Median house price
$876k
+3.1% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Kilaben Bay, 2283
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,566
Growth (1 yr)
0.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.2%
Median age
47
Median income
$2,186/wk
Employment rate
57.1%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$876,000
Languages at home
3.8%non-English
Most common: Spanish, German, Greek
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie Council, Kilaben Bay is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. It sits well away from Sydney, trading metro convenience for space and a slower regional pace. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Dining is thinner on the ground than in busier metro pockets, so many residents head to neighbouring suburbs for a night out. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Desirability lands below average here: softer safety weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Kilaben Bay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$650/wk
Population (ERP)
1,566
0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
5.0%
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
#85
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
60th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
23rd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
29th
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
- 38.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4053rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1253rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #85 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #714 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 89
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $876,000
- Median price change
- +3.1%
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
1,566(June 2025)
0.0% annual · +1.2% over 5 years · 23th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- 0.0%
- 5-year growth
- +1.2%
- Change in 1 year
- 0
- Change in 5 years
- +19
- Growth rank in NSW
- 23th 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 (~1,600), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,516
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $2,186
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 29 of 583
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,036
- Employment rate
- 57.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 524 / 23 / 6
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)
- 127
- Against the person
- 36
- Against property
- 33
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 81.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 59.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions387
- Domestic Violence Related Assault156
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment194
- Malicious Damage To Property138
- Transport Regulatory Offences278
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
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 961
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 29th
School list
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1023 · 57th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 194 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Toronto Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 910 · 13th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 201 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
- Toronto High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 961 · 29th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 952 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 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
- Kilaben Rd After Barina Av
- Kilaben Rd After Warruga St
- Kilaben Rd At Toronto Rd
- Kilaben Rd Opp Barina Av
- Kilaben Rd Opp Warruga St
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
22 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 playgrounds
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
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.32
Community(1)
- Community centre
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Collard ReservePark
- Kilaben ParkPark
- Playground
Transport(7)
7 bus stops
Other(6)
- Bench (2)
- Parking (2)
- Picnic Table (3)
- Public toilets
- Shelter
- Waste Basket (2)
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
- Collard ReservePark
- Kilaben ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 8
- 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
- Toronto Private Hospital (1.0 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)
- 67
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 42.8
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· 8 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure206 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Additional Information Requested
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure156 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah48 LAYCOCK STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)7 BARINA AVENUE KILABEN BAY 2283Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty242 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Under Assessment
June 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure166 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)128 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool55 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport114 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support37 LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Under Assessment
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies19 PUNTEE STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure266 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure222 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure232 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure90 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 JARRETT STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Subdivision166 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 LAKESHORE CLOSE KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure59 JARRETT STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation23 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure86 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Withdrawn
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool32 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure70 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure183 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
January 2025
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 PUNTEE STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool35 BARINA AVENUE KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure49A LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
2024· 13 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool36 LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces149 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure70 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure216 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Carport110 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
June 2024
- Subdivision168 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 WARRUGA STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces149 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Withdrawn
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
- Hunter
- Member of Parliament
- Dan REPACHOLI (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 132,184
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.7 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.5%Labor 59.5%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.2 km away).
Coalition 42.2%Labor 57.8%
1.7 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Kilaben BayLabor 57.3% · Coalition 42.7% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- TorontoLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
- RathminesLabor 59.0% · Coalition 41.0% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- BirabanLabor 72.3% · Coalition 27.7% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
- Coal PointLabor 54.2% · Coalition 45.8% TPP (2025)2.5 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)
- 9/10
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.