Lane Cove vs Riverview

Lane Cove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Riverview. In both, most households own their home. In Lane Cove, most homes are flats or apartments. In Riverview, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Riverview: a median of $3.98 million, against $3.2 million in Lane Cove, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Lane Cove tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Riverview 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

They split

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

  • Lane Cove has more childcare (14 vs 1)
  • Riverview has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 30%)

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

  • Lane Cove has cheaper houses ($3,200,000 vs $3,982,500)
  • Riverview leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 26%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lane Cove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($533/wk vs $1,000/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Lane Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 75/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Lane Cove

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 75/100)
  • But Riverview carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 40/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Lane Cove is growing faster (14.3% vs -6.1%)
  • Riverview returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Lane Cove and Riverview 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 Riverview
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 Riverview
Walkability 90 / 75
Lane Cove — Walkability: 90/100 Riverview — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 60 / 84
Lane Cove — Safety: 60/100 Riverview — Safety: 84/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Lane Cove — Low fire risk: 100/100 Riverview — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lane Cove has more residents (12,363 vs 3,148); Riverview rents higher ($1,000/wk vs $533/wk).

Lane Cove Riverview
Population 12,363
+75% vs other
 3,148
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.3% -6.1%
Median age 38 42
Median household income $132,028/yr $246,012/yr
+86% vs other
Median weekly rent $533/wk $1,000/wk
+88% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lane Cove Riverview
0-4 6.9% / 4.2%
Lane Cove — 0-4: 6.9% Riverview — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 12.5% / 17.7%
Lane Cove — 5-14: 12.5% Riverview — 5-14: 17.7%
15-19 4.4% / 9.3%
Lane Cove — 15-19: 4.4% Riverview — 15-19: 9.3%
20-24 4.1% / 5.8%
Lane Cove — 20-24: 4.1% Riverview — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 15.5% / 5.1%
Lane Cove — 25-34: 15.5% Riverview — 25-34: 5.1%
35-44 19.2% / 10.8%
Lane Cove — 35-44: 19.2% Riverview — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 12.6% / 17.5%
Lane Cove — 45-54: 12.6% Riverview — 45-54: 17.5%
55-64 9.5% / 13.2%
Lane Cove — 55-64: 9.5% Riverview — 55-64: 13.2%
65-74 7.5% / 9.5%
Lane Cove — 65-74: 7.5% Riverview — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 5.1% / 5.3%
Lane Cove — 75-84: 5.1% Riverview — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.5% / 1.8%
Lane Cove — 85+: 2.5% Riverview — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lane Cove 44.2% couple families
Lane Cove — Couple Families: 44.2% Lane Cove — Lone Person: 39.1% Lane Cove — One Parent Families: 11.7% Lane Cove — Group Household: 3.8% Lane Cove — Other Families: 1.3%
Riverview 71.8% couple families
Riverview — Couple Families: 71.8% Riverview — Lone Person: 13.1% Riverview — One Parent Families: 13.4% Riverview — Group Household: 1.1% Riverview — Other Families: 0.7%
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 38.4% renting
Lane Cove — Owned Outright: 27.7% Lane Cove — Mortgage: 33.9% Lane Cove — Renting: 38.4%
Riverview 8.5% renting
Riverview — Owned Outright: 48.6% Riverview — Mortgage: 42.8% Riverview — Renting: 8.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Riverview
England 4.9% / 5.1%
Lane Cove — England: 4.9% Riverview — England: 5.1%
China 5.6% / 2.3%
Lane Cove — China: 5.6% Riverview — China: 2.3%
India 2.7% / 1.3%
Lane Cove — India: 2.7% Riverview — India: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.8%
Lane Cove — New Zealand: 1.9% Riverview — New Zealand: 1.8%
South Africa 1.6% / 1.7%
Lane Cove — South Africa: 1.6% Riverview — South Africa: 1.7%

