Willoughby East NSW 2068

Suburb

Suburb Summary

Willoughby East is a residential suburb in Sydney’s Lower North Shore & Ryde Corridor, NSW 2068, characterised by low-density housing and an urban built-up setting. The suburb is entirely separate houses in the available housing profile, with tree canopy cover of 22.99%. Public transport is convenient, with many bus services and nearby access to Chatswood train and Metro stations; average CBD travel is about 45 minutes by public transport or 20 minutes by car. Safety is rated 4/5, while both primary and secondary school ratings are 10/10. Household income is generally above average. The suburb is governed by Willoughby City Council and is well served by Chatswood’s major shopping and commercial centre.

PART 1
Geographic Profile

Property Type Mix

The mix of houses and apartments that make up the Willoughby East NSW 2068 property market, and the sale price range each achieved over the past 12 months.

Houses vs Apartments
98.6%
0.3%
1.1%
Houses (98.6%)
Apartments (0.3%)
Townhouses/Villas/Unclassified (1.1%)
House Price Range$2.4M–$6.6MPast 12 months

Major Road Frontage & Noise

How close Willoughby East NSW 2068 properties sit to major roads or rail, and how much traffic noise that brings compared to properties set back from them.

Road & rail proximity
15.6%
15.6%
68.8%
On a major road (15.6%)
Near a major road
Away from major road or rail
Major Roads in Willoughby
EASTERN VALLEY WAY9.7% of suburb properties
EDINBURGH RD5.9% of suburb properties

Public Transport

Train, metro, light rail, ferry and B-Line services accessible from Willoughby East NSW 2068.

Services in Willoughby East NSW 2068
Artarmon
Chatswood

Schools

Primary and secondary school catchments serving Willoughby East NSW 2068, with star ratings and the share of suburb dwellings each catchment covers.

Primary School
Willoughby Public School
Good level99.5% of suburb properties in catchment
Primary School
Castle Cove Public School
Good level0.5% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Willoughby Girls High School
Outstanding level100% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Chatswood High School
Outstanding level99.5% of suburb properties in catchment
Secondary School
Killarney Heights High School
Strong level0.5% of suburb properties in catchment
PART 2
Houses

"Houses" in this report includes detached houses, duplexes, and terraces.

Land Topography

How house lots across Willoughby East NSW 2068 sit relative to street level — topography that affects drainage, flood risk, privacy, and build cost.

High-side vs low-side lots
High-sideFlatLow-side
14%
76.1%
9.9%
High-side (1m above)
Flat
Low-side (1m below)

Risks & Overlays

See which key planning overlays and environmental risks affect this suburb before you buy.

Heritage
27.1%
Of houses affected
Bushfire
0%
Of houses affected
Flood
16.8%
Of houses affected
High voltage power line
0%
Of houses affected

Train Station Proximity

The share of Willoughby East NSW 2068 houses within easy walking distance (1.2km) of a train station.

Houses within 1.2km of train station0%Of all houses

Median Price Trend - Houses

The 20-year trend in median house sale prices across Willoughby East NSW 2068, tracked separately from apartments.

Willoughby East House Median
$1.3M$2.5M$3.8M$5M$893k · 2003$1.1M · 2004$978k · 2005$972k · 2006$1.2M · 2007$1.1M · 2008$1.3M · 2009$1.4M · 2010$1.4M · 2011$1.5M · 2012$1.5M · 2013$1.8M · 2014$2.1M · 2015$2.5M · 2016$2.7M · 2017$2.5M · 2018$2.7M · 2019$2.9M · 2020$3.4M · 2021$3.6M · 2022$4.7M · 2023$3.8M · 2024$4.3M · 202519962003201120182026

Land & Property Feature Metrics

Typical land characteristics and common property features across Willoughby East NSW 2068.

Median land value$2.5MOf houses affected
Median lot frontage13mOf houses affected
Median land size558m²Of houses affected
Houses with a pool9.7%Of houses affected

Pocket Price Distribution

How property prices vary across the different pockets of Willoughby East NSW 2068, and how each pocket compares.

