Overall score
Pallarenda
32.5/100
Rowes Bay
25.5/100
Pallarenda for retirees and beach lifestyle; Rowes Bay for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Pallarenda
32.5/100
Rowes Bay
25.5/100
Crime rate
Pallarenda
190.7 / 1k
Rowes Bay
190.4 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Pallarenda
48
Rowes Bay
22
Population
Pallarenda
778
Rowes Bay
541
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Pallarenda | Rowes Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 32.5/100 | 25.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 58.5/100 | 51.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 190.7 / 1k | 190.4 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 2 |
| Parks & reserves | 3 | — |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 48 | 22 |
| Population | 778 | 541 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 8/10 |
Pallarenda is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Rowes Bay is a coastal smaller community with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
Pallarenda pulls ahead on housing affordability and nearby cafés and amenities, whereas Rowes Bay is the better pick for a quieter safety profile. Pallarenda generally means more sought-after housing, while Rowes Bay leans toward more mid-market housing value.
Choose Pallarenda if you are weighing retirees and families; lean toward Rowes Bay for households prioritising schools.