Thinking about buying your first home in Paddington (2021)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Paddington 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 Paddington a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Paddington (2021) 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
7 min
15 min
54 min
41 min
17 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
Paddington suits established dual-income households who want inner-city walkability without sacrificing neighbourhood character. The median house sits at $3,250,000, so this is firmly a premium market, but the median unit at $955,000 is more accessible. With 67 cafes, 93 parks, and a walkability score in the 81st percentile within reach, it rewards people who want to live on foot. The 12-minute off-peak drive to the CBD adds to the convenience.
Who would not love it
First home buyers are effectively locked out of the house market here, and the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme does not apply at the median house price. The suburb is only 7% separate houses, so if a backyard matters to you, the stock simply is not there. The 45% renter share and low house-to-unit ratio also mean the streetscape shifts considerably depending on the block. Safety data is graded insufficient, which is a real gap in the picture.
What to verify before you bid
- The composite Stickybeak grade is B and the safety grade is marked insufficient. Request crime statistics directly from NSW Police for the 2021 postcode before proceeding. - Strata records for any unit purchase warrant close scrutiny. With 32% of dwellings being flats and a high renter share, check the owners corporation financials and outstanding levies. - Confirm the specific school catchment boundary for the local secondary, given Sydney Boys High School is selective entry only and not a guaranteed option.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Paddington?
BOCSAR · PADDINGTON 2021
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K4,89712 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−39%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Trend unavailableCity of Sydney
Within LGA: City of Sydney
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT72%295 reports
ASSAULT16%66 reports
AGAINST JUSTICE PROCEDURES12%48 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED33%
NON-DOMESTIC67%
Across 64 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 Paddington
21
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
13:49 AEST
Cook and Phillip station · 2.5 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 27 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
5.3µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
9.3µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
2.4pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Cook and Phillip 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 66 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
$850per week
Sep 2025 · 66 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Darlinghurst2010
$1,000▲$150
1.5 km away
Woollahra2025
$900▲$50
1.6 km away
Double Bay2028
$990▲$140
1.9 km away
Redfern2016
$945▲$95
2.0 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 · 2021
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2021. Expected back by Q3 2026.
Get one email when Paddington's prices, FHB eligibility, or strata health change. No newsletter, no upsell, unsubscribe with one click.
Your email is used only for this notification. Unsubscribe in one click.
Compare Paddington with another suburb
Also in City of Sydney
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other City of Sydney postcodes, or explore the full City of Sydney suburb index.
Paddington is the primary suburb with postcode 2021 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Paddington is the main locality.
Which local government area is Paddington in?
Paddington (2021) is located in the City of Sydney local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Paddington?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Paddington (2021) 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 Paddington flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Paddington. 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 Paddington?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Paddington (2021), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Paddington (2021) 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 Paddington (2021). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Paddington changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Paddington (2021) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
