Median house price
$890k
+15% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Lake Haven, 2263
Est. population · Jun 2025
4,032
Growth (1 yr)
+0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+0.7%
Median age
49
Median income
$1,023/wk
Employment rate
38%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$890,000
Languages at home
7.7%non-English
Most common: Hindi, Mandarin, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Lake Haven is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Central Coast Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Most routine trips are on foot, while buses cover longer journeys across the metro area.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment, plus schools and education lag behind, despite relative strength in growth momentum.
At a glance
Lake Haven snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$570/wk
Houses $600 · Units $450
Population (ERP)
4,032
+0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.2%
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
#33
among Metro Sydney · Mature
Safety
76th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
48th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
16th
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
- 51.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 28% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1983rd in Australia
- State rank
- 588th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #33 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #431 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $450
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $570
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 230
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $890,000
- Median price change
- +14.5%
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
4,032(June 2025)
+0.5% annual · +0.7% over 5 years · 48th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +0.7%
- Change in 1 year
- +18
- Change in 5 years
- +29
- Growth rank in NSW
- 48th 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 (~4,150), extrapolated at +0.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,529
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,023
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 113 of 1,560
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,700
- Employment rate
- 38%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,041 / 338 / 67
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)
- 417
- Against the person
- 132
- Against property
- 130
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 103.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 27 residents
- State safety percentile
- 75.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order193
- Breach Bail Conditions442
- Domestic Violence Related Assault201
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment344
- Malicious Damage To Property238
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)
- 923
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 16th
School list
- Gorokan High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 923 · 16th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 981 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Gorokan Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 913 · 14th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 620 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Woongarrah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 984 · 39th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 385 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.8 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
55 public transport stops in this suburb
- Gorokan High School, Goobarabah Av
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand E
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand F
- Lake Haven Dr Before Lyle St
- Lake Haven Dr Opp Homemaker Lake Haven
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
74 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 6 fast food · 1 libraries · 1 sports centres · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Decent local green space — 5 parks in suburb
- Well connected by public transport — 55 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 82/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.7
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.42
Food & drink(6)
- Guzman y GomezFast food
Goobarabah Avenue, Lake Haven
- Hungry Jack'sFast food
Bannister Drive, Lake Haven
- KFCFast food
- McDonald'sFast food
- Red RoosterFast food
- SubwayFast food
Shopping(5)
- Convenience store
- AldiSupermarket
- ColesSupermarket
43 Lake Haven Drive
- WoolworthsSupermarket
Community(4)
- Centrelink Lake HavenCommunity centre
- Gravity Youth CenterCommunity centre
- Lake Haven LibraryLibrary
- Gorokan High SchoolSchool
43 Goobarabah Avenue, Lake Haven
Health & services(1)
- Priceline PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(7)
- Chelmsford Road East ReservePark
- Elise Close ReservePark
- Park (3)
- Lake Haven Recreation CenterSports centre
- Sports field
Entertainment(1)
- Metro Cinema Lake HavenCinema
Transport(30)
30 bus stops
Other(19)
- BWSAlcohol
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 3Bus Station
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 4Bus Station
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 5Bus Station
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 7Bus Station
- Best & LessClothes
- Jay JaysClothes
- KmartDepartment Store
- JB Hi-FiElectronics
43 Lake Haven Drive
- Lake Haven Shopping CentreMall
- Renee Close ReserveNature Reserve
- Parking (3)
- Ampol Foodary Lake HavenPetrol station
- Lake Haven Post OfficePost office
- Shelter
- RFBI Lake Haven Masonic Retirement VillageSocial Facility
12-16 Christopher Crescent, Lake Haven
- Bob Jane T-MartsTyres
- The Reject ShopVariety Store
- 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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Chelmsford Road East ReservePark
- Elise Close ReservePark
- Renee Close ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 12
- 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
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Tuggerah Lakes Private Hospital (2.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Priceline PharmacyPharmacy
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)
- 185
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 45.9
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
- Advertising and signage; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facility43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Under Assessment
June 2026
- Advertising and signage; Retail Premise; Specialised Retail Premises53 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink4 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (outdoor)10 GAVIN WAY LAKE HAVEN 2263Under Assessment
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool35 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure7 GOROKAN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool13 OXFORD DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2025· 4 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport65 CHRISTOPHER CRESCENT LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 BROMLEY COURT LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
July 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Advertising and signage; Food and drink premise7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 GOOBARABAH AVENUE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2024· 9 proposals
December 2024
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink4 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
November 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Advertising and signage; Retail Premise; Shop43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure158 DUDLEY STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool6 BENSLEY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure39 GLADING CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure61 MALVINA PARADE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BENSLEY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
August 2023
- Subdivision of land7 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
June 2023
- Subdivision of land5 KYLIE CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
April 2023
- Other43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
March 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing101 MALVINA PARADE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
February 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Other4 LONSDALE CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2022· 15 proposals
December 2022
- Other43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition5 GLADING CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
October 2022
- Secondary dwelling5 NATHAN PLACE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Change of use53 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
August 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land6 LYLE STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
July 2022
- Dual occupancy7 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development53 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
May 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs6 TRISTRAM CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development2 BENSLEY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
April 2022
- Other1 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Other43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Change of use7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 2 HOLLY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development9 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
January 2022
- Signage7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
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
- Dobell
- Member of Parliament
- Emma McBRIDE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,541
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.6%Labor 59.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.6 km away).
Coalition 36.3%Labor 63.8%
4.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +2.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Lake HavenLabor 65.3% · Coalition 34.7% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- GorokanLabor 65.4% · Coalition 34.6% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- Kanwal NorthLabor 60.3% · Coalition 39.7% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- WoongarrahLabor 57.4% · Coalition 42.6% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- CharmhavenLabor 65.4% · Coalition 34.6% TPP (2025)1.9 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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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 Central Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.