Median house price
$4.32M
+12% change
NSW · Willoughby Council
Middle Cove, 2068
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,324
Growth (1 yr)
+0.2%
Growth (5 yr)
-1.1%
Median age
45
Median income
$4,446/wk
Employment rate
61.7%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$4,318,000
Languages at home
22.1%non-English
Most common: Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Middle Cove is a well-connected smaller community in Willoughby Council with everyday amenities close at hand. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Overseas-born and multilingual households are a noticeable part of the local population.
Schooling is a clear local strength compared with many peer areas. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Buses connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period.
Desirability lands around average here: softer local dining and lifestyle amenities weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment, plus growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Middle Cove snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$920/wk
Houses $1,500 · Units $730
Population (ERP)
1,324
+0.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.1%
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
#30
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
1st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
42nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
96th
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
- 52.8/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 25% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1810th in Australia
- State rank
- 528th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #30 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #388 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $730
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,500
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $920
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 115
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $4,318,000
- Median price change
- +12.4%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
1,324(June 2025)
+0.2% annual · -1.1% over 5 years · 42th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.2%
- 5-year growth
- -1.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +3
- Change in 5 years
- -14
- Growth rank in NSW
- 42th 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 (~1,350), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,327
- Median age
- 45
- Median household income / week
- $4,446
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 33 of 465
- Median monthly mortgage
- $4,000
- Employment rate
- 61.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 413 / 16 / 7
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 18
- Against the person
- 4
- Against property
- 12
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 13.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 332 residents
- State safety percentile
- 0.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -24.8%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling20
- Fraud79
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment18
- Other Theft18
- Steal From Motor Vehicle15
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- 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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,152
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 96th
School list
- Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1148 · 95th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 405 students · Top SEA quarter 60% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- St Thomas' Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1161 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 277 students · Top SEA quarter 65% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Castle Cove Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1167 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 273 students · Top SEA quarter 67% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Willoughby Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1143 · 94th percentile · LBOTE 49% · 905 students · Top SEA quarter 59% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Willoughby Girls High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1152 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 65% · 1,036 students · Top SEA quarter 61% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
32 public transport stops in this suburb
- 288 Eastern Valley Way
- Eastern Valley Way Opp 323
- Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School, Greenfield Av
- Victoria Av At Warrane Rd
- Victoria Av Before Eastern Valley Way
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
48 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 cafes · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 32 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 34/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 1.51
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.51
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.51
Food & drink(2)
- Jiji rescue cat caféCafe
161B Eastern Valley Way
- Yas CafeCafe
Community(1)
- Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner SchoolSchool
5A Glenroy Avenue
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Cawarrah ParkPark
- Chowne Place ReservePark
- Picnic area
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(5)
- Theatre
- North Arm Road Lookout, Middle CoveViewpoint
North Arm Road, Middle Cove
- Viewpoint (3)
Transport(16)
16 bus stops
Other(11)
- White Bathroom CoBathroom Furnishing
- Bbq
- Bench (3)
- Bicycle Parking
- Drinking water
- Information (7)
- Parking
- Willoughby City CouncilParking Space
- Post Box
- Public toilets
- Shelter
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Cawarrah ParkPark
- Chowne Place ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 5
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Castlecrag Private Hospital (1.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 20
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 15.1
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.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
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 (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 8 proposals
July 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure276 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Under Assessment
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure303 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure15 Glenroy Avenue, Middle CoveDetermined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation54 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation290B EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
2025· 18 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure276 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Pathways and paving; Stairway18 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation15 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 CAWARRAH ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Subdivision15 GLENROY AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure275 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support10 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation12 CAWARRAH ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Withdrawn
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
May 2025
- Subdivision1 CHOWNE PLACE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 CAWARRAH ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure30 NORTH ARM ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation54 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
January 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 THE LEE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
2024· 13 proposals
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation28 HIGHLAND RIDGE ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Subdivision1 CHOWNE PLACE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool18 HIGHLAND RIDGE ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure253 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 VICTORIA AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure205 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure59 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation13 The Quarterdeck MIDDLE COVE NSW 2068Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure19 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
March 2024
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Car park217 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure59 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 NORTH ARM ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Deferred Commencement
October 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (external)32 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Bradfield
- Member of Parliament
- Nicolette BOELE (Independent)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,860
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +1.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 55.0%Labor 45.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.3 km away).
Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%
0.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Willoughby NorthLabor 45.6% · Coalition 54.4% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- CastlecragLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Castle CoveLabor 42.0% · Coalition 58.0% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- WilloughbyLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Willoughby SouthLabor 50.9% · Coalition 49.1% TPP (2025)1.5 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.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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 (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
This suburb ranks highly for
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Willoughby Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.