The best suburbs to live in Sydney in 2026, ranked on six measures
Wollstonecraft scores 95.5 out of 100, the highest of 598 Greater Sydney suburbs, at $5,797 a year to run. Other Sydney rankings are built on property prices. This one scores what a suburb costs to run and what it offers once you live there, on six measures with published weights, so you can recalculate it or weight it your own way.
The highest scoring suburbs in Sydney for 2026 are Wollstonecraft at 95.5 out of 100, Kurraba Point at 91.2 and Cremorne Point at 89.9. The SuburbCost Sydney Suburb Score combines annual running cost (25 points), catchment school ICSEA (20), recorded crime per resident (20), flood and fire risk (15), walking time to a scheduled transport service (10) and everyday amenities within 2 km (10). All 598 Greater Sydney suburbs with at least 1,000 residents are ranked. Running costs across the set span $4,620 to $12,814 a year.
Key statistics
- Suburbs ranked
- 598
- Highest score (Wollstonecraft)
- 95.5 / 100
- Running cost range
- $4,620 to $12,814
- Top 20 average running cost
- $6,843
The 20 highest scoring Sydney suburbs
Wollstonecraft takes first place on a combination rather than one strength. It scores 19.2 of 20 on schools, 17.3 of 20 on crime and 10 of 10 on amenities, and runs at $5,797 a year against a $9,589 average across the 598 suburbs.
Every suburb's score, each part of it and its running cost: download all 598 as a CSV.
| Rank | Suburb | Council | From CBD | Score | Running cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wollstonecraft | North Sydney | 4.3 km | 95.5 | $5,797 |
| 2 | Kurraba Point | North Sydney | 3.1 km | 91.2 | $5,766 |
| 3 | Cremorne Point | North Sydney | 3.5 km | 89.9 | $5,895 |
| 4 | Willoughby | Willoughby | 6.8 km | 89.5 | $6,914 |
| 5 | Cammeray | North Sydney | 5.4 km | 89.4 | $6,135 |
| 6 | Naremburn | Willoughby | 6 km | 89.4 | $6,678 |
| 7 | Woollahra | Woollahra | 3.8 km | 89 | $6,207 |
| 8 | North Willoughby | Willoughby | 8.3 km | 87.6 | $7,339 |
| 9 | Willoughby East | Willoughby | 7.7 km | 87.5 | $7,171 |
| 10 | Dover Heights | Waverley | 6.7 km | 87.3 | $6,537 |
| 11 | Riverview | Lane Cove | 6.9 km | 86.8 | $7,554 |
| 12 | Cremorne | North Sydney | 4.9 km | 86.7 | $5,982 |
| 13 | Denistone East | Ryde | 13.1 km | 86.7 | $8,154 |
| 14 | Allawah | Georges River | 14.5 km | 86.6 | $8,294 |
| 15 | McMahons Point | North Sydney | 2.7 km | 86.4 | $5,637 |
| 16 | North Sydney | North Sydney | 3.4 km | 86.1 | $5,513 |
| 17 | Longueville | Lane Cove | 5.7 km | 86.1 | $7,200 |
| 18 | Pymble | Ku-ring-gai | 15.2 km | 86.1 | $9,639 |
| 19 | Greenwich | Lane Cove | 4.5 km | 85.9 | $6,834 |
| 20 | North Balgowlah | Northern Beaches | 9.6 km | 85.7 | $7,616 |
That's your council's rates. Now see what a home in your suburb costs to run each year →
14 of the top 20 sit in North Sydney, Willoughby and Lane Cove. Being close to the city lifts three of the six measures at once, through a cheaper commute, better transport access and more amenities on foot, so the distance bands below give a fairer read on the rest of Sydney.
These figures assume a typical household and commute. Find the Sydney suburbs that fit your own budget →
Best Sydney suburbs by distance from the city
One list for all of Greater Sydney rewards proximity twice. Splitting the 598 suburbs into five distance bands shows the strongest option at each commute length.
Inner, within 5km of the CBD
52 of the 598 ranked suburbs sit in this band. Wollstonecraft scores highest at 95.5, at $5,797 a year to run.
| Suburb | Council | Score | Running cost | Nearest service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wollstonecraft | North Sydney | 95.5 | $5,797 | 2 min walk, train |
| Kurraba Point | North Sydney | 91.2 | $5,766 | 3 min walk, ferry |
| Cremorne Point | North Sydney | 89.9 | $5,895 | 8 min walk, bus |
| Woollahra | Woollahra | 89 | $6,207 | 8 min walk, train |
| Cremorne | North Sydney | 86.7 | $5,982 | 23 min walk, ferry |
| McMahons Point | North Sydney | 86.4 | $5,637 | 7 min walk, ferry |
| North Sydney | North Sydney | 86.1 | $5,513 | 4 min walk, metro |
| Greenwich | Lane Cove | 85.9 | $6,834 | 5 min walk, ferry |
Middle ring, 5km to 10km
84 of the 598 ranked suburbs sit in this band. Willoughby scores highest at 89.5, at $6,914 a year to run.
