Northern Beaches

New South Wales · Sydney - Northern Beaches · 263,532 people · 75 suburbs · 22 postcodes

Northern Beaches at a glance

263,532
Population
#4 of 130 in NSW
160
km² area
1,644/km² density
41.9
Median age
+2.2 vs NSW
1125
SEIFA IRSAD
#10 of 130 in NSW
81
Schools
47 gov, 15 Cath, 19 indep
30.2%
Born overseas
27.8%
Renting

Map shows the Northern Beaches LGA boundary in blue with a marker per suburb. Hover for suburb name, click for details.

Marker colour reflects SEIFA IRSAD decile: ● 1-2 (most disadvantaged), ● 3-4, ● 5-6, ● 7-8, ● 9-10 (most advantaged).

Boundary source: ABS ASGS 2021. Map tiles: OpenStreetMap contributors.

Federal electorate boundaries can be toggled on the map. Boundary source: ABS ASGS 2021 CED boundaries.

Northern Beaches is a metropolitan Local Government Area in New South Wales, in the Sydney region. It covers 75 suburbs across 22 postcodes and an area of 160 km². Northern Beaches has a population of 263,532 , ranking #4 most populous in NSW. The most populous suburb is Dee Why (23,354 residents).About 30.2% of residents were born overseas and 15.6% speak a language other than English at home.

Who lives here

Age structure

0–14 (18.5%) 15–24 (11.4%) 25–44 (24.4%) 45–64 (27.5%) 65+ (18.2%)
Show counts
0–14 years48,729 (18.5%)
15–24 years30,012 (11.4%)
25–44 years64,421 (24.4%)
45–64 years72,478 (27.5%)
65+ years47,961 (18.2%)
30.2%
Born overseas
15.6%
Speak a language other than English at home
0.6%
First Nations
2.7
Avg household size

How they live

Housing tenure

Owned outright (36.0%) Mortgaged (36.2%) Renting (27.8%)

Dwelling type mix

Separate house (67.6%) Semi/townhouse (7.4%) Flat/apartment (24.9%)
$700
Median weekly rent
$3,253
Median monthly mortgage
43.4%
Households with 0-1 cars
56.6%
Households with 2+ cars

Work and learning

3.2%
Unemployment rate
79,005
In full-time work
44,099
In part-time work

Schools in Northern Beaches

81 schools across Northern Beaches: 58.0% Government, 18.5% Catholic, 23.5% Independent. The NSW average is 69.6% / 16.9% / 13.5%. Schools here have a median ICSEA of 1110 (range 962 to 1217). NSW median is 1005; national mean is 1000.

Sector mix

NSW average for comparison
Government Catholic Independent

Type breakdown

Primary (63.0%) Secondary (17.3%) Combined (11.1%) Special (8.6%)

ICSEA range

700 National mean 1000 1300
LGA median 1110 NSW median 1005LGA range 962 to 1217

ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) summarises the socio-economic background of each school's families. Higher values indicate more advantage. Source: ACARA 2025.

All 81 schools in Northern Beaches, sorted by enrolment:

