Thinking about buying your first home in Neutral Bay (2089)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Neutral Bay 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 Neutral Bay a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Neutral Bay (2089) 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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9 min
2 min
49 min
29 min
29 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
Neutral Bay suits higher-income professionals who want a short commute, a walkable neighbourhood, and no bushfire exposure. The unit market at $1,125,000 is the realistic entry point here, and with 44 childcare services nearby and a primary school scoring ICSEA 1169, families with young children are well catered for. A median household income of $2,443 per week reflects the financial weight this suburb demands from its residents.
Who would not love it
The house market has fallen 20.2% year-on-year to $2,700,000, which is a real concern, not a buying signal. With only 8% of dwellings being separate houses, detached-home seekers will find almost nothing here. First home buyers are locked out of the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme at both price points. The 52% renter share and 80% apartment stock mean you are buying into a predominantly transient, high-density environment, which does not suit everyone.
What to verify before you bid
- The 20.2% house price fall is based on 37 sales. Verify whether comparable properties in your target street reflect that drop or whether the median has been skewed by stock mix. - Units fell 6.3% on 247 sales, a more statistically reliable figure. Check the strata records and levy history for any building you shortlist, given the density of the apartment stock. - Confirm your specific lot's flood overlay with North Sydney Council, as the data block flags the composite safety grade as insufficient.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Neutral Bay?
BOCSAR · NEUTRAL BAY 2089
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K3,27112 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−59%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)North Sydney
Within LGA: North Sydney
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT63%144 reports
ASSAULT19%43 reports
MALICIOUS DAMAGE TO PROPERTY18%40 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED44%
NON-DOMESTIC56%
Across 41 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 Neutral Bay
25
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
15:04 AEST
Bradfield Highway station · 1.0 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 36 · Fair
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
6.4µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
10.6µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
1.8pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Bradfield Highway 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 125 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
$830per week
Sep 2025 · 125 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Cremorne2090
$875▲$45
0.8 km away
Lavender Bay2060
$950▲$120
1.2 km away
Kirribilli2061
$1,030▲$200
1.2 km away
Cammeray2062
$800▼$30
1.6 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 · 2089
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2089. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Neutral Bay with another suburb
Also in North Sydney
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other North Sydney postcodes, or explore the full North Sydney suburb index.
Neutral Bay is the primary suburb with postcode 2089 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Neutral Bay is the main locality.
Which local government area is Neutral Bay in?
Neutral Bay (2089) is located in the North Sydney local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Neutral Bay?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Neutral Bay (2089) 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 Neutral Bay flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Neutral Bay. 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 Neutral Bay?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Neutral Bay (2089), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Neutral Bay (2089) 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 Neutral Bay (2089). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Neutral Bay changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Neutral Bay (2089) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
