North Sydney, NSW: suburb profile

The population of North Sydney NSW is 8,964 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in North Sydney is $1,566 per week ($81,432 per year). Median rent in North Sydney is $575 per week ($2,492 per month). North Sydney has a median age of 36 years, younger than the national median of 38. North Sydney has a population density of 6,076 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in North Sydney is China. The most common religion is No religion (43.9% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in North Sydney is $2,817.

There were 158 recorded offences in North Sydney in 2025-26, a rate of 18 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (48 offences).

Population
8,964
Census 2021
Median income
$1,566/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$575/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
36years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

North Sydney vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in North Sydney is $1,566 a week, 105% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 34th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $575 a week, $190 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 23.9% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 36, 7 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureNorth SydneyTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,566/wk$765/wk +105%$766/wk
Household income$2,405/wk$1,704/wk +41%$1,637/wk
Rent$575/wk$385/wk +49%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,817/mo$1,965/mo +43%$1,733/mo
Median age3643 −7 yrs42
Rent share of household income23.9%22.6% +1.3 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in North Sydney, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

North Sydney Population

8,964 residents at the 2021 Census.

North Sydney Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,566/wk
$81,432 per year
Ranked 91 of 14,663
Median Rent
$575/wk
$2,492 per month
Ranked 303 of 14,663
Median Age
36years
2 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,817/mo
Avg household size: 1.9 · 1.1 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

North Sydney Rent Prices & Affordability

24% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,405/wk
Median rent $575/wk
Rent to income 23.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in North Sydney against your income

About $10,422 a month
Median rent $575/wk
Left after rent $1,830/wk
Rent share 23.9%

North Sydney Schools

39
schools nearby
19
government
1168
avg ICSEA score
20,005
total students
St Aloysius' College Independent
Secondary · 3-12 · 1,347 students
1223
ICSEA
SHORE - Sydney Church of England Grammar School Independent
Secondary · K-12 · 1,724 students
1205
ICSEA
North Sydney Girls High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 916 students
1203
ICSEA
North Sydney Boys High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 933 students
1195
ICSEA
Conservatorium High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 156 students
1194
ICSEA
SCECGS Redlands Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,680 students
1190
ICSEA
Loreto Kirribilli Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,176 students
1189
ICSEA
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 373 students
1189
ICSEA
Wenona School Independent
Combined · K-12 · 1,385 students
1187
ICSEA
Northbridge Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 364 students
1181
ICSEA
Cameragal Montessori School Independent
Primary · K-6 · 40 students
1179
ICSEA
Monte Sant' Angelo Mercy College Independent
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,186 students
1179
ICSEA
Greenwich Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 367 students
1175
ICSEA
Balmain Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 321 students
1172
ICSEA
International Chinese School Independent
Primary · K-6 · 116 students
1172
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 39 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near North Sydney, with a map

North Sydney Map

North Sydney, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in North Sydney

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (4,398) Female 50.9% (4,564)

Population Density

6,076
people per km²
8,964 people · 1.5 km²

Households

1.9
Avg household size
1.1
Persons per bedroom
$3,532
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

China
5.8%
England
5.4%
India
4.6%
New Zealand
2.4%
Hong Kong
1.8%
Philippines
1.6%
South Africa
1.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
6.4%
Cantonese
3.2%
Spanish
2.0%
Hindi
1.7%
Korean
1.5%
Portuguese
1.3%
Japanese
1.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
27.5%
Australian
18.0%
Chinese
13.3%
Irish
10.9%
Scottish
8.4%
Indian
5.3%
German
3.3%
Italian
3.2%
Filipino
2.4%
Korean
1.8%
Dutch
1.3%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
43.9%
Catholic
19.9%
Not stated
8.6%
Anglican
8.0%
Hinduism
4.5%
Buddhism
3.4%
Christian (other)
1.7%
Islam
1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

0.4%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
37.4% 2,994
Separated
2.7% 215
Divorced
9.0% 717
Widowed
3.5% 281
Never married
47.5% 3,800

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
47.6%
Couple: children under 15
33.7%
Couple: no children under 15
9.0%
One parent: children under 15
5.1%
One parent: no children under 15
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
42.3%
2 persons
37.5%
3 persons
11.8%
4 persons
6.5%
5 persons
1.4%
6+ persons
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in North Sydney

Housing Tenure

Of the 4,275 occupied private dwellings in North Sydney at the 2021 Census, 60.7% were rented, 18.8% owned outright and 17.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.3% 99 dwellings
Owned outright
18.8% 802 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
17.5% 746 dwellings
Rented
60.7% 2,595 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.7% 31 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
40.4%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
38.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
21.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
34.1%
2 bedrooms
42.1%
3 bedrooms
19.0%
4 bedrooms
3.9%
5 bedrooms
0.8%
6+ bedrooms
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
8.8%
$300-$449/mo
1.7%
$450-$599/mo
2.1%
$600-$799/mo
1.3%
$800-$999/mo
2.5%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
9.0%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
12.9%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
16.1%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
22.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
29.6%
1 vehicle
55.2%
2 vehicles
13.2%
3 vehicles
1.3%
4+ vehicles
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in North Sydney

