Moving to Willoughby NSW 2068
What the official numbers say about living in Willoughby — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $583 a week, against a median household income of $2,995 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Willoughby grew 20% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (5,921 → 7,124 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: China, England, Hong Kong; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Willoughby sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (28% of workers), while 65% work from home.
Nearest train station: Artarmon, 1.3 km west.
Nearest metro station: Chatswood, 2 km north-west.
Nearest bus interchange: Chatswood Transport Interchange, 2.1 km north-west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Greenwich Wharf, 3.4 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Rose Bay Seaplane Base, 9.2 km south-east.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 7 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 71 schools · 347 cafes & restaurants · 35 supermarkets · 99 parks · 2 beaches — see them all on the Willoughby profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Willoughby Girls High School 400 m · Willoughby Public School 500 m · Shore School War Memorial Playing Fields 650 m · St Thomas Willoughby 1.2 km · Artarmon Primary School 1.4 km · Naremburn School 1.4 km · Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School Castlecrag 1.6 km · Royal North Shore Hospital School 1.8 km
Groceries: Woolworths 950 m · Tokyo Mart 950 m · Lucky Mart 1.3 km · Centro 1.3 km · Grace Supermarket 1.5 km · Indian Grocery Warehouse Chatswood 1.6 km · Aldi 1.7 km · Yonghui Supermarket 1.8 km
Parks and reserves: Sanders Park 100 m · Henderson Park 500 m · Hallstrom Park 600 m · Marlow St Reserve 650 m · Mowbray Road Reserve 750 m · Bicentennial Reserve 800 m · Carlson Park 900 m · Artarmon Reserve 950 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Willoughby, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Magpie · Pied Currawong.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Willoughby, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willoughby here | 7,124 | — | 10/10 | 42% |
| Willoughby East | 1,864 | — | 10/10 | 50% |
| North Willoughby | 4,161 | — | 10/10 | 45% |
| Naremburn | 5,924 | — | 10/10 | 50% |
| Artarmon | 9,417 | — | 10/10 | 51% |
| Northbridge | 6,493 | — | 10/10 | 55% |
| St Leonards | 7,212 | — | 10/10 | 31% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Willoughby — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of North Sydney — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2068 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Willoughby profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $583 a week.
The population grew 20% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 5,921 people to 7,124. It sits about 7 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Artarmon station is roughly 1.3 km away. Local government is Willoughby council, and the federal seat is North Sydney.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Willoughby vs North Willoughby · Willoughby vs Naremburn.
Nearby guides: Willoughby East · North Willoughby · Naremburn · Artarmon · Northbridge · St Leonards.
Keep an eye on Willoughby
One email when this data meaningfully changes — new census figures, prices, rankings. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.