| Suburb | Council | Score | Running cost | Nearest service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willoughby | Willoughby | 89.5 | $6,914 | 18 min walk, train |
| Cammeray | North Sydney | 89.4 | $6,135 | 20 min walk, bus |
| Naremburn | Willoughby | 89.4 | $6,678 | 14 min walk, train |
| North Willoughby | Willoughby | 87.6 | $7,339 | 20 min walk, bus |
| Willoughby East | Willoughby | 87.5 | $7,171 | 28 min walk, train |
| Dover Heights | Waverley | 87.3 | $6,537 | 22 min walk, bus |
| Riverview | Lane Cove | 86.8 | $7,554 | 9 min walk, ferry |
| Longueville | Lane Cove | 86.1 | $7,200 | 7 min walk, ferry |
Outer, 10km to 20km
155 of the 598 ranked suburbs sit in this band. Denistone East scores highest at 86.7, at $8,154 a year to run.
| Suburb | Council | Score | Running cost | Nearest service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denistone East | Ryde | 86.7 | $8,154 | 13 min walk, train |
| Allawah | Georges River | 86.6 | $8,294 | 4 min walk, train |
| Pymble | Ku-ring-gai | 86.1 | $9,639 | 3 min walk, train |
| Denistone | Ryde | 85.6 | $8,247 | 2 min walk, train |
| Bardwell Valley | Bayside | 84.6 | $7,425 | 10 min walk, train |
| Killara | Ku-ring-gai | 84.5 | $8,925 | 13 min walk, train |
| Epping | Parramatta | 82.9 | $8,713 | 2 min walk, metro |
| Bardwell Park | Bayside | 82.2 | $7,450 | 3 min walk, train |
Suburban, 20km to 40km
204 of the 598 ranked suburbs sit in this band. Waitara scores highest at 80.6, at $9,698 a year to run.
| Suburb | Council | Score | Running cost | Nearest service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waitara | Hornsby | 80.6 | $9,698 | 2 min walk, train |
| Bilgola Plateau | Northern Beaches | 76.4 | $10,680 | 13 min walk, ferry |
| Gymea | Sutherland | 73.6 | $9,935 | 8 min walk, train |
| Beaumont Hills | The Hills | 71.9 | $10,839 | 20 min walk, metro |
| Castle Hill | The Hills | 71.8 | $10,652 | 12 min walk, metro |
| Gymea Bay | Sutherland | 70.6 | $10,356 | 19 min walk, train |
| Kellyville Ridge | Blacktown City | 70.3 | $11,144 | 20 min walk, metro |
| Hornsby | Hornsby | 69.9 | $10,133 | 10 min walk, train |
Fringe, beyond 40km
103 of the 598 ranked suburbs sit in this band. Valley Heights scores highest at 65.5, at $10,672 a year to run.
| Suburb | Council | Score | Running cost | Nearest service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Heights | Blue Mountains | 65.5 | $10,672 | 2 min walk, train |
| Caddens | Penrith | 63.3 | $11,494 | 3 min walk, bus |
| Hazelbrook | Blue Mountains | 62.4 | $8,643 | 13 min walk, train |
| Bullaburra | Blue Mountains | 59.6 | $8,805 | 13 min walk, train |
| Lawson | Blue Mountains | 59.5 | $8,457 | 9 min walk, train |
| Wentworth Falls | Blue Mountains | 58.2 | $8,997 | 21 min walk, train |
| Woodford | Blue Mountains | 57.6 | $8,742 | 20 min walk, train |
| Faulconbridge | Blue Mountains | 57.2 | $10,049 | 22 min walk, train |
Best Sydney suburbs for families
Filtering for a catchment school ICSEA of 8.0 or above, low flood risk and at least 10 parks within a 2 km walk leaves 106 suburbs. The ten highest scoring:
| Suburb | Catchment primary | ICSEA | Parks within 2 km | Running cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wollstonecraft | North Sydney Public School | 9.6 | 103 | $5,797 |
| Willoughby | Willoughby Public School | 9.6 | 57 | $6,914 |
| Cammeray | Cammeray Public School | 10 | 76 | $6,135 |
| Naremburn | Cammeray Public School | 10 | 58 | $6,678 |
| Woollahra | Woollahra Public School | 10 | 63 | $6,207 |
| North Willoughby | Willoughby Public School | 9.6 | 54 | $7,339 |
| Willoughby East | Willoughby Public School | 9.6 | 43 | $7,171 |
| Dover Heights | Rose Bay Public School | 9.6 | 33 | $6,537 |
| Cremorne | Middle Harbour Public School | 10 | 97 | $5,982 |
| Denistone East | Denistone East Public School | 9.2 | 70 | $8,154 |
ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio Educational Advantage, published by ACARA. It describes the background of a school's student community, not the quality of its teaching. Use it as one input, visit the school, and check the catchment boundary for the specific address.