School Sector Type Suburb Students ICSEA
St Augustine's College Sydney Independent Combined Brookvale 1,580 1141
St Luke's Grammar School Independent Combined Dee Why 1,481 1178
Northern Beaches Christian School Independent Combined Terrey Hills 1,228 1134
Oxford Falls Grammar School Independent Combined Oxford Falls 1,201 1137
Northern Beaches Secondary College Cromer Campus Government Secondary Cromer 1,157 1056
Northern Beaches Secondary College Balgowlah Boys Campus Government Secondary Balgowlah 1,100 1115
Mater Maria Catholic College Catholic Secondary Warriewood 1,098 1085
Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus Government Secondary Manly Vale 1,023 1115
Stella Maris College Independent Secondary Manly 1,006 1135
Pittwater House Schools Independent Combined Collaroy 1,002 1158
Killarney Heights High School Government Secondary Killarney Heights 969 1132
Covenant Christian School Independent Combined Belrose 884 1155
Harbord Public School Government Primary Freshwater 881 1137
Pittwater High School Government Secondary Mona Vale 881 1071
Barrenjoey High School Government Secondary Avalon Beach 865 1081
Narrabeen Sports High School Government Secondary North Narrabeen 794 1042
Davidson High School Government Secondary Frenchs Forest 790 1089
The Forest High School Government Secondary Frenchs Forest 769 1062
Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus Government Secondary North Curl Curl 766 1217
Manly West Public School Government Primary Balgowlah 761 1147
Curl Curl North Public School Government Primary North Curl Curl 699 1116
Mona Vale Public School Government Primary Mona Vale 671 1096
Avalon Public School Government Primary Avalon Beach 666 1094
Killarney Heights Public School Government Primary Killarney Heights 661 1150
Balgowlah Heights Public School Government Primary Balgowlah 651 1177
Northern Beaches Secondary College Freshwater Senior Campus Government Secondary Freshwater 647 1098
Narrabeen North Public School Government Primary North Narrabeen 580 1076
Mimosa Public School Government Primary Frenchs Forest 562 1119
Newport Public School Government Primary Newport 556 1093
Manly Vale Public School Government Primary Manly Vale 553 1129
Manly Village Public School Government Primary Manly 532 1151
Narraweena Public School Government Primary Narraweena 511 1059
Dee Why Public School Government Primary Dee Why 478 1028
Cromer Public School Government Primary Cromer 468 1091
St Paul's Catholic College Catholic Secondary Manly 468 1091
Forestville Public School Government Primary Forestville 462 1141
Beacon Hill Public School Government Primary Beacon Hill 459 1099
Collaroy Plateau Public School Government Primary Collaroy Plateau 452 1109
Wheeler Heights Public School Government Primary Collaroy Plateau 430 1086
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Mona Vale 417 1104
Wakehurst Public School Government Primary Belrose 407 1126
Allambie Heights Public School Government Primary Allambie Heights 406 1138
Seaforth Public School Government Primary Seaforth 394 1165
Elanora Heights Public School Government Primary Elanora Heights 387 1087
Balgowlah North Public School Government Primary North Balgowlah 381 1169
German International School Sydney Independent Combined Terrey Hills 380 1158
Narrabeen Lakes Public School Government Primary Narrabeen 364 1091
Bilgola Plateau Public School Government Primary Bilgola Plateau 344 1121
St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Manly 330 1159
Galstaun College Independent Combined Ingleside 328 1046
Brookvale Public School Government Primary Brookvale 306 1075
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Forestville 282 1145
John Colet School Independent Primary Belrose 275 1210
St John the Apostle Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Narraweena 247 1091
St Cecilia's Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Balgowlah 232 1168
St Rose Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Collaroy Plateau 227 1149
Frenchs Forest Public School Government Primary Frenchs Forest 218 1123
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Narrabeen 195 1102
Sydney Japanese International School Independent Primary Terrey Hills 190 1137
Belrose Public School Government Primary Belrose 186 1111
Terrey Hills Public School Government Primary Terrey Hills 183 1100
Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School Independent Primary Belrose 180 1092
St Kevin's Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Dee Why 178 1085
St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Freshwater 163 1134
Maria Regina Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Avalon Beach 154 1102
St Kieran's Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Manly Vale 141 1122
St Martin's Catholic Primary School Catholic Primary Davidson 136 1131
Aspect Vern Barnett School Independent Special Forestville 97 1107
A.G.B.U. Alexander Primary School Independent Primary Duffys Forest 78 962
EOC Broken Bay Catholic Special Davidson 70 1059
Kinma School Independent Primary Terrey Hills 67 1096
Yanginanook School Independent Combined Belrose 65 1051
Fisher Road School Government Special Dee Why 62 1050
Forestville Montessori School Independent Primary Forestville 49 1171
Farmhouse Montessori School Independent Primary North Balgowlah 37 1165
The Beach School Government Special Allambie Heights 35 1039
Arranounbai School Government Special Frenchs Forest 34 1073
Kambora Public School Government Primary Davidson 32 1101
Karuna Montessori School Independent Primary Narraweena 4
Royal Far West School Government Special Manly
Stewart House School Government Special Curl Curl

Source: ACARA School Profiles 2025. ICSEA shown where reported; some schools (notably small primaries) do not publish ICSEA.

SEIFA socio-economic indexes

SEIFA 2021 ranks Australian areas across four dimensions. Scores are population-weighted averages of suburb-level SEIFA scores within Northern Beaches. Higher scores indicate more advantage; the national mean is 1000.

IRSAD

Relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage

1125
Ranked #10 of 130 NSW LGAs

IRSD

Relative disadvantage only (lower = more disadvantaged)

1089

IER

Economic resources: income, wealth, housing

1087

IEO

Education and occupation: qualifications, skill levels

1109

Suburbs in Northern Beaches

Northern Beaches contains 75 suburbs and 22 postcodes. Sorted by population.

