Median house price
$1.14M
+19% change
NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Lake Cathie, 2445
Est. population · Jun 2025
4,713
Growth (1 yr)
+2.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+9.7%
Median age
52
Median income
$1,275/wk
Employment rate
46.6%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,135,000
Languages at home
2.3%non-English
Most common: Cantonese, Filipino, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Lake Cathie is a coastal mid-sized suburb a long way from Sydney, where beach life and a quieter rhythm set the tone. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many coastal suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses are a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs.
Reported crime has been falling recently. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
Desirability lands around average here: softer community and employment weighing on the result versus similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Lake Cathie snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$685/wk
Population (ERP)
4,713
+2.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.7%
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
#28
among Coastal & beach · Mature
Safety
3rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
91st
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
5/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
50th
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
- 47.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2482nd in Australia
- State rank
- 744th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #28 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #77 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 66
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,135,000
- Median price change
- +18.9%
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
4,713(June 2025)
+2.4% annual · +9.7% over 5 years · 91th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.4%
- 5-year growth
- +9.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +108
- Change in 5 years
- +415
- Growth rank in NSW
- 91th 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 (~5,100), extrapolated at +1.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 4,296
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,275
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 163 of 1,875
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,850
- Employment rate
- 46.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,559 / 92 / 61
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)
- 104
- Against the person
- 34
- Against property
- 39
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 22.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 126 residents
- State safety percentile
- 3.4th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -21.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order22
- Domestic Violence Related Assault20
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment22
- Malicious Damage To Property17
- Steal From Dwelling16
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,007
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 50th
School list
- Lake Cathie Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1007 · 50th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 395 students · Top SEA quarter 16%View 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Lake Cathie Little LearnersSeaside Drivechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
76 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ocean Dr At Colli Cl Walkway
- Ocean Dr Before Abel Tasman Dr
- Ocean Dr Before Fiona Cres
- Ocean Dr Opp Bonny View Dr
- Surfside Resort, Ocean Dr
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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
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
8 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Aqua ReservePark
- Chepana ReserveNature reserve
- Community Hall ReservePark
- Explorers Way ReservePark
- Foreshore ReservePark
- Jabiru ReserveNature reserve
- Jonathan Dickson ReservePark
- Lake Cathie Koala ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 29
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Port Macquarie Base Hospital (11.4 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Lake Cathie Medical CentreOcean DriveClinic
- Lake Cathie Physio + HydroOcean DrivePhysiotherapist
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)
- 158
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 33.5
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
- 417 mm · ~52 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 459 mm · ~57 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 256 mm · ~32 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 273 mm · ~34 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· 42 proposals
July 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation126 TOBAGO PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureTOBAGO PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation124 TOBAGO PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport12 FIONA CRESCENT LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure72 FOREST PARKWAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
June 2026
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; 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; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation1547 OCEAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah23 KARIKEREE STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure119 TOBAGO PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 ANTILLES WAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure123 TOBAGO PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 BARBADOS AVENUE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1561 OCEAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 KARIKEREE STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 TIGER QUOLL DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space115 CHEPANA STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 ANTILLES WAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation59 FOREST PARKWAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 BANJORA PLACE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure105 CHEPANA STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 TIGER QUOLL DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool14 EVANS STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool7 HARDYS ROAD LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool67 FOREST PARKWAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)13 ABEL TASMAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation1501 OCEAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation19 SUMMER CIRCUIT LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation35 WALLUM DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1350 OCEAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 Waterside Way Lake Cathie NSW 2445Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation44 PLATYPUS PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation73 CHEPANA STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club45 EVANS STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation11 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 SOLOMON DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure14 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureMARINE PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure45 ANTIGUA AVENUE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 CATHIE CIRCUIT LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support23 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 CELTIC COURT LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 ST JOHN TERRACE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)76 FIONA CRESCENT LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
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
- Lyne
- Member of Parliament
- Alison PENFOLD (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 129,584
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.9%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 59.8%Labor 40.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 13.6 km away).
Coalition 56.9%Labor 43.1%
2.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +8.0 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Lake CathieLabor 42.9% · Coalition 57.1% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
- Bonny HillsLabor 46.0% · Coalition 54.0% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
- North HavenLabor 44.8% · Coalition 55.2% TPP (2025)9.5 km away
- DunboganLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)10.9 km away
- West HavenLabor 43.4% · Coalition 56.6% TPP (2025)11.2 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)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
More in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.