Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
The median house price in Castle Cove is $4.00m. House values have moved 2.8% a year compounded over five years.
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Castle Cove has an estimated 2,661 residents. That puts 1,137 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to assessments of recent ABS regional population adjustments and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Castle Cove is estimated to have a population of approximately 2,661 as of May 2026. Compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 2,643 residents, this represents an addition of 18 people (0.7%). This shift is calculated from a resident base of 2,656, which AreaSearch projected using the June 2025 ERP release from the ABS and 14 validated new addresses added since the Census date. With this headcount, the suburb of Castle Cove has a population density of 1,137 persons per square kilometer, which matches the typical standards observed in other places reviewed by AreaSearch.
The main factor driving local expansion has been overseas migration, representing almost the entire source of growth lately. For demographic forecasts, AreaSearch uses data from ABS and Geoscience Australia published in 2024 with 2022 as the starting point, or NSW State Government SA2 models published in 2022 with 2021 as the base where needed. These datasets help project age cohort growth rates from 2032 to 2041. Under these models, the suburb of Castle Cove is expected to see a decrease in its total count of residents, dropping by 24 persons by 2041. Despite this overall contraction, gains are anticipated in particular groups, especially for residents aged 85 and over, whose numbers are forecast to rise by 112 people. Further details can be found in the section focusing on age.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
75 new dwellings have been approved in Castle Cove over the past five years, an average of 15 a year. That is 5.7 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 15, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Assessments of ABS building approvals indicate that Castle Cove averages approximately 15 residential approvals annually, accumulating to about 75 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In FY-26 to date, 14 building approvals have been registered. As resident numbers decreased recently, this rate of construction seems to satisfy local demand, providing options for purchasers. The expected construction cost for these new dwellings averages $1,352,000, illustrating a developer focus on high-end, premium projects. Additionally, commercial development remains quiet, with only $508,000 in commercial approvals logged during this financial year. Per capita construction levels in Castle Cove are 10.0% lower than the Greater Sydney average, positioning the locality in the 29th percentile across the nation, which limits buyer selection and shifts attention toward established homes.
Approved construction comprises 47.0% detached houses and 53.0% attached dwellings. Transitioning toward higher density options offers lower entry thresholds for buyers, attracting investors, downsizers, and first-home purchasers. This represents a major shift from the current residential mix of 91.0% houses, showing that vacant land is becoming scarce while meeting changing buyer budgets and preferences. With roughly 590 residents per approved permit, Castle Cove exhibits characteristics of an established, mature location. As demographic patterns indicate stable or shrinking numbers of residents, Castle Cove is likely to experience less strain on its residential supply, which could benefit prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Castle Cove
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 50 current infrastructure and development projects close to Castle Cove, worth an estimated $6.79 billion. 8 are already under construction and 20 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and education & training. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure changes, planning initiatives, and major developments have a significant impact on local performance. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to affect the area. Key initiatives include Heart Of Willoughby, Beaches Link Tunnel, Northern Beaches Housing Reforms Implementation, and North Sydney To Northern Beaches Capacity Improvements, with the following list outlining the most relevant items.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Coronation Archer Street Chatswood
A $250 million, 32-storey State Significant Development delivering over 150 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments and penthouses, including 41 affordable units. Ground-level podium provides approximately 2,500sqm of retail and commercial space. A heritage-listed building on site is sensitively restored for fine dining and wellness uses, complemented by communal landscaped open space. Designed by Woods Bagot. Groundbreaking occurred April 2025 with completion targeted Q1 2027.
Aurora Willoughby
Boutique collection of 12 luxury 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments setting a new benchmark in high-end living. Inspired by nature and defined by architectural elegance, featuring contemporary design with premium finishes and landscaped spaces integrated with natural surroundings. Developed by Sun Property Group with Datlas as builder, featuring sophisticated light-filled interiors, open-plan entertaining spaces, generous terraces, and hanging gardens. Located at the gateway to Willoughby village with proximity to transport connectivity.
Rosewood Residences
Residential development at 6 Maclaurin Parade, Roseville featuring contemporary design and premium amenities. Located in sought-after Roseville area with quality finishes and landscaped surroundings.
