NSW · Hornsby Council
Waitara, 2077
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
- Cycling
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Waitara hums with inner-city energy, a mid-sized suburb where there is always something happening nearby. The city and surrounding suburbs are both within comfortable reach, which keeps daily life flexible. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because growth momentum and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and schools and education.
Population
- Population
- 7,837
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $2,106
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 233 of 3,319
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,200
- Employment rate
- 61.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 166 / 52 / 2,757
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)
- $680
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $775
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 444
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)
- 561
- Against the person
- 84
- Against property
- 141
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 71.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 93 residents
- State safety percentile
- 50.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +5.3%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions190
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment129
- Malicious Damage To Property137
- Steal From Retail Store191
- Transport Regulatory Offences1266
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,153
- Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary
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
26 public transport stops in this suburb
- ENT Alexandria Pde S
- PDT Car Park
- PDT To P1/2
- STR/LFT To P1/2
- Waitara Station
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).
46 planning-related records
2026· 1 proposal
February 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision27 BALMORAL STREET WAITARA 2077Determined
2025· 4 proposals
November 2025
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure25 BALMORAL STREET WAITARA 2077Withdrawn
September 2025
- Subdivision51/DP1316198 & 52/DP1316198Determined
July 2025
- Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure100 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WAITARA 2077Determined
- Independent living units; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 MCAULEY PLACE WAITARA 2077Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility20 WAITARA AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Centre-based child care32 PALMERSTON ROAD WAITARA 2077Determined
October 2024
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure23 BALMORAL STREET WAITARA 2077Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure62 BALMORAL STREET WAITARA 2077Determined
June 2024
- Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure32 PARK AVENUE WAITARA 2077Withdrawn
April 2024
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Seniors housing; Independent living units; Erection of a new structure23 Balmoral Street, Waitara NSW 2077Withdrawn
January 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Centre-based child care18 WENTWORTH AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility20 WAITARA AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Electric vehicle facility11-37 ALEXANDRIA PARADE WAITARA 2077Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure56 EDGEWORTH DAVID AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
September 2023
- Boarding house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2A PARK AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
August 2023
- Residential flat building22 PARK AVENUE WAITARA 2077Withdrawn
May 2023
- Alterations and additions to commercial development126 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WAITARA 2077Determined
February 2023
- Residential flat building36A PARK AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition57A BALMORAL STREET WAITARA 2077Determined
2022· 7 proposals
December 2022
- Other24 WENTWORTH AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development59 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WAITARA 2077Determined
August 2022
- Residential flat building36A PARK AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
- Other145/2 McAuley Place Waitara 2077Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Centre based childcare; Change of use49 ORARA STREET WAITARA 2077Determined
April 2022
- Dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs9 MARILLIAN AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
February 2022
- Residential flat building23 BALMORAL STREET WAITARA 2077Determined
2021· 13 proposals
December 2021
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Retail premises80-96 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WAITARA 2077Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development11-37 ALEXANDRIA PARADE WAITARA 2077Determined
November 2021
- Alterations and additions to commercial development80-96 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WAITARA 2077Determined
- Dwelling; Subdivision of land24 WENTWORTH AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
- Residential flat building36A PARK AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
September 2021
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development; Subdivision of land27 WENTWORTH AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
- Dwelling8 YARDLEY AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
- Other2 MCAULEY PLACE WAITARA 2077Determined
August 2021
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces28A PALMERSTON ROAD WAITARA 2077Determined
- Change of use12 WAITARA AVENUE WAITARA 2077Determined
June 2021
- Retail premises80-96 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WAITARA 2077Determined
March 2021
- Secondary dwelling; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs67 BALMORAL STREET WAITARA 2077Determined
- Dwelling8 YARDLEY AVENUE WAITARA 2077Deferred Commencement
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
68 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (7)
- Bike Lockers - Waitara Station, Waitara AveBicycle Parking
- Edgeworth David Av opp Willow ParkBus stop
- Jubilee St at Herbert AvBus stop
- Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic School, Yardley AvBus stop
- Pacific Hwy before Yardley AvBus stop
- Waitara Station, Pacific HwyBus stop
- Yardley Av at Pacific HwyBus stop
- Yardley Av opp Our Lady of The Rosary Catholic SchoolBus stop
- PCYC NSW Blue Star CafeCafe
Waitara Avenue
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Orara ParkPark
- Waitara ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 3
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- AlternativeEdgeworth David Avenuealternative
- Asquith Family Chiropractorsalternative
- Waitara PharmacyWaitara Avenuepharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Explore and Develop WaitaraBalmoral Streetkindergarten
- Waitara Childrens Centrekindergarten
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)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 45.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 37% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2508th in Australia
- State rank
- 789th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #215 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #512 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 3 Elephantsamenitiesrestaurant
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Auto One Waitaraamenitiescar_parts
- Beacon Lightingamenities41-45 Pacific Highwaylighting
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Hornsby Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.