SuburbPostcodePopulationMedian incomeMedian age
Dee Why 2099 23,354 $2,106/wk 36
Manly 2095 16,296 $3,164/wk 38
Frenchs Forest 2086 14,267 $3,109/wk 40
Mona Vale 2103 10,877 $2,296/wk 46
Avalon Beach 2107 10,379 $2,481/wk 46
Newport 2106 9,659 $2,479/wk 46
Freshwater 2096 9,186 $2,726/wk 37
Belrose 2085 8,726 $2,598/wk 46
Forestville 2087 8,659 $2,507/wk 43
Warriewood 2102 8,379 $2,598/wk 41
Narrabeen 2101 8,255 $1,780/wk 48
Balgowlah 2093 8,068 $2,681/wk 41
Cromer 2099 8,030 $2,483/wk 41
Collaroy 2097 7,944 $2,372/wk 43
Beacon Hill 2100 7,814 $2,937/wk 41
Seaforth 2092 7,384 $4,184/wk 42
Allambie Heights 2100 7,317 $2,890/wk 43
Narraweena 2099 6,971 $1,935/wk 43
Manly Vale 2093 6,389 $2,351/wk 38
Fairlight 2094 6,141 $3,251/wk 39
North Narrabeen 2101 6,016 $2,711/wk 40
Collaroy Plateau 2097 4,805 $3,278/wk 40
Elanora Heights 2101 4,581 $3,052/wk 41
Killarney Heights 2087 4,502 $3,426/wk 43
North Curl Curl 2099 4,288 $3,611/wk 40
North Balgowlah 2093 3,816 $4,212/wk 39
Bayview 2104 3,807 $1,885/wk 58
Bilgola Plateau 2107 3,650 $2,856/wk 46
Balgowlah Heights 2093 3,546 $4,687/wk 43
Queenscliff 2096 3,407 $2,903/wk 36
North Manly 2100 3,396 $3,169/wk 40
Brookvale 2100 3,389 $2,127/wk 37
Wheeler Heights 2097 3,232 $2,914/wk 40
Terrey Hills 2084 3,142 $2,778/wk 47
Davidson 2085 2,725 $3,254/wk 45
Curl Curl 2096 2,364 $3,870/wk 40
Clontarf 2093 1,746 $4,609/wk 47
Palm Beach 2108 1,652 $2,807/wk 58
Church Point 2105 1,066 $3,182/wk 54
Ingleside 2101 1,030 $2,776/wk 44
Clareville 2107 822 $2,802/wk 57
Scotland Island 2105 711 $2,397/wk 48
Duffys Forest 2084 509 $4,250/wk 43
Whale Beach 2107 315 $3,285/wk 60
Oxford Falls 2100 265 $961/wk 73
Bilgola Beach 2107 251 $4,299/wk 54
Lovett Bay 2105 117 $2,437/wk 59
Cottage Point 2084 96 $2,750/wk 60
Elvina Bay 2105 80 $1,958/wk 50
Great Mackerel Beach 2108 50 $1,124/wk 57
Morning Bay 2105 31 $1,791/wk 57
Coasters Retreat 2108 30 $2,250/wk 66
Akuna Bay 2084
Allambie 2100
Belrose West 2085
Bilgola 2107
Careel Bay 2107
Collaroy Beach 2097
Collaroy Plateau West 2097
Cromer Heights 2099
Currawong Beach 2108
Dee Why Beach 2099
Frenchs Forest East 2086
Harbord 2096
Lindfield West 2070
Long Reef 2097
Manly East 2095
Mccarrs Creek 2105
Narrabeen Peninsula 2101
Newport Beach 2106
North St Ives 2075
Taylors Point 2107
Warriewood Shopping Square 2102
Warringah Mall 2100
Wingala 2099

Postcodes covered

2070, 2075, 2084, 2085, 2086, 2087, 2092, 2093, 2094, 2095, 2096, 2097, 2099, 2100, 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108

Compare Northern Beaches with neighbouring LGAs

Side-by-side demographic and socio-economic snapshot of Northern Beaches and its closest neighbouring LGAs.

LGA Population Median age SEIFA IRSAD % renting % overseas-born
Northern Beaches (NSW) 263,532 41.9 1125 27.8% 30.2%
Ku-ring-gai 131,179 42.4 1163 20.4% 42.5%
Willoughby 68,992 39.5 1141 39.1% 46.5%
Inverell 17,979 42.6 906 28.8% 7.0%
Mosman 28,329 45.0 1169 34.1% 35.3%
Hornsby 140,289 41.3 1117 24.1% 40.7%

Services and amenities

NDIS Providers NDIS provider directory for Northern Beaches Climate & weather Climate data for Dee Why

Frequently asked questions about Northern Beaches

What is the population of Northern Beaches?

The 2021 Census recorded 263,532 people living in Northern Beaches, across 75 suburbs.

What suburbs are in Northern Beaches?

Northern Beaches contains 75 suburbs. The most populous are Dee Why, Manly, Frenchs Forest, Mona Vale, Avalon Beach.See the full list in the Suburbs section above.

What postcodes are in Northern Beaches?

Northern Beaches covers 22 postcodes: 2070, 2075, 2084, 2085, 2086, 2087, 2092, 2093, 2094, 2095, 2096, 2097, 2099, 2100, 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108.

How many schools are in Northern Beaches?

Northern Beaches has 81 schools, including 47 government, 15 Catholic, and 19 independent schools (ACARA 2025).

What is the SEIFA score for Northern Beaches?

Northern Beaches has a population-weighted SEIFA IRSAD score of 1125, where the national average is 1000. Higher scores indicate more relative advantage.

Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 (IRSD, IRSAD, IER, IEO), ACARA School Profiles 2025, ABS ASGS 2021 LGA boundaries. How this data is sourced.