Thinking about buying your first home in Menai (2234)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Menai 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 Menai a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Menai (2234) 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.
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59 min
64 min
54 min
69 min
42 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
Menai suits established families on strong incomes who want a quiet, owner-occupied neighbourhood with good schools and plenty of green space. The median household income of $2,575 a week reflects who already lives here, and the 84% owner-occupier rate means you are buying into a settled community. The public secondary school scores an ICSEA of 1055, above the national average, and 23 of 25 nearby childcare services meet or exceed the National Quality Standard.
Who would not love it
First home buyers are priced out entirely. The median house sits at $1,567,500 and is not eligible for the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme. The walkability score of 43 puts Menai in the 42nd percentile for Sydney, meaning a car is not optional, it is essential. Most significantly, 77.4% of the postcode sits on bushfire-prone land. That is not a minor footnote. It affects insurance costs, building restrictions, and the real risk to your home in a bad fire season.
What to verify before you bid
- Check the specific bushfire attack level (BAL) rating for any property you are considering, as 77.4% bushfire-prone coverage means many lots will carry construction and maintenance obligations that add ongoing cost. - Confirm home and contents insurance quotes before exchange, as bushfire-prone zoning in Sutherland Shire can produce significant premium loading or coverage exclusions. - With only one medical service within 1.6 km, verify the location of the nearest hospital and GP bulk-billing availability for your household's needs.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Menai?
BOCSAR · MENAI 2234
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K2,70712 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−66%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Sutherland
Within LGA: Sutherland
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT51%73 reports
ASSAULT25%36 reports
INTIMIDATION, STALKING AND HARASSMENT24%34 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED64%
NON-DOMESTIC36%
Across 36 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 Menai
49
FairAQI · NSW DCCEEW
15:28 AEST
Liverpool station · 13.8 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 36 · Fair
Air quality is acceptable but sensitive groups may notice effects.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
8.5µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
24.7µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
1.4pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Liverpool 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. Bond count suppressed by DCJ (30 or fewer 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 · House · 3 bed
Small sample
$905per week
Sep 2025 · bond count suppressed
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Jannali2226
…
4.6 km away
Kirrawee2232
…
6.0 km away
Panania2213
…
6.3 km away
Mortdale2223
…
7.1 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 · 2234
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2234. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Menai with another suburb
Also in Sutherland
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Sutherland postcodes, or explore the full Sutherland suburb index.
Menai is the primary suburb with postcode 2234 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Menai is the main locality.
Which local government area is Menai in?
Menai (2234) is located in the Sutherland local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Menai?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Menai (2234) 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 Menai flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Menai. 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 Menai?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Menai (2234), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Menai (2234) 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 Menai (2234). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Menai changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Menai (2234) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
