Median house price
$1.11M
+17% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Kahibah, 2290
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,883
Growth (1 yr)
+0.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+3.5%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,804/wk
Employment rate
63.8%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,115,000
Languages at home
5.1%non-English
Most common: Spanish, Italian, Macedonian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Kahibah is a practical mid-sized suburb in Lake Macquarie Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. It sits well away from Sydney, trading metro convenience for space and a slower regional pace. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Schooling is a clear local strength compared with many peer areas. Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Light infill development is updating a few streets while the wider area stays largely unchanged.
The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer parks and green space, plus safety compared with similar metro suburbs, though growth momentum, plus community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Kahibah snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$670/wk
Houses $720 · Units $575
Population (ERP)
2,883
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.8%
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
#126
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
49th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
47th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
8/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
76th
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
- 45.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 40% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2790th in Australia
- State rank
- 846th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #126 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #568 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)
- $575
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $670
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 207
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,115,000
- Median price change
- +17.4%
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
2,883(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · +3.5% over 5 years · 47th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.4%
- 5-year growth
- +3.5%
- Change in 1 year
- +12
- Change in 5 years
- +97
- Growth rank in NSW
- 47th 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 (~2,950), extrapolated at +0.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,603
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,804
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 64 of 1,108
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,089
- Employment rate
- 63.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 772 / 258 / 11
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 increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 191
- Against the person
- 46
- Against property
- 105
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 66.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 57 residents
- State safety percentile
- 48.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +1.3%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault162
- Fraud206
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment188
- Malicious Damage To Property201
- Steal From Retail Store455
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)
- 1,071
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 76th
School list
- Kahibah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1076 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 291 students · Top SEA quarter 35% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1102 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 361 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Whitebridge High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1022 · 56th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 915 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Charlestown East Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1036 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 319 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1037 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 22% · 234 students · Top SEA quarter 26% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- Belair Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1103 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 409 students · Top SEA quarter 45% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1066 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 1,130 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1104 · 85th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 334 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.9 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
38 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kahibah Rd At Kenibea Av
- Kahibah Rd At Newcastle Cres
- Kahibah Rd Opp Frith St
- Kenibea Av Opp Ocean View Pde
- Wallsend St At Kenibea Av
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
23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 fast food · 1 playgrounds · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 2 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 38 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 32/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.38
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.77
Food & drink(1)
- Hilltop Fish and ChipsFast food
Community(1)
- Kahibah Public SchoolSchool
Kahibah
Sport & outdoors(4)
- Kahibah Memorial ParkPark
- Pit Pony ParkPark
- Playground
- Sports field
Transport(9)
9 bus stops
Other(6)
- Bench
- Parking
- Picnic Table (3)
- Kahibah Post OfficePost office
1 Glebe Street
- Public toilets
- Waste Basket
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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Kahibah Memorial ParkPark
- Pit Pony ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- 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
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Lake Macquarie Private Hospital (2.8 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)
- 98
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 34.0
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· 18 proposals
August 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah24 PINDARI CLOSE KAHIBAH 2290Additional Information Requested
July 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation101 WALLSEND STREET KAHIBAH 2290Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 LOWANA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space37 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Additional Information Requested
May 2026
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure106 KAHIBAH ROAD KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Subdivision15 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)10 COLLARENA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing28 HEXHAM STREET KAHIBAH 2290Under Assessment
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support45 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support47 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)62 BURWOOD STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool8 BADEN CLOSE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development57 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure23 Kenibea Avenue Kahibah 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure20 PARKVIEW AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
2025· 22 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure73 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 KENDELLA PARADE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
September 2025
- Registered club; Hours of operation and trading63 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure137 WALLSEND STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure54 BURWOOD STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 KULLAROO ROAD KAHIBAH 2290Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool20 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
June 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure25 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 COLLARENA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 BURWOOD STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool10 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 LEMANA PLACE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool41A BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 COLLARENA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Swimming pool6 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space47 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure35 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Withdrawn
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 LOWANA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 SYMES AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 LOWANA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 FRANCES STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
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
- No overlay at centroid
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
- Shortland
- Member of Parliament
- Pat CONROY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,971
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.4%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.5 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 38.5%Labor 61.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.0 km away).
Coalition 31.5%Labor 68.5%
7.0 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.4 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- KahibahLabor 69.1% · Coalition 30.9% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- WhitebridgeLabor 63.5% · Coalition 36.5% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Charlestown EastLabor 67.0% · Coalition 33.0% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- CharlestownLabor 68.2% · Coalition 31.8% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Adamstown Heights (Shortland)Labor 68.2% · Coalition 31.9% TPP (2025)1.7 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)
- 8/10
- 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.