Chatswood vs Middle Cove

Chatswood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 45 in Middle Cove. In Chatswood, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Middle Cove, 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 Chatswood: a median of $3.57 million, against $3.03 million in Middle Cove, though rent is higher in Middle Cove. On these figures, Chatswood tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Middle Cove suits couples and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Chatswood has more childcare (21 vs 0)
  • Middle Cove carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Middle Cove

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper houses ($3,030,000 vs $3,570,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Chatswood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($577/wk vs $930/wk)
  • But Middle Cove leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Chatswood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Chatswood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (72% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (16 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 60/100)
  • But Middle Cove carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 79/100)

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

Chatswood 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.

Chatswood 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.

Chatswood Middle Cove
Walkability 99 / 60
Chatswood — Walkability: 99/100 Middle Cove — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 21 / 79
Chatswood — Safety: 21/100 Middle Cove — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 57 / 100
Chatswood — Low fire risk: 57/100 Middle Cove — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Chatswood has more residents (25,553 vs 1,327); Middle Cove has higher household incomes ($231,192 vs $112,216).

Chatswood Middle Cove
Population 25,553
+95% vs other
 1,327
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% -1.0%
Median age 37 45
Median household income $112,216/yr $231,192/yr
+106% vs other
Median weekly rent $577/wk $930/wk
+61% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chatswood Middle Cove
0-4 5.0% / 3.7%
Chatswood — 0-4: 5.0% Middle Cove — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 11.7% / 16.2%
Chatswood — 5-14: 11.7% Middle Cove — 5-14: 16.2%
15-19 4.8% / 7.2%
Chatswood — 15-19: 4.8% Middle Cove — 15-19: 7.2%
20-24 6.2% / 6.1%
Chatswood — 20-24: 6.2% Middle Cove — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 16.6% / 4.7%
Chatswood — 25-34: 16.6% Middle Cove — 25-34: 4.7%
35-44 18.1% / 10.8%
Chatswood — 35-44: 18.1% Middle Cove — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 12.9% / 17.3%
Chatswood — 45-54: 12.9% Middle Cove — 45-54: 17.3%
55-64 9.5% / 16.1%
Chatswood — 55-64: 9.5% Middle Cove — 55-64: 16.1%
65-74 8.2% / 9.9%
Chatswood — 65-74: 8.2% Middle Cove — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 4.4% / 5.7%
Chatswood — 75-84: 4.4% Middle Cove — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 2.4% / 2.5%
Chatswood — 85+: 2.4% Middle Cove — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chatswood 44.5% couple families
Chatswood — Couple Families: 44.5% Chatswood — Lone Person: 32.2% Chatswood — One Parent Families: 13.9% Chatswood — Group Household: 7.1% Chatswood — Other Families: 2.3%
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.

Chatswood 52.1% renting
Chatswood — Owned Outright: 27.1% Chatswood — Mortgage: 20.8% Chatswood — Renting: 52.1%
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

Qualifications

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

Chatswood Middle Cove
Bachelor Degree 26.9% / 28.2%
Chatswood — Bachelor Degree: 26.9% Middle Cove — Bachelor Degree: 28.2%
Postgraduate Degree 14.8% / 13.4%
Chatswood — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8% Middle Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.2%
Chatswood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Middle Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Certificate III & IV 3.8% / 3.5%
Chatswood — Certificate III & IV: 3.8% Middle Cove — Certificate III & IV: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 3.3%
Chatswood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Middle Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.2%).

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.

Chatswood Middle Cove
China 20.1% / 5.7%
Chatswood — China: 20.1% Middle Cove — China: 5.7%
England 2.1% / 4.9%
Chatswood — England: 2.1% Middle Cove — England: 4.9%
India 4.0% / 0.9%
Chatswood — India: 4.0% Middle Cove — India: 0.9%
Japan 2.5% / 1.2%
Chatswood — Japan: 2.5% Middle Cove — Japan: 1.2%
Malaysia 2.4% / 1.3%
Chatswood — Malaysia: 2.4% Middle Cove — Malaysia: 1.3%
New Zealand — / 2.8%
Chatswood — New Zealand: not among its largest Middle Cove — New Zealand: 2.8%
Taiwan 2.4% / —
Chatswood — Taiwan: 2.4% Middle Cove — Taiwan: not among its largest
South Africa — / 1.8%
Chatswood — South Africa: not among its largest Middle Cove — South Africa: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chatswood 27.9% houses
Chatswood — Houses: 27.9% Chatswood — Flats / Apartments: 67.7% Chatswood — Townhouses: 4.3%
Middle Cove 96.9% houses
Middle Cove — Houses: 96.9% Middle Cove — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Middle Cove — Townhouses: 3.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Chatswood Middle Cove
Median house price $3,570,000 $3,030,000
Median unit price $1,180,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 77 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.

