Median house price
$9.4M
+40% change
NSW · Waverley Council
Dover Heights, 2030
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,299
Growth (1 yr)
+0.7%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.7%
Median age
41
Median income
$3,877/wk
Employment rate
60.5%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$9,400,000
Languages at home
21%non-English
Most common: Russian, Mandarin, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Dover Heights is a coastal mid-sized suburb where beach life and relaxed outdoor living shape the local character. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. A large share of residents were born overseas, and languages other than English are widely spoken at home.
There is a dense cluster of schools and early-learning options nearby. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Reported crime has been falling recently.
Desirability rates good overall, led by community and employment, plus growth momentum, while local dining and lifestyle amenities land closer to the middle of the pack for similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Dover Heights snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$1,300/wk
Houses $3,200 · Units $1,100
Population (ERP)
6,299
+0.7% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.2%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#2
among Coastal & beach · Emerging
Safety
6th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
58th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
92nd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 57.3/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 18% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1307th in Australia
- State rank
- 383rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #2 among Coastal & beach · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #38 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
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 house price (October to December 2025)
- $9,400,000
- Median price change
- +40.2%
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 and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
6,299(June 2025)
+0.7% annual · +0.7% over 5 years · 58th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.7%
- 5-year growth
- +0.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +46
- Change in 5 years
- +42
- Growth rank in NSW
- 58th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~6,400), extrapolated at +0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- 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)
- 870 / 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 · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 163
- Against the person
- 42
- Against property
- 64
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 25.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 96 residents
- State safety percentile
- 6.1th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.1%
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 · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 10
- Median school ICSEA (10 schools)
- 1,132.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 92th
School list
- Kesser Torah CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1082 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 18% · 484 students · Top SEA quarter 31% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- Rose Bay Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1107 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 47% · 1,127 students · Top SEA quarter 43% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- McAuley Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1168 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 35% · 273 students · Top SEA quarter 66% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- Rose Bay Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1145 · 94th percentile · LBOTE 55% · 377 students · Top SEA quarter 59% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- KambalaCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1169 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 33% · 986 students · Top SEA quarter 70% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Galilee Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1160 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 88 students · Top SEA quarter 63% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Kincoppal - Rose Bay School of the Sacred HeartCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1160 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 851 students · Top SEA quarter 66% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Wairoa SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 1025 · 58th percentile · LBOTE 67% · 75 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- WAYS SecondarySpecial · Independent · ICSEA 987 · 41th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 62 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Bondi Beach Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1120 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 34% · 348 students · Top SEA quarter 48% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
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 · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
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 · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
281 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 203 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 6 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 45 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 206 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.25
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.25
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.48
Food & drink(1)
- Archie'sCafe
218 Military Road, Dover Heights
Community(2)
- Kindergarten
- Kesser Torah CollegeSchool
Sport & outdoors(212)
- Caffyn ParkPark
- Dudley Page ReservePark
- Park (2)
- Rodney ReservePark
- Warren Zines ReservePark
- Playground
- Weonga Reserve PlaygroundPlayground
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (203)
Entertainment(3)
- Viewpoint (3)
Transport(20)
20 bus stops
Other(15)
- Artwork
- Bench (13)
- Bicycle Parking
- Drinking water (4)
- Fitness Station (2)
- Hairdresser
- Aboriginal & Natural HeritageInformation
- Information (4)
- Waverley Council - Cliff WalkInformation
- Picnic Table (2)
- Saint Therese's Catholic ChurchPlace of worship
- Post Box
- Shelter (2)
- Vending machine
- Waste Basket (8)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
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 · current · Updated
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 — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Saint Therese's Catholic Church
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Double Bay Day Hospital (3.5 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 81
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 12.9
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 25° / 17°
- Rainfall
- 321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 22° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 33 proposals
August 2026
- Place of public worship; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structureNAPIER STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Subdivision97 HARDY STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure37 GEORGE STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureLYONS STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)185 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation56 GEORGE STREET DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure62 WALLANGRA ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
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 2030Determined
- 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 2030Determined
- 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 2030Determined
- 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 2030Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure132 MILITARY ROAD DOVER HEIGHTS 2030Determined
- 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 2030Determined
- 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 · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
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 · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Wentworth
- Member of Parliament
- Allegra SPENDER (Independent)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 127,463
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.1%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 49.4%Labor 50.6%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 1.7 km away).
Coalition 62.2%Labor 37.8%
12.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Dover HeightsLabor 28.5% · Coalition 71.5% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Rose BayLabor 35.1% · Coalition 64.9% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- EdgecliffLabor 44.7% · Coalition 55.3% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Bondi NorthLabor 48.2% · Coalition 51.8% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Bondi Beach EastLabor 58.0% · Coalition 42.0% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
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.