Northbridge vs Willoughby

Willoughby is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 44 in Northbridge. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Northbridge, most households are couple families. In Willoughby, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Northbridge: a median of $5.3 million, against $3.6 million in Willoughby, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Willoughby 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

Northbridge

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 56%)
  • But Willoughby 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

Willoughby

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($3,600,000 vs $5,300,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Willoughby

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($583/wk vs $740/wk)

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

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Northbridge has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 16%)
  • Willoughby has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 26%)

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 2.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Northbridge 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.

Northbridge 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.

Northbridge Willoughby
Walkability 86 / 89
Northbridge — Walkability: 86/100 Willoughby — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 77 / 82
Northbridge — Safety: 77/100 Willoughby — Safety: 82/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Northbridge — Low fire risk: 100/100 Willoughby — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Northbridge has higher household incomes ($201,448 vs $155,740); Northbridge rents higher ($740/wk vs $583/wk).

Northbridge Willoughby
Population 6,493 7,124
+10% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.3% +8.9%
Median age 44 40
Median household income $201,448/yr
+23% vs other
 $155,740/yr
Median weekly rent $740/wk
+21% vs other
 $583/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Northbridge Willoughby
0-4 4.1% / 6.1%
Northbridge — 0-4: 4.1% Willoughby — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 16.4% / 15.0%
Northbridge — 5-14: 16.4% Willoughby — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 7.8% / 6.5%
Northbridge — 15-19: 7.8% Willoughby — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 4.5% / 4.2%
Northbridge — 20-24: 4.5% Willoughby — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 5.6% / 8.7%
Northbridge — 25-34: 5.6% Willoughby — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 11.8% / 16.5%
Northbridge — 35-44: 11.8% Willoughby — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 16.0% / 16.2%
Northbridge — 45-54: 16.0% Willoughby — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 13.1% / 11.2%
Northbridge — 55-64: 13.1% Willoughby — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 10.3% / 7.7%
Northbridge — 65-74: 10.3% Willoughby — 65-74: 7.7%
75-84 6.3% / 4.9%
Northbridge — 75-84: 6.3% Willoughby — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 4.2% / 3.1%
Northbridge — 85+: 4.2% Willoughby — 85+: 3.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Northbridge 62.3% couple families
Northbridge — Couple Families: 62.3% Northbridge — Lone Person: 24.8% Northbridge — One Parent Families: 10.2% Northbridge — Group Household: 1.6% Northbridge — Other Families: 1.2%
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.

Northbridge 20.1% renting
Northbridge — Owned Outright: 49.2% Northbridge — Mortgage: 30.7% Northbridge — Renting: 20.1%
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.

Northbridge Willoughby
Bachelor Degree 26.5% / 24.6%
Northbridge — Bachelor Degree: 26.5% Willoughby — Bachelor Degree: 24.6%
Postgraduate Degree 12.7% / 11.3%
Northbridge — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7% Willoughby — Postgraduate Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 7.1%
Northbridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Willoughby — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Certificate III & IV 3.2% / 5.1%
Northbridge — Certificate III & IV: 3.2% Willoughby — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.6%
Northbridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Willoughby — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.5%).

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.

Northbridge Willoughby
England 4.8% / 4.4%
Northbridge — England: 4.8% Willoughby — England: 4.4%
China 3.9% / 4.6%
Northbridge — China: 3.9% Willoughby — China: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.8% / 2.0%
Northbridge — New Zealand: 1.8% Willoughby — New Zealand: 2.0%
Japan 1.6% / 1.2%
Northbridge — Japan: 1.6% Willoughby — Japan: 1.2%
South Africa 1.1% / 1.3%
Northbridge — South Africa: 1.1% Willoughby — South Africa: 1.3%
India 0.7% / 1.2%
Northbridge — India: 0.7% Willoughby — India: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Northbridge 74.1% houses
Northbridge — Houses: 74.1% Northbridge — Flats / Apartments: 19.5% Northbridge — Townhouses: 6.3%
Willoughby 56.5% houses
Willoughby — Houses: 56.5% Willoughby — Flats / Apartments: 32.9% Willoughby — Townhouses: 10.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Northbridge Willoughby
Median house price $5,300,000 $3,600,000
Median unit price $1,135,000 $1,070,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 32 sales
 22 days
from 68 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.

