NSW · Sydney Council
Waterloo, 2017
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
- Café precinct
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
Suburb profile
At the heart of the metro area, Waterloo is a established suburb where cafés, culture and everyday convenience overlap. Sitting close to the city centre, it is easy to dip into neighbouring suburbs for work, dining and events. Leafy streets and shaded corners make the suburb feel greener and more established than many nearby.
A younger crowd gives the area energy, with a healthy mix of renters and owner-occupiers. Food, coffee and entertainment are never far away, whether locally or in the suburbs next door. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls.
Getting around the metro area is straightforward, with transport tying neighbouring communities together. Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers.
On the desirability index, the suburb rates good overall, led by parks and green space and growth momentum, while housing affordability and safety sit closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.
Population
- Population
- 16,379
- Median age
- 33
- Median household income / week
- $2,028
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 1,349 of 9,391
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,500
- Employment rate
- 60.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 359 / 655 / 7,330
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)
- $1,250
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $1,100
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 2,253
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)
- 1,722
- Against the person
- 391
- Against property
- 857
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 105.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 73.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +14.7%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud217
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment216
- Malicious Damage To Property238
- Other Theft219
- Steal From Dwelling270
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)
- 914
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary
- Yudi Gunyi SchoolSpecial
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
75 public transport stops in this suburb
- CNC E
- Waterloo Station
- Waterloo Station, Botany Rd, Stand B
- Waterloo Station, Platform 1
- Waterloo Station, Platform 2
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).
262 planning-related records
2026· 29 proposals
June 2026
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise; Residential Accommodation903-921 BOURKE STREET WATERLOO 2017Under Assessment
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor)7 198-222 YOUNG STREET WATERLOO 2017Under Assessment
- Demolition; Public Reserve2B ELIZABETH STREET WATERLOO 2017Under Assessment
- Demolition; Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Self storage units40 O'DEA AVENUE WATERLOO 2017Under Assessment
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure903-921 BOURKE STREET WATERLOO 2017Additional Information Requested
- Recreation/Tourist Premise; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading723-725 ELIZABETH STREET WATERLOO 2017Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation55 WELLINGTON STREET WATERLOO 2017Additional Information Requested
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise; Residential Accommodation903-921 BOURKE STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and tradingSHOP 4 18A O'DEA AVENUE WATERLOO 2017Determined
May 2026
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure25 LACHLAN STREET WATERLOO 2017Under Assessment
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure903-921 BOURKE STREET WATERLOO 2017Additional Information Requested
- Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading8-10 DANKS STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Exhibition home44-48 O'Dea Avenue, WaterlooAdditional Information Requested
- Subdivision31 Archibald Avenue WaterlooUnder Assessment
- Subdivision14, 16 & 18 Archibald Avenue WaterlooUnder Assessment
- Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading183 BOTANY ROAD WATERLOO 2017Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Public Reserve2B ELIZABETH STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Shop top housing; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia830 ELIZABETH STREET WATERLOO 2017Under Assessment
March 2026
- Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and tradingShop 7 /18-20 O€™Dea ave Waterloo NSW 2017Determined
- Seniors housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure182-186 YOUNG STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure205 PITT STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Subdivision903-921 BOURKE STREET WATERLOO 2017Withdrawn
February 2026
- Subdivision830 ELIZABETH STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Pub; Hours of operation and trading45-47 Botany Road, Waterloo NSW 2017Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WELLINGTON STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation50 RAGLAN STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
January 2026
- Signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences; Business identification sign1-7 RAGLAN STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Temporary building, structure or use; Exhibition home44-48 O'Dea Avenue, WaterlooDetermined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise44-48 O'Dea Avenue, WaterlooDetermined
2025· 11 proposals
December 2025
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise44-48 O'Dea Avenue, WaterlooDetermined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise44-48 O'Dea Avenue, WaterlooDetermined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Retail Premise44-48 O'Dea Avenue, WaterlooDetermined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)205 PITT STREET WATERLOO 2017Rejected
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 WELLINGTON STREET WATERLOO 2017Rejected
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure653 ELIZABETH STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Dwelling house; Temporary building, structure or use; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia24-26 AMELIA STREET WATERLOO 2017Operational consent issued
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 WELLINGTON STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation682 ELIZABETH STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading10-18 GADIGAL AVENUE WATERLOO 2017Determined
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 ALLEN STREET WATERLOO 2017Determined
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
429 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bottlemart ExpressAlcohol
- Local LiquorAlcohol
- Vintage CellarsAlcohol
- Centennial BarkAnimal Boarding
Unit 13B 5 Potter Street
- ATM (2)
- BitRocket Bitcoin ATMATM
1 Crystal Street, Waterloo
- BitRocket Bitcoin ATMATM
22 Crystal Street, Waterloo
- Commonwealth BankATM
- Carter'sBakery
- Daily French Hot BreadBakery
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
20 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Corning ParkPark
- Crown ParkPark
- Crystal ParkPark
- Dyuralya SquarePark
- Gadigal Avenue ReservePark
- Henry James Deacon ReservePark
- Kensington ReservePark
- Short Street ReservePark
- The Rope WalkPark
- TJ Hickey ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 9
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Club Pharmacypharmacy
- Danks Street Discount Pharmacypharmacy
- Green Square DermatologyDanks Streetdoctor
- Green Square HealthBourke Streetdoctor
- Harmony Dao TCM Clinicalternative
- Healthcare Family Medical Centredoctor
- Kirby's Pharmacypharmacy
- Sydney Boutique DentistryDanks Streetdentist
- Waterloo DentalThread Lanedentist
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)
- 3/10
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
- Greenwood Early Learning Centreskindergarten
- The Green ElephantAllen Streetkindergarten
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)
- 24
- Parks (OSM)
- 23
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
- 58.1/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 14% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 888th in Australia
- State rank
- 300th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #90 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #211 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
- 1346Venice - Cafe & Baramenities24 Amelia Street, Waterloobar
- 9 Degrees Waterlooamenities21 Danks Streetsports_centre
- A Taste of Taiwanamenitiesrestaurant
- A Yogurt Cowamenitiescafe
- ATMamenitiesatm
- ATMamenitiesatm
- Abbotts Hotelamenities45-47 Botany Road, Waterloopub
- Aldiamenities8 Danks Street, Waterloosupermarket
- AllSpice Thai KitchenamenitiesUnit 3 25-33 Allen Streetrestaurant
- Amazon Hub Lockeramenitiesparcel_locker
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Sydney Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.