Chatswood vs Willoughby.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $3,600,000 and $3,800,000. Chatswood edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Chatswood (median $3,600,000) is roughly 5% cheaper to buy into than Willoughby ($3,800,000). Over the past year, Willoughby (+14.1%) ran 9.1 percentage points ahead of Chatswood (+5%) on house-price growth.
Chatswood scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 32/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Chatswood (1154) sits above Willoughby (1151). Willoughby skews owner-occupied (68%), Chatswood runs more rental-dense (46% owner).
For buyers
Chatswood is the lower entry point at $3,600,000 median, 5% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Willoughby carries both higher gross yield (2.09% vs 1.95%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Chatswood edges out on average school ICSEA (1154 vs 1151).
Common questions
Is Chatswood or Willoughby cheaper to buy in?
Chatswood has the lower median house price at $3,600,000, roughly 5% below Willoughby ($3,800,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Chatswood or Willoughby?
Over the past 12 months, Willoughby grew +14.1% vs +5% in Chatswood, a gap of 9.1 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 Chatswood or Willoughby have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Chatswood scores 1154 vs 1151 in 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 is more walkable, Chatswood or Willoughby?
Chatswood scores 100/100 on walkability vs 32/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Chatswood or Willoughby?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.09% in Willoughby vs 1.95% in Chatswood. 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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