Chatswood Middle Cove
3 bed $3.2M / $2.93M
Chatswood — 3 bed: $3.2M (29 sales) Middle Cove — 3 bed: $2.93M (7 sales)

29 vs 7 sales

4 bed $3.33M / $2.92M
Chatswood — 4 bed: $3.33M (28 sales) Middle Cove — 4 bed: $2.92M (6 sales)

28 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Middle Cove has more land zoned for conservation (77% vs 13%).

Chatswood Middle Cove
Environmental 13% 77%
Residential 61% 12%
Parks and recreation 9% 2%
Commercial 7% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 7%
Industrial 5% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Chatswood 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

Chatswood 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.

Chatswood Middle Cove
Houses 2.3%
$1,500/wk on $3.4M
 —
Units 4.7%
$850/wk on $950K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Chatswood Middle Cove
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Schools Higher than 97% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of NSW —

Liveability

Chatswood is more walkable (99 vs 60); Middle Cove scores higher overall (88 vs 75).

Chatswood Middle Cove
Grade A A+
Score 75/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Chatswood carries more bushfire risk (43 vs 0); Chatswood carries more crime risk (79 vs 21).

Chatswood Middle Cove
Bushfire Moderate
43/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
79/100
 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 5
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Chatswood Middle Cove
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 5 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, 5.2 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 4.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 4.1%

Schools in Chatswood

  • Chatswood High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Chatswood Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mercy Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Pius X College Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Middle Cove

  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Independent · Combined above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Chatswood Middle Cove
Supermarkets 16 0
Cafes & restaurants 187 2
Parks & reserves 22 3
Childcare 21 0
GPs 16 0
Pharmacies 13 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 11 5

Mobility

Chatswood Middle Cove
Walkability score 99/100 60/100
Distance to Sydney 11.6 km
+7% vs other
 10.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 604.8
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 4.0%
postcode 2067
 4.5%
postcode 2068
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 11
postcode 2067
 28
postcode 2068

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.

Chatswood Middle Cove
Worked from Home 57.3% / 71.8%
Chatswood — Worked from Home: 57.3% Middle Cove — Worked from Home: 71.8%
Car (driver) 21.3% / 21.5%
Chatswood — Car (driver): 21.3% Middle Cove — Car (driver): 21.5%
Walked Only 8.1% / 0.7%
Chatswood — Walked Only: 8.1% Middle Cove — Walked Only: 0.7%
Train 7.9% / —
Chatswood — Train: 7.9% Middle Cove — Train: not among its largest
Bus 2.7% / 3.2%
Chatswood — Bus: 2.7% Middle Cove — Bus: 3.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.7%
Chatswood — Car (passenger): 2.3% Middle Cove — Car (passenger): 2.7%

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

Setting

Chatswood Middle Cove
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 3.8 km
1.6 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Chatswood Middle Cove
Connectivity score 73/100 84/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
15,688 premises
 33%
494 premises

Climate

Chatswood 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)

Chatswood Middle Cove
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 14.2 µg/m³ 13.8 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.23 pphm 0.84 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Chatswood

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Middle Cove

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chatswood

Chatswood vs Lane Cove North Chatswood vs Lindfield Chatswood vs Roseville Chatswood vs Artarmon Chatswood vs Willoughby Chatswood vs North Willoughby

Other comparisons with Middle Cove

Middle Cove vs North Willoughby Middle Cove vs Castlecrag Middle Cove vs Castle Cove Middle Cove vs Willoughby East
Full data on Chatswood 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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