Willoughby
Household incomes are the standout feature of Willoughby, with a weekly household income of $2,995 at the 97.1st percentile. The suburb contains 7,124 residents across 1.63 square kilometres, producing a high density of 4,376.7 people per square kilometre, while the median age is 40. Its highly educated population includes 61.9% university graduates and 35.9% born overseas, which is 14.3 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Chatswood, Willoughby has a more residential setting, while retaining strong professional and family appeal. The housing mix of 56.5% separate houses and 31.7% apartments supports several buyer profiles.
Population
7,124
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,995/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
95
Willoughby suits buyers seeking established housing close to employment and services, although the $3,500 monthly mortgage benchmark requires careful budgeting. Separate houses account for 56.5% of dwellings, while apartments make up 31.7% and semi-detached homes 10.7%, so buyers can compare property types rather than treating the suburb as a single market. Three-bedroom homes represent 32.3% of stock and four-bedroom-plus homes 31.1%, supporting both family and downsizer demand. Mortgage costs equal 27.0% of household income, higher than the 19.5% rent-to-income share, although neither measure is flagged as stressed. Recent settled sales should be checked by dwelling type and street because the housing mix is broad.
For Buyers
Willoughby suits buyers seeking established housing close to employment and services, although the $3,500 monthly mortgage benchmark requires careful budgeting. Separate houses account for 56.5% of dwellings, while apartments make up 31.7% and semi-detached homes 10.7%, so buyers can compare property types rather than treating the suburb as a single market. Three-bedroom homes represent 32.3% of stock and four-bedroom-plus homes 31.1%, supporting both family and downsizer demand. Mortgage costs equal 27.0% of household income, higher than the 19.5% rent-to-income share, although neither measure is flagged as stressed. Recent settled sales should be checked by dwelling type and street because the housing mix is broad.
For Investors
Willoughby has a substantial tenant base, with 31.1% of households renting and weekly rent at $583. The 7.6% vacancy rate is relatively high for a tightly held inner-suburban market, which may give tenants more choice and make rental pricing sensitive to competing stock. Compared with a purely redevelopment-led suburb, Willoughby's 93 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing renewal without removing its established character. The forecast trend is 0.68% annual growth, with overseas migration the primary driver. Investors should weigh that moderate growth rate against a 20.2% rent-growth signal, the mixed trajectory, and the gentrification score of 14, classified as Not gentrifying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
482
Last 12 Months
95
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+33.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Willoughby
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Willoughby's median age of 40 is equal to the national comparison, but its education and migration profile is notably different. University attainment is 61.9%, or 31.8 percentage points higher than the national figure, while 35.9% of residents were born overseas, 14.3 points above national levels. Average household size is 2.7, just 0.2 higher than the national comparison, and couples with children account for 53.6% of families. English, Chinese, Irish and Scottish ancestry are prominent, while Mandarin is spoken by 171 residents and Cantonese by 140. Christianity counts 3,452 people compared with 2,834 reporting no religion. Compared with Chatswood, Willoughby has a similarly international connection but a more family-oriented household structure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.5%
Houses
10.7%
Townhouse
31.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Willoughby's housing is split across ownership, mortgage and rental tenure: 33.5% of dwellings are owned outright, 34.3% are mortgaged and 31.1% are rented. Compared with nearby Chatswood's more apartment-associated urban form, Willoughby has a stronger separate-house component at 56.5%, alongside 31.7% apartments and 10.7% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile explains its family appeal, with 32.3% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 31.1% containing 4 or more. Smaller dwellings remain material, with 26.6% having 2 bedrooms and 10.0% having 0 or 1 bedroom. At 4,376.7 people per square kilometre across 1.63 square kilometres, redevelopment and apartment demand are likely to matter alongside detached-home scarcity.
Mortgage / mo
$3,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $583.
