Middle Cove vs Castle Cove

In both, 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 Castle Cove: a median of $3.94 million, against $3.03 million in Middle Cove, and rent is higher there too. Middle Cove is closer to the city centre: 10.8 km, against 12.9 km. On these figures, Middle Cove tends to suit 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

  • Middle Cove has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Castle Cove has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)

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

  • has cheaper houses ($3,030,000 vs $3,940,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Middle Cove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Middle Cove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (17 min vs 22 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (10.8 km vs 12.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Middle Cove and Castle 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.

Middle Cove Castle 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.

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Walkability 60 / 54
Middle Cove — Walkability: 60/100 Castle Cove — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 79 / 78
Middle Cove — Safety: 79/100 Castle Cove — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Middle Cove — Low fire risk: 100/100 Castle Cove — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Castle Cove has more residents (2,643 vs 1,327); Middle Cove has higher household incomes ($231,192 vs $178,828).

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Population 1,327 2,643
+99% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.0% +3.5%
Median age 45 46
Median household income $231,192/yr
+23% vs other
 $178,828/yr
Median weekly rent $930/wk $1,000/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Middle Cove Castle Cove
0-4 3.7% / 3.4%
Middle Cove — 0-4: 3.7% Castle Cove — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 16.2% / 16.4%
Middle Cove — 5-14: 16.2% Castle Cove — 5-14: 16.4%
15-19 7.2% / 7.1%
Middle Cove — 15-19: 7.2% Castle Cove — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.1% / 5.4%
Middle Cove — 20-24: 6.1% Castle Cove — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 4.7% / 4.7%
Middle Cove — 25-34: 4.7% Castle Cove — 25-34: 4.7%
35-44 10.8% / 11.0%
Middle Cove — 35-44: 10.8% Castle Cove — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 17.3% / 15.7%
Middle Cove — 45-54: 17.3% Castle Cove — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 16.1% / 13.8%
Middle Cove — 55-64: 16.1% Castle Cove — 55-64: 13.8%
65-74 9.9% / 10.4%
Middle Cove — 65-74: 9.9% Castle Cove — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 5.7% / 8.1%
Middle Cove — 75-84: 5.7% Castle Cove — 75-84: 8.1%
85+ 2.5% / 3.9%
Middle Cove — 85+: 2.5% Castle Cove — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Castle Cove 65.5% couple families
Castle Cove — Couple Families: 65.5% Castle Cove — Lone Person: 21.0% Castle Cove — One Parent Families: 11.0% Castle Cove — Group Household: 1.8% Castle Cove — Other Families: 0.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Middle Cove 8.3% renting
Middle Cove — Owned Outright: 48.8% Middle Cove — Mortgage: 42.9% Middle Cove — Renting: 8.3%
Castle Cove 11.6% renting
Castle Cove — Owned Outright: 52.4% Castle Cove — Mortgage: 36.0% Castle Cove — Renting: 11.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Bachelor Degree 28.2% / 25.2%
Middle Cove — Bachelor Degree: 28.2% Castle Cove — Bachelor Degree: 25.2%
Postgraduate Degree 13.4% / 11.8%
Middle Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4% Castle Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.3%
Middle Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Castle Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Certificate III & IV 3.5% / 4.0%
Middle Cove — Certificate III & IV: 3.5% Castle Cove — Certificate III & IV: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.9%
Middle Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Castle Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

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.

Middle Cove Castle Cove
China 5.7% / 7.3%
Middle Cove — China: 5.7% Castle Cove — China: 7.3%
England 4.9% / 4.7%
Middle Cove — England: 4.9% Castle Cove — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 2.8% / 1.4%
Middle Cove — New Zealand: 2.8% Castle Cove — New Zealand: 1.4%
South Africa 1.8% / 0.9%
Middle Cove — South Africa: 1.8% Castle Cove — South Africa: 0.9%
Malaysia 1.3% / 0.9%
Middle Cove — Malaysia: 1.3% Castle Cove — Malaysia: 0.9%
Japan 1.2% / 0.9%
Middle Cove — Japan: 1.2% Castle Cove — Japan: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Middle Cove 96.9% houses
Middle Cove — Houses: 96.9% Middle Cove — Townhouses: 3.8% Middle Cove — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Castle Cove 90.3% houses
Castle Cove — Houses: 90.3% Castle Cove — Townhouses: 6.0% Castle Cove — Flats / Apartments: 3.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Median house price $3,030,000 $3,940,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 7 sales
 24 days
from 10 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.

Middle Cove Castle Cove
3 bed $2.93M / $3.52M
Middle Cove — 3 bed: $2.93M (7 sales) Castle Cove — 3 bed: $3.52M (7 sales)

7 vs 7 sales

4 bed $2.92M / $4M
Middle Cove — 4 bed: $2.92M (6 sales) Castle Cove — 4 bed: $4M (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Environmental 77% 69%
Residential 12% 19%
Parks and recreation 2% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 1%
Planning zones cover 98% of Middle Cove and 98% of Castle 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

Middle Cove Castle 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.

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Houses — 2.5%
$2,000/wk on $4.2M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Middle Cove Castle Cove
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Income Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 6% of NSW

Liveability

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Grade A+
same for both
Score 88/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
21/100
 Low
22/100
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 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 4.9 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 5.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 4.0%

Schools in Middle Cove

  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Castle Cove

  • Castle Cove Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 3 6
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 5 1

Mobility

Castle Cove sits further from the CBD (12.9 km vs 10.8 km).

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Walkability score 60/100 54/100
Distance to Sydney 10.8 km 12.9 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 22 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 47.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 80.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.5%
postcode 2068
 4.7%
postcode 2069
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2068
 30
postcode 2069

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.

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Worked from Home 71.8% / 62.5%
Middle Cove — Worked from Home: 71.8% Castle Cove — Worked from Home: 62.5%
Car (driver) 21.5% / 30.9%
Middle Cove — Car (driver): 21.5% Castle Cove — Car (driver): 30.9%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.3%
Middle Cove — Car (passenger): 2.7% Castle Cove — Car (passenger): 2.3%
Bus 3.2% / 1.2%
Middle Cove — Bus: 3.2% Castle Cove — Bus: 1.2%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.6%
Middle Cove — Walked Only: 0.7% Castle Cove — Walked Only: 1.6%
Train — / 1.3%
Middle Cove — Train: not among its largest Castle Cove — Train: 1.3%

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

Setting

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.8 km
1.6 km to a named beach
 4.0 km
1.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Middle Cove Castle Cove
Connectivity score 84/100 89/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
494 premises
 52%
1,030 premises

Climate

Middle Cove Castle 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Middle Cove

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

Castle Cove

Large Blocks Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Middle Cove

Middle Cove vs Chatswood Middle Cove vs North Willoughby Middle Cove vs Castlecrag Middle Cove vs Willoughby East

Other comparisons with Castle Cove

Castle Cove vs Chatswood Castle Cove vs Roseville Castle Cove vs Roseville Chase
Full data on Middle Cove Full data on Castle 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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