As Sydney closes in on its next population milestone of 5 million, it remains Australia’s leading city, not only in size but in other measures as well. Yet more importantly it is a global city with a very strong international brand that stands in the top listings of many measures from liveability to business performance, from diversity to climate and amenity. Sydney is also an innovative city, continually adapting to the trends and shown through its rich cultural diversity, strength in attracting investment and responsiveness to the ever-changing generations. The challenge for Sydney’s future is to ensure that it responds to population growth yet maintains its world-beating lifestyle and that its liveability rises to match its increasing density. This is the purpose of this Urban Living Index. We have designed it to track the five key categories that produce a measure of liveability in a city that is moving from suburban spread to urban growth. While a city can always improve, these results show that the city planning and unit development are creating thriving urban communities, as evidenced by the results that show superior liveability in high density Sydney suburbs. There remain some infrastructure shortfalls and affordability challenges, however this inaugural Urban Living Index shows that the vertical communities of the 21st century are meeting the lifestyle needs of Sydneysiders just as those achieved by the horizontal suburbs of the 20th Century.

1. MEASURING URBAN LIVEABILITY ACROSS SYDNEY
Mark McCrindle
Developed for Urban Taskforce Australia
Thursday 10 December 2015

2. AUSTRALIA’S POPULATION
24m

3. SYDNEY: A CENTURY OF GROWTH

4. SYDNEY: A CENTURY OF GROWTH

5. SYDNEY: A CENTURY OF GROWTH

6. SYDNEY: A CENTURY OF GROWTH

7. SYDNEY: A CENTURY OF GROWTH

8. SYDNEY’S GROWTH COMPARED:
1.7%

9. SYDNEY’S GROWTH COMPARED:
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, SYDNEY HAS GROWN BY 86,000 PEOPLE

10. SYDNEY’S GROWTH COMPARED:
1.7%TASMANIA GREW BY AROUND 1,400 PEOPLE
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, SYDNEY HAS GROWN BY 86,000 PEOPLE

11. SYDNEY’S GROWTH COMPARED:
1.7%
SYDNEY IS GROWING BY MORE PEOPLE EVERY 6 DAYS
THAN TASMANIA ADDS IN A WHOLE YEAR
TASMANIA GREW BY AROUND 1,400 PEOPLE
IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, SYDNEY HAS GROWN BY 86,000 PEOPLE

12. % OF STATE POPULATION LIVING IN THE CAPITAL CITY
48%
Brisbane

13. % OF STATE POPULATION LIVING IN THE CAPITAL CITY
63%
Sydney
48%
Brisbane

14. 3/4 1/4
AUSTRALIA

15. 2/3 1/3
SYDNEY

16. 1/3 2/3
NEW APPROVALS

17. HOUSE PRICES EXCEEDING WAGES GROWTH

18. HOUSE PRICES EXCEEDING WAGES GROWTH

19. HOUSE PRICES EXCEEDING WAGES GROWTH

20. METHODOLOGY

21. METHODOLOGY
• Data collected from 228 SA2s (suburbs) across Sydney (SUA)
• Analysis of ABS Census data (cat. 2010.0)
• Analysis of ABS Business data (cat. 8165.0)
• Online survey of 1,020 Sydney-siders: in field from 29th
September to 4th October 2015

22. URBAN LIVING INDEX

23. INDEX EXPLAINED

24. INDEX EXPLAINED

25. INDEX EXPLAINED

26. INDEX EXPLAINED

27. COMBINED CATEGORY SCORECARD

28. CORRELATION
Urban Living Index
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100
Proportion of High Density Dwellings

29. CORRELATION
Urban Living Index
Proportion of High Density Dwellings
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

30. CORRELATION
Urban Living Index
Proportion of High Density Dwellings
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100

31. PLANNING REGIONS

32. PLANNING REGIONS
CENTRAL 73

33. PLANNING REGIONS
CENTRAL 73
NORTH 65

34. PLANNING REGIONS
CENTRAL 73
NORTH 65
SOUTH 60

35. PLANNING REGIONS
CENTRAL 73
NORTH 65
SOUTH 60
WEST CENTRAL 57

36. PLANNING REGIONS
CENTRAL 73
NORTH 65
SOUTH 60
WEST 49
WEST CENTRAL 57

37. PLANNING REGIONS
CENTRAL 73
NORTH 65
SOUTH 60
WEST 49
WEST CENTRAL 57
SOUTH WEST 48

38. Region
Average Urban
Living Index Score
Central 73
North 65
South 60
West Central 57
West 49
South West 48

39. Region
Average Urban
Living Index Score
Average Proportion of
High Density Dwellings
Central 73 52%
North 65 29%
South 60 29%
West Central 57 15%
West 49 5%
South West 48 7%

