Moving to Narrabeen NSW 2101
What the official numbers say about living in Narrabeen — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $565 a week, against a median household income of $1,780 a week.
About 51% of homes are owner-occupied and 38% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the apartment.
Who you'll be living with
Narrabeen grew 10% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,474 → 8,255 people).
Around 58% of households are families, averaging 2.0 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, Brazil, New Zealand; most spoken languages besides English: Portuguese, Spanish, Italian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Narrabeen sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (48% of workers), while 46% work from home.
Nearest ferry wharf: Newport Wharf, 6.5 km north.
Nearest airport: Palm Beach Water Airport, 14.7 km north.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 19 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 22 schools · 59 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 49 parks · 8 beaches — see them all on the Narrabeen profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Narrabeen Lakes Public School 400 m · St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 650 m · St Rose Catholic Primary School 1.3 km · Wheeler Heights Public School 1.5 km · Collaroy Plateau Public School 1.7 km · Elanora Heights Public School 1.8 km · Narrabeen Sports High School 1.9 km · Narrabeen North Public School 2.1 km
Groceries: Woolworths 650 m · Collaroy Plateau Fruit Market 1.3 km · IGA 1.3 km · Coles 2.3 km · Woolworths 2.4 km · ALDI 2.5 km · IGA 2.8 km
Parks and reserves: Berry Reserve 150 m · Wheeler Park 400 m · Surfrider Gardens 400 m · Wimbledon Reserve 400 m · Furlough Park 550 m · Chattan Park 650 m · Edgar Gornall Wildflower Garden 800 m · McLeans Lookout 850 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Narrabeen, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Australian Magpie · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Little Pied Cormorant · Pacific Black Duck.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Narrabeen, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrabeen here | 8,255 | — | 9/10 | 29% |
| Collaroy Plateau | 4,805 | — | 10/10 | 13% |
| North Narrabeen | 6,016 | — | 10/10 | 26% |
| Collaroy | 7,944 | — | 10/10 | 14% |
| Wheeler Heights | 3,232 | — | 10/10 | 17% |
| Elanora Heights | 4,581 | — | 10/10 | 42% |
| Cromer | 8,030 | — | 10/10 | 42% |
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 Mackellar — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2101 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Narrabeen profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $565 a week, and about 38% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 10% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,474 people to 8,255. It sits about 19 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Northern Beaches council, and the federal seat is Mackellar.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Narrabeen vs North Narrabeen · Narrabeen vs Collaroy.
Nearby guides: Collaroy Plateau · North Narrabeen · Collaroy · Wheeler Heights · Elanora Heights · Cromer.
Keep an eye on Narrabeen
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