Median house price
$800k
-2.3% change
NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
West Haven, 2443
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,260
Growth (1 yr)
+2.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+9.6%
Median age
67
Median income
$940/wk
Employment rate
29.6%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$800,000
Languages at home
2.1%non-English
Most common: Hindi
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, West Haven keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name.
Local shops are sparse, so a fuller set of amenities usually means travelling to a neighbouring town or regional hub. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer local dining and lifestyle amenities, plus community and employment relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
West Haven snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$570/wk
Population (ERP)
1,260
+2.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.9%
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
#435
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
20th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
91st
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
52nd
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
- 30.0/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5589th in Australia
- State rank
- 1806th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #435 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #798 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 37
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $800,000
- Median price change
- -2.3%
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
1,260(June 2025)
+2.4% annual · +9.6% over 5 years · 91th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.4%
- 5-year growth
- +9.6%
- Change in 1 year
- +30
- Change in 5 years
- +110
- 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 (~1,350), extrapolated at +1.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,139
- Median age
- 67
- Median household income / week
- $940
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 38 of 550
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,625
- Employment rate
- 29.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 360 / 153 / 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 decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 51
- Against the person
- 15
- Against property
- 20
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 40.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 76 residents
- State safety percentile
- 19.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -7%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault36
- Fraud29
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment38
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
- 1,011
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 52th
School list
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1011 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 9% · 181 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 1.0 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
15 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ocean Dr At Hoschke Rd
- Ocean Dr At The Gateway
- Ocean Dr Before Captain Cook Bicentennial Dr
- Ocean Dr Opp Hoschke Rd
- Ocean Dr Opp Waterview Cres
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
12 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 15 public transport stops
- Walkability proxy
- 23/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Transport(7)
7 bus stops
Other(4)
- Australia PostPost Box
- Shelter (2)
- Laurieton Lakeside Aged Care ResidenceSocial Facility
- Queens Lake Reitrement VillageSocial Facility
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)
- 1
- 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
- Wauchope District Memorial Hospital (20.5 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)
- 39
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.0
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
- 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· 5 proposals
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support18 HOSCHKE ROAD WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space405 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
March 2026
- Residential care facility; Erection of a new structureThe Gateway West Haven 2443Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport10 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 VICTORIA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2025· 9 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 ST ALBANS WAY WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 VICTORIA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure5 KIRMINGTON TERRACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation22 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool402 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space405 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation32 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 ST ALBANS WAY WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2024· 6 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use61 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 LAKE VIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah43 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool25 LAKE VIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision28 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 VICTORIA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport398 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Withdrawn
October 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)21 HOSCHKE ROAD WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
May 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development10 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
March 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs17 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2022· 5 proposals
May 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces8 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs8 KURNAI CLOSE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Dwelling8 ELOUERA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
April 2022
- Retaining walls, protection of trees; Garages, carports and car parking spaces16A ELOUERA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
March 2022
- Secondary dwelling413 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Withdrawn
2021· 1 proposal
January 2021
- Shed13 BABINDA AVENUE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
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 8.6 km away).
Coalition 56.3%Labor 43.7%
3.5 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.6 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- West HavenLabor 43.4% · Coalition 56.6% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
- LaurietonLabor 45.3% · Coalition 54.7% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- DunboganLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- North HavenLabor 44.8% · Coalition 55.2% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
- KewLabor 39.2% · Coalition 60.8% TPP (2025)4.5 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)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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.