Castlecrag vs North Willoughby.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $4,818,000 and $3,245,000. Castlecrag edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
North Willoughby (median $3,245,000) is roughly 48% cheaper to buy into than Castlecrag ($4,818,000). Over the past year, Castlecrag (+15%) ran 26.6 percentage points ahead of North Willoughby (-11.6%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Castlecrag (1154) sits above North Willoughby (1152). Castlecrag skews owner-occupied (87%), North Willoughby runs more rental-dense (65% owner).
For buyers
North Willoughby is the lower entry point at $3,245,000 median, 48% 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 1.65%), but Castlecrag 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
Castlecrag edges out on average school ICSEA (1154 vs 1152). Castlecrag also has a higher family-household share (88% vs 76%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Castlecrag or North Willoughby cheaper to buy in?
North Willoughby has the lower median house price at $3,245,000, roughly 48% below Castlecrag ($4,818,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Castlecrag or North Willoughby?
Over the past 12 months, Castlecrag grew +15% vs -11.6% in North Willoughby, a gap of 26.6 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 Castlecrag or North Willoughby have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Castlecrag scores 1154 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, Castlecrag or North Willoughby?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.44% in North Willoughby vs 1.65% in Castlecrag. 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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