Professionals

Summary: Heavy with new constructions and faced with ongoing traffic issues, Alexandria has some challenges to face. It’s a shame, as it boasts an ultra-convenient location for those looking to access the Sydney CBD, has a well-connected rail station nearby, and is a hub for a lot of startup and creative industry types that’s quite cool. Add in a duo of large, great parks and varied food and dining options and there’s plenty to like – if you can deal with its core, base-level cons. Read Review

Summary: Fairly self-contained and with a distinct, charming vibe quite drastically different to its surrounding Inner West suburbs, Summer Hill boasts a cosy, intimate feel with a very communal atmosphere to boot. Oriented around its main village-style shopping street, the suburb is dotted with a range of lovely low-density housing of a number of interesting architectural styles, with streets that present a good balance of greenery versus gentrification.

There’s a heavy heritage feeling here that gives it character, and it’s extremely well positioned in terms of commute and access to Sydney city. All this adds up to highly in-demand housing that brings along with it accordingly high property prices – its only real downside.
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Summary: Edgecliff is an inner eastern suburb of Sydney that feels a little like a “bridging” suburb without much individual identity, yet a great centralised location. Sandwiched between the high-end Rushcutter’s Bay and Double Bay and the grit of Kings Cross, it has some positive and negative elements of both. It’s got all the amenities one could need for daily life and good connectivity to the CBD, and those who can deal with a bit of traffic noise can snag themselves a very practical spot within easy reach of multiple attractions, shopping options and career opportunities nearby. Read Review

Summary: An excellent all-rounder of a suburb with close to no major faults, Artarmon addresses so many of the needs one could want in a place to live – to the point that we crowned it #1 on our list of “Sydney’s 10 Most Underrated Suburbs”.

Oriented around a frequently-serviced train station on a main line, with a plethora of both budget and expensive accommodation options, and both bigger-box warehouse type shopping and smaller boutique sections of stores and cafes, it can thus fit the needs of many kinds of residents looking for a home on Sydney’s North Shore. Price of property is its only major limiting factor. Read Review

Summary: To describe Stanmore in a mathematical equation might go something like this: Stanmore : Petersham as Erskineville : St Peters. That is to say, it’s a little like Petersham’s slightly wealthier brother, but really there’s little to differentiate the two overall. It’s a little more charming, a little more green, and a little more expensive, with some better amenities for families in particular. Its aircraft noise is always going to be the main negative point, however, and although it’s charming and home to some lovely architecture, there’s not much to do in the suburb itself. Read Review

Summary: This high-end, hilly inner eastern suburb is renowned for both its lovely waterfront views and its high property prices. Often jokingly referred to as “Double Pay”, Double Bay has a multi-million-dollar barrier to entry in return for its lovely aspect, extremely pet-friendly main parkland area, and connectivity to the CBD via ferry. It’s pretty and upmarket, although there’s not too much to do and accessing its nearest train station will put a burn in the calves due to the hilly topography of most of the suburb. Read Review

Summary: Full of greenery, home to some truly impressive houses, and highly peaceful, Wollstonecraft is an unassuming Lower North Shore suburb that’s seldom discussed. This is largely because it’s a highly “utilitarian” suburb in that it skews highly towards the “good place to live” as opposed to “good place to visit” end of the spectrum. It’s connected to heavy rail, offers a range of housing types and… that’s about it. There’s almost zero to do here, and as a result it’s only a place you’d want to use for resting your head. Read Review

Summary: Formerly home solely to streets lined with grand old homes from the glory years of the mid to late 1900s, Caringbah like many other higher-end Sutherland Shire suburbs remains pretty, yet is also modernising and losing some of its character.

It’s got plenty going for it for families however, with quality schools nearby, nice leafy roads, peace and quiet, plenty of parkland, and a heavy rail station for city access. It’s a versatile & largely scenic suburb in parts, however its price has ballooned in recent years & now ranks on the pricier side in return for its liveability. Read Review

Summary: One of the most family and pet-friendly suburbs still within striking distance of the Sydney CBD, Annandale’s wide streets and greenery along with several notable highlights make it pretty much ideal for family life. Inner West in name only, the suburb has a “white picket fence” feel entirely different to its grittier neighbours that would help it rank near the top of our “liveability” rankings – if only it had a damn train station, avoided the flight paths, and was priced quite a bit lower. Read Review

Summary: A small, quiet and picturesque waterfront suburb on the waters of Sydney’s inner-east, Rushcutters Bay has plenty going for it in terms of location – it’s tucked away slightly so there’s less noise, it’s got great water views, and it’s fringed by other suburbs which provide entirely different opportunities right next door. It also ranks as one of the best inner Sydney suburbs for pet owners, with its signature park a major plus for the pup. Price will keep most potential owners restricted to renting – unless you’re willing to settle for a small apartment. Read Review