are 28.3 points above the national average, with Chinese ancestry (1,188) the third-largest group after English (2,462) and other (1,659). Mandarin (222 speakers), Cantonese (108), and Hindi (82) are the top non-English languages. Average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below the national median, reflecting the high share of singles and couples without children (46.8% of families). The 43.4% residential turnover rate is among the highest nationally, typical of renter-dominated inner-city areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
6.1%
Houses
8.9%
Townhouse
84.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters at 62.6% far exceed owners, with outright owners at just 19.4% and mortgage holders at 18.0%. The stock is 84.9% apartments, 8.9% semi-detached, and 6.1% houses. Median house price dropped from $1,998,000 in 2024 to $1,335,000 in 2025, a 33.2% decline, though this volatility likely reflects small sample sizes in the detached segment rather than a true market crash. For apartments, weekly rent of $575 against household income of $2,405/week gives a rent-to-income of 23.9%, below the 30% stress line. Couples without children make up 46.8% of families, which is over double the national rate.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,817
Rent / wk
$575
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,566
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.9%
Unoccupied
750
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.8%
Couples, no children
5,534
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/tech services employ 25.2% of workers, the dominant sector by a wide margin, followed by finance (15.5%). Together these white-collar industries account for over 40% of employment, compared to roughly 15% nationally. Healthcare (9.7%), education (7.8%), and public administration (5.8%) round out the top five. Professionals (2,530) and managers (1,089) make up 71% of occupations. Full-time employment at 78.4% is one of the highest rates nationally, well above the average of around 60%. Despite decile 10 on education and advantage indices, the economic resources decile of 3 reflects the rent-heavy, asset-light nature of the population.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
9,407
Unemployed
342
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
78.4%
Part-time
17.6%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
5,078
Occupations
Top Industries
University
67.2%
Postgraduate
24.1%
Born Overseas
49.9%
Dwellings
4,251
Transport to Work
Five schools serve the area, all with ICSEA scores well above the national benchmark: SHORE Grammar (1205, 1724 students), Wenona School (1187, 1385), Cameragal Montessori (1179, 40), Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College (1179, 1186), and Marist Catholic College North Shore (1166, 1609). Public transport usage at 21.7% and walking/cycling at 28.2% make North Sydney one of the most transit-oriented suburbs in Australia, with less than half of residents (45.1%) driving. IRSAD decile 10 confirms top-tier socioeconomic advantage despite the low ownership rate.
Drive
45.1%
Public Transport
21.7%
Walk / Cycle
28.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.79%/yr
(+246 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows rapidly at 1.79% per year (+246 people/year), with a medium forecast of 15,219 by 2031, up from 13,776 in 2025. Overseas migration (+432/year) is the engine, while internal migration is strongly negative (-211/year), confirming a pattern where international workers arrive, stay a few years, then move to more affordable suburbs. The 30.8% decade growth rate is well above Sydney's average. Gentrification score of 36 shows early signs, with accelerating growth from 11% to 21% between decades. Senior share grew 3.2 points despite the young median age, indicating the working-age bulge is beginning to age in place.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+432
Net Internal / yr
-211
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +34% since 2011, Net internal outflow -211/yr, Strong overseas inflow +432/yr, Accelerating: 11% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How North Sydney compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Sydney a good suburb to live in?
North Sydney excels for professionals valuing walkability (28.2% walk/cycle), transit access (21.7% public transport), and elite schools (all ICSEA 1166+). SEIFA advantage decile is 10, the highest possible. The trade-off is that 84.9% of housing is apartments, vacancy runs at 14.9%, and the renter-majority composition (62.6%) creates high resident turnover at 43.4%.
What is the median house price in North Sydney?
The median house price is $1,562,500 based on PSI-derived 2024-2025 data, but this applies to just 6.1% of stock that is detached housing. Year-on-year price data shows high volatility (from $1.998M to $1.335M) due to small sample sizes in the house segment. For most buyers, the apartment market at $575/week rent equivalent is the relevant benchmark.
What schools are in North Sydney?
Five schools operate locally: SHORE Grammar (ICSEA 1205, 1724 students), Wenona School (1187, 1385), Cameragal Montessori (1179, 40), Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College (1179, 1186), and Marist Catholic College North Shore (1166, 1609). All score at least 166 points above the national benchmark of 1000.
Is North Sydney safe?
Crime data is not available at the suburb level in NSW reporting for North Sydney. However, the SEIFA disadvantage decile of 10 and low unemployment (4.0%) are associated with below-average crime. The high residential turnover (43.4%) and renter density can increase petty property crime compared to owner-dominated suburbs.
Is North Sydney good for property investment?
Tenant demand exists (62.6% renters, $575/week), but vacancy at 14.9% is a major risk, roughly 5 times the metro norm. Population growth at 1.79% per year is strong, yet internal migration is negative (-211/year), meaning tenants are transient overseas workers. The 202 DAs in 12 months include significant commercial development, adding mixed-use supply. Yield-focused investors should watch vacancy trends closely.
How is North Sydney's population changing?
Population grows at 1.79% annually, adding 246 people per year, projected to reach 15,219 by 2031. Overseas migration (+432/year) drives growth, while internal migration is negative (-211/year). The decade growth rate of 30.8% far exceeds Sydney's average. The 49.9% overseas-born share is among the highest in any Australian suburb.
What languages are spoken in North Sydney?
With 49.9% of residents born overseas, North Sydney is highly multilingual. Mandarin (222 speakers) is the most common non-English language, followed by Cantonese (108), Hindi (82), Korean (54), and Japanese (53). Chinese ancestry at 1,188 residents makes up the third-largest heritage group after English and other combined ancestries.
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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