Moving to Manly NSW 2095
What the official numbers say about living in Manly — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $725 a week, against a median household income of $3,164 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Manly grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (15,072 → 16,296 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, United States; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, French, Portuguese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Manly sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (22% of workers), while 67% work from home.
Nearest train station: Milsons Point, 8.7 km south-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Cremorne Point Wharf, Milson Rd, 7.5 km south-west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Manly Wharf 3, 400 m south.
Nearest airport: Rose Bay Seaplane Base, 8.3 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 11 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 29 schools · 118 cafes & restaurants · 8 supermarkets · 42 parks · 21 beaches — see them all on the Manly profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Mary's Catholic School 250 m · Manly Village Public School 250 m · St Paul's Catholic College Manly 1.1 km · Stella Maris College - Main Campus 1.2 km · Stella Maris College - Benedict Campus 1.3 km · Manly West Public School 1.7 km · Northern Beaches Secondary College Mackellar Girls Campus 2.1 km · St Kieran's Catholic Primary School 2.4 km
Groceries: Coles Local 200 m · Manly Food Co-op 200 m · Coles 200 m · Harris Farm Markets 1.2 km · Coles 2 km · Woolworths 2 km · IGA 2.1 km · Balgowlah Heights IGA 2.7 km
Parks and reserves: Gilbert Park 100 m · Dalley Park 300 m · Ivanhoe Park 300 m · West Esplanade Park 300 m · East Esplanade Park 450 m · Kangaroo Park 550 m · Graham Reserve 1.1 km · Little Manly Point 1.2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Manly, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Australian Brush-turkey · Noisy Miner · Australian Magpie · Silver Gull · Pied Currawong.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Manly, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manly here | 16,296 | — | 10/10 | 37% |
| Fairlight | 6,141 | — | 10/10 | 13% |
| Queenscliff | 3,407 | — | 10/10 | 8% |
| Freshwater | 9,186 | — | 10/10 | 12% |
| Manly Vale | 6,389 | — | 10/10 | 24% |
| Balgowlah | 8,068 | — | 10/10 | 17% |
| Balgowlah Heights | 3,546 | — | 10/10 | 29% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Northern Beaches — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Warringah — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2095 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Manly profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $725 a week.
The population grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 15,072 people to 16,296. It sits about 11 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Milsons Point station is roughly 8.7 km away. Local government is Northern Beaches council, and the federal seat is Warringah.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Manly vs Freshwater · Manly vs Balgowlah.
Nearby guides: Fairlight · Queenscliff · Freshwater · Manly Vale · Balgowlah · Balgowlah Heights.
Keep an eye on Manly
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