Middle Cove vs North Willoughby

North Willoughby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 45 in Middle Cove. In both, most households own their home. In Middle Cove, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In North Willoughby, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in North Willoughby: a median of $4 million, against $3.03 million in Middle Cove, though rent is higher in Middle Cove. North Willoughby is closer to the city centre: 9.4 km, against 10.8 km. On these figures, Middle Cove tends to suit couples and 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

Middle Cove

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 52%)
  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 36/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 68%)
  • But North Willoughby has more childcare (5 vs 0)

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

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 30%)
  • has cheaper houses ($3,030,000 vs $4,000,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

North Willoughby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (34% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($590/wk vs $930/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

North Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

North Willoughby

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (83/100 vs 60/100)
  • But Middle Cove carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 36/100)

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

Middle Cove and North 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.

Middle Cove North 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.

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Walkability 60 / 83
Middle Cove — Walkability: 60/100 North Willoughby — Walkability: 83/100
Safety 79 / 64
Middle Cove — Safety: 79/100 North Willoughby — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Middle Cove — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Willoughby — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Willoughby has more residents (4,161 vs 1,327); Middle Cove has higher household incomes ($231,192 vs $129,376).

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Population 1,327 4,161
+214% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.0% -0.3%
Median age 45 40
Median household income $231,192/yr
+44% vs other
 $129,376/yr
Median weekly rent $930/wk
+37% vs other
 $590/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Middle Cove North Willoughby
0-4 3.7% / 5.7%
Middle Cove — 0-4: 3.7% North Willoughby — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 16.2% / 16.0%
Middle Cove — 5-14: 16.2% North Willoughby — 5-14: 16.0%
15-19 7.2% / 5.6%
Middle Cove — 15-19: 7.2% North Willoughby — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 6.1% / 4.9%
Middle Cove — 20-24: 6.1% North Willoughby — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 4.7% / 9.3%
Middle Cove — 25-34: 4.7% North Willoughby — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 10.8% / 15.7%
Middle Cove — 35-44: 10.8% North Willoughby — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 17.3% / 15.2%
Middle Cove — 45-54: 17.3% North Willoughby — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 16.1% / 11.2%
Middle Cove — 55-64: 16.1% North Willoughby — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 9.9% / 8.4%
Middle Cove — 65-74: 9.9% North Willoughby — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 5.7% / 5.5%
Middle Cove — 75-84: 5.7% North Willoughby — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 2.5% / 2.4%
Middle Cove — 85+: 2.5% North Willoughby — 85+: 2.4%

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%
North Willoughby 51.0% couple families
North Willoughby — Couple Families: 51.0% North Willoughby — Lone Person: 27.4% North Willoughby — One Parent Families: 16.7% North Willoughby — Group Household: 3.5% North 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.

Middle Cove 8.3% renting
Middle Cove — Owned Outright: 48.8% Middle Cove — Mortgage: 42.9% Middle Cove — Renting: 8.3%
North Willoughby 33.5% renting
North Willoughby — Owned Outright: 39.1% North Willoughby — Mortgage: 27.3% North Willoughby — Renting: 33.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Bachelor Degree 28.2% / 24.9%
Middle Cove — Bachelor Degree: 28.2% North Willoughby — Bachelor Degree: 24.9%
Postgraduate Degree 13.4% / 9.6%
Middle Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4% North Willoughby — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.1%
Middle Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% North Willoughby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 3.5% / 5.5%
Middle Cove — Certificate III & IV: 3.5% North Willoughby — Certificate III & IV: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.7%
Middle Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% North Willoughby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

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 North Willoughby
China 5.7% / 6.0%
Middle Cove — China: 5.7% North Willoughby — China: 6.0%
England 4.9% / 3.4%
Middle Cove — England: 4.9% North Willoughby — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 2.8% / 1.7%
Middle Cove — New Zealand: 2.8% North Willoughby — New Zealand: 1.7%
Japan 1.2% / 1.4%
Middle Cove — Japan: 1.2% North Willoughby — Japan: 1.4%
South Africa 1.8% / —
Middle Cove — South Africa: 1.8% North Willoughby — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.6%
Middle Cove — Philippines: not among its largest North Willoughby — Philippines: 1.6%
Malaysia 1.3% / —
Middle Cove — Malaysia: 1.3% North Willoughby — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Middle Cove 96.9% houses
Middle Cove — Houses: 96.9% Middle Cove — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Middle Cove — Townhouses: 3.8%
North Willoughby 52.2% houses
North Willoughby — Houses: 52.2% North Willoughby — Flats / Apartments: 30.8% North Willoughby — Townhouses: 16.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Median house price $3,030,000 $4,000,000
Median unit price — $1,062,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 7 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 North Willoughby
3 bed $2.93M / $4.18M
Middle Cove — 3 bed: $2.93M (7 sales) North Willoughby — 3 bed: $4.18M (13 sales)

7 vs 13 sales

4 bed $2.92M / $3.95M
Middle Cove — 4 bed: $2.92M (6 sales) North Willoughby — 4 bed: $3.95M (9 sales)

6 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Middle Cove has more land zoned for conservation (77% vs 0%).

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Residential 12% 89%
Environmental 77% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 3%
Parks and recreation 2% 5%
Commercial 0% 4%
Planning zones cover 98% of Middle Cove and 100% of North Willoughby. 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 North Willoughby
New dwellings approved 249
across Willoughby
same for both
Approvals change year on year +458%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Middle Cove North Willoughby
House price Higher than 95% of NSW
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 8% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW

Liveability

North Willoughby is more walkable (83 vs 60).

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

Risk profile

North Willoughby carries more crime risk (36 vs 21).

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
21/100
 Low
36/100
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 North Willoughby
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
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, 4.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 3.5%

Schools in Middle Cove

  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in North Willoughby

  • St Thomas' Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Cafes & restaurants 2 10
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 0 5
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Walkability score 60/100 83/100
Distance to Sydney 10.8 km
+13% vs other
 9.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 15 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 47.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 161.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.5%
postcode 2068
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2068
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.

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Worked from Home 71.8% / 60.6%
Middle Cove — Worked from Home: 71.8% North Willoughby — Worked from Home: 60.6%
Car (driver) 21.5% / 27.9%
Middle Cove — Car (driver): 21.5% North Willoughby — Car (driver): 27.9%
Bus 3.2% / 4.1%
Middle Cove — Bus: 3.2% North Willoughby — Bus: 4.1%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.4%
Middle Cove — Car (passenger): 2.7% North Willoughby — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Walked Only 0.7% / 3.5%
Middle Cove — Walked Only: 0.7% North Willoughby — Walked Only: 3.5%

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

Setting

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.8 km
1.6 km to a named beach
 4.6 km
2.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Middle Cove North Willoughby
Connectivity score 84/100 80/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
494 premises
 17%
1,837 premises

Climate

Middle Cove North 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)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Middle Cove North Willoughby
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

North Willoughby

Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Middle Cove

Middle Cove vs Chatswood Middle Cove vs Castlecrag Middle Cove vs Castle Cove Middle Cove vs Willoughby East

Other comparisons with North Willoughby

North Willoughby vs Chatswood North Willoughby vs Willoughby North Willoughby vs Willoughby East
Full data on Middle Cove Full data on North Willoughby
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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