Greenwich vs Northwood

Greenwich is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Northwood. In both, most households own their home. In Greenwich, about half of households are couple families. In Northwood, the large majority of homes are detached houses and the large majority of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Northwood: a median of $6.47 million, against $3.8 million in Greenwich, and rent is higher there too. Greenwich is closer to the city centre: 7.6 km, against 9.3 km. On these figures, Greenwich tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Northwood suits couples.

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

Northwood

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 51%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (90% vs 54%)
  • But Greenwich has more parks and reserves (13 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Greenwich

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($3,800,000 vs $6,473,210)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Greenwich

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 9%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $1,200/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Greenwich

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (50% vs 7%)

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

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

Greenwich Northwood
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.

Greenwich Northwood
Walkability 87 / 83
Greenwich — Walkability: 87/100 Northwood — Walkability: 83/100
Safety 72 / 79
Greenwich — Safety: 72/100 Northwood — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Greenwich — Low fire risk: 100/100 Northwood — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Greenwich has more residents (5,469 vs 916); Northwood rents higher ($1,200/wk vs $550/wk).

Greenwich Northwood
Population 5,469
+83% vs other
 916
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.6% -6.7%
Median age 42 46
Median household income $153,192/yr $260,624/yr
+70% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk $1,200/wk
+118% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Greenwich Northwood
0-4 4.5% / 4.8%
Greenwich — 0-4: 4.5% Northwood — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 12.0% / 15.3%
Greenwich — 5-14: 12.0% Northwood — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 5.3% / 9.2%
Greenwich — 15-19: 5.3% Northwood — 15-19: 9.2%
20-24 5.7% / 5.7%
Greenwich — 20-24: 5.7% Northwood — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 12.7% / 5.7%
Greenwich — 25-34: 12.7% Northwood — 25-34: 5.7%
35-44 13.5% / 8.6%
Greenwich — 35-44: 13.5% Northwood — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 14.2% / 16.5%
Greenwich — 45-54: 14.2% Northwood — 45-54: 16.5%
55-64 12.0% / 16.8%
Greenwich — 55-64: 12.0% Northwood — 55-64: 16.8%
65-74 10.6% / 9.3%
Greenwich — 65-74: 10.6% Northwood — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 6.6% / 7.0%
Greenwich — 75-84: 6.6% Northwood — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 3.1% / 1.7%
Greenwich — 85+: 3.1% Northwood — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Greenwich 45.0% couple families
Greenwich — Couple Families: 45.0% Greenwich — Lone Person: 38.7% Greenwich — One Parent Families: 9.2% Greenwich — Group Household: 6.2% Greenwich — Other Families: 0.9%
Northwood 79.8% couple families
Northwood — Couple Families: 79.8% Northwood — Lone Person: 9.8% Northwood — One Parent Families: 10.4% Northwood — Group Household: 0.0% Northwood — 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.

Greenwich 32.4% renting
Greenwich — Owned Outright: 38.4% Greenwich — Mortgage: 29.2% Greenwich — Renting: 32.4%
Northwood 9.0% renting
Northwood — Owned Outright: 50.2% Northwood — Mortgage: 40.8% Northwood — Renting: 9.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Greenwich Northwood
Bachelor Degree 29.8% / 31.7%
Greenwich — Bachelor Degree: 29.8% Northwood — Bachelor Degree: 31.7%
Postgraduate Degree 16.6% / 14.1%
Greenwich — Postgraduate Degree: 16.6% Northwood — Postgraduate Degree: 14.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 7.4%
Greenwich — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Northwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.8% / 2.2%
Greenwich — Certificate III & IV: 3.8% Northwood — Certificate III & IV: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.6%
Greenwich — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Northwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.7%).

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.

