Middle Cove vs Willoughby East

Willoughby East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 45 in Middle 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. Willoughby East is closer to the city centre: 9 km, against 10.8 km. On these figures, Willoughby East tends to suit families with children.

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 the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Willoughby East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Willoughby East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 60/100)

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 Willoughby East 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 Willoughby East
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 Willoughby East
Walkability 60 / 76
Middle Cove — Walkability: 60/100 Willoughby East — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 79 / 85
Middle Cove — Safety: 79/100 Willoughby East — Safety: 85/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Middle Cove — Low fire risk: 100/100 Willoughby East — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Willoughby East has more residents (1,864 vs 1,327); Middle Cove skews older (45 vs 42).

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Population 1,327 1,864
+40% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.0% +2.3%
Median age 45 42
Median household income $231,192/yr $235,872/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $930/wk
+6% vs other
 $873/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Middle Cove Willoughby East
0-4 3.7% / 5.6%
Middle Cove — 0-4: 3.7% Willoughby East — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 16.2% / 19.3%
Middle Cove — 5-14: 16.2% Willoughby East — 5-14: 19.3%
15-19 7.2% / 8.2%
Middle Cove — 15-19: 7.2% Willoughby East — 15-19: 8.2%
20-24 6.1% / 4.4%
Middle Cove — 20-24: 6.1% Willoughby East — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 4.7% / 4.8%
Middle Cove — 25-34: 4.7% Willoughby East — 25-34: 4.8%
35-44 10.8% / 13.7%
Middle Cove — 35-44: 10.8% Willoughby East — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 17.3% / 17.5%
Middle Cove — 45-54: 17.3% Willoughby East — 45-54: 17.5%
55-64 16.1% / 11.7%
Middle Cove — 55-64: 16.1% Willoughby East — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 9.9% / 9.2%
Middle Cove — 65-74: 9.9% Willoughby East — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 5.7% / 4.2%
Middle Cove — 75-84: 5.7% Willoughby East — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 2.5% / 1.7%
Middle Cove — 85+: 2.5% Willoughby East — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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%
Willoughby East 74.8% couple families
Willoughby East — Couple Families: 74.8% Willoughby East — Lone Person: 12.1% Willoughby East — One Parent Families: 10.3% Willoughby East — Group Household: 1.3% Willoughby East — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
Willoughby East 11.9% renting
Willoughby East — Owned Outright: 44.2% Willoughby East — Mortgage: 43.9% Willoughby East — Renting: 11.9%
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.

Middle Cove Willoughby East
England 4.9% / 3.7%
Middle Cove — England: 4.9% Willoughby East — England: 3.7%
China 5.7% / 2.7%
Middle Cove — China: 5.7% Willoughby East — China: 2.7%
New Zealand 2.8% / 2.4%
Middle Cove — New Zealand: 2.8% Willoughby East — New Zealand: 2.4%
South Africa 1.8% / 1.2%
Middle Cove — South Africa: 1.8% Willoughby East — South Africa: 1.2%
Malaysia 1.3% / 1.1%
Middle Cove — Malaysia: 1.3% Willoughby East — Malaysia: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.7%).

Qualifications

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

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Bachelor Degree 28.2% / 24.9%
Middle Cove — Bachelor Degree: 28.2% Willoughby East — Bachelor Degree: 24.9%
Postgraduate Degree 13.4% / 9.8%
Middle Cove — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4% Willoughby East — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 7.4%
Middle Cove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Willoughby East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.5% / 4.2%
Middle Cove — Certificate III & IV: 3.5% Willoughby East — Certificate III & IV: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 3.1%
Middle Cove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Willoughby East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.2%).

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%
Willoughby East 95.6% houses
Willoughby East — Houses: 95.6% Willoughby East — Townhouses: 3.9% Willoughby East — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Median house price $3,030,000 $3,000,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 7 sales
 —

Zoning mix

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

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Residential 12% 85%
Environmental 77% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 6%
Planning zones cover 98% of Middle Cove and 100% of Willoughby East. 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 Willoughby East
New dwellings approved 249
across Willoughby
same for both
Approvals change year on year +458%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Middle Cove Willoughby East
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 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW

Liveability

Willoughby East is more walkable (76 vs 60); Willoughby East scores higher overall (93 vs 88).

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Grade A+
same for both
Score 88/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
21/100
 Low
15/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
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, 4.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 3.9%

Schools in Middle Cove

  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Willoughby East

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

Amenities in the suburb

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 3 2
Waterways 5 2

Mobility

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Walkability score 60/100 76/100
Distance to Sydney 10.8 km
+17% vs other
 9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 14 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 47.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 54.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Willoughby East
Worked from Home 71.8% / 67.1%
Middle Cove — Worked from Home: 71.8% Willoughby East — Worked from Home: 67.1%
Car (driver) 21.5% / 25.5%
Middle Cove — Car (driver): 21.5% Willoughby East — Car (driver): 25.5%
Bus 3.2% / 2.0%
Middle Cove — Bus: 3.2% Willoughby East — Bus: 2.0%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.1%
Middle Cove — Car (passenger): 2.7% Willoughby East — Car (passenger): 2.1%
Walked Only 0.7% / 2.1%
Middle Cove — Walked Only: 0.7% Willoughby East — Walked Only: 2.1%

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

Setting

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 76 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
2.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Middle Cove Willoughby East
Connectivity score 84/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 33%
494 premises
 0%
618 premises

Climate

Middle Cove Willoughby East
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 Willoughby East
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 13.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.84 pphm
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Middle Cove Willoughby East
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

Willoughby East

Family Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Middle Cove

Middle Cove vs Chatswood Middle Cove vs North Willoughby Middle Cove vs Castlecrag Middle Cove vs Castle Cove

Other comparisons with Willoughby East

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