Lane Cove is a suburb of Sydney, in Lane Cove Council, with mainly dense residential and commercial development. It is close to the Lane Cove River.
Employment rates are stronger than in comparable places, with employment 9% above the peer median. Public transport is a very strong feature of the suburb, with public transport 88% above the peer median. Reported crime is exceptionally low against comparable places. Reported offences have fallen 15% year on year, and working from home is more common than in comparable places, with working from home 19% above the peer median. Trade-offs centre on higher housing costs and limited school access.
Lane Cove is a better fit for people who value lower crime and employment more than lower housing costs.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Mixed commercial-residential suburb · compared with mixed commercial-residential suburbs in New South Wales (130)
Strengths
Reported crime is exceptionally low against comparable places
Employment rates are stronger than in comparable places
Working from home is more common than in comparable places
Public transport is a relative strength
Weaknesses
Housing is expensive relative to comparable places
School access is relatively limited
What stands out
Lane Cove River
Who it suits
Stars are audience-fit ratings derived from Suburb.Guide data, not demographic counts or user reviews.
Families★★★★☆
Professionals★★★★☆
Retirees★★★☆☆
Students★★☆☆☆
Budget buyers★☆☆☆☆
Housing, growth and risk
How Lane Cove compares
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$3.67M
+11% change
Median rent
$780/wk
Houses $1,210 · Units $750
Population (ERP)
12,926
+0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.6%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#4
among Metro Sydney · Established
Crime rate
4th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
44th
percentile in NSW
Rented dwellings
38%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
97th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
73.2/100 — Excellent
State standing
Top 1% of New South Wales' suburbs
National rank
9th in Australia
State rank
6th in NSW
Peer rank
#4 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#6 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data confidence
100%
Data sources & freshness
Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$750
Houses (January to March 2026)
$1,210
All types (January to March 2026)
$780
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
375
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$3,675,000
Median price change
+11.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
+0.3% annual · +5.0% over 5 years · 44th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.3%
5-year growth
+5.0%
Change in 1 year
+37
Change in 5 years
+619
Growth rank in NSW
44th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~14,200), extrapolated at +1.9% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
Population
12,363
Median age
38
Median household income / week
$2,539
Dwelling vacancy
8.6%
Unoccupied private dwellings
469 of 5,422
Median monthly mortgage
$2,905
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$533
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
27.7% / 33.9% / 38.4%
Employment rate
67.7%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
56.4% / 3.1% / 24.5%
Walked or cycled to work
3.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,501 / 347 / 3,093 (+ 13 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
55.3% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 6.6% have a trade or vocational qualification.
University qualified55.3% · 27.8% NSW
Diploma qualified9.4% · 9.3% NSW
Trade / vocational6.6% · 15% NSW
Year 12 or below28.7% · 47.9% NSW
Highest qualification field
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
Management and commerce33%
Society and culture14.6%
Health10.2%
Engineering and related technologies9.7%
Education7%
Information technology6.7%
How these groups are defined
Measure
Definition
University qualified
Bachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualified
Advanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocational
Certificate III + IV
Year 12
Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12
Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Tax & income
Median taxable income (2023–24)
$84,300
96th percentile in NSW · +44% vs Australia
Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$90,450
98th percentile in NSW · +39% vs Australia
Residents with rental investments
22.0%
88th percentile in NSW · +59% vs Australia
Median super balance (2023–24)
$111,630
86th percentile in NSW · +76% vs Australia
Residents with business income
10.0%
34th percentile in NSW · -4% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2066 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
23,751
Taxpayers reporting net rent
5,194
Median net rent
-$1,835
Taxpayers reporting business income
2,284
Taxable income vs state median
+51%
Salary / wages vs state median
+44%
Rental investment vs state median
+57%
Super vs state median
+59%
Business income vs state median
0%
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary
Community & culture
30% speak a language other than English at home; 40.2% born overseas
Language at home
8,366 English only · 3,587 other
Non-English at home
30%
Born overseas
4,827 (40.2%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
50 (0.4%)
Australian citizens
10,162
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
33
Top languages other than English
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
Mandarin348 · 24.4%
Cantonese171 · 12%
Spanish94 · 6.6%
Persian92 · 6.4%
Hindi76 · 5.3%
Korean69 · 4.8%
Italian48 · 3.4%
Japanese48 · 3.4%
Religion
44.5%Most common religion · Christianity
Christianity is the most common response at 44.5%, while 40.7% reported no religion.
Measure
Suburb
State
No religion
40.7%
32.8%
Christianity
44.5%
47.6%
Hinduism
3.2%
3.4%
Buddhism
2.8%
2.8%
Other / not stated
8.8%
13.5%
Christian denominations
Denomination
Suburb
State
Catholic
24.6%
22.4%
Anglican
10.5%
11.9%
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2066, which is shared with other suburbs.