40. Planning Region
Central
Surry Hills
North
Crows Nest - Waverton
West Central
Parramatta - Rosehill
South
Hurstville
South West
Liverpool - Warwick Farm
West
Springwood - Winmalee

41. Planning Region Urban Living Index
Central
Surry Hills 85
North
Crows Nest - Waverton 85
West Central
Parramatta - Rosehill 80
South
Hurstville 76
South West
Liverpool - Warwick Farm 66
West
Springwood - Winmalee 59

42. Planning Region Urban Living Index Urban Living Index Rank
Central
Surry Hills 85 1
North
Crows Nest - Waverton 85 1
West Central
Parramatta - Rosehill 80 13
South
Hurstville 76 31
South West
Liverpool - Warwick Farm 66 74
West
Springwood - Winmalee 59 108

43. URBAN LIVING INDEX SCORES

44. 1. CROWS NEST – WAVERTON 85
1. SURRY HILLS 85
5. NORTH SYDNEY – LAVENDAR BAY 82
5. RANDWICK 82
5. CHATSWOOD (EAST) – ARTARMON 82
5. LEICHHARDT – ANNANDALE 82
3. PYRMONT – ULTIMO 83
3. MARRICKVILLE 83
5. POTTS POINT – WOOLLOOMOOLOO 82
URBAN LIVING INDEX SCORES

45. TOP 10 URBAN LIVING INDEX SUBURBS
Suburb (SA2) Index
Index
Rank
Proportion of
dwellings that are
High Density
HD Rank
Crows Nest – Waverton 85 1 71% 11
Surry Hills 85 1 70% 14
Pyrmont – Ultimo 83 3 91% 3
Marrickville 83 3 40% 62
Potts Point – Woolloomooloo 82 5 92% 2
North Sydney - Lavender Bay 82 5 78% 5
Randwick 82 5 68% 17
Chatswood (East) – Artarmon 82 5 64% 25
Leichhardt – Annandale 82 5 25% 91
Neutral Bay – Kirribilli 81 10 76% 7

46. HIGHEST DENSITY SUBURBS
High
density
Rank
Suburb (SA2)
Proportion of
dwellings that
are high density
Urban
Living
Index
Urban
Living
Index
Rank
1 Sydney - Haymarket - The Rocks 92% 77 26
2 Potts Point - Woolloomooloo 92% 82 5
3 Pyrmont - Ultimo 91% 83 3
4 Parramatta - Rosehill 82% 80 13
5 North Sydney - Lavender Bay 78% 82 5
6 Darlinghurst 76% 80 13
7 Neutral Bay - Kirribilli 76% 81 10

47. HIGHEST DENSITY SUBURBS
High
density
Rank
Suburb (SA2)
Proportion of
dwellings that
are high density
Urban
Living
Index
Urban
Living
Index
Rank
1 Sydney - Haymarket - The Rocks 92% 77 26
2 Potts Point - Woolloomooloo 92% 82 5
3 Pyrmont - Ultimo 91% 83 3
4 Parramatta - Rosehill 82% 80 13
5 North Sydney - Lavender Bay 78% 82 5
6 Darlinghurst 76% 80 13
7 Neutral Bay - Kirribilli 76% 81 10

48. HIGHEST DENSITY SUBURBS
High
density
Rank
Suburb (SA2)
Proportion of
dwellings that
are high density
Urban
Living
Index
Urban
Living
Index
Rank
1 Sydney - Haymarket - The Rocks 92% 77 26
2 Potts Point - Woolloomooloo 92% 82 5
3 Pyrmont - Ultimo 91% 83 3
4 Parramatta - Rosehill 82% 80 13
5 North Sydney - Lavender Bay 78% 82 5
6 Darlinghurst 76% 80 13
7 Neutral Bay - Kirribilli 76% 81 10

49. HIGHEST DENSITY SUBURBS
High
density
Rank
Suburb (SA2)
Proportion of
dwellings that
are high density
Urban
Living
Index
Urban
Living
Index
Rank
1 Sydney - Haymarket - The Rocks 92% 77 26
2 Potts Point - Woolloomooloo 92% 82 5
3 Pyrmont - Ultimo 91% 83 3
4 Parramatta - Rosehill 82% 80 13
5 North Sydney - Lavender Bay 78% 82 5
6 Darlinghurst 76% 80 13
7 Neutral Bay - Kirribilli 76% 81 10

