Chatswood vs Willoughby

Chatswood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Willoughby. In Chatswood, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Willoughby, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Willoughby is closer to the city centre: 8.3 km, against 11.6 km. On these figures, Chatswood tends to suit renters, while Willoughby suits families with children.

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 parks and reserves (22 vs 3)
  • Willoughby carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,070,000 vs $1,180,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Chatswood has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 31%)
  • Willoughby leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Chatswood

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 1%)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)
  • But Willoughby sits closer to the CBD (8.3 km vs 11.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Chatswood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (16 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (72% vs 44%)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)
  • But Willoughby carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 79/100)

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 2.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Chatswood 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.

Chatswood 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.

Chatswood Willoughby
Walkability 99 / 89
Chatswood — Walkability: 99/100 Willoughby — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 21 / 82
Chatswood — Safety: 21/100 Willoughby — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 57 / 100
Chatswood — Low fire risk: 57/100 Willoughby — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Chatswood has more residents (25,553 vs 7,124); Willoughby has higher household incomes ($155,740 vs $112,216).

Chatswood Willoughby
Population 25,553
+72% vs other
 7,124
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +8.9%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $112,216/yr $155,740/yr
+39% vs other
Median weekly rent $577/wk $583/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chatswood Willoughby
0-4 5.0% / 6.1%
Chatswood — 0-4: 5.0% Willoughby — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 11.7% / 15.0%
Chatswood — 5-14: 11.7% Willoughby — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 4.8% / 6.5%
Chatswood — 15-19: 4.8% Willoughby — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 6.2% / 4.2%
Chatswood — 20-24: 6.2% Willoughby — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 16.6% / 8.7%
Chatswood — 25-34: 16.6% Willoughby — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 18.1% / 16.5%
Chatswood — 35-44: 18.1% Willoughby — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 12.9% / 16.2%
Chatswood — 45-54: 12.9% Willoughby — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 9.5% / 11.2%
Chatswood — 55-64: 9.5% Willoughby — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 8.2% / 7.7%
Chatswood — 65-74: 8.2% Willoughby — 65-74: 7.7%
75-84 4.4% / 4.9%
Chatswood — 75-84: 4.4% Willoughby — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 2.4% / 3.1%
Chatswood — 85+: 2.4% Willoughby — 85+: 3.1%

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%
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.

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

Chatswood Willoughby
Bachelor Degree 26.9% / 24.6%
Chatswood — Bachelor Degree: 26.9% Willoughby — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 14.8% / 11.3%
Chatswood — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8% Willoughby — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.1%
Chatswood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Willoughby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 3.8% / 5.1%
Chatswood — Certificate III & IV: 3.8% Willoughby — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.6%
Chatswood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Willoughby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.9%).

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 Willoughby
China 20.1% / 4.6%
Chatswood — China: 20.1% Willoughby — China: 4.6%
England 2.1% / 4.4%
Chatswood — England: 2.1% Willoughby — England: 4.4%
India 4.0% / 1.2%
Chatswood — India: 4.0% Willoughby — India: 1.2%
Japan 2.5% / 1.2%
Chatswood — Japan: 2.5% Willoughby — Japan: 1.2%
Malaysia 2.4% / —
Chatswood — Malaysia: 2.4% Willoughby — Malaysia: not among its largest
Taiwan 2.4% / —
Chatswood — Taiwan: 2.4% Willoughby — Taiwan: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 2.0%
Chatswood — New Zealand: not among its largest Willoughby — New Zealand: 2.0%
South Africa — / 1.3%
Chatswood — South Africa: not among its largest Willoughby — South Africa: 1.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chatswood 67.7% flats / apartments
Chatswood — Flats / Apartments: 67.7% Chatswood — Houses: 27.9% Chatswood — Townhouses: 4.3%
Willoughby 32.9% flats / apartments
Willoughby — Flats / Apartments: 32.9% Willoughby — Houses: 56.5% Willoughby — Townhouses: 10.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Chatswood Willoughby
Median house price $3,570,000 $3,600,000
Median unit price $1,180,000 $1,070,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 77 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.

