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
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Cycling
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Middle Cove is a well-connected smaller community in Willoughby with everyday amenities close at hand. Sitting close to the city centre, it is easy to dip into neighbouring suburbs for work, dining and events. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Public transport links make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car. Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in safety and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
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 Profile — Australian 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
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
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 statistics — NSW 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
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA 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 · 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 & closures — State 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 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 · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
30 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 amenities — OpenStreetMap 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
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
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 · 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 features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 49.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2048th in Australia
- State rank
- 651st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #37 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #438 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 288 Eastern Valley Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- 295 Eastern Valley Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- 323 Eastern Valley Wayamenitiesbus_stop
- 51 Rembrandt Dramenitiesbus_stop
- 75 Rembrandt Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
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.