Median house price
$1.4M
+18% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Cardiff Heights, 2305
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,451
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.8%
Median age
44
Median income
$1,850/wk
Employment rate
57.9%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,400,000
Languages at home
6.5%non-English
Most common: Polish, Malayalam, Punjabi
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Set among the hills of Lake Macquarie Council, Cardiff Heights is a smaller community with bushland views and a cooler, leafier feel. Established families and long-term residents give the suburb a settled feel, with family life visible on every street. Education outcomes and school provision stand out relative to comparable suburbs.
Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Buses make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum, plus community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Cardiff Heights snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$720/wk
Houses $760 · Units $550
Population (ERP)
1,451
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.1%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#154
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
26th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
49th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
71st
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 42.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 47% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3267th in Australia
- State rank
- 994th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #154 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #638 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $760
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $720
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 107
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,400,000
- Median price change
- +17.6%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
1,451(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +3.8% over 5 years · 49th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +3.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +7
- Change in 5 years
- +53
- Growth rank in NSW
- 49th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~1,500), extrapolated at +0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,384
- Median age
- 44
- Median household income / week
- $1,850
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.1%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 17 of 554
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,050
- Employment rate
- 57.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 434 / 93 / 0 (+ 6 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 67
- Against the person
- 15
- Against property
- 39
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 92 residents
- State safety percentile
- 26.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -2.6%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling49
- Fraud83
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment42
- Malicious Damage To Property54
- Steal From Motor Vehicle80
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 8
- Median school ICSEA (8 schools)
- 1,058
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 71th
School list
- Cardiff North Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1014 · 53th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 149 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- St Kevin's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1071 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 130 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
- Wallsend South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1083 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 583 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- New Lambton Heights Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 55 students · Top SEA quarter 44% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Glendale East Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 956 · 27th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 232 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Newcastle Waldorf SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1072 · 76th percentile · LBOTE 19% · 237 students · Top SEA quarter 34% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1045 · 66th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 227 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- Elermore Vale Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 996 · 45th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 290 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 2.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
31 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cardiff Heights Baptist Church, Main Rd
- Lynden Grove Retirement Village, Main Rd
- Main Rd Opp 50
- Main Rd Opp Cockburns Lane
- Main Rd Opp Highfield Tce
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
19 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 places of worship
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Well connected by public transport — 31 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.72
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.72
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.45
Food & drink(1)
- The Heights Cafe and BistroCafe
Sport & outdoors(2)
- Hancock ParkPark
- Park
Transport(13)
13 bus stops
Other(3)
- Bus Station
- Place of worship
- Post Box
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Hancock ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Place of worship
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Pendlebury Clinc Private Hospital (2.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 65
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 44.8
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 6 proposals
July 2026
- Educational establishment; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; School6 HARRISONS LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure8 ROWES LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation163 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Under Assessment
June 2026
- Subdivision238 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Under Assessment
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85A MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
January 2026
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure187 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2025· 9 proposals
December 2025
- Attached dwelling; Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure15 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
November 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure200 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Seniors housing; Independent living units; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure187 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
October 2025
- Demolition4 NADRIAN CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation85A MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure16 NADRIAN CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6A RAINBOW CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure71 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Privacy screens140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2024· 3 proposals
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6A RAINBOW CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
August 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)15 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
January 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure79 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2023· 9 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use198 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
August 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy122 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
July 2023
- Seniors housing187 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Secondary dwelling67 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing77 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
March 2023
- Demolition121 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development125 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
2022· 16 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing130 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
November 2022
- Signage; Educational establishment; Earthworks / change in levels6 HARRISONS LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Other79B MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
October 2022
- Demolition6 HARRISONS LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development23 NADRIAN CLOSE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development191 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces57 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development191 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling; Subdivision of land122 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Subdivision of land117 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development191 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs140 RESERVOIR ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
February 2022
- Signage131 MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Withdrawn
- Shed24 COCKBURNS LANE CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
January 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces85A MAIN ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
- Other180 WALLSEND ROAD CARDIFF HEIGHTS 2285Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Newcastle
- Member of Parliament
- Sharon CLAYDON (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 126,226
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 29.2%Labor 70.8%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.8 km away).
Coalition 28.7%Labor 71.3%
0.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +4.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Cardiff Heights (Newcastle)Labor 67.5% · Coalition 32.5% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Wallsend SouthLabor 73.6% · Coalition 26.4% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- Elermore ValeLabor 70.6% · Coalition 29.4% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- WallsendLabor 73.6% · Coalition 26.4% TPP (2025)2.6 km away
- Kotara South (Newcastle)Labor 69.7% · Coalition 30.3% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.