Argenton
With 89.1% of commuters driving and a median age of 40, exactly at the national average, Argenton reads as a car-dependent outer suburb that punches below national income levels. The household weekly income of $1,318 sits in the 32.8th percentile nationally, yet the $785,000 median house price reflects broader Lake Macquarie demand rather than local earnings. A high 40.5% renter share is notable compared to the national owner-occupier majority, and 28.8% of dwellings are owned outright, pointing to a split population of long-term residents alongside a mobile renter base with 20.7% turnover annually.
Population
1,352
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,318/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$785K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Argenton reached $800,000 in 2025, up from $750,800 in 2024, a 6.6% gain over the year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many comparable outer-Newcastle suburbs. Separate houses dominate at 84.8% of dwellings, well above state averages for mixed suburban areas, giving buyers strong choice in that format. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 48.1%, followed by two-bedroom at 32.2%. Only 30.7% of residents carry a mortgage, suggesting the purchase pool is smaller than the renter pool, which can keep competition moderate compared to higher-turnover markets.
For Buyers
The median house price in Argenton reached $800,000 in 2025, up from $750,800 in 2024, a 6.6% gain over the year. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.6%, which is below the 30% stress threshold and lower than many comparable outer-Newcastle suburbs. Separate houses dominate at 84.8% of dwellings, well above state averages for mixed suburban areas, giving buyers strong choice in that format. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 48.1%, followed by two-bedroom at 32.2%. Only 30.7% of residents carry a mortgage, suggesting the purchase pool is smaller than the renter pool, which can keep competition moderate compared to higher-turnover markets.
For Investors
A 40.5% renter share is above the national average and provides landlords with a broad tenant pool. Weekly rent averages $350, giving a gross yield of approximately 2.3% against the $785,000 median, modest but above many comparable Lake Macquarie suburbs at that price point. The 7.7% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants attention, as it suggests supply is keeping pace with or exceeding rental demand. Development activity recorded 15 applications in the past 12 months, a low volume for a suburb of 1,352 residents, indicating limited new supply pressure over the near term. The 6.6% price growth from 2024 to 2025 shows the suburb is moving in line with broader regional momentum rather than stagnating.
Development Activity
Total DAs
83
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+41.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Argenton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Argenton Public School
K-6 · 46 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 aligns precisely with the national figure, making Argenton demographically average in age structure. Overseas-born residents account for 11.0%, which is 10.6 percentage points below the national rate, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (512), Irish (143) and Scottish (139). University qualifications reach only 15.3%, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the working-class and trade-oriented character of the area. Average household size is 2.3, marginally below the national figure by 0.2 persons. Couples with children (346 families) outnumber couples without children (273), and the near-zero one-parent family count is a data anomaly suggesting possible classification issues rather than a true absence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.8%
Houses
12.1%
Townhouse
3.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Argenton's housing stock is firmly detached-house territory, with 84.8% separate houses compared to 3.0% apartments and 12.1% semi-detached, a profile that limits entry-level price points for first-time buyers. The tenure split shows 40.5% renters, 30.7% with a mortgage and 28.8% owning outright. Price history shows a move from $750,800 in 2024 to $800,000 in 2025, a 6.6% annual gain over the tracked period. Mortgage-to-income at 26.6% and rent-to-income at 26.6% both sit below stress thresholds, suggesting neither owners nor renters are under acute financial pressure. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 48.1% and two-bedroom at 32.2%, making this a family-oriented stock rather than an investor-grade apartment market.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$616
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.7%
Unoccupied
47
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.1%
Couples, no children
1,008
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.6% of employed residents (72 workers), a share that reflects proximity to Lake Macquarie's healthcare services and is well above the national industry average. Construction follows at 12.9% (41 workers) and Education at 8.8% (28 workers). By occupation, Labourers (81), Community and Personal Service Workers (80) and Professionals (71) are roughly equal at the top, indicating a workforce split between manual trades and service roles rather than a professional concentration. The full-time employment rate is 61.7% and unemployment sits at 5.1%, above the national average of around 3-4%, which links to the 32.8th-percentile household income and below-national university qualification rate of 15.3%.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.7%
Part-time
33.2%
Participation
50.8%
Employed
545
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.3%
Postgraduate
2.3%
Born Overseas
11.0%
Dwellings
560
Transport to Work
Car dependence is the defining transport characteristic: 89.1% of residents drive to work, well above the national average, and only 3.0% walk or cycle. Public transport usage data is unavailable, but the high car rate suggests limited service. Crime statistics are not recorded in this dataset, making a direct safety comparison impossible. Housing stress is contained, with both mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income ratios at 26.6%, below the 30% stress benchmark, which supports livability for residents on below-average incomes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby Lake Macquarie schools. The 6.8% volunteering rate is low compared to higher-income suburbs, consistent with the workforce-heavy, below-national-median income profile.
Drive
89.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Argenton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Argenton a good suburb to live in?
Argenton suits residents who prioritise detached housing and lower housing stress costs. With mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income both at 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, day-to-day costs are manageable. The trade-off is heavy car dependence at 89.1% and a household income in the 32.8th percentile nationally, which is below average.
What is the median house price in Argenton?
The median house price is $785,000 (PSI-derived), with the price history showing $750,800 in 2024 rising to $800,000 in 2025, a 6.6% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and weekly rent averages $350.
What schools are in Argenton?
No schools are recorded within the Argenton suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb has a population of 1,352 residents and families typically rely on schools in neighbouring Lake Macquarie suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 15.3%, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national rate.
Is Argenton safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Argenton in this dataset, so a direct rate comparison cannot be made. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low, with both mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income ratios at 26.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, which tends to correlate with stable community conditions. 12.6% of residents need daily assistance, slightly above average.
Is Argenton good for property investment?
Argenton offers a 40.5% renter share above the national average, supporting rental demand. Weekly rent of $350 against a $785,000 median yields approximately 2.3% gross. The 7.7% vacancy rate is elevated and worth monitoring. Price growth was 6.6% from 2024 to 2025, and only 15 development applications in 12 months limit near-term supply pressure.
How is Argenton's population changing?
Argenton's population stands at 1,352 residents with an annual turnover rate of 20.7%, meaning roughly 1 in 5 residents changed address in the past year. The median age of 40 aligns with the national average. Couples with children (346) outnumber couples without children (273), suggesting a family-oriented demographic base.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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