🔍

Middle Cove

NSW 2068 • Greater Sydney

1,327
Population (2021)
$231,192
Median Household Income
1.04 km²
Area
$930/wk
Median Rent
LeafyFamily-FriendlyAffluentBushland

About Middle Cove

Middle Cove is a quiet, leafy residential suburb on Sydney's Lower North Shore, situated approximately 10 kilometres north of the Sydney CBD within the Willoughby City Council area. The suburb covers just over one square kilometre and is home to 1,327 residents, characterised by a mature, affluent demographic with a median age of 45 and a median household income of $4,446 per week. Housing stock consists predominantly of spacious family homes on generous blocks, with the bushland setting and close proximity to Lane Cove River National Park contributing to the suburb's tranquil character. The community is highly internationally diverse, with strong representation of English, Australian, Chinese, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.

Middle Cove residents enjoy a peaceful bushland lifestyle while remaining within easy reach of Chatswood's major retail and dining precinct, approximately 3 kilometres away. The suburb borders Lane Cove National Park, offering excellent bushwalking, cycling, and picnicking opportunities along the Lane Cove River corridor. City bus services connect Middle Cove to Chatswood station, where frequent Metro and North Shore Line trains provide swift access to the CBD. The suburb's low-density character, excellent public and private schooling options nearby, and strong sense of community make it a highly sought-after address for North Shore families.

Middle Cove falls under postcode 2068 and is governed by Willoughby Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Willoughby electorate.

📰 Featured In

💰 Top 50 Suburbs in Australia by Median Household Income💰 Top 50 Suburbs in New South Wales by Median Household Income

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2068
Urban Area
Lane Cove - Willoughby
LGA / Council
Willoughby
Federal Electorate
Bradfield
State Electorate
Willoughby
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-33.79°, 151.21°
Statistical Area
Greater Sydney
Area
1.04 km²
Elevation
59m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Middle Cove for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$3.2M
15 sales · ▼ 1.2% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$930
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$4,000
Avg Household Size
3 people
Median Age
45 years

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Chatswood
3 km
Not walkable — bus required
Artarmon
3.5 km
Not walkable — bus required

Bus Services

  • Route 201, 203 — Chatswood Station / Crow's Nest 10-15 min to Chatswood

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
10 km
By Train
Bus to Chatswood then T1/Metro to City (~35-45 min total)
By Car (Peak)
25-45 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
15-25 min

🛣️ No station in suburb; bus to Chatswood is the main transit option; Pacific Highway nearby

Walkability Car-Dependent

Very low-density bushland suburb with minimal local retail; car or bus to Chatswood required for most errands

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Willoughby Local Government Area, which contains Middle Cove. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
123.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 6.0%
Motor vehicle theft
38.9 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
249.9 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
6.3 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
135.6 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Down 6.4%
View all 62 offence types for Willoughby →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,340
Census 2021
1,327
▼ 1% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$53,404
Personal Income 2021
$71,188
▲ 33.3% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$71,188 / yr
$1369/wk
Household
$231,192 / yr
$4446/wk
Family
$242,320 / yr
$4660/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 837
Born Overseas 478

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. China 76
  • 2. England 65
  • 3. New Zealand 37
  • 4. Hong Kong 33
  • 5. South Africa 24
  • 6. Malaysia 17
  • 7. United States 17
  • 8. Japan 16
  • 9. India 12
  • 10. South Korea 12

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 467
Australian 408
Chinese 189
Irish 164
Scottish 150
Italian 65
German 44
Indian 27
New Zealander 24
South African 21

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

481
Both parents born in Australia
566
Both parents born overseas
258
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
47.4%
No Religion
44.5%
Buddhism
2.1%
Judaism
1.5%
Islam
0.8%
Hinduism
0.8%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
49 (3.7%)
5-14 years
215 (16.2%)
15-19 years
95 (7.2%)
20-24 years
81 (6.1%)
25-34 years
62 (4.7%)
35-44 years
143 (10.8%)
45-54 years
229 (17.3%)
55-64 years
214 (16.1%)
65-74 years
131 (9.9%)
75-84 years
76 (5.7%)
85+ years
33 (2.5%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Middle Cove known for? +

Middle Cove is known for its quiet, leafy bushland character on Sydney's Lower North Shore, bordering Lane Cove River National Park. It is prized for its peaceful atmosphere, spacious family homes, and proximity to Chatswood's amenities.

How far is Middle Cove from Sydney CBD? +

Middle Cove is approximately 10 kilometres north of the Sydney CBD, typically a 25-45 minute drive in peak hour or around 35-45 minutes via bus and train through Chatswood.

Does Middle Cove have public transport? +

Middle Cove is served by city bus routes connecting to Chatswood station, where T1 North Shore Line trains and Sydney Metro provide regular services to the CBD. There is no train station within the suburb itself.

What is the population of Middle Cove? +

According to the 2021 Census, Middle Cove has a population of approximately 1,327 residents, making it one of the smaller suburbs in the Willoughby City area. It is predominantly a low-density family neighbourhood.

Is Middle Cove a good place to live? +

Middle Cove is an excellent choice for families and professionals seeking a peaceful bushland lifestyle within easy reach of Sydney's North Shore amenities. Its proximity to Lane Cove National Park, top-performing schools, and Chatswood's retail hub make it highly desirable.

What is the postcode for Middle Cove? +

The postcode for Middle Cove is 2068, shared with neighbouring suburbs Castlecrag, Northbridge, and Willoughby on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

What is the average income in Middle Cove? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Middle Cove is about $1,369 per week (around $71,200 per year). The median household income is $4,446 per week and the median family income is $4,660 per week.

What is the median house price in Middle Cove? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $3,200,000, down 1.2% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Middle Cove? +

The median age in Middle Cove is 45. The largest age group is 45–54 (229 residents, around 17%). Around 27% of residents are under 20 and about 18% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Middle Cove a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Middle Cove is part of the Willoughby LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Middle Cove? +

In Middle Cove, the median weekly rent is $930, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $4,000 (2021 Census).