Moving to Palm Beach NSW 2108
What the official numbers say about living in Palm Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $895 a week, against a median household income of $2,807 a week.
About 80% of homes are owner-occupied and 17% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Palm Beach grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,596 → 1,652 people).
Around 73% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, United States; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, Italian, Russian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Palm Beach sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (45% of workers), while 52% work from home.
Nearest train station: Hawkesbury River, 11 km north-west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Palm Beach Ferry Wharf, 1000 m north-west.
Nearest airport: Palm Beach Water Airport, 1.8 km north.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 31 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 7 cafes & restaurants · 19 parks · 15 beaches — see them all on the Palm Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Barrenjoey High School 3.2 km · Barrenjoey Montessori School 3.3 km · Maria Regina Primary School 3.4 km · Avalon Public School 4 km · Bilgola Plateau Public School 4.7 km
Parks and reserves: Hordern Park 300 m · Wiltshire Park 300 m · Iluka Park 600 m · Morella Park 750 m · Ocean Road Reserve 800 m · Lucinda Park 800 m · Pittwater Park 900 m · Norma Park 1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Palm Beach, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Laughing Kookaburra · Noisy Miner · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Australian Magpie · Australian Brush-turkey.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Palm Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach here | 1,652 | — | 10/10 | 30% |
| Avalon Beach | 10,379 | — | 10/10 | 45% |
| Bilgola Plateau | 3,650 | — | 10/10 | 38% |
| Newport | 9,659 | — | 10/10 | 29% |
| Pearl Beach | 510 | — | 9/10 | 66% |
| Church Point | 1,066 | — | 10/10 | 50% |
| Bayview | 3,807 | — | 10/10 | 53% |
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 2108 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Palm Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $895 a week, and about 17% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 4% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,596 people to 1,652. It sits about 31 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: Palm Beach vs Bilgola Plateau · Palm Beach vs Pearl Beach.
Nearby guides: Avalon Beach · Bilgola Plateau · Newport · Pearl Beach · Church Point · Bayview.
Keep an eye on Palm Beach
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