Castlecrag vs Willoughby

Willoughby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 47 in Castlecrag. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Castlecrag, most households are couple families. In Willoughby, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Castlecrag: a median of $4.63 million, against $3.6 million in Willoughby, and rent is higher there too. Willoughby is closer to the city centre: 8.3 km, against 9.9 km. On these figures, Castlecrag tends to suit couples, while Willoughby suits 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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 56%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (83% vs 67%)
  • But Willoughby 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

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Castlecrag leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)
  • Willoughby has cheaper houses ($3,600,000 vs $4,635,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Willoughby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($583/wk vs $1,010/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 72/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Willoughby

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.9% vs 0.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Castlecrag and Willoughby 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 Willoughby
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 Willoughby
Walkability 72 / 89
Castlecrag — Walkability: 72/100 Willoughby — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 83 / 82
Castlecrag — Safety: 83/100 Willoughby — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Castlecrag — Low fire risk: 100/100 Willoughby — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Willoughby has more residents (7,124 vs 2,965); Castlecrag rents higher ($1,010/wk vs $583/wk).

Castlecrag Willoughby
Population 2,965 7,124
+140% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +8.9%
Median age 47 40
Median household income $243,100/yr
+36% vs other
 $155,740/yr
Median weekly rent $1,010/wk
+42% vs other
 $583/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlecrag Willoughby
0-4 3.3% / 6.1%
Castlecrag — 0-4: 3.3% Willoughby — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 14.9% / 15.0%
Castlecrag — 5-14: 14.9% Willoughby — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 9.8% / 6.5%
Castlecrag — 15-19: 9.8% Willoughby — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 6.0% / 4.2%
Castlecrag — 20-24: 6.0% Willoughby — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 4.0% / 8.7%
Castlecrag — 25-34: 4.0% Willoughby — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 9.1% / 16.5%
Castlecrag — 35-44: 9.1% Willoughby — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 18.9% / 16.2%
Castlecrag — 45-54: 18.9% Willoughby — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 15.2% / 11.2%
Castlecrag — 55-64: 15.2% Willoughby — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 11.6% / 7.7%
Castlecrag — 65-74: 11.6% Willoughby — 65-74: 7.7%
75-84 5.0% / 4.9%
Castlecrag — 75-84: 5.0% Willoughby — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 2.1% / 3.1%
Castlecrag — 85+: 2.1% Willoughby — 85+: 3.1%

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%
Willoughby 52.8% couple families
Willoughby — Couple Families: 52.8% Willoughby — Lone Person: 28.0% Willoughby — One Parent Families: 14.3% Willoughby — Group Household: 3.5% Willoughby — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Willoughby 31.4% renting
Willoughby — Owned Outright: 33.8% Willoughby — Mortgage: 34.7% Willoughby — Renting: 31.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlecrag Willoughby
Bachelor Degree 29.0% / 24.6%
Castlecrag — Bachelor Degree: 29.0% Willoughby — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 13.7% / 11.3%
Castlecrag — Postgraduate Degree: 13.7% Willoughby — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 7.1%
Castlecrag — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Willoughby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 2.6% / 5.1%
Castlecrag — Certificate III & IV: 2.6% Willoughby — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.6%
Castlecrag — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Willoughby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

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

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 Willoughby
England 5.9% / 4.4%
Castlecrag — England: 5.9% Willoughby — England: 4.4%
China 3.4% / 4.6%
Castlecrag — China: 3.4% Willoughby — China: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.0%
Castlecrag — New Zealand: 1.9% Willoughby — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa 1.6% / 1.3%
Castlecrag — South Africa: 1.6% Willoughby — South Africa: 1.3%
India 0.9% / 1.2%
Castlecrag — India: 0.9% Willoughby — India: 1.2%
Malaysia 1.5% / —
Castlecrag — Malaysia: 1.5% Willoughby — Malaysia: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castlecrag 97.4% houses
Castlecrag — Houses: 97.4% Castlecrag — Flats / Apartments: 0.8% Castlecrag — Townhouses: 1.8%
Willoughby 56.5% houses
Willoughby — Houses: 56.5% Willoughby — Flats / Apartments: 32.9% Willoughby — Townhouses: 10.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Castlecrag Willoughby
Median house price $4,635,000 $3,600,000
Median unit price — $1,070,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 14 sales
 22 days
from 68 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 Willoughby
3 bed $4.22M / $3.09M
Castlecrag — 3 bed: $4.22M (9 sales) Willoughby — 3 bed: $3.09M (29 sales)

9 vs 29 sales

4 bed $5.03M / $3.91M
Castlecrag — 4 bed: $5.03M (13 sales) Willoughby — 4 bed: $3.91M (31 sales)

13 vs 31 sales

5 bed $4.59M / $4.51M
Castlecrag — 5 bed: $4.59M (7 sales) Willoughby — 5 bed: $4.51M (17 sales)

7 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Castlecrag has more land zoned for conservation (77% vs 0%).

Castlecrag Willoughby
Residential 15% 80%
Environmental 77% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 10%
Parks and recreation 2% 7%
Commercial 1% 2%
Industrial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 97% of Castlecrag and 100% of Willoughby. 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 Willoughby
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 Willoughby
Houses 2.0%
$2,400/wk on $6.2M
 2.2%
$1,500/wk on $3.48M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Castlecrag Willoughby
House price Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW

Liveability

Willoughby is more walkable (89 vs 72).

Castlecrag Willoughby
Grade A+
same for both
Score 91/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Castlecrag Willoughby
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
17/100
 Low
18/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Castlecrag Willoughby
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
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, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.2% 3.3%

Schools in Castlecrag

  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School, Castlecrag Independent · Primary

Schools in Willoughby

  • Willoughby Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Willoughby Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Castlecrag Willoughby
Cafes & restaurants 2 6
Parks & reserves 8 3
Childcare 3 4
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Castlecrag Willoughby
Walkability score 72/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 9.9 km
+16% vs other
 8.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 13 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 76.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 195.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Willoughby
Worked from Home 66.6% / 64.0%
Castlecrag — Worked from Home: 66.6% Willoughby — Worked from Home: 64.0%
Car (driver) 27.9% / 25.4%
Castlecrag — Car (driver): 27.9% Willoughby — Car (driver): 25.4%
Bus 1.8% / 4.1%
Castlecrag — Bus: 1.8% Willoughby — Bus: 4.1%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.8%
Castlecrag — Walked Only: 1.3% Willoughby — Walked Only: 2.8%
Car (passenger) 1.7% / 2.0%
Castlecrag — Car (passenger): 1.7% Willoughby — Car (passenger): 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.6%).

Setting

Castlecrag Willoughby
Elevation 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.8 km
1.2 km to a named beach
 4.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Castlecrag Willoughby
Connectivity score 89/100 83/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
1,157 premises
 32%
3,480 premises

Climate

Castlecrag Willoughby
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 Willoughby
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 13.8 µg/m³ 15.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.84 pphm 0.62 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Castlecrag Willoughby
Division Bradfield
same for both
Member Nicolette Boele
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Castlecrag Willoughby
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

Willoughby

Apartments Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlecrag

Castlecrag vs Northbridge Castlecrag vs Willoughby East Castlecrag vs Middle Cove

Other comparisons with Willoughby

Willoughby vs Chatswood Willoughby vs Artarmon Willoughby vs Northbridge Willoughby vs Naremburn Willoughby vs North Willoughby Willoughby vs Willoughby East
Full data on Castlecrag Full data on Willoughby
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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