Thinking about buying your first home in Dee Why (2099)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Dee Why is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Dee Why a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Dee Why (2099) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
Tick the places you actually go and how often. We'll work out your typical travel time from this suburb, so you can compare suburbs against the trips you really do.
Your typical trip from hereTick a destination below
36 min
29 min
62 min
35 min
57 min
Approximate off-peak driving times: straight-line distance × a Sydney detour factor at 35 km/h. Real road times will vary. Saved on this device.
The verdict
Who it is for
Dee Why suits buyers in their mid-thirties who want a coastal Northern Beaches lifestyle and can stretch to a unit around $940,000. The SEIFA decile of 9 out of 10 signals a relatively affluent, educated neighbourhood, and the mean ICSEA of 1088 across local public schools is solid. Access to the selective Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus is a genuine draw for families prioritising academic pathways. Air quality is excellent, with a 12-month median AQI of 28.
Who would not love it
The walkability score of 14 places Dee Why in the 13th percentile across Sydney, and the amenity data confirms why: zero supermarkets, zero medical services, and zero gyms within 1.6 kilometres. You are dependent on a car for most daily needs. The 54-minute off-peak drive to the CBD will stretch longer in traffic. With 53.6 percent of the postcode classified as bushfire-prone land, fire risk is a real and material concern, not a footnote.
What to verify before you bid
- Confirm the specific bushfire risk overlay for any property you are considering. Over half the postcode is bushfire-prone, so lot-level BAL ratings and insurance costs must be checked before you bid. - For units at the $940,000 median, obtain and scrutinise the strata records. With 82 percent of dwellings being flats and a high renter share of 47 percent, levy arrears and deferred maintenance are genuine risks. - Verify grocery and medical access from the specific address. The 1.6 kilometre amenity count shows zero of each, so confirm your actual nearest options and whether they are walkable or require driving.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Dee Why?
BOCSAR · DEE WHY 2099
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K3,45612 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−57%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Northern Beaches
Within LGA: Northern Beaches
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT46%236 reports
AGAINST JUSTICE PROCEDURES30%151 reports
ASSAULT24%124 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED36%
NON-DOMESTIC64%
Across 118 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Dee Why
27
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
14:19 AEST
Cammeray station · 10.6 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 28 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
6.9µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
12.6µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
2.7pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Cammeray station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 190 new bond lodgements this quarter.
Rents here are at the higher end for Sydney. Higher holding costs for investors; higher savings pressure for renters.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
$840per week
Sep 2025 · 190 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Brookvale2100
$838▼$2
2.5 km away
Collaroy2097
$863▲$23
3.0 km away
Curl Curl2096
$900▲$60
4.2 km away
Frenchs Forest2086
$1,150▲$310
4.3 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2099
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2099. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Dee Why with another suburb
Also in Northern Beaches
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Northern Beaches postcodes, or explore the full Northern Beaches suburb index.
Dee Why is the primary suburb with postcode 2099 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Dee Why is the main locality.
Which local government area is Dee Why in?
Dee Why (2099) is located in the Northern Beaches local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Dee Why?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Dee Why (2099) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Dee Why flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Dee Why. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Dee Why?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Dee Why (2099), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Dee Why (2099) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Dee Why (2099). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Dee Why changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Dee Why (2099) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