Greenwich Northwood
England 5.6% / 5.1%
Greenwich — England: 5.6% Northwood — England: 5.1%
China 2.9% / 2.6%
Greenwich — China: 2.9% Northwood — China: 2.6%
India 2.3% / 1.7%
Greenwich — India: 2.3% Northwood — India: 1.7%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.4%
Greenwich — New Zealand: 2.2% Northwood — New Zealand: 1.4%
Malaysia 1.0% / 1.7%
Greenwich — Malaysia: 1.0% Northwood — Malaysia: 1.7%
South Africa 1.3% / 0.8%
Greenwich — South Africa: 1.3% Northwood — South Africa: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Greenwich 50.6% houses
Greenwich — Houses: 50.6% Greenwich — Flats / Apartments: 43.8% Greenwich — Townhouses: 5.7%
Northwood 92.7% houses
Northwood — Houses: 92.7% Northwood — Flats / Apartments: 3.8% Northwood — Townhouses: 3.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Greenwich Northwood
Median house price $3,800,000 $6,473,210
Median unit price $880,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 25 sales
 28 days
from 6 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.

Greenwich Northwood
4 bed $3.79M / $5.66M
Greenwich — 4 bed: $3.79M (18 sales) Northwood — 4 bed: $5.66M (8 sales)

18 vs 8 sales

5 bed $5.75M / $9.15M
Greenwich — 5 bed: $5.75M (12 sales) Northwood — 5 bed: $9.15M (8 sales)

12 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Greenwich Northwood
Residential 75% 83%
Environmental 13% 8%
Parks and recreation 4% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 2%
Commercial 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 98% of Greenwich and 99% of Northwood. 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

Greenwich Northwood
New dwellings approved 169
across Lane Cove
same for both
Approvals change year on year -98%
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.

Greenwich Northwood
Houses 3.2%
$1,500/wk on $2.45M
 —
Units 4.7%
$798/wk on $885K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Greenwich Northwood
House price Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Income Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 29% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 52% of NSW —

Liveability

Greenwich Northwood
Grade A+
same for both
Score 93/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Greenwich Northwood
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
28/100
 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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Greenwich Northwood
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 2.4 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 3.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 6.7%

Schools in Greenwich

  • Greenwich Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Northwood

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Greenwich Northwood
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 13 3
Childcare 2 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Beaches 1 0

Mobility

Greenwich Northwood
Walkability score 87/100 83/100
Distance to Sydney 7.6 km 9.3 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 18 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 199.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 32.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.8%
postcode 2065
 3.7%
postcode 2066
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2065
 18
postcode 2066

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.

Greenwich Northwood
Worked from Home 62.2% / 62.7%
Greenwich — Worked from Home: 62.2% Northwood — Worked from Home: 62.7%
Car (driver) 23.3% / 30.2%
Greenwich — Car (driver): 23.3% Northwood — Car (driver): 30.2%
Walked Only 6.9% / 0.8%
Greenwich — Walked Only: 6.9% Northwood — Walked Only: 0.8%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 2.9%
Greenwich — Car (passenger): 2.0% Northwood — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Bus 2.2% / 2.4%
Greenwich — Bus: 2.2% Northwood — Bus: 2.4%
Train 2.7% / 1.0%
Greenwich — Train: 2.7% Northwood — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.7%).

Setting

Greenwich Northwood
Elevation 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.1 km
1.3 km to a named beach
 6.6 km
1.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Greenwich Northwood
Connectivity score 74/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
2,664 premises
 0%
320 premises

Climate

Greenwich Northwood
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Greenwich Northwood
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 15.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.62 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Greenwich Northwood
Average residential rate $1,377/yr
same for both
Council Lane Cove
same for both

Federal electorate

Greenwich Northwood
Division Bennelong
same for both
Member Jerome Laxale
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Greenwich Northwood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Greenwich

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals River Urban

Northwood

Inner Parks Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Greenwich

Greenwich vs Lane Cove Greenwich vs Artarmon Greenwich vs Wollstonecraft Greenwich vs St Leonards

Other comparisons with Northwood

Northwood vs Lane Cove Northwood vs Longueville
Full data on Greenwich Full data on Northwood
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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