Median house priceDerived from sales
House sales20Past 12 months
knest.ai app on iPhone

Get the knest.ai app

Better property decisions start here.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
5.0Trusted by 15,000+ users
PART 3
Apartments

Apartment Projects

Where apartment projects are concentrated across Willoughby East NSW 2068, with project-level sales context.

Median apartment priceDerived from sales
Apartment sales0Past 12 months

Median Rent

The median weekly rent for apartments in Willoughby East NSW 2068.

Median apartment rent$750Per week

Largest Apartment Projects

The largest apartment projects in Willoughby East NSW 2068, ranked by number of lots.

1
11B ROBERT ST, WILLOUGHBY EAST NSW 2068Small project (<20 lots)
2
41 EDINBURGH RD, WILLOUGHBY EAST NSW 2068Small project (<20 lots)
3
212 EASTERN VALLEY WAY, WILLOUGHBY EAST NSW 2068Small project (<20 lots)
PART 4
Community Profile

Top 3 Occupations

The most common occupations among Willoughby East NSW 2068 residents.

Professionals40%
Managers20%
Community and Personal Service Workers10%

Key Demographics & Tenure

Median age, household income, and the renter-versus-owner split that shape the Willoughby East NSW 2068 community.

Median age42Years
Median income$4,678Household / week
Renters vs owner-occupiers
RentersOwner-occupiers
10%
90%
Renters
Owner-occupiers

Household Composition

How households are made up across Willoughby East NSW 2068 — from families with children to couples and single-person homes.

Household type
Married with children72.3%
Married without children26.5%
Other1.2%

Top 5 Birth Countries

The leading countries of birth among Willoughby East NSW 2068 residents, reflecting the suburb's cultural diversity.

Country of birth
Australia71.2%
England4.9%
New_Zealand2.4%
Hong_Kong2.1%
China1%

Religion

The most common religious affiliations reported by Willoughby East NSW 2068 residents.

Top 3 religious affiliations
Christianity57.5%
No Religion5.9%
Buddhism2.1%

Crime in Willoughby East NSW 2068

How safe is Willoughby East NSW 2068? A local safety rating based on recorded crime rates in the area.

Suburb safety rating
The suburb safety rating is calculated by knest.ai based on crime statistics in NSW by BOCSAR.

Get the knest.ai app

Gain ultimate insights into any property

Buyer-focused property platform identifying risks, price estimates, 3D land maps and more to help you make smarter decisions — completely free.

Download on the App Store
5.0 rating
15k users

Living in Willoughby East NSW 2068: Suburb Profile & FAQs

Common questions about living in and buying property in Willoughby East NSW 2068 — lifestyle, transport, schools, and the housing market.

Note: Data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census data and knest.ai internal statistical data.

Is Willoughby East NSW 2068 a good suburb for families?

Willoughby East NSW 2068 is a strong suburb for families, especially for buyers prioritising school quality and a stable house-based setting. The clearest positive is education: both primary and secondary school ratings are 10 out of 10, which puts schools and long-term family appeal at the centre of the suburb’s value. The housing mix also supports that family-friendly suburb feel, with separate houses making up 100% of dwellings rather than apartments, and the average household size sits at 3.2, which is consistent with established family living. Children are well represented too, with 7.5% aged 0 to 4 and 20.7% aged 5 to 14, so Willoughby East clearly attracts households with kids rather than just occasional family buyers. The trade-off is that this is not a budget family option, and the suburb is more practical and residential than lively or highly walk-everywhere, so buyers wanting both top schools and lower entry pricing may feel some pressure.

What is it like to live in Willoughby East NSW 2068?

