12 November 2025
North Sydney has been ranked sixth in the 2025 Australian Liveability Census, confirming its position among the nation’s most desirable places to live. The result placed the local government area within the top 10% of council areas across the country, behind Lane Cove in first place and the Inner West in third.
The census, conducted with social research firm Place Score, collected responses from more than 27,000 Australians across 15,000 areas. Participants rated their neighbourhoods against 50 factors covering safety, natural environment, visual character and access to amenities such as cafés, shops and medical services.
North Sydney achieved a PX score of 75 out of 100—9% higher than the national and NSW averages and 7% above the Greater Sydney average of 66.
According to Place Score, North Sydney performed above average across key indicators of quality of life, including connectivity, safety, amenity and environment. Respondents cited proximity to employment centres, ease of access to local services, and strong perceptions of personal safety as particular strengths. The natural environment and visual character of the area were also highly rated.
However, housing diversity and transport were noted as areas for improvement. Respondents reported limited range in housing prices and tenure options, as well as difficulty with driving and parking.
A total of 956 local residents participated in the survey. Eighty-six percent rated their mental health positively and 94% described their physical health as excellent—both higher than national averages.