NSW · Waverley Council
Dover Heights, 2030
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Dover Heights is a coastal mid-sized suburb where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Coastal living meets metro convenience, with nearby suburbs and the city never far for a change of pace. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by growth momentum and community and employment, while local dining and lifestyle amenities sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 4,044
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $3,877
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 118 of 1,433
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,333
- Employment rate
- 60.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 58 / 141 / 297
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $1,100
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $3,200
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $1,300
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 101
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 107
- Against the person
- 28
- Against property
- 42
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 26.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 144 residents
- State safety percentile
- 4.8th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.1%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault26
- Fraud33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment33
- Malicious Damage To Property38
- Other Offences32
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,094.5
- Kesser Torah CollegeCombined
- Rose Bay Secondary CollegeSecondary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
45 public transport stops in this suburb
- Hardy St Opp Chaleyer St
- Military Rd At Loombah Rd
- Military Rd At Raleigh St
- Military Rd Opp Arthur St
- Portland St At Lancaster Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
380 planning-related records
2026· 28 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 BULGA ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling47 EASTERN AVENUE DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation41 HARDY STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)103 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 PORTLAND STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Fences; Landscaping structures75 HARDY STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure205 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation28 LANCASTER ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure133 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)185 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure132 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure37 GEORGE STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 RALEIGH STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 MYUNA ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure24 WENTWORTH STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation60 GILBERT STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure79 PORTLAND STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 ABOUKIR STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dual occupancy; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)2 128 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation6 WALLANGRA ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5A MYUNA ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 DOUGLAS PARADE DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 LANCASTER ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 LYONS STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 PINDARI ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 MYUNA ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Swimming pool185A MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure268 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation28 GILBERT STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)1 GILBERT STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure29 OCEANVIEW AVENUE DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 GILBERT STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation96A MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation17 PINDARI ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 BULGA ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Minor building alterations (external)3 DOUGLAS PARADE DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure14 GEORGE STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 ABOUKIR STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation29 PORTLAND STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 ABOUKIR STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
259 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (13)
- Bicycle Parking
- Caffyn Park, Victory StBus stop
- Dudley Page Reserve, Lancaster RdBus stop
- Dudley Page Reserve, Portland StBus stop
- Hugh Bamford Reserve, Military RdBus stop
- Lancaster Rd opp Dudley Page ReserveBus stop
- Military Rd after Arthur StBus stop
- Military Rd at Blake StBus stop
- Military Rd at Dover RdBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Caffyn ParkPark
- Dudley Page ReservePark
- Rodney ReservePark
- Warren Zines ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 62.5/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 11% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 636th in Australia
- State rank
- 236th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #19 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #34 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Archie'samenities218 Military Road, Dover Heightscafe
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Waverley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.