Stickybeak

Waterloo 2017 suburb insights

Thinking about buying in Waterloo (2017)? This page consolidates 16 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, and Transport for NSW to help you build a complete picture of what ownership and life in the City of Sydney suburb actually looks like. The analysis covers affordability signals — median sale prices, rental yield, and first home buyer eligibility — alongside lifestyle indicators including school catchments and walkability, risk factors such as flood and bushfire exposure, and suburb-change metrics covering the development pipeline and price trajectory. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation above, or scroll through the full analysis below.

Last refreshed May 2026 (most cards). Per-card sources show exact dates.

All data has limits. See our data caveats.

Affordability

Can I afford Waterloo?

Can I afford Waterloo?

Serviceability check

What would a typical mortgage look like in Waterloo? Based on the suburb median of $928,500 (units) and the local median household income.

Monthly repayment
$4,583/mo

6.3% variable · Apr 2026

Repayment-to-income
52.2%

Stretch

Loan assumptions
$742,800 loan
20% deposit ($185,700)
30-year P&I

At today's rate, repayments here would eat 52% of the typical local household's gross income. That is out of reach for most buyers.

Repayment burden vs Sydney median income
Waterloo52.2%
Sydney median income51.1%
30% stress line

Assumes a 20% deposit and a 30-year P&I owner-occupier loan at the current Sydney variable rate. Your actual rate, deposit, and income will differ.

Sources: RBA Table F6 (rate), ABS Census 2021 G02 (income), suburb median sale.

Nearby suburbs with lower medians

Still looking? These suburbs are closer to reach.

Based on median prices and a 20% deposit at 6.27% variable.
Can I afford Waterloo?

Rental market in Waterloo

Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Based on 882 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
$1,130per week
Sep 2025 · 882 bonds lodged
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Dec 22: $860 per week (420 bonds)Mar 23: $1,000 per week (474 bonds)Jun 23: $970 per week (646 bonds)Sep 23: $1,000 per week (944 bonds)Dec 23: $1,000 per week (565 bonds)Mar 24: $1,150 per week (894 bonds)Jun 24: $1,100 per week (522 bonds)Sep 24: $1,100 per week (1,002 bonds)Dec 24: $1,020 per week (611 bonds)Mar 25: $1,155 per week (1,140 bonds)Jun 25: $1,120 per week (471 bonds)Sep 25: $1,130 per week (882 bonds)Dec 22Jun 24Sep 25

Nearby suburbs · same combination

Redfern2016
$945▼$185
1.2 km away
Alexandria2015
$900▼$230
1.5 km away
Kensington2033
$850▼$280
1.8 km away
Chippendale2008
$1,190▲$60
1.9 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.

Lifestyle

Waterloo Lifestyle

Source: ABS Census 2021, Postal Areas (CC BY 4.0).

Dealbreakers

Any dealbreakers?

Any dealbreakers?

Air quality in Waterloo

36
FairAQI · NSW DCCEEW
04:19 AEST
Alexandria station · 0.9 km from centroid
12-month median: AQI 25 · Good

Air quality is acceptable but sensitive groups may notice effects.

Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
4.7µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
17.9µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
0.3pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Alexandria station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
View dealbreakers as a standalone report →

Change

How might Waterloo change?

DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2017

What’s in the pipeline

Development applications (DAs) lodged, assessed, or approved in Waterloo over the past 12 months. Pipeline data from the NSW Planning Portal. Proposed developments may not proceed.

Active applications19

lodged or under assessment

Proposed dwellings48

0.5% of existing households

Declared value$42M

total estimated cost of works, where reported

Residential share52.0%

of active applications

24-month DA trajectory

DA volume down roughly 37% on the prior 12 months.

Zetland has a modest pipeline relative to its existing housing stock.

NSW PLANNING PORTAL · UPDATED APRIL 2026 · PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS MAY NOT PROCEED
How might Waterloo change?

Investor activity in Waterloo

2017 · ATO Taxation Statistics · ~18-month lag
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics (CC BY 2.5 AU).

What to do next

Three steps to move from research to action.

1
Get pre-approved

Know your budget before you inspect. A pre-approval letter strengthens your offer.

Read our guides
2
Set a listings alert

See new listings in Waterloo under the median ($928,500).

Search on Domain
3
Join the contract-review waitlist

Have your Section 66W reviewed before you sign.

Join the waitlist

Track Waterloo.

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Compare Waterloo 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.

Alexandria 2015Camperdown 2050Chippendale 2008Darlinghurst 2010

Frequently asked questions

What suburb is postcode 2017?
Waterloo is the primary suburb with postcode 2017 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Waterloo is the main locality.
Which local government area is Waterloo in?
Waterloo (2017) is located in the City of Sydney local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Waterloo?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Waterloo (2017) 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 Waterloo flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Waterloo. 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 Waterloo?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Waterloo (2017), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Waterloo (2017) 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 Waterloo (2017). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Waterloo changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Waterloo (2017) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.

Explore Waterloo in depth

Dig deeper into specific topics for Waterloo 2017: see flood risk, schools, walkability, and rental market as standalone pages. Or browse the full City of Sydney suburb index to compare nearby options.