50. HIGHEST DENSITY SUBURBS
Affordability Community Employability Amenity Accessibility
Sydney - Haymarket -
The Rocks
6 15 16 20 20
Potts Point -
Woolloomooloo
9 16 19 18 20
Pyrmont - Ultimo 7 17 20 20 19

51. INDEX MEASURES
Measure
Affordability Community Employability Amenity Accessibility
Home cost
Dynamic
community
Full-time
employment
Educational
attendance
Access to work
Rental cost Language diversity
Higher education
qualification
Arts and
Recreation
Population density
Rental population Volunteer work Professionals
Restaurants and
cafes
Walking to work
Household income
Workforce
participation
Employing
businesses
Shopping
Transport
sustainability

52. SURVEY RESULTS

53. SENTIMENT TOWARD HIGH DENSITY HOUSING
69%
66%
56%
47%
40%
30%
Central
North
South
West Central
South West
West
Proportion of Sydney-siders who have never lived in a
unit / apartment however would consider living in one.

54. 69%
66%
56%
47%
40%
30%
Central
North
South
West Central
South West
West
Proportion of Sydney-siders who have never lived in a
unit / apartment however would consider living in one.
SENTIMENT TOWARD HIGH DENSITY HOUSING

55. GENERATIONAL SENTIMENT
63%
41%
53%
Generation Y
Generation X
Baby Boomers
Q. Of those who have never lived in a unit / apartment: I
would consider living in a unit / apartment in the future

56. GENERATIONAL SENTIMENT
63%
41%
53%
Generation Y
Generation X
Baby Boomers
Q. Of those who have never lived in a unit / apartment: I
would consider living in a unit / apartment in the future

57. HIGH DENSITY HOUSING SENTIMENT
2% 1% 2% 2%
4%
20%
11%
20%
18%
10% 10%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Q. Thinking about the high density housing in
which you live, how likely would you be to
recommend this type of housing to other people?
89%

58. AFFORDABILITY

59. AFFORDABILITY SENTIMENT
8%
13%
19%
24%
37%
I could definitely afford to buy into my area
I could probably afford to buy into my area
I could possibly afford to buy into my area
I would probably be unable to buy into my area
I would definitely be unable to buy into my area
Q. If you were starting over and had to buy into your area in
the current property market, to what extent could you afford
to?
61%

60. 4%
7%
39%
26%
25%
Much more affordable
Somewhat more affordable
Same
Slightly less affordable
Much less affordable
Q. Compared to today, based on the costs of living
balanced with employment opportunities, how
affordable do you think it will be for you and your
household to live in your area in three years' time?
51%
Generation Y Generation X Baby Boomers
% who think it will be less
affordable in 3 years
56% 53% 47%

61. 4%
7%
39%
26%
25%
Much more affordable
Somewhat more affordable
Same
Slightly less affordable
Much less affordable
Q. Compared to today, based on the costs of living
balanced with employment opportunities, how
affordable do you think it will be for you and your
household to live in your area in three years' time?
51%
Generation Y Generation X Baby Boomers
% who think it will be less
affordable in 3 years
56% 53% 47%

62. 59%
29%
7%
3%
2%
Massive challenge
Significant challenge
Somewhat a challenge
Slight challenge
Not a challenge at all
Q. To what extent do you think Sydney's housing affordability
is a challenge for your children and the next generation?
88%

63. 12%
45%
32%
6%
5%
Significantly assists affordability
Somewhat assists affordability
Does not have an impact on affordability
Somewhat inhibits affordability
Significantly inhibits affordability
Q. To what extent does the increase in the number of
units and apartments in Sydney create affordability
options, when compared to building detached homes only?
57%

64. COMMUNITY

65. PRIORITISE COMMUNITY FIRST
Q. When looking for a place to call home which of the following matters most to you,
•the building and fittings or
•the location and community?
62%

66. CURRENT LIVEABILITY MATTERS MOST
64%
Q. In thinking about a possible place to live, which of the following matter more,
•the long term property price growth opportunities or
•the current liveability of your area?

67. WALKABLE COMMUNITIES
59%
Q. Thinking about where you do most of your shopping and recreational activities,
how far is this from where you currently live?

68. AMENITY

70. Educational attendance: Proportion of an area currently attending a
post-school higher educational institution.

71. Arts and recreation: Number of arts and recreation organisations and
facilities in an area.

72. Restaurants and cafes: Count of the number of accommodation and
food services businesses in an area.

73. Shopping: Count of the number of retail and trade businesses in an area.

74. SINGLE CATEGORY SCORECARD

75. urbanlivingindex.com

79. info@mccrindle.com.au
+61 2 8824 3422
McCrindle Research
urbanlivingindex.com