Lane Cove North vs Chatswood

In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Lane Cove North, most households own their home. In Chatswood, about half of households rent. Units cost more in Chatswood: a median of $1.18 million, against $860,000 in Lane Cove North, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Lane Cove North tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Chatswood suits renters.

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

Chatswood

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (21 vs 8)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 13)
  • But Lane Cove North carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 79/100)

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

First-home buyers

Lane Cove North

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,715,000 vs $3,570,000)
  • has cheaper units ($860,000 vs $1,180,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 31%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lane Cove North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($480/wk vs $577/wk)
  • But Chatswood has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 41%)

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 2%)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 62/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Chatswood

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (16 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Lane Cove North carries lower crime risk (27/100 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

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

Lane Cove North Chatswood
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.

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Walkability 62 / 99
Lane Cove North — Walkability: 62/100 Chatswood — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 73 / 21
Lane Cove North — Safety: 73/100 Chatswood — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 52 / 57
Lane Cove North — Low fire risk: 52/100 Chatswood — Low fire risk: 57/100

Demographics

Chatswood has more residents (25,553 vs 11,773); Chatswood rents higher ($577/wk vs $480/wk).

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Population 11,773 25,553
+117% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% +2.6%
Median age 36 37
Median household income $124,072/yr
+10% vs other
 $112,216/yr
Median weekly rent $480/wk $577/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lane Cove North Chatswood
0-4 7.1% / 5.0%
Lane Cove North — 0-4: 7.1% Chatswood — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 10.8% / 11.7%
Lane Cove North — 5-14: 10.8% Chatswood — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 3.8% / 4.8%
Lane Cove North — 15-19: 3.8% Chatswood — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 4.6% / 6.2%
Lane Cove North — 20-24: 4.6% Chatswood — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 20.3% / 16.6%
Lane Cove North — 25-34: 20.3% Chatswood — 25-34: 16.6%
35-44 20.5% / 18.1%
Lane Cove North — 35-44: 20.5% Chatswood — 35-44: 18.1%
45-54 12.5% / 12.9%
Lane Cove North — 45-54: 12.5% Chatswood — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 8.3% / 9.5%
Lane Cove North — 55-64: 8.3% Chatswood — 55-64: 9.5%
65-74 6.5% / 8.2%
Lane Cove North — 65-74: 6.5% Chatswood — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 3.7% / 4.4%
Lane Cove North — 75-84: 3.7% Chatswood — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.9% / 2.4%
Lane Cove North — 85+: 1.9% Chatswood — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lane Cove North 40.1% couple families
Lane Cove North — Couple Families: 40.1% Lane Cove North — Lone Person: 42.4% Lane Cove North — One Parent Families: 10.0% Lane Cove North — Group Household: 6.1% Lane Cove North — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lane Cove North 40.9% renting
Lane Cove North — Owned Outright: 21.3% Lane Cove North — Mortgage: 37.8% Lane Cove North — Renting: 40.9%
Chatswood 52.1% renting
Chatswood — Owned Outright: 27.1% Chatswood — Mortgage: 20.8% Chatswood — Renting: 52.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Bachelor Degree 28.3% / 26.9%
Lane Cove North — Bachelor Degree: 28.3% Chatswood — Bachelor Degree: 26.9%
Postgraduate Degree 13.8% / 14.8%
Lane Cove North — Postgraduate Degree: 13.8% Chatswood — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.7%
Lane Cove North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Chatswood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 5.6% / 3.8%
Lane Cove North — Certificate III & IV: 5.6% Chatswood — Certificate III & IV: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.1%
Lane Cove North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Chatswood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.3%).

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.

