Thinking about buying your first home in Willoughby (2068)? This page brings together 17 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, Transport for NSW, and Domain auction results to help you decide if Willoughby is the right fit. The analysis covers affordability and FHB scheme eligibility, schools and childcare, dealbreakers like flood and bushfire, and how the suburb is changing. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation, or scroll through the full analysis below.
Is Willoughby a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Willoughby (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.
Tick the places you actually go and how often. We'll work out your typical travel time from this suburb, so you can compare suburbs against the trips you really do.
Your typical trip from hereTick a destination below
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
Willoughby suits established families on high incomes, given the median household income of $2,995 per week and a median house price of $3,338,000. The public secondary school scores an ICSEA of 1148, which is well above the national average, and 21 childcare services sit within 5 km, with 18 meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard. The suburb is 68% owner-occupied, meaning you will be buying into a settled, predominantly owner community.
Who would not love it
First home buyers are locked out entirely. The median house price sits at $3,338,000, which is not eligible for the First Home Buyer Assistance Scheme, and even the median unit at $1,475,000 is a steep entry point. Walkability scores only 43, placing it in the 42nd percentile across Sydney, so car dependence is real. One quarter of the postcode sits on bushfire-prone land, and the composite Stickybeak grade of C+ reflects genuine concerns across safety and financial value.
What to verify before you bid
- Check whether the specific lot you are buying falls within the 25% of postcode area mapped as bushfire-prone land. Request the Bush Fire Attack Level (BAL) assessment and confirm insurance costs before exchanging contracts. - The safety grade is flagged as insufficient. Request a Section 10.7 planning certificate to identify any additional hazard overlays, easements, or flood notations on the title. - With 45 days median time on market and only 67 house sales in the data window, comparable sales evidence is thin. Commission an independent valuation rather than relying on agent appraisals alone.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Willoughby?
BOCSAR · WILLOUGHBY 2068
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K1,29112 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY−84%Below Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Willoughby
Within LGA: Willoughby
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT71%46 reports
INTIMIDATION, STALKING AND HARASSMENT15%10 reports
ASSAULT14%9 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED67%
NON-DOMESTIC33%
Across 9 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Air quality
Air quality in Willoughby
23
GoodAQI · NSW DCCEEW
14:20 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
5.8µg/m³
24-hr avg
PM10i
10.6µg/m³
24-hr avg
NO₂i
2.3pphm
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.
Get one email when Willoughby's prices, FHB eligibility, or strata health change. No newsletter, no upsell, unsubscribe with one click.
Your email is used only for this notification. Unsubscribe in one click.
Compare Willoughby 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.
Willoughby is the primary suburb with postcode 2068 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Willoughby is the main locality.
Which local government area is Willoughby in?
Willoughby (2068) is located in the Willoughby local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Willoughby?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Willoughby (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 Willoughby flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Willoughby. 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 Willoughby?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Willoughby (2068), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Willoughby (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 Willoughby (2068). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Willoughby changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Willoughby (2068) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
