Considering Middle Cove? This page brings together 17 data cards on what it’s like to live there, what the catchments and amenities are, and where the suburb is heading. The analysis covers safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle.
Is Middle Cove a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Middle Cove (2068) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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18 min
10 min
47 min
23 min
38 min
Approximate off-peak driving times: straight-line distance × a Sydney detour factor at 35 km/h. Real road times will vary. Saved on this device.
The verdict
Who it is for
Middle Cove suits established, high-income families who want a quiet, predominantly detached-house neighbourhood with strong school infrastructure. The median household income of $4,446 per week reflects the financial weight needed here, and the 90% owner-occupier rate signals genuine community stability. The public secondary school scores an ICSEA of 1148, well above the national average, and 21 nearby childcare services give families real options. This is a suburb for people who already have significant equity behind them.
Who would not love it
First home buyers are locked out entirely. The $3,237,500 median sits well above the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme threshold, so you receive no stamp duty relief. The walkability score of 43 puts the suburb in the 42nd percentile across Sydney, meaning car dependence is real and daily errands are not easy on foot. One quarter of the postcode sits on bushfire-prone land, which is a material risk, not a footnote. The price has also fallen 4.4% year-on-year, and 46 days on market suggests limited urgency from buyers.
What to verify before you bid
- Confirm whether the specific lot you are buying sits within the 25% bushfire-prone land area. Request the Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) assessment and check insurance costs before exchanging contracts. - The median has dropped 4.4% on only 22 sales. Ask your conveyancer to pull comparable sales from the past six months to stress-test the asking price against a thin and softening market. - Check the exact bus and ferry routes within the 60 transport stops counted nearby. Frequency and hours matter more than stop count for daily commuting.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Middle Cove?
BOCSAR · MIDDLE COVE 2068
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K1,05512 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−87%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Willoughby
Within LGA: Willoughby
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT79%11 reports
INTIMIDATION, STALKING AND HARASSMENT14%2 reports
ASSAULT7%1 reports
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Middle Cove
21
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
15:00 AEST
Cammeray station · 3.1 km from centroid
12-month median:AQI 28 · Good
Air quality is generally safe for outdoor activity.
Pollutants
nearest station
PM2.5i
5.2µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
7.2µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
1.4pphm
1hr reading
AQI · last 12 months · daily mean
Cammeray station · 365 daily points
Source: NSW DCCEEW Air Quality API↗ (CC BY 4.0). Historical data updated weekly; live readings cached 60 minutes.
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Bond count suppressed by DCJ (30 or fewer lodgements this quarter).
Rents here are at the higher end for Sydney. Higher holding costs for investors; higher savings pressure for renters.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
Small sample
$750per week
Sep 2025 · bond count suppressed
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Northbridge2063
$895▲$145
1.4 km away
Cammeray2062
$800▲$50
2.6 km away
Castle Cove2069
$840▲$90
2.6 km away
Artarmon2064
$775▲$25
2.8 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2068
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2068. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Middle Cove with another suburb
Also in Willoughby
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Willoughby postcodes, or explore the full Willoughby suburb index.
Middle Cove is the primary suburb with postcode 2068 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Middle Cove is the main locality.
Which local government area is Middle Cove in?
Middle Cove (2068) is located in the Willoughby local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Middle Cove?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Middle Cove (2068) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Middle Cove flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Middle Cove. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Middle Cove?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Middle Cove (2068), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Middle Cove (2068) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Middle Cove (2068). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Middle Cove changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Middle Cove (2068) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