Lane Cove North Chatswood
China 5.6% / 20.1%
Lane Cove North — China: 5.6% Chatswood — China: 20.1%
India 3.1% / 4.0%
Lane Cove North — India: 3.1% Chatswood — India: 4.0%
England 4.1% / 2.1%
Lane Cove North — England: 4.1% Chatswood — England: 2.1%
Philippines 2.0% / 2.0%
Lane Cove North — Philippines: 2.0% Chatswood — Philippines: 2.0%
Malaysia 1.4% / 2.4%
Lane Cove North — Malaysia: 1.4% Chatswood — Malaysia: 2.4%
Japan — / 2.5%
Lane Cove North — Japan: not among its largest Chatswood — Japan: 2.5%
Taiwan — / 2.4%
Lane Cove North — Taiwan: not among its largest Chatswood — Taiwan: 2.4%
Iran 1.8% / —
Lane Cove North — Iran: 1.8% Chatswood — Iran: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lane Cove North 70.9% flats / apartments
Lane Cove North — Flats / Apartments: 70.9% Lane Cove North — Houses: 23.0% Lane Cove North — Townhouses: 6.1%
Chatswood 67.7% flats / apartments
Chatswood — Flats / Apartments: 67.7% Chatswood — Houses: 27.9% Chatswood — Townhouses: 4.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Median house price $1,715,000 $3,570,000
Median unit price $860,000 $1,180,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 4 sales
 29 days
from 77 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.

Lane Cove North Chatswood
1 bed $676K / $830K
Lane Cove North — 1 bed: $676K (12 sales) Chatswood — 1 bed: $830K (47 sales)

12 vs 47 sales

2 bed $870K / $1.18M
Lane Cove North — 2 bed: $870K (32 sales) Chatswood — 2 bed: $1.18M (93 sales)

32 vs 93 sales

3 bed $1.47M / $1.8M
Lane Cove North — 3 bed: $1.47M (10 sales) Chatswood — 3 bed: $1.8M (44 sales)

10 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

Lane Cove North has more land zoned for conservation (23% vs 13%).

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Residential 58% 61%
Environmental 23% 13%
Parks and recreation 4% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 5%
Commercial 0% 7%
Industrial 3% 5%
Planning zones cover 97% of Lane Cove North and 100% of Chatswood. 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

Lane Cove North Chatswood
New dwellings approved 169
across Lane Cove
 249
across Willoughby
Approvals change year on year -98% +458%

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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Lane Cove North Chatswood
House price Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 97% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 17% of NSW Higher than 5% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 79% 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 62).

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

Risk profile

Chatswood carries more crime risk (79 vs 27).

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Bushfire Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
43/100
Crime Low
27/100
 High
79/100
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
same for both

Schools

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 1 5
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Macquarie University Wallumattagal Campus at North Ryde, 4.3 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 5.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 3.9%

Schools in Lane Cove North

  • Mowbray Public School Government · Primary above peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Supermarkets 0 16
Cafes & restaurants 3 187
Parks & reserves 13 22
Childcare 8 21
GPs 0 16
Pharmacies 0 13
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 10
Fuel stations 2 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 7 11

Mobility

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Walkability score 62/100 99/100
Distance to Sydney 11.4 km 11.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 380.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 604.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 2066
 4.0%
postcode 2067
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 2066
 11
postcode 2067

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.

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Worked from Home 61.8% / 57.3%
Lane Cove North — Worked from Home: 61.8% Chatswood — Worked from Home: 57.3%
Car (driver) 27.1% / 21.3%
Lane Cove North — Car (driver): 27.1% Chatswood — Car (driver): 21.3%
Walked Only 2.2% / 8.1%
Lane Cove North — Walked Only: 2.2% Chatswood — Walked Only: 8.1%
Train 1.9% / 7.9%
Lane Cove North — Train: 1.9% Chatswood — Train: 7.9%
Bus 4.7% / 2.7%
Lane Cove North — Bus: 4.7% Chatswood — Bus: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.8%).

Setting

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.9 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 6.3 km
4.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Connectivity score 77/100 73/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
6,241 premises
 12%
15,688 premises

Climate

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Lane Cove North Chatswood
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.23 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Average residential rate $1,377/yr $1,275/yr
Council Lane Cove Willoughby

Federal electorate

Lane Cove North Chatswood
Division Bennelong Bradfield
Member Jerome Laxale Nicolette Boele
Party Australian Labor Party Independent

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lane Cove North

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub Urban

Chatswood

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lane Cove North

Lane Cove North vs Lane Cove Lane Cove North vs Artarmon Lane Cove North vs Lane Cove West

Other comparisons with Chatswood

Chatswood vs Lindfield Chatswood vs Roseville Chatswood vs Artarmon Chatswood vs Willoughby Chatswood vs North Willoughby Chatswood vs Castle Cove
Full data on Lane Cove North Full data on Chatswood
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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