Castlecrag vs Middle Cove

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Castlecrag: a median of $4.63 million, against $3.03 million in Middle Cove, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Middle Cove tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Castlecrag

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)
  • But Middle Cove has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Middle Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($3,030,000 vs $4,635,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Middle Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($930/wk vs $1,010/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Castlecrag

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Castlecrag

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Castlecrag and Middle Cove drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Walkability 72 / 60
Castlecrag — Walkability: 72/100 Middle Cove — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 83 / 79
Castlecrag — Safety: 83/100 Middle Cove — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Castlecrag — Low fire risk: 100/100 Middle Cove — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Castlecrag has more residents (2,965 vs 1,327); Castlecrag skews older (47 vs 45).

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Population 2,965
+55% vs other
 1,327
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% -1.0%
Median age 47 45
Median household income $243,100/yr
+5% vs other
 $231,192/yr
Median weekly rent $1,010/wk
+8% vs other
 $930/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
0-4 3.3% / 3.7%
Castlecrag — 0-4: 3.3% Middle Cove — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 14.9% / 16.2%
Castlecrag — 5-14: 14.9% Middle Cove — 5-14: 16.2%
15-19 9.8% / 7.2%
Castlecrag — 15-19: 9.8% Middle Cove — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 6.0% / 6.1%
Castlecrag — 20-24: 6.0% Middle Cove — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 4.0% / 4.7%
Castlecrag — 25-34: 4.0% Middle Cove — 25-34: 4.7%
35-44 9.1% / 10.8%
Castlecrag — 35-44: 9.1% Middle Cove — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 18.9% / 17.3%
Castlecrag — 45-54: 18.9% Middle Cove — 45-54: 17.3%
55-64 15.2% / 16.1%
Castlecrag — 55-64: 15.2% Middle Cove — 55-64: 16.1%
65-74 11.6% / 9.9%
Castlecrag — 65-74: 11.6% Middle Cove — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 5.0% / 5.7%
Castlecrag — 75-84: 5.0% Middle Cove — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 2.1% / 2.5%
Castlecrag — 85+: 2.1% Middle Cove — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Castlecrag 71.4% couple families
Castlecrag — Couple Families: 71.4% Castlecrag — Lone Person: 15.4% Castlecrag — One Parent Families: 11.2% Castlecrag — Group Household: 0.9% Castlecrag — Other Families: 1.2%
Middle Cove 67.9% couple families
Middle Cove — Couple Families: 67.9% Middle Cove — Lone Person: 17.3% Middle Cove — One Parent Families: 12.4% Middle Cove — Group Household: 2.4% Middle Cove — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Castlecrag 11.1% renting
Castlecrag — Owned Outright: 49.6% Castlecrag — Mortgage: 39.3% Castlecrag — Renting: 11.1%
Middle Cove 8.3% renting
Middle Cove — Owned Outright: 48.8% Middle Cove — Mortgage: 42.9% Middle Cove — Renting: 8.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
England 5.9% / 4.9%
Castlecrag — England: 5.9% Middle Cove — England: 4.9%
China 3.4% / 5.7%
Castlecrag — China: 3.4% Middle Cove — China: 5.7%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.8%
Castlecrag — New Zealand: 1.9% Middle Cove — New Zealand: 2.8%
South Africa 1.6% / 1.8%
Castlecrag — South Africa: 1.6% Middle Cove — South Africa: 1.8%
Malaysia 1.5% / 1.3%
Castlecrag — Malaysia: 1.5% Middle Cove — Malaysia: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.9%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Bachelor Degree 29.0% / 28.2%
Castlecrag — Bachelor Degree: 29.0% Middle Cove — Bachelor Degree: 28.2%
Postgraduate Degree 13.7% / 13.4%
Castlecrag — Postgraduate Degree: 13.7% Middle Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 7.2%
Castlecrag — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Middle Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.3%
Castlecrag — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Middle Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%
Certificate III & IV 2.6% / 3.5%
Castlecrag — Certificate III & IV: 2.6% Middle Cove — Certificate III & IV: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castlecrag 97.4% houses
Castlecrag — Houses: 97.4% Castlecrag — Townhouses: 1.8% Castlecrag — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Middle Cove 96.9% houses
Middle Cove — Houses: 96.9% Middle Cove — Townhouses: 3.8% Middle Cove — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Median house price $4,635,000 $3,030,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 14 sales
 25 days
from 7 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
3 bed $4.22M / $2.93M
Castlecrag — 3 bed: $4.22M (9 sales) Middle Cove — 3 bed: $2.93M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

4 bed $5.03M / $2.92M
Castlecrag — 4 bed: $5.03M (13 sales) Middle Cove — 4 bed: $2.92M (6 sales)

13 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Environmental 77%
same for both
Residential 15% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 7%
Parks and recreation 2%
same for both
Commercial 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 97% of Castlecrag and 98% of Middle Cove. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Castlecrag Middle Cove
New dwellings approved 249
across Willoughby
same for both
Approvals change year on year +458%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Houses 2.0%
$2,400/wk on $6.2M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Castlecrag Middle Cove
House price Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of NSW —

Liveability

Castlecrag is more walkable (72 vs 60).

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Grade A+
same for both
Score 91/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
17/100
 Low
21/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 4.1 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 4.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.2% 4.1%

Schools in Castlecrag

  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School, Castlecrag Independent · Primary

Schools in Middle Cove

  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Independent · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Cafes & restaurants 2
same for both
Parks & reserves 8 3
Childcare 3 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 2 5

Mobility

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Walkability score 72/100 60/100
Distance to Sydney 9.9 km 10.8 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 17 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 76.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 47.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.5%
postcode 2068
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2068
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Worked from Home 66.6% / 71.8%
Castlecrag — Worked from Home: 66.6% Middle Cove — Worked from Home: 71.8%
Car (driver) 27.9% / 21.5%
Castlecrag — Car (driver): 27.9% Middle Cove — Car (driver): 21.5%
Bus 1.8% / 3.2%
Castlecrag — Bus: 1.8% Middle Cove — Bus: 3.2%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 2.7%
Castlecrag — Car (passenger): 1.7% Middle Cove — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.7%
Castlecrag — Walked Only: 1.3% Middle Cove — Walked Only: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.8%).

Setting

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Elevation 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.8 km
1.2 km to a named beach
 3.8 km
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Connectivity score 89/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
1,157 premises
 33%
494 premises

Climate

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Castlecrag Middle Cove
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Average residential rate $1,275/yr
same for both
Council Willoughby
same for both

Federal electorate

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Division Bradfield
same for both
Member Nicolette Boele
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Castlecrag Middle Cove
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Castlecrag

Beach Coastal Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Quiet River

Middle Cove

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlecrag

Castlecrag vs Willoughby Castlecrag vs Northbridge Castlecrag vs Willoughby East

Other comparisons with Middle Cove

Middle Cove vs Chatswood Middle Cove vs North Willoughby Middle Cove vs Castle Cove Middle Cove vs Willoughby East
Full data on Castlecrag Full data on Middle Cove
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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