$1,025
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $1,525 · units $760
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,264
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
203
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.6%
Couples with children
30.7%
Couples, no children
14.5%
Single parent
1,911
Total families
Economy & Employment
Willoughby's economic profile is led by Professional and Tech industries at 19.5%, Finance at 15.4%, Healthcare at 13.0%, Education at 8.8% and Construction at 5.5%. Professionals number 1,396 and Managers 812, substantially larger occupations than Sales at 249 and Community or Personal services at 227. This concentration in skilled work helps explain the weekly household income of $2,995, which ranks at the 97.1st percentile and sits well above the national middle. Employment conditions are also solid, with a 3.3% unemployment rate, 65.3% participation and 64.0% full-time employment. SEIFA results reinforce the pattern: education and occupation rank in decile 10, economic resources in decile 9, and IRSAD in decile 10. The decile 9 result is slightly lower, but still materially above average.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
3,673
Unemployed
122
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.0%
Part-time
27.4%
Participation
65.3%
Employed
3,551
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
61.9%
Postgraduate
19.4%
Born Overseas
35.9%
Dwellings
2,487
Transport to Work
Willoughby provides a compact, highly advantaged setting, with an IRSAD score in decile 10 and a density of 4,376.7 people per square kilometre. Two local government schools cover both primary and secondary education: Willoughby Public School and Willoughby Girls High School. Compared with a commute-heavy suburb, the 64.8% working-from-home rate changes daily travel needs, while 25.7% drive to work, 4.3% use public transport and 3.2% walk or cycle. The small 1.63 square kilometre footprint supports access to nearby shops and services, but also means street-level parking and traffic conditions can vary. No crime-rate figure is stated, so residents should check recent police statistics and the exact street before deciding. Enrolment zones should also be confirmed against the address because they can differ across nearby boundaries.
Drive
25.7%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.2%
Work from Home
64.8%
Population Forecast
+0.68%/yr
(+94 people/yr)
EstablishedWilloughby is an established market with a forecast annual growth trend of 0.68%, and overseas migration is identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 11.7% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed rather than consistently expansionary. Compared with a high-growth fringe market, this points to gradual change supported by existing amenity, professional employment and 93 development applications over 12 months. The forecast gentrification measure is restrained: a score of 14 places the suburb at Not gentrifying, while the broader shift assessment records a score of 28 and Early signs. That difference suggests some renewal pressure without a clear wholesale change in the suburb's established identity. Rent growth of 20.2% adds evidence of housing demand even as affordability improved from 58.1 to 51.4.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+213
Net Internal / yr
-43
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +12% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +213/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Willoughby compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Willoughby a good suburb to live in?
Willoughby suits households seeking high incomes, established homes and strong professional access. The median age is 40, weekly household income is $2,995 at the 97.1st percentile, and 64.8% work from home. Two local government schools cover primary and secondary years, while the IRSAD result sits in decile 10.
What is the median house price in Willoughby?
Use recent settled sales to confirm the current median, since results can vary by dwelling type. Willoughby contains 56.5% separate houses, 31.7% apartments and 10.7% semi-detached homes. A $3,500 monthly mortgage benchmark also makes it important to compare house, apartment and renovation-ready sales separately.
What schools are in Willoughby?
The suburb has 2 listed government schools: Willoughby Public School, a primary school, and Willoughby Girls High School, a secondary school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address, as boundaries can affect eligibility even when a school is only a short distance away.
Is Willoughby safe?
A suburb crime rate is not stated, so check recent NSW Police statistics and the exact street before making a decision. Willoughby's IRSAD result is in decile 10 and 4.3% of workers use public transport, but those measures should not be treated as a substitute for current, location-specific safety checks.
Is Willoughby good for property investment?
Willoughby has 31.1% renters, weekly rent of $583 and a 7.6% vacancy rate. There were 93 development applications over 12 months, while the forecast growth trend is 0.68% annually and overseas migration is the primary driver. Investors should balance rental demand against new supply and the suburb's score of 14 for gentrification.
How is Willoughby's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 11.7% over 10 years, with forecast growth running at 0.68% annually. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Mixed. The gentrification score is 14 and classified as Not gentrifying, while another shift measure records 28 and Early signs, indicating gradual rather than dramatic change.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Willoughby on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map