Chatswood Willoughby
3 bed $3.2M / $3.09M
Chatswood — 3 bed: $3.2M (29 sales) Willoughby — 3 bed: $3.09M (29 sales)

29 vs 29 sales

4 bed $3.33M / $3.91M
Chatswood — 4 bed: $3.33M (28 sales) Willoughby — 4 bed: $3.91M (31 sales)

28 vs 31 sales

5 bed $4.37M / $4.51M
Chatswood — 5 bed: $4.37M (26 sales) Willoughby — 5 bed: $4.51M (17 sales)

26 vs 17 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Chatswood Willoughby
1 bed $830K / $650K
Chatswood — 1 bed: $830K (47 sales) Willoughby — 1 bed: $650K (19 sales)

47 vs 19 sales

2 bed $1.18M / $1.08M
Chatswood — 2 bed: $1.18M (93 sales) Willoughby — 2 bed: $1.08M (39 sales)

93 vs 39 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $1.73M
Chatswood — 3 bed: $1.8M (44 sales) Willoughby — 3 bed: $1.73M (11 sales)

44 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Chatswood has more land zoned for conservation (13% vs 0%).

Chatswood Willoughby
Residential 61% 80%
Environmental 13% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 10%
Parks and recreation 9% 7%
Commercial 7% 2%
Industrial 5% 1%
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 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.

Chatswood Willoughby
Houses 2.3%
$1,500/wk on $3.4M
 2.2%
$1,500/wk on $3.48M
Units 4.7%
$850/wk on $950K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Chatswood Willoughby
House price Higher than 96% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Schools Higher than 97% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of NSW —

Liveability

Willoughby scores higher overall (93 vs 75); Chatswood is more walkable (99 vs 89).

Chatswood Willoughby
Grade A A+
Score 75/100 93/100
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 18).

Chatswood Willoughby
Bushfire Moderate
43/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
79/100
 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 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Chatswood Willoughby
Inside the suburb 5 2
Rated above peers 5 1
Rated at peers 0 1
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, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 3.3%

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 Willoughby

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

Amenities in the suburb

Chatswood Willoughby
Supermarkets 16 0
Cafes & restaurants 187 6
Parks & reserves 22 3
Childcare 21 4
GPs 16 2
Pharmacies 13 2
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 1
Fuel stations 3
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 11 0

Mobility

Chatswood sits further from the CBD (11.6 km vs 8.3 km).

Chatswood Willoughby
Walkability score 99/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 11.6 km
+28% vs other
 8.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 13 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 604.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 195.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.0%
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 Willoughby
Worked from Home 57.3% / 64.0%
Chatswood — Worked from Home: 57.3% Willoughby — Worked from Home: 64.0%
Car (driver) 21.3% / 25.4%
Chatswood — Car (driver): 21.3% Willoughby — Car (driver): 25.4%
Walked Only 8.1% / 2.8%
Chatswood — Walked Only: 8.1% Willoughby — Walked Only: 2.8%
Train 7.9% / 1.3%
Chatswood — Train: 7.9% Willoughby — Train: 1.3%
Bus 2.7% / 4.1%
Chatswood — Bus: 2.7% Willoughby — Bus: 4.1%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.0%
Chatswood — Car (passenger): 2.3% Willoughby — Car (passenger): 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.0%).

Setting

Chatswood Willoughby
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 4.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Chatswood Willoughby
Connectivity score 73/100 83/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
15,688 premises
 32%
3,480 premises

Climate

Chatswood 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)

Chatswood Willoughby
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 14.2 µg/m³ 15.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.23 pphm 0.62 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Chatswood Willoughby
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

Willoughby

Apartments Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chatswood

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

Other comparisons with Willoughby

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