Best Sydney suburbs for commuters
123 of the 598 suburbs have a train, metro or light rail stop within a 10 minute walk. The ten highest scoring:
| Suburb | Station | Walk | From CBD | Running cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wollstonecraft | Wollstonecraft | 2 min | 4.3 km | $5,797 |
| Woollahra | Bondi Junction | 8 min | 3.8 km | $6,207 |
| Allawah | Allawah | 4 min | 14.5 km | $8,294 |
| Pymble | Pymble | 3 min | 15.2 km | $9,639 |
| Denistone | Denistone | 2 min | 13.5 km | $8,247 |
| Roseville | Roseville | 5 min | 9.7 km | $8,565 |
| Queens Park | Bondi Junction | 10 min | 4.7 km | $5,938 |
| Waverton | Waverton | 5 min | 3.2 km | $6,048 |
| St Leonards | St Leonards | 2 min | 5.3 km | $6,468 |
| Bardwell Valley | Bardwell Park | 10 min | 10.4 km | $7,425 |
The commute part of running cost assumes driving to the CBD. If you would take the train every day, the gap between inner and outer suburbs narrows. The train versus driving comparison puts that in dollars.
How the Sydney Suburb Score works
A 100 point composite of six measures with fixed, published weights, the same weights as the Brisbane Suburb Score.
| Measure | Points | How it is scored |
|---|---|---|
| Annual running cost | 25 | Percentile within Greater Sydney: the cheapest suburb scores 25 |
| Catchment school ICSEA | 20 | ACARA ICSEA percentile of the catchment schools |
| Recorded crime per resident | 20 | BOCSAR property and violent incidents per 1,000 residents, 2024-25 and 2025-26, as a percentile |
| Flood and fire risk | 15 | Suburb flood and bushfire classifications |
| Transport | 10 | Walking time to the nearest scheduled service, rail above bus |
| Everyday amenities | 10 | Supermarkets, cafes and parks within a 2 km walk |
Running cost means council rates, water, the modelled drive commute and building insurance, the same four lines as the other Sydney studies, so the figures reconcile with the Sydney running cost index. Building insurance is an estimate. Crime uses each suburb's own recorded incidents from the Sydney safety study, which is why the ranked set is the 598 Greater Sydney suburbs with at least 1,000 residents: below that, a few incidents swing the rate. Brisbane's crime measure uses Queensland Police Service bands instead, so the two cities' crime scores are not comparable.
What this score does not measure
- Property prices and capital growth. Not included anywhere on SuburbCost.
- How a suburb feels. Street character, noise and community cannot be scored from open data.
- Your own commute. The commute is modelled as a drive to the Sydney CBD. If you work in Parramatta, Macquarie Park or from home, it does not describe your trip.
- Property level risk. Flood and fire are classified for the suburb, not the address. Check the council flood overlay for a specific property.
- Crime detail. Recorded incidents only, counted where they happen, divided by 2021 Census population. Centres with shops and stations record more per resident.
If one measure matters far more to you than the rest, the CSV has each component so you can re-rank on it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best suburbs to live in Sydney?
On the SuburbCost Sydney Suburb Score, the highest scoring suburbs in 2026 are Wollstonecraft (North Sydney) at 95.5 out of 100, Kurraba Point at 91.2 and Cremorne Point at 89.9. The score combines annual running cost, catchment school ICSEA, recorded crime per resident, flood and fire risk, walking time to a scheduled transport service and everyday amenities within 2 km. 598 Greater Sydney suburbs are ranked. It does not measure property prices, capital growth or how a suburb feels to live in.
Which part of Sydney scores highest?
14 of the top 20 suburbs sit in three council areas, North Sydney (7), Willoughby (4) and Lane Cove (3). They combine short commutes, high ICSEA catchments and low recorded crime. Ranking all of Sydney on one list rewards being close to the city, so the distance bands on this page show the strongest suburb at each commute length.
What are the best Sydney suburbs for families?
Ranked on a catchment school ICSEA of 8.0 or above, low flood risk and at least 10 parks within 2 km, the strongest are Wollstonecraft, Willoughby, Cammeray, Naremburn and Woollahra. 106 suburbs meet all three conditions. ICSEA describes the socio educational background of a school community, not teaching quality, so treat it as one input.
Which Sydney suburbs are cheapest to run?
Of the 598 ranked, Surry Hills is the cheapest to run at $4,620 a year and Vineyard the dearest at $12,814. Running cost here means council rates, water, the modelled drive commute and estimated building insurance. The cost-only ranking is in the article on the cheapest Sydney suburbs to live in.
How is the Sydney Suburb Score calculated?
Six measures out of 100. Annual running cost 25 points, scored as a percentile within Greater Sydney. Catchment school ICSEA 20 points. Recorded crime 20 points, from each suburb's BOCSAR property and violent incidents per 1,000 residents, 2024-25 and 2025-26, as a percentile within Greater Sydney. Flood and fire risk 15 points. Walking time to the nearest scheduled service 10 points, with rail weighted above bus. Everyday amenities within 2 km 10 points. The weights are fixed and published so the ranking can be recalculated.
See what your shortlist costs to live in
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