Chatswood Chase Redevelopment
The $625 million transformation of Chatswood Chase into a premier luxury retail and lifestyle destination reached completion in April 2026. The project delivered a new luxury precinct on Level One featuring 23 global brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior, alongside the Chase Market fresh food hall and a reimagined dining precinct. Physical works included internal reconfiguration, new skylight atria, and significant upgrades to the Victoria Avenue entry and external facades.
Chatswood Grand Residences
The CBD's largest residential development in the last decade featuring 332 new homes across two 36-storey mixed-use residential towers with 308 apartments plus 24 live-work units. Includes on-site 80-place childcare centre, retail and dining facilities, premium resort-style amenities including luxe swimming pool, spa, sauna, BBQ areas, outdoor gym and wellness space.
The Bryson of Chatswood
Luxury mixed-use development comprising approximately 70 premium 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, skyhomes and penthouses above commercial space and ground-floor retail. Construction has commenced with resort-style resident amenities including pool, wellness spaces and landscaped terraces.
845 Pacific Highway BTR Development
Build-to-rent residential development on Pacific Highway in Chatswood providing modern rental accommodation with premium amenities and sustainable design features.
Novus on Victoria
A 46-storey build-to-rent tower approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission on 3 March 2026, comprising 260 rental apartments above ground and first floor retail premises (1,110 sqm). Resident amenities include a pool, cold plunge, sauna, gym, co-working spaces, outdoor terraces, resident lounge, private dining, dog park and rooftop facilities. Three basement levels provide car share spaces, plant and servicing. Designed by Fender Katsalidis (FK). Construction is expected to commence in 2026 and complete by 2029.
1,278 residents of Castle Cove are employed, from a labour force of 1,311. Unemployment sits at 2.5%, with participation at 59.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,356, about 89% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce in Castle Cove is characterized by advanced educational qualifications and a strong presence in the technology sector, alongside a low unemployment rate of 2.5% and estimated job growth of 1.5% over the prior year. In March 2026, there are 1,278 employed citizens, with local joblessness sitting 1.6% lower than the 4.1% rate in Greater Sydney, even though participation in the labor force is low at 59.5% relative to the regional benchmark of 69.1%. Census data indicates that 61.0% of working locals operated from home, which may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.
Primary employment categories for local workers include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. There is a high density of workers in professional & technical fields, representing 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for only 2.4% of the workforce, which is lower than the Greater Sydney rate of 5.7%. A comparison between local jobs and resident workers suggests that this residential suburb offers few employment options within its boundaries. Data evaluations for the year ending March 2026 show that the local workforce expanded by 1.0% while overall employment rose by 1.5%, which lowered the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. During this same timeframe, Greater Sydney recorded job growth of 1.9% and workforce expansion of 1.9%, resulting in a minimal reduction. To anticipate future trends, federal forecasts from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia highlight five and ten-year national employment gains of 6.6% and 13.7% respectively, with varying performance by sector. Projecting these industry trends onto the local workforce suggests that Castle Cove could see employment increases of 7.5% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though this simple extrapolation does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Castle Cove is $3,439 a week (about $179,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,219 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $68,783 a year against an average of $162,075. The average runs 136% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to ATO tax statistics released for financial year 2023, the median taxpayer income in the suburb of Castle Cove is $68,783, and the average is $162,075. These figures are high compared to the Greater Sydney median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, the estimated figures for March 2026 are $75,881 for the median and $178,801 for the average. In the 2021 Census, local incomes ranked between the 92nd and 99th percentiles nationally. Around 42.3% of residents (1,125 people) fall into the $4000+ income bracket, whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the largest regionally at 30.9%.