Northbridge Willoughby
1 bed $853K / $650K
Northbridge — 1 bed: $853K (8 sales) Willoughby — 1 bed: $650K (19 sales)

8 vs 19 sales

2 bed $1.15M / $1.08M
Northbridge — 2 bed: $1.15M (9 sales) Willoughby — 2 bed: $1.08M (39 sales)

9 vs 39 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.

Northbridge Willoughby
3 bed $3.62M / $3.09M
Northbridge — 3 bed: $3.62M (5 sales) Willoughby — 3 bed: $3.09M (29 sales)

5 vs 29 sales

4 bed $5.31M / $3.91M
Northbridge — 4 bed: $5.31M (22 sales) Willoughby — 4 bed: $3.91M (31 sales)

22 vs 31 sales

5 bed $6M / $4.51M
Northbridge — 5 bed: $6M (23 sales) Willoughby — 5 bed: $4.51M (17 sales)

23 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Northbridge has more land zoned for conservation (31% vs 0%).

Northbridge Willoughby
Residential 42% 80%
Environmental 31% 0%
Parks and recreation 19% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 10%
Commercial 2%
same for both
Industrial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Northbridge and 100% of 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

Northbridge 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.

Northbridge Willoughby
Houses 2.3%
$1,900/wk on $4.3M
 2.2%
$1,500/wk on $3.48M
Units 3.5%
$950/wk on $1.4M
 —

Ranking within NSW

Northbridge Willoughby
House price Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Schools Higher than 10% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 9% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 99% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 11% of NSW —

Liveability

Willoughby scores higher overall (93 vs 75).

Northbridge Willoughby
Grade A A+
Score 75/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Northbridge Willoughby
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
23/100
 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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Northbridge Willoughby
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 3.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-North Sydney Campus, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 3.3%

Schools in Northbridge

  • Northbridge Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • SHORE - Sydney Church of England Preparatory School, Northbridge Independent · Primary

Schools in Willoughby

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

Amenities in the suburb

Northbridge Willoughby
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 8 6
Parks & reserves 9 3
Childcare 5 4
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Northbridge Willoughby
Walkability score 86/100 89/100
Distance to Sydney 8.1 km 8.3 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 13 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 262.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 195.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.1%
postcode 2063
 4.5%
postcode 2068
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 2063
 28
postcode 2068

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.

Northbridge Willoughby
Worked from Home 65.9% / 64.0%
Northbridge — Worked from Home: 65.9% Willoughby — Worked from Home: 64.0%
Car (driver) 26.2% / 25.4%
Northbridge — Car (driver): 26.2% Willoughby — Car (driver): 25.4%
Bus 2.0% / 4.1%
Northbridge — Bus: 2.0% Willoughby — Bus: 4.1%
Walked Only 2.5% / 2.8%
Northbridge — Walked Only: 2.5% Willoughby — Walked Only: 2.8%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 2.0%
Northbridge — Car (passenger): 2.6% Willoughby — Car (passenger): 2.0%

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

Setting

Northbridge Willoughby
Elevation 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
1.3 km to a named beach
 4.4 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Northbridge Willoughby
Connectivity score 75/100 83/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
2,599 premises
 32%
3,480 premises

Climate

Northbridge 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)

Northbridge Willoughby
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 13.8 µg/m³ 15.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.84 pphm 0.62 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Northbridge

Beach Coastal Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River

Willoughby

Apartments Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Northbridge

Northbridge vs Cammeray Northbridge vs Naremburn Northbridge vs Castlecrag

Other comparisons with Willoughby

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