Living in Willoughby East NSW 2068 feels established, residential and practical rather than flashy or fast-paced. It sits in the Lower North Shore and reads as a low-density residential suburb with an urban built-up character, so the day-to-day lifestyle is more about settled streets and home life than a buzzing village centre. Walkability is a solid 4 out of 5, which means many local errands and everyday movement should feel manageable, but retail and culture are both 2 out of 5, so buyers should not expect a strong café strip, nightlife or major shopping scene within the suburb itself. Safety scores 4 out of 5, which adds to its appeal for owner-occupiers, and canopy cover at 22.99% gives some greenery without making Willoughby East feel especially leafy. The trade-off is straightforward: this suburb suits buyers who want a calm, house-focused Lower North Shore lifestyle, but less so those chasing a vibrant, walk-to-everything atmosphere.

Is Willoughby East NSW 2068 well connected for commuting?

Willoughby East NSW 2068 is reasonably well connected for commuting, though it is not one of those suburbs with transport right on the doorstep. The suburb does not have its own train or metro station, but both are nearby through Chatswood, with access to the T1 line and the M1 metro network. Bus service is strong, rated as many, which matters because buses help bridge that last-mile gap to larger transport hubs. For Sydney CBD commuting, the average trip is around 45 minutes by public transport and 20 minutes by car, so Willoughby East compares fairly well for Lower North Shore buyers who are comfortable mixing bus and rail rather than relying on a station within the suburb itself. The trade-off is convenience versus immediacy: commuters can reach key networks without too much trouble, but buyers wanting a true station suburb where trains or metro are walkable from most homes may find the setup a little less seamless.

Who does Willoughby East NSW 2068 suit best?

Willoughby East NSW 2068 suits family buyers, professional households and established upgraders best. The suburb’s profile is very house-oriented, with 100% separate houses and no apartment stock in the available housing mix, so it naturally appeals to buyers who want more internal space, a traditional neighbourhood feel and longer-term liveability. The resident profile also points to an affluent professional base: 61.14% of residents are managers or professionals, with Professionals alone at 37.43% and Managers at 23.72%. Median weekly family income is $3,963, which reinforces that this is a suburb chosen by financially strong households rather than entry-level buyers. With a median age of 39 and relatively low rental share at 12.41%, Willoughby East feels more settled than transient. The trade-off is that it may suit first-home buyers and apartment-focused downsizers less well, because the suburb’s housing format and likely price point are more aligned with buyers seeking a larger, long-term home base.

What are the pros and cons of living in Willoughby East NSW 2068?

The main trade-off in Willoughby East NSW 2068 is that buyers get strong family fundamentals and solid commuter access, but give up some lifestyle buzz and immediate transport convenience in return. On the plus side, Willoughby East offers a very stable housing profile with 100% separate houses, safety at 4 out of 5, walkability at 4 out of 5 and nearby access to both train and metro through Chatswood. The drive to the CBD is also relatively manageable at about 20 minutes, which adds appeal for professional households. On the other hand, this is not a high-energy urban centre: retail and culture both sit at 2 out of 5, there is no beach access, and public transport commuting still averages around 45 minutes because the major rail options are nearby rather than inside the suburb. Buyers who want schools, houses and a settled Lower North Shore base may see that as a worthwhile exchange, while those wanting nightlife, dense amenity or station-at-the-door convenience may be less convinced.

What are property prices like in Willoughby East NSW 2068?

Property prices in Willoughby East NSW 2068 look expensive by normal Sydney buyer expectations, particularly for house buyers. In the recent six-month sales history available here, house sales had a median price of $2.375 million, with an average of $2.8 million. That points to a clear premium-house market rather than an entry-level suburb, even allowing for the very small sample size of just two recorded house sales. In practical terms, buying property in Willoughby East usually means paying up for a Lower North Shore address, high-performing schools and a pure detached-house environment rather than chasing affordability or apartment-led entry options. There is no apartment pricing in the supplied recent sales data, which also fits the suburb’s all-house housing profile. The trade-off for buyers is simple: you are paying more for family credentials, land and established owner-occupier appeal, but that higher entry point will narrow the field to more well-funded households.