Young Professionals

Summary: A suburb with plenty of character and one of the best dining scenes in all of Sydney, Marrickville is trendy without being pretentious. It’s still got a bit of authentic grit despite its large ongoing developments, and offers a solid balance between city access, diversity of housing types and enjoyable public spaces. Rising prices and some noise issues at both air and ground levels hamper it a little, but for the younger and establishing crowd it’s an excellent choice in the Inner West. Read Review

Summary: Ashfield is a well-balanced suburb in the Inner West which boasts good public transport connectivity, school access and overall amenities, as well as a range of housing options. It’s become a darling of the Chinese community and much of its small-scale retail reflects this almost mono-cultural bent, while it also suffers from some significant traffic and parking issues for drivers. It can feel a little crowded and soulless at times, and its price is no longer a major selling point as property prices have continued to climb. Read Review

Summary: Centrally located, convenient and well-equipped with amenities, if there was any one word to describe St Leonards, “functional” would probably be it. This is a North Shore Sydney suburb that has everything you’ll need for daily life should you be happy with small-scale apartment living, yet is almost entirely lacking in other character or any kind of personality. While it has no real negatives other than a lack of affordable standalone housing and some noise and traffic issues, St Leonards is fairly bland overall; its main saving grace is its access to the city, and proximity to the suburbs which surround it. Read Review

Summary: As a suburb, St Peters feels almost directly like Erskineville’s slightly rougher, grittier little brother. Conveniently located and with good city connectivity, the suburb offers a (slightly) more affordable smattering of terrace and high-density housing, a range of drinking and dining opportunities, and streets dotted with colourful murals and other bohemian art. There’s an overall edgy feeling here and some noise issues that may not appeal to all, but its positives in terms of location and convenience can generally outweigh its relative lack of full-blown gentrification. Read Review

Summary: The Lower North Shore’s go-to venue for selection when it comes to a quality meal, Crows Nest is a trendy hub for dining and drinking that feels a little like a “cleaner” version of Newtown down south. Centered around its main street lined with all sorts of cuisine and takeout areas as well as small-scale retail, the suburb is energetic – although a little noisy in places – and has some traffic issues. Its lack of train connectivity is a negative as well, as is a general lack of parking, but it’s still a great night out. 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

Summary: Sydney’s flagship suburb for same-sex pride has come a long way since its dirty past of brothels, drugs and gang activity. While it still has its grittier elements, Darlinghurst now serves as a desirable springboard to city life brimming with restaurants and pubs, with the city just down the street; however it’s very much a matter of sacrificing size for convenience and a little grit, as it’s largely apartment-only living on offer here. Read Review

Summary: Up-and-coming in terms of both desirability and price, “Ersko” has become a darling of the young professional and hipster communities, with its mixture of easy access to Sydney city, greenery and growing array of cafes, pubs and bars all positive points in its factor. Soaring costs and the effects of gentrification are creeping in, however, and buying a slice of Erskineville life may soon be out of reach of the average income earner – if it isn’t already. Read Review

Summary: A small suburb in inner Sydney with a heavy “college town” feel, Chippendale oozes convenience with a location that grants it immediate access to a wide array of restaurants & stores, major train stations, a striking new modern parkland, and its main hub of the University of Technology Sydney nearby. It’s bordered by busy roads, dominated by students and largely apartment-style living, however, so families or those who want some extra space may want to look elsewhere. Read Review

Summary: A central Sydney suburb with a difference, Pyrmont is extremely pleasant to walk around and simply “be” in, with its waterfront location and ample parkland feeling overall very vibrant and clean. Its proximity to a huge array of things to see, do and eat just around the corner is a huge plus, while still feeling somewhat separate from the Sydney CBD. High prices for small sized properties, a disconnect from heavy rail, and plenty of ambient noise make it a suburb far more suited to young professionals looking to rent than average families looking to stay, however. Read Review