Castle Cove vs North Willoughby.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $3,880,000 and $3,245,000. Castle Cove edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
North Willoughby (median $3,245,000) is roughly 20% cheaper to buy into than Castle Cove ($3,880,000). Over the past year, Castle Cove (-3%) ran 8.6 percentage points ahead of North Willoughby (-11.6%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Castle Cove (1153) sits above North Willoughby (1152). Castle Cove skews owner-occupied (81%), North Willoughby runs more rental-dense (65% owner).
For buyers
North Willoughby is the lower entry point at $3,245,000 median, 20% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: North Willoughby delivers the better gross yield (2.44% vs 2.14%), but Castle Cove has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
Castle Cove edges out on average school ICSEA (1153 vs 1152).
Common questions
Is Castle Cove or North Willoughby cheaper to buy in?
North Willoughby has the lower median house price at $3,245,000, roughly 20% below Castle Cove ($3,880,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Castle Cove or North Willoughby?
Over the past 12 months, Castle Cove grew -3% vs -11.6% in North Willoughby, a gap of 8.6 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Castle Cove or North Willoughby have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Castle Cove scores 1153 vs 1152 in North Willoughby. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Castle Cove or North Willoughby?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.44% in North Willoughby vs 2.14% in Castle Cove. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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