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
289
Against the person
78
Against property
167
Rate per 1,000 residents
22.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 158 residents
State crime-rate percentile
3.9th (higher = more crime)
Decrease (daily rate)
-15%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
83
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
6.42
Most common offence types
Break And Enter Dwelling22
Domestic Violence Related Assault17
Fraud39
Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment29
Malicious Damage To Property25
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
Schools within 2 km
8
Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
1,165
Median ICSEA percentile
97th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
3
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
Lane Cove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1178 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 48% · 688 students · Top SEA quarter 69% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
St Michael's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1176 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 39% · 502 students · Top SEA quarter 72% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
Currambena Primary SchoolPrimary · Independent · ICSEA 1120 · 89th percentile · LBOTE 40% · 79 students · Top SEA quarter 46% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
Saint Ignatius' CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1159 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 1,613 students · Top SEA quarter 68% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
Lane Cove West Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1163 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 41% · 474 students · Top SEA quarter 66% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Greenwich Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1175 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 40% · 367 students · Top SEA quarter 73% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Mowbray Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1143 · 94th percentile · LBOTE 60% · 714 students · Top SEA quarter 58% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
Artarmon Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1167 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 85% · 1,063 students · Top SEA quarter 67% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
Greenwich PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Hunters Hill HSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
Lane Cove PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Lane Cove WPSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
NSW government school intake zones — NSW Department of Education · current · Updated · Open catchment polygons where published
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries
Places of worship
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
C3
Saint Michael's Catholic Church
Unit A 204 Longueville Road
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Usual max / min
25° / 17°
Rainfall
321 mm · ~40 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
Usual max / min
22° / 14°
Rainfall
359 mm · ~45 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Usual max / min
17° / 8°
Rainfall
263 mm · ~33 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Usual max / min
21° / 12°
Rainfall
242 mm · ~30 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
11 GARTHOWEN AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation
8 GATACRE AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Fences
205 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Under Assessment
Demolition; Service station
254 BURNS BAY ROAD LANE COVE 2066Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility
47 BURNS BAY ROAD LANE COVE 2066Under Assessment
August 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool
30 SEVILLE STREET LANE COVE 2066Under Assessment
Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation
221 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Additional Information Requested
Restaurant or cafe; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
274A LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)
2 SUTHERLAND STREET LANE COVE 2066Additional Information Requested
July 2026
Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
31 FINLAYSON STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Residential flat building; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
5A SEVILLE STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
1 266 BURNS BAY ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
June 2026
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility
139A LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Residential flat building; Subdivision
19-23 BIRDWOOD AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Determined
Demolition; Residential flat building; Place of public worship; Erection of a new structure; Community facility
2-8 FINLAYSON STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
32 MATTHEWS AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Deferred Commencement
May 2026
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation
8 GATACRE AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Determined
April 2026
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Carport; Portable swimming pools and spas and child-resistant barriers; Residential Accommodation
17 FOURTH AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Operational consent requested
Subdivision
27 FINLAYSON STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
58 AUSTIN STREET LANE COVE 2066Operational consent issued
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
14 GATACRE AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
10 MORRICE STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
March 2026
Signage; Advertising and signage; Business identification sign
73 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Subdivision
21 PENROSE STREET LANE COVE 2066Under Assessment
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
18-20 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Demolition; Residential flat building; Place of public worship; Erection of a new structure; Community facility
2-8 FINLAYSON STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure
1 GATACRE AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Determined
February 2026
Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Barbecues and other outdoor cooking structures; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Pathways and paving; Swimming pool
248 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)
36 BRIDGE STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
50A BRIDGE STREET LANE COVE 2066Withdrawn
Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure
21 AUSTIN STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Shop; Neighbourhood supermarket; Hours of operation and trading
274 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
2025· 20 proposals
December 2025
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
40A FINLAYSON STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
40 AUSTIN STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
8 GAMMA ROAD LANE COVE 2066Operational consent requested
Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Hours of operation and trading
4 NORTHWOOD ROAD LANE COVE 2066Under Assessment
Demolition; Residential flat building; Place of public worship; Erection of a new structure; Community facility
2-8 FINLAYSON STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Advertising and signage; Recreation area
180 River Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066Determined
November 2025
Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Hours of operation and trading
4 NORTHWOOD ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
98 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Residential care facility; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
274 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
October 2025
Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Stormwater management system
104 BURNS BAY ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
2 COPE STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space
78 PHOENIX STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
17-21 FINLAYSON STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Retail Premise; Hours of operation and trading
274 LONGUEVILLE ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
Shed; Erection of a new structure
31 TAMBOURINE BAY ROAD LANE COVE 2066Determined
September 2025
Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
10 DORRITT STREET LANE COVE 2066Operational consent issued
Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
53 AUSTIN STREET LANE COVE 2066Determined
August 2025
Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure
1 GATACRE AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Determined
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
6 FIRST AVENUE LANE COVE 2066Determined
Demolition; Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
Federal electorate
Bennelong
Member of Parliament
Jerome LAXALE (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
125,953
Turnout (2025)
92.9%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+9.3 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.7%Labor 59.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 1.6 km away).
Coalition 36.9%Labor 63.1%
3.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +11.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Lane CoveLabor 67.3% · Coalition 32.6% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
Lane Cove SouthLabor 62.0% · Coalition 38.0% TPP (2025)0.6 km away
Lane Cove EastLabor 61.8% · Coalition 38.2% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
Lane Cove WestLabor 58.0% · Coalition 42.0% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
LonguevilleLabor 51.5% · Coalition 48.5% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)