NSW · Willoughby Council

Middle Cove, 2068

Current weather

17.1°CClear sky

51% humidity · 17.1 km/h wind · 21.2° / 13.8° today · 2.5 mm rain

Desirability score

47.7/100

2057th in Australia

78% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Middle Cove is a small locality in the Willoughby area, home to around 1,327 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 19 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-27%), roughly 14.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $920 (flats $730, houses $1,500), 1 school and preschool site in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a reasonable spread of amenities, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb.

Population

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)
19 / 16 / 7

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

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 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

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
19
Against the person
4
Against property
13
Rate per 1,000 residents
14.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 332 residents
State safety percentile
0.6th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-26.7%

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

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 statisticsNSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows

Schools & preschools

Schools & preschools
1
Median school ICSEA
1,148
  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner SchoolCombined

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

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 · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)

Roadworks & transport

1 active roadworks / incidents

  • RoadworksEastern Valley Way, Sunnyside Crescent05 Jul 2026 – 12 Jul 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closuresState road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).

88 planning-related records

2026· 5 proposals
  • June 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    20 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • April 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    15 Glenroy Avenue, Middle CoveDetermined
  • March 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    13 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • February 2026

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    54 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    290B EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
2025· 18 proposals
  • November 2025

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    276 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    20 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Pathways and paving; Stairway
    18 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    15 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • October 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    12 CAWARRAH ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    9 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Withdrawn
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    19 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Subdivision
    15 GLENROY AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    275 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • August 2025

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support
    10 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • July 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    12 CAWARRAH ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    20 HEIGHTS CRESCENT MIDDLE COVE 2068Withdrawn
  • June 2025

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    13 COVELEE CIRCUIT MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • May 2025

  • Subdivision
    1 CHOWNE PLACE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    8 CAWARRAH ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • March 2025

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    30 NORTH ARM ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    54 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • January 2025

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    5 THE LEE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
2024· 13 proposals
  • November 2024

  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation
    28 HIGHLAND RIDGE ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Subdivision
    1 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 pool
    18 HIGHLAND RIDGE ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • October 2024

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    253 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • September 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    11 VICTORIA AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    205 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • July 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    59 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • June 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    13 The Quarterdeck MIDDLE COVE NSW 2068Determined
  • May 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    19 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • March 2024

  • Demolition; Residential flat building; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Car park
    217 EASTERN VALLEY WAY MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • February 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    59 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    20 REMBRANDT DRIVE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • January 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    22 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
2023· 4 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    20 GREENFIELD AVENUE MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    16 NORTH ARM ROAD MIDDLE COVE 2068Determined
  • November 2023

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    27 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

Amenities

28 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bbq
  • Bench (3)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • 288 Eastern Valley WayBus stop
  • 295 Eastern Valley WayBus stop
  • 323 Eastern Valley WayBus stop
  • 51 Rembrandt DrBus stop
  • 75 Rembrandt DrBus stop
  • Cawarrah Rd after Rembrandt DrBus stop
  • Cawarrah Rd before Covelee CctBus stop

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

2 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Cawarrah ParkPark
  • Chowne Place ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021)
10/10
IRSD decile (2021)
10/10

SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

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 overlaysState government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

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 featuresOpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
47.7/100
National rank
2057th in Australia
State rank
653rd in NSW
Peer rank
#39 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#437 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • Break And Enter Dwellingcrime20
  • Fraudcrime79
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime18
  • Other Theftcrime18
  • Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime15
  • 288 Eastern Valley Waytransport
  • Eastern Valley Way Opp 323transport
  • Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School, Greenfield Avtransport
  • Victoria Av At Warrane Rdtransport
  • Victoria Av Before Eastern Valley Waytransport

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.