North Willoughby vs Willoughby

In both, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. In Willoughby, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in North Willoughby: a median of $4 million, against $3.6 million in Willoughby. Willoughby is closer to the city centre: 8.3 km, against 9.4 km.

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

Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 36/100)

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

First-home buyers

Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($3,600,000 vs $4,000,000)

Weighs house prices, unit 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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Willoughby

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (18/100 vs 36/100)

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

Investors

Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.9% vs -0.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

North Willoughby and 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.

North Willoughby 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.

North Willoughby Willoughby
Walkability 83 / 89
North Willoughby — Walkability: 83/100 Willoughby — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 64 / 82
North Willoughby — Safety: 64/100 Willoughby — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Willoughby — Low fire risk: 100/100 Willoughby — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Willoughby has more residents (7,124 vs 4,161); Willoughby has higher household incomes ($155,740 vs $129,376).

North Willoughby Willoughby
Population 4,161 7,124
+71% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.3% +8.9%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $129,376/yr $155,740/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $590/wk
+1% vs other
 $583/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Willoughby Willoughby
0-4 5.7% / 6.1%
North Willoughby — 0-4: 5.7% Willoughby — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 16.0% / 15.0%
North Willoughby — 5-14: 16.0% Willoughby — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 5.6% / 6.5%
North Willoughby — 15-19: 5.6% Willoughby — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 4.9% / 4.2%
North Willoughby — 20-24: 4.9% Willoughby — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 9.3% / 8.7%
North Willoughby — 25-34: 9.3% Willoughby — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 15.7% / 16.5%
North Willoughby — 35-44: 15.7% Willoughby — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 15.2% / 16.2%
North Willoughby — 45-54: 15.2% Willoughby — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 11.2% / 11.2%
North Willoughby — 55-64: 11.2% Willoughby — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 8.4% / 7.7%
North Willoughby — 65-74: 8.4% Willoughby — 65-74: 7.7%
75-84 5.5% / 4.9%
North Willoughby — 75-84: 5.5% Willoughby — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 2.4% / 3.1%
North Willoughby — 85+: 2.4% Willoughby — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Willoughby 52.8% couple families
Willoughby — Couple Families: 52.8% Willoughby — Lone Person: 28.0% Willoughby — One Parent Families: 14.3% Willoughby — Group Household: 3.5% 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.

North Willoughby 33.5% renting
North Willoughby — Owned Outright: 39.1% North Willoughby — Mortgage: 27.3% North Willoughby — Renting: 33.5%
Willoughby 31.4% renting
Willoughby — Owned Outright: 33.8% Willoughby — Mortgage: 34.7% Willoughby — Renting: 31.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Willoughby Willoughby
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 24.6%
North Willoughby — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Willoughby — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 9.6% / 11.3%
North Willoughby — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6% Willoughby — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.1%
North Willoughby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Willoughby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 5.5% / 5.1%
North Willoughby — Certificate III & IV: 5.5% Willoughby — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.6%
North Willoughby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Willoughby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.9%).

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.

North Willoughby Willoughby
China 6.0% / 4.6%
North Willoughby — China: 6.0% Willoughby — China: 4.6%
England 3.4% / 4.4%
North Willoughby — England: 3.4% Willoughby — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.0%
North Willoughby — New Zealand: 1.7% Willoughby — New Zealand: 2.0%
Japan 1.4% / 1.2%
North Willoughby — Japan: 1.4% Willoughby — Japan: 1.2%
Philippines 1.6% / 0.9%
North Willoughby — Philippines: 1.6% Willoughby — Philippines: 0.9%
India 1.1% / 1.2%
North Willoughby — India: 1.1% Willoughby — India: 1.2%
South Africa — / 1.3%
North Willoughby — South Africa: not among its largest Willoughby — South Africa: 1.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Willoughby 52.2% houses
North Willoughby — Houses: 52.2% North Willoughby — Flats / Apartments: 30.8% North Willoughby — Townhouses: 16.9%
Willoughby 56.5% houses
Willoughby — Houses: 56.5% Willoughby — Flats / Apartments: 32.9% Willoughby — Townhouses: 10.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

North Willoughby Willoughby
Median house price $4,000,000 $3,600,000
Median unit price $1,062,500 $1,070,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 22 days
from 68 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.

North Willoughby Willoughby
3 bed $4.18M / $3.09M
North Willoughby — 3 bed: $4.18M (13 sales) Willoughby — 3 bed: $3.09M (29 sales)

13 vs 29 sales

4 bed $3.95M / $3.91M
North Willoughby — 4 bed: $3.95M (9 sales) Willoughby — 4 bed: $3.91M (31 sales)

9 vs 31 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.

North Willoughby Willoughby
1 bed $880K / $650K
North Willoughby — 1 bed: $880K (5 sales) Willoughby — 1 bed: $650K (19 sales)

5 vs 19 sales

2 bed $1.07M / $1.08M
North Willoughby — 2 bed: $1.07M (9 sales) Willoughby — 2 bed: $1.08M (39 sales)

9 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

North Willoughby Willoughby
Residential 89% 80%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 10%
Parks and recreation 5% 7%
Commercial 4% 2%
Industrial 0% 1%
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

North Willoughby Willoughby
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.

North Willoughby Willoughby
Houses — 2.2%
$1,500/wk on $3.48M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

North Willoughby Willoughby
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 99% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 3% of NSW

Liveability

Willoughby scores higher overall (93 vs 87).

North Willoughby Willoughby
Grade A+
same for both
Score 87/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

North Willoughby carries more crime risk (36 vs 18).

North Willoughby Willoughby
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
36/100
 Low
18/100
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

North Willoughby Willoughby
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 4.7 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 3.3%

Schools in North Willoughby

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

Schools in Willoughby

  • Willoughby Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Willoughby Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

North Willoughby Willoughby
Cafes & restaurants 10 6
Parks & reserves 3
same for both
Childcare 5 4
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 3

Mobility

North Willoughby Willoughby
Walkability score 83/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 9.4 km
+12% vs other
 8.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 13 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 161.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 195.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 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.

North Willoughby Willoughby
Worked from Home 60.6% / 64.0%
North Willoughby — Worked from Home: 60.6% Willoughby — Worked from Home: 64.0%
Car (driver) 27.9% / 25.4%
North Willoughby — Car (driver): 27.9% Willoughby — Car (driver): 25.4%
Bus 4.1% / 4.1%
North Willoughby — Bus: 4.1% Willoughby — Bus: 4.1%
Walked Only 3.5% / 2.8%
North Willoughby — Walked Only: 3.5% Willoughby — Walked Only: 2.8%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 2.0%
North Willoughby — Car (passenger): 2.4% Willoughby — Car (passenger): 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.0%).

Setting

North Willoughby Willoughby
Elevation 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.6 km
2.7 km to a named beach
 4.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Willoughby Willoughby
Connectivity score 80/100 83/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
1,837 premises
 32%
3,480 premises

Climate

North Willoughby 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)

North Willoughby Willoughby
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 14.2 µg/m³ 15.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.23 pphm 0.62 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

North Willoughby

Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Urban

Willoughby

Apartments Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Willoughby

Willoughby vs Chatswood Willoughby vs Artarmon Willoughby vs Northbridge Willoughby vs Naremburn Willoughby vs Castlecrag Willoughby vs Willoughby East
Full data on North Willoughby Full data on 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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