Median house price
$4.32M
+12% change
NSW · Willoughby Council
Willoughby, 2068
Est. population · Jun 2025
7,784
Growth (1 yr)
+2.6%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.3%
Median age
40
Median income
$2,995/wk
Employment rate
63.2%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$4,318,000
Languages at home
28.9%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Café precinct
- Heritage area
Suburb profile
Willoughby is a lively inner mid-sized suburb with dining, shopping and leisure options right on the doorstep. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. The suburb has a clear multicultural mix alongside longer-term local households.
Families have many nearby school and early-learning options to choose from. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. Buses connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period.
Against similar metro suburbs, community and employment stand out and the overall desirability rating is good, with growth momentum less decisive. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Willoughby snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$920/wk
Houses $1,500 · Units $730
Population (ERP)
7,784
+2.6% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.6%
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
#162
among Metro Sydney · Established
Safety
1st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
92nd
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
- 56.5/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 20% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1384th in Australia
- State rank
- 410th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #162 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #304 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)
- $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
7,784(June 2025)
+2.6% annual · +4.3% over 5 years · 92th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.6%
- 5-year growth
- +4.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +199
- Change in 5 years
- +322
- Growth rank in NSW
- 92th 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 (~8,100), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 7,124
- Median age
- 40
- Median household income / week
- $2,995
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 203 of 2,688
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,500
- Employment rate
- 63.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,406 / 265 / 788 (+ 28 other)
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)
- 105
- Against the person
- 22
- Against property
- 73
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 13.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 324 residents
- State safety percentile
- 0.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -26.4%
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
- 13
- Median school ICSEA (12 schools)
- 1,150
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 96th
School list
- Willoughby Girls High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1152 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 65% · 1,036 students · Top SEA quarter 61% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
- Willoughby Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1143 · 94th percentile · LBOTE 49% · 905 students · Top SEA quarter 59% · 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% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Artarmon Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1167 · 97th percentile · LBOTE 85% · 1,063 students · Top SEA quarter 67% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Naremburn SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 1075 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 38% · 30 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- St Philip Neri Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1170 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 28% · 102 students · Top SEA quarter 69% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1148 · 95th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 405 students · Top SEA quarter 60% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Royal North Shore Hospital SchoolSpecial · Government · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Bradfield CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1108 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 322 students · Top SEA quarter 42% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- Cammeray Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1168 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 35% · 622 students · Top SEA quarter 67% · 1.9 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Mowbray Place Early Learning Centrekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
57 public transport stops in this suburb
- Artarmon Rd Opp Edward St
- Edward St At Borlaise St
- Edward St At Wyalong St
- Mowbray Rd Opp Mabel St
- Mowbray Rd Opp Ward St
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
133 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 restaurants · 4 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 places of worship · 9 playgrounds · 2 sports centres · 16 swimming pools · 3 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 5 parks mapped in suburb, 9 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 57 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 30 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 44/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.56
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.98
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.7
Food & drink(7)
- Cafe ReverseCafe
- Soulplate CafeCafe
- The Incinerator CafeCafe
- The Northern BeanCafe
- Bridgeview HotelPub
- Luck SushiRestaurant
537 Willoughby Road
- Pizza HutRestaurant
Shopping(1)
- OTRConvenience store
Community(3)
- Mowbray Place Early Learning CentreKindergarten
- Willoughby Girls High SchoolSchool
Willoughby
- Willoughby Public SchoolSchool
30-34 Oakville Road, Willoughby
Health & services(2)
- PhysiociseClinic
77 Penshurst Street, Willoughby
- Willoughby Medical PracticeMedical clinic
Sport & outdoors(35)
- Anytime FitnessGym
- Hallstrom ParkPark
- Henderson ParkPark
- Park (2)
- Sanders ParkPark
- Hallstrom Park PlaygroundPlayground
- Parabol PlaygroundPlayground
- Playground (7)
- Willoughby Leisure CentreSports centre
2 Small Street
- Willoughby SquashSports centre
- Bicentennial Reserve OvalSports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (16)
Transport(28)
28 bus stops
Other(26)
- CellarbrationsAlcohol
- Dan Murphy'sAlcohol
71-77 Penshurst Street, Willoughby
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (9)
- Bicycle Parking (5)
- Porsche Centre WilloughbyCar
- Department Store
- Drinking water (3)
- Fitness Station
- Incinerator Art SpaceGallery
2a Small Street
- Outdoor Seating
- Council parkingParking
- Parking (10)
- Parking Space (4)
- BP Express TowerPetrol station
- MetroPetrol station
- OTRPetrol station
- Picnic Table (2)
- St Stephens Anglican ChurchPlace of worship
203 Mowbray Road, Willoughby
- Australia PostPost Box
- Post Box (2)
- Willoughby Post OfficePost office
59 Penshurst Street, Willoughby
- Australian Relief OrganisationRecycling
- 4cyteSample Collection
- Shelter (3)
- Waste Basket
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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Hallstrom ParkPark
- Henderson ParkPark
- Sanders ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- St Stephens Anglican Church
203 Mowbray Road, Willoughby
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 3
- Nearest hospital
- Tresillian Family Care Centre - Willoughby (0.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- 4cyteSample_Collection
- PhysiocisePenshurst StreetClinic
- Willoughby Medical PracticeDoctor
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)
- 106
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 13.6
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· 22 proposals
July 2026
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure; Fences14 PENSHURST STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure45 SYDNEY STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Under Assessment
- Shop top housing; Erection of a new structure126 Penshurst Street WilloughbyAdditional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure90 SYDNEY STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Additional Information Requested
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure124 PENSHURST STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Under Assessment
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces26 OAKVILLE ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Additional Information Requested
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 WALTER STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Supporting Development7A GORMAN STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure69 ARTARMON ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care443 WILLOUGHBY ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
April 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia53 HIGH STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Residential Accommodation10 WYALONG STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 SALISBURY ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Withdrawn
March 2026
- Attached dwelling; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure82-86 EASTERN VALLEY WAY, WILLOUGHBYWithdrawn
- 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; Centre-based child care443 WILLOUGHBY ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure45 SYDNEY STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure193 MOWBRAY ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9A SAILORS BAY ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation25 COBAR STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Withdrawn
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Garage, carport or carparking space8 HARRIS STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure37 SYDNEY STREET WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
- Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure452 WILLOUGHBY ROAD WILLOUGHBY 2068Determined
2023· 1 proposal
April 2023
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing2-4 Warners Avenue Willoughby NSW 2068Determined
2021· 3 proposals
November 2021
- OtherArtramon StationDetermined
October 2021
- Shop top housing48-52 Frenchs Road, WilloughbyDetermined
May 2021
- Change of useLot 6 and 7 SP97882Determined
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- RoadworksWilloughby Road, Artarmon Road02 Aug 2026 – 16 Aug 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
2 heritage places
- Laurelbank85-87 Penshurst Street WilloughbySHR
- Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator2 Small Street WilloughbySHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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 1.4 km away).
Coalition 48.9%Labor 51.1%
6.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WilloughbyLabor 49.2% · Coalition 50.8% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
- Willoughby SouthLabor 50.9% · Coalition 49.1% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
- ArtarmonLabor 52.7% · Coalition 47.3% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- CastlecragLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Willoughby NorthLabor 45.6% · Coalition 54.4% TPP (2025)1.3 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.