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

Qualifications

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

Lane Cove Riverview
Bachelor Degree 27.8% / 26.7%
Lane Cove — Bachelor Degree: 27.8% Riverview — Bachelor Degree: 26.7%
Postgraduate Degree 13.6% / 13.4%
Lane Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 13.6% Riverview — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.1%
Lane Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Riverview — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Certificate III & IV 5.3% / 3.0%
Lane Cove — Certificate III & IV: 5.3% Riverview — Certificate III & IV: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.0%
Lane Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Riverview — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lane Cove 30.3% houses
Lane Cove — Houses: 30.3% Lane Cove — Flats / Apartments: 62.7% Lane Cove — Townhouses: 7.0%
Riverview 97.5% houses
Riverview — Houses: 97.5% Riverview — Flats / Apartments: 1.5% Riverview — Townhouses: 1.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lane Cove Riverview
Median house price $3,200,000 $3,982,500
Median unit price $930,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 14 sales
 26 days
from 11 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.

Lane Cove Riverview
3 bed $2.61M / $3.45M
Lane Cove — 3 bed: $2.61M (8 sales) Riverview — 3 bed: $3.45M (5 sales)

8 vs 5 sales

5 bed $3.73M / $4.8M
Lane Cove — 5 bed: $3.73M (5 sales) Riverview — 5 bed: $4.8M (13 sales)

5 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Lane Cove Riverview
Residential 76% 62%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 30%
Parks and recreation 9% 4%
Environmental 7% 3%
Commercial 4% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Lane Cove and 99% of Riverview. 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 Riverview
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.

Lane Cove Riverview
Houses 2.3%
$1,200/wk on $2.7M
 3.2%
$2,200/wk on $3.6M
Units 5.0%
$810/wk on $850K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Lane Cove Riverview
House price Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Income Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 100% of NSW
Schools Higher than 54% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 9% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 98% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 64% of NSW —

Liveability

Lane Cove is more walkable (90 vs 75); Riverview scores higher overall (92 vs 80).

Lane Cove Riverview
Grade A A+
Score 80/100 92/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Lane Cove carries more crime risk (40 vs 16).

Lane Cove Riverview
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Low
16/100
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 Riverview
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 4.4 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 4.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 5.3%

Schools in Lane Cove

  • St Michael's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Lane Cove Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Currambena Primary School Independent · Primary
  • Aspect Vern Barnett School, Lane Cove Independent · Primary · Special school

Schools in Riverview

  • Saint Ignatius' College Independent · Secondary below peers
  • Saint Ignatius' College, The Regis Campus Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Lane Cove Riverview
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 25 0
Parks & reserves 17 7
Childcare 14 1
GPs 6 1
Pharmacies 5 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Lane Cove Riverview
Walkability score 90/100 75/100
Distance to Sydney 10.9 km
+6% vs other
 10.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 20 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 93/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 406.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 103.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 2066
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 2066
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.

Lane Cove Riverview
Worked from Home 64.1% / 65.9%
Lane Cove — Worked from Home: 64.1% Riverview — Worked from Home: 65.9%
Car (driver) 25.1% / 27.2%
Lane Cove — Car (driver): 25.1% Riverview — Car (driver): 27.2%
Walked Only 3.6% / 2.0%
Lane Cove — Walked Only: 3.6% Riverview — Walked Only: 2.0%
Car (passenger) 1.9% / 2.9%
Lane Cove — Car (passenger): 1.9% Riverview — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Bus 3.8% / 0.7%
Lane Cove — Bus: 3.8% Riverview — Bus: 0.7%
Train 1.1% / 1.1%
Lane Cove — Train: 1.1% Riverview — Train: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.9%).

Setting

Lane Cove Riverview
Elevation 59 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.4 km
2.4 km to a named beach
 8.1 km
1.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Lane Cove Riverview
Connectivity score 80/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
6,538 premises
 52%
1,036 premises

Climate

Lane Cove Riverview
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 Riverview
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

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

Federal electorate

Lane Cove Riverview
Division Bennelong
same for both
Member Jerome Laxale
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Lane Cove

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Riverview

Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lane Cove

Lane Cove vs Lane Cove North Lane Cove vs Artarmon Lane Cove vs Greenwich Lane Cove vs Lane Cove West Lane Cove vs Longueville Lane Cove vs Northwood

Other comparisons with Riverview

Riverview vs Longueville
Full data on Lane Cove Full data on Riverview
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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