Furthermore, 54.6% of households earn weekly incomes over $3,000. Disposable income remains high at 86.9% after housing expenses, and the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 10th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Castle Cove had 877 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 91% detached houses and 3% apartments. 36% are owned with a mortgage, 12% rented and 52% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $1,000 a week and the median mortgage repayment $4,000 a month, a total housing cost higher than 96% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 29.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, the housing inventory in Castle Cove consisted of 90.6% standalone houses and 9.4% alternative dwellings like townhouses and apartments, differing from the Sydney metro distribution of 55.9% houses and 44.1% other options. Home ownership was high at 52.1%, while 35.9% of properties were mortgaged and 12.0% were occupied by renters. Median monthly mortgage costs stood at $4,000 and median weekly rent was $1,000, compared to regional medians of $2,427 and $470 respectively. Compared to national statistics, the mortgage costs in Castle Cove exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are higher than the national standard of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Castle Cove counted 877 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.9 people each. 49% are couples with children, more than in 94% of areas nationally, against 26% couples without children. 16% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families represent the main household type at 83.5%, consisting of 48.7% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 7.9% single parents. The remaining 16.5% are non-family households, including 15.6% occupied by single occupants and 1.4% group homes. The median occupancy is 2.9 individuals per home, which is larger than the Greater Sydney median of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
53.8% of adults in Castle Cove hold a university qualification, including 34.0% with a bachelor degree and 15.9% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 99% of areas nationally. A further 9.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 310 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,170 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Academic achievements in Castle Cove are high, as 53.8% of residents aged 15+ hold tertiary degrees, compared to NSW at 32.2% and Australia at 30.4%. This strong academic profile prepares the community for professional opportunities. Specifically, bachelor degrees represent 34.0% of the total, postgraduate degrees make up 15.9%, and graduate diplomas account for 3.9%. Vocational qualifications represent 20.3% of credentials for residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.3% and certificates at 9.0%. Enrollment levels are high in the community, with 33.5% of residents participating in school or university.
This group includes 11.5% in primary schools, 11.0% in secondary schools, and 6.5% in higher education courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Castle Cove reaches 31 stops on 27 routes, timetabled for about 2,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
An analysis of public transit shows 31 active stops within Castle Cove offering bus connections. A total of 27 distinct routes service these stops, delivering 2,580 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with typical residential distances to the nearest stop measuring 171 meters. Since the area is mostly residential, many workers travel outside the suburb, with private cars being the primary mode at 86% and walking at 4%. Households own an average of 1.7 vehicles, exceeding the regional baseline. A large share of 61.0% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic circumstances.
Daily service frequency averages 368 journeys across the network, which represents approximately 83 weekly journeys for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
75.1% of residents in Castle Cove report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 93% of areas nationally. 3.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 90.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of chronic diseases and mortality statistics indicates favorable health results in Castle Cove, with low rates of standard medical conditions across every age bracket. Furthermore, private medical insurance is held by roughly 91% of residents (2,411 people), which is high compared to Greater Sydney at 59.9% and the national baseline of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent health issues locally, affecting 7.0% and 6.3% of citizens, while 75.1% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Seniors aged 65 and over represent 25.1% of the local population (667 people), exceeding the Greater Sydney average of 15.5%.
Older residents exhibit favorable health measures that rank well compared to national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
38.7% of Castle Cove residents were born overseas and 30.5% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 79% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (21.7%) and Australian (18.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The community exhibits diversity with 38.7% of residents born abroad and 30.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest religious affiliation is Christianity, which is practiced by 52.1% of residents. The most distinct variance is in Judaism, which accounts for 2.3% of the local population compared to 0.8% across the Greater Sydney region. Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages are English at 21.7%, Australian at 18.6%, and Chinese at 17.4%, which is higher than the regional proportion of 8.4%. Other groups show notable differences as well, with Hungarian heritage representing 1.0% of the community compared to 0.3% regionally, Russian heritage at 0.6% compared to 0.4%, and French heritage at 0.8% compared to 0.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Castle Cove is 46, older than 82% of areas nationally. 18.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of 46 years in Castle Cove is higher than the Greater Sydney average of 37 and exceeds the national median of 38. The 75 - 84 age cohort is larger locally at 10.2% compared to Greater Sydney, while 25 - 34 year-olds are smaller at 5.4%. Since the 2021 Census, residents aged 75 to 84 increased from 8.1% to 10.2% of the population. In contrast, the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 16.4% to 14.0% and the 35 to 44 age range fell from 11.1% to 9.9%.
Projections for 2041 show significant demographic changes, with the 85+ cohort expected to rise by 105 people (97%), growing from 109 to 215. This aging trend is prominent, with citizens aged 65+ accounting for 89% of the forecast growth, whereas the 35 to 44 and 0 to 4 age brackets are expected to experience decreases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Castle Cove
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 14 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,643 at the 2021 Census → 2,661 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL10844). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.