It has some of the most expensive real-estate in Australia and is colloquially often referred to as "Double Pay", a term coined due to the high income of people living there, and the nature of the shopping area which features high-end fashion labels.

Charles Amos also established the first boatshed on Sydney Harbour at Balmain, from where it was later transferred by flotation to Double Bay.

From their boatshed the Messenger brothers would row people across Sydney Harbour, including William Bede Dalley, the acting premier of New South Wales in 1885, who owned a castle in Manly.

60.6% of people were born in Australia; the next most common countries of birth included England 6.0%, South Africa 3.8%, New Zealand 2.8%, China (excluding Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan) 2.0%, and the United States of America 1.6%.

Bus services operate via New South Head Road to Bondi Junction, Watsons Bay and the City.