Median house price
$1.26M
+5.2% change
NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Lakelands, 2282
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,481
Growth (1 yr)
+2.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+8.9%
Median age
43
Median income
$2,315/wk
Employment rate
66.1%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$1,263,000
Languages at home
8.5%non-English
Most common: Cantonese, Punjabi, German
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Lakelands is a well-connected smaller community in Lake Macquarie Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Local schools rate highly against similar suburbs.
Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
Desirability lands below average here: softer growth momentum, plus parks and green space 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
Lakelands snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$748/wk
Houses $760 · Units $670
Population (ERP)
1,481
+2.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
0.8%
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
#226
among Metro Sydney · Emerging
Safety
16th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
92nd
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
70th
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
- 33.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5017th in Australia
- State rank
- 1607th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #226 among Metro Sydney · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #796 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)
- $670
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $760
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $748
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 76
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $1,263,000
- Median price change
- +5.2%
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
1,481(June 2025)
+2.5% annual · +8.9% over 5 years · 92th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.5%
- 5-year growth
- +8.9%
- Change in 1 year
- +36
- Change in 5 years
- +121
- Growth rank in NSW
- 92th 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 (~1,550), extrapolated at +1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,445
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $2,315
- Dwelling vacancy
- 0.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 4 of 511
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 66.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 476 / 29 / 0
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)
- 55
- Against the person
- 13
- Against property
- 34
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 37.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 111 residents
- State safety percentile
- 15.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.1%
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault43
- Fraud72
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment44
- Malicious Damage To Property68
- Steal From Motor Vehicle69
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
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,056
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 70th
School list
- Warners Bay High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1056 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 1,161 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Biddabah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1065 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 348 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 0.9 km awayView on My School →
- St Mary's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1093 · 82th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 418 students · Top SEA quarter 37% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1017 · 54th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 298 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- Cardiff Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1000 · 47th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 283 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 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
16 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ambleside Cct At Derwent Cres
- Ambleside Cct Before Lakelands Dr
- Lakelands Tennis Courts, Medcalf St
- Lakelands Tennis Courts, Medcalf St
- Macquarie Rd After Medcalf 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
205 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 fast food · 1 playgrounds · 194 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Decent local green space — 0 parks in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 16 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 197 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 26/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.69
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Food & drink(1)
- R&R TakeawayFast food
Sport & outdoors(197)
- Playground
- Lakelands OvalSports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (194)
Transport(2)
2 bus stops
Other(3)
- Parking (3)
- Shelter
- Telephone
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- Pendlebury Clinc Private Hospital (2.3 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)
- 46
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.1
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· 2 proposals
June 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool7 RYDAL ROAD LAKELANDS 2282Under Assessment
February 2026
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development5 LINDALE WAY LAKELANDS 2282Determined
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 2.9 km away).
Coalition 40.5%Labor 59.5%
2.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +5.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Warners Bay NorthLabor 58.2% · Coalition 41.8% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- Warners BayLabor 60.5% · Coalition 39.5% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Cardiff SouthLabor 65.9% · Coalition 34.1% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
- CardiffLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- Warners Bay CentralLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)2.0 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
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.