Employment

Employed full-time
56.2% 3,985 people
Employed part-time
15.4% 1,091 people
Unemployed
3.0% 211 people
Not in labour force
25.5% 1,806 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
50.8%
Managers
21.0%
Clerical & Administrative
11.6%
Community & Personal Service
4.9%
Technicians & Trade Workers
4.9%
Sales Workers
4.6%
Labourers
1.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.5%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
0.7%
$300-$399/wk
0.9%
$400-$499/wk
2.1%
$500-$649/wk
2.3%
$650-$799/wk
2.6%
$800-$999/wk
3.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
5.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.0%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.7%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.9%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
4.3%
$4,000+/wk
30.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.8%
$1-$149/wk
2.0%
$150-$299/wk
1.9%
$300-$399/wk
1.2%
$400-$499/wk
1.3%
$500-$649/wk
1.7%
$650-$799/wk
4.6%
$800-$999/wk
5.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
8.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.6%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
19.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
6.1%
$3,500+/wk
14.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
33.4%
Did not go to work
22.9%
Walked only
19.6%
Train
11.2%
Bus
4.9%
Car (passenger)
3.7%
Other
1.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.4%
Bicycle
1.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
90.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
5.7%
Year 11 or equivalent
3.1%
Year 9 or equivalent
0.9%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
49.2%
Postgraduate Degree
27.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
12.0%
Certificate III/IV
6.3%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.6%
Certificate I/II
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
35.0%
Society & Culture
17.5%
Engineering
10.1%
Information Technology
8.1%
Health
7.7%
Creative Arts
6.4%
Education
4.3%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.9%
Architecture & Building
3.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
2.4%
Agriculture & Environment
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
25.9%
Vocational Education
20.8%
Secondary: Government
14.4%
Pre-school
13.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
11.3%
Primary: Catholic
4.9%
Secondary: Catholic
4.7%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
90.2%
Has need for assistance
3.0%
Need for assistance not stated
6.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
588
Asthma
281
Arthritis
183
Heart disease
136
Diabetes
121
Cancer
100
Lung condition
88
Kidney disease
64
Stroke
58
Dementia
31

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
7.7% 569
Did not provide
92.3% 6,835

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
15.9% 1,182
Not a volunteer
84.1% 6,232

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.8% 56
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 16
Previously served
1.5% 110
Never served
97.6% 7,282

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
60.3%
1 child
14.5%
2 children
16.6%
3 children
6.6%
4 children
1.7%
5+ children
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
27
1951: 1960
76
1961: 1970
127
1971: 1980
198
1981: 1990
380
1991: 2000
430
2001: 2010
852
2011: 2015
747
2016
219
2017
269
2018
283
2019
349
2020
107
2021
66

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

32.1%
moved in the last year
69.8%
moved in the last 5 years
3.8%
unemployment rate (Census)
70.6%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
5,643
Moved from NSW
1,723
Moved: same area (SA2)
477
Moved from overseas
234
Moved from VIC
76
Moved from QLD
55
Moved from ACT
28
Moved from WA
25
Moved from SA
8
Moved from NT
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
25.5%
5: 14 hours
34.4%
15: 29 hours
11.1%
30+ hours
5.1%
Did not do domestic work
23.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
88.4%
Step family: no other children
9.9%
Blended family: no other children
1.2%
Other couple: children only
0.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

North Sydney Crime Statistics

158 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
48
Other Against Property
40
Drug Offences
24
Assault
13
Other Against Person
11
Property Damage
8
Traffic
7
Sexual Offences
6
Weapons
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near North Sydney

The closest suburb to North Sydney is Neutral Bay, 0.8 km away.

Neutral Bay
0.8 km away · income $1,552/wk · rent $550/wk
Waverton
1.1 km away · income $1,528/wk · rent $600/wk
McMahons Point
1.2 km away · income $1,664/wk · rent $580/wk
Milsons Point
1.2 km away · income $1,866/wk · rent $750/wk
Wollstonecraft
1.3 km away · income $1,590/wk · rent $576/wk
Kirribilli
1.3 km away · income $1,598/wk · rent $520/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About North Sydney

What is the population of North Sydney NSW?

The population of North Sydney NSW is 8,964 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 6,076 people per km². North Sydney is ranked #770 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in North Sydney?

The median personal income in North Sydney NSW is $1,566 per week, or $81,432 per year. The median household income is $2,405 per week. Family income is $3,532 per week. North Sydney is ranked #91 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in North Sydney?

Median rent in North Sydney NSW is $575 per week ($2,492 per month). Rent represents 23.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. North Sydney ranks #303 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in North Sydney?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in North Sydney NSW is $2,817. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in North Sydney?

The median age in North Sydney NSW is 36 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is North Sydney a good suburb to live in?

North Sydney is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 8,964. The median income is $1,566/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (23.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 13020. All dollar figures in AUD.