Booragul
A median age of 51, 11 years above the national figure, is the clearest signal in Booragul's profile. The compact 1.24 sq km suburb houses 1,623 people at 1,307.2 residents per sq km, yet 84.8% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with nearby Boolaroo and Speers Point, its profile is more clearly anchored in established detached housing than apartment living. Household income sits at $1,114 a week, at the 18.1 household income percentile, which makes affordability and mortgage capacity important. Booragul suits buyers seeking a settled Lake Macquarie setting, with 51.6% of homes containing 3 bedrooms, but the older age structure and car dependence shape daily life.
Local council: Lake Macquarie
Population
1,623
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,114/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Detached-home buyers will find 84.8% separate houses, compared with only 2.7% apartments and 12.5% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 51.6%, while 4-plus-bedroom stock is 18.6%, so the suburb suits downsizers and smaller families more readily than buyers seeking large new-build options. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,636 sits alongside household income of $1,114 a week, and mortgage commitments reach 33.9% of income, higher than the 28.7% rent-to-income figure. That pressure makes pre-approval and repair budgets important, particularly because 28.8% own outright and 37.2% rent, indicating mixed purchasing capacity.
For Buyers
Detached-home buyers will find 84.8% separate houses, compared with only 2.7% apartments and 12.5% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 51.6%, while 4-plus-bedroom stock is 18.6%, so the suburb suits downsizers and smaller families more readily than buyers seeking large new-build options. A monthly mortgage figure of $1,636 sits alongside household income of $1,114 a week, and mortgage commitments reach 33.9% of income, higher than the 28.7% rent-to-income figure. That pressure makes pre-approval and repair budgets important, particularly because 28.8% own outright and 37.2% rent, indicating mixed purchasing capacity.
For Investors
Rental demand has a meaningful base because 37.2% of households rent, a higher share than the 28.8% who own outright, while weekly rent is $320. Vacancy is 5.0%, so letting conditions should be tested against property type and asking rent rather than assumed tight. Development activity reached 19 applications in 12 months, including dwelling-house work, alterations and new structures, creating an ongoing supply and maintenance consideration. The $320 weekly rent provides an entry reference, but yield cannot be judged without a current purchase price. Investors should compare expected rent, vacancy risk, insurance, repairs and the 33.9% mortgage-to-income pressure evident among local homeowners.
Development Activity
Total DAs
82
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+38.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Booragul
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Booragul has a median age of 51, which is 11 years above the national figure. University attainment is 16.3%, or 13.8 percentage points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 10.3%, 11.3 points below the national level. An average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below the national comparison, helping explain the strong presence of couples without children, who account for 41.1% of families. English ancestry is recorded for 680 people, followed by Irish at 134 and Scottish at 133. Christianity accounts for 781 residents compared with 575 reporting no religion, reinforcing an older, locally settled demographic profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.8%
Houses
12.5%
Townhouse
2.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Booragul's housing is more detached than apartment-based, with 84.8% separate houses compared with 2.7% apartments and 12.5% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 51.6%, while 2-bedroom homes represent 24.1% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 18.6%, matching the suburb's average household size of 2.3. Renting is the largest single tenure category at 37.2%, higher than outright ownership at 28.8% and mortgages at 25.9%. Mortgage commitments reach 33.9% of household income, above the 28.7% rent-to-income figure, so established homes may still carry meaningful repayment pressure despite the 1,636 monthly mortgage amount.
Mortgage / mo
$1,636
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $320.
$680
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $530
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$613
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
31
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.5%
Couples with children
41.1%
Couples, no children
27.2%
Single parent
394
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Booragul's leading industry at 25.9%, with 79 workers, more than double retail at 10.5% and 32 workers. Construction accounts for 10.2% and 31 workers, manufacturing 9.8% and 30, while education contributes 7.5% and 23. The occupational mix is similarly practical, led by community and personal services at 86 people, trades at 84 and professionals at 81, followed by labourers at 74 and clerical or administration workers at 63. The labour force numbers 577 people, unemployment is 5.0% and the participation rate is 41.5%. With 556 people outside the labour force, the older age profile likely contributes to lower participation than a younger workforce would produce.
Unemployment
5.0%
Labour Force
577
Unemployed
29
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.7%
Part-time
36.1%
Participation
41.5%
Employed
548
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.3%
Postgraduate
3.3%
Born Overseas
10.3%
Dwellings
585
Transport to Work
Daily mobility is car-led: 76.4% drive, compared with 0.7% using public transport and 1.9% walking or cycling. A further 15.6% work from home, which may reduce some commuting pressure but does not change the need for a car-oriented routine. Three nearby government schools span primary, secondary and specific-purpose education, giving families access to different schooling stages while making exact enrolment zones important to check. Compared with a transit-rich suburb, Booragul is less convenient for households without a car because driving is more than 100 times as common as public transport. Safety should be assessed using current local crime information and an inspection of lighting, footpaths, traffic and evening activity.
Drive
76.4%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
15.6%
Growth Outlook
Residential change appears more likely to come through renewal than rapid population turnover. Nineteen development applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling-house work, alterations and new structures, point to ongoing reinvestment rather than a large release of new housing. Local stability is also strong: 77.7% of residents stayed at the same address, compared with 22.3% who moved. The suburb's median age of 51, 84.8% detached-home share and compact 1.24 sq km footprint suggest change will be shaped by renovations and redevelopment within an established setting. Compared with a newly developing corridor, this is a more settled growth pattern, so buyers should monitor approvals, construction timing and nearby transport impacts.
Population trend: Lake Macquarie council area
Booragul sits in the Lake Macquarie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Booragul's.
Residents 2025
224,540
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Booragul compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Booragul a good suburb to live in?
Booragul can suit buyers wanting established detached housing and a settled resident base. The median age is 51, 84.8% of dwellings are separate houses and 76.4% of commuters drive, so it is better matched to car-oriented households than transit-dependent living. Compare the exact street, services and school catchment before deciding.
What is the median house price in Booragul?
A current median should be checked against recent comparable sales and active listings. Booragul has 84.8% separate houses, with 51.6% of dwellings containing 3 bedrooms and 18.6% containing 4 or more. Those proportions help narrow the right comparison set, but they do not replace an up-to-date local valuation.
What schools are in Booragul?
Three government schools serve different stages or needs: Booragul Public School is primary, Lake Macquarie High School is secondary and Five Islands School supports specific purposes. Check the exact enrolment zone because boundaries can differ by address. The 76.4% car-driving share also makes drop-off routes and peak-hour travel worth testing.
Is Booragul safe?
Use current NSW Police crime information and inspect the immediate streetscape before judging safety, because a local crime rate is not available. Booragul has 1,623 residents and a 5.0% vacancy rate, but neither number measures safety. Check lighting, footpaths, traffic and evening activity at the exact address before renting or buying.
Is Booragul good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking a rental market with 37.2% of households renting and weekly rent of $320. Vacancy is 5.0%, while 19 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing property activity. The renter share is higher than outright ownership at 28.8%, but a current purchase price is essential for yield, borrowing and cash-flow checks.
How is Booragul's population changing?
Booragul appears relatively settled rather than highly mobile: 77.7% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 22.3%. Nineteen development applications in 12 months point to ongoing renewal, but they do not establish a large population increase. With a median age of 51, the suburb is older than the national profile by 11 years.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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