Coal Point
Coal Point's 1,749 residents are shaped by an older, settled and strongly detached-home profile. The median age is 52, which is 12 years above the national figure, while 79.8% of residents stayed at the same address and only 20.2% moved. Housing is unusually consistent: 98.2% of dwellings are separate houses, 51.7% have 4 or more bedrooms, and 35.0% of residents work from home. The 12.6% vacancy rate is higher than the 11.2% renting share, pointing to some homes being held for lifestyle, occasional or transitional use. Compared with nearby Wangi Wangi and Fishing Point, its 1.37 sq km footprint creates a more concentrated lakeside pocket, while household income sits at the 81.9th percentile.
Local council: Lake Macquarie
Population
1,749
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,148/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
44
Coal Point suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment stock. Separate houses account for 98.2% of dwellings, and 4-plus-bedroom homes make up 51.7%, so family-sized properties dominate more than 3-bedroom homes at 38.4%. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, while mortgage payments equal 23.3% of household income, below the renting share of 11.2% only when the two measures are considered separately, and consistent with the suburb's high 81.9th household-income percentile. Outright ownership is 52.0%, higher than the 35.2% mortgage share and well above the 11.2% renting share. Compared with nearby Wangi Wangi and Fishing Point, address-level checks matter because a compact 1.37 sq km suburb can have sharp differences in outlook, access and renovation quality. The 12.6% vacancy rate also warrants investigation because it may affect street presentation and resale competition.
For Buyers
Coal Point suits buyers prioritising detached space over apartment stock. Separate houses account for 98.2% of dwellings, and 4-plus-bedroom homes make up 51.7%, so family-sized properties dominate more than 3-bedroom homes at 38.4%. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,167, while mortgage payments equal 23.3% of household income, below the renting share of 11.2% only when the two measures are considered separately, and consistent with the suburb's high 81.9th household-income percentile. Outright ownership is 52.0%, higher than the 35.2% mortgage share and well above the 11.2% renting share. Compared with nearby Wangi Wangi and Fishing Point, address-level checks matter because a compact 1.37 sq km suburb can have sharp differences in outlook, access and renovation quality. The 12.6% vacancy rate also warrants investigation because it may affect street presentation and resale competition.
For Investors
Coal Point presents a low-rental-share but high-vacancy investment profile. Only 11.2% of households rent, compared with 52.0% owning outright and 35.2% paying a mortgage, so the tenant pool is smaller than the owner base. Weekly rent is $440, while the 12.6% vacancy rate is higher than the renting share, which can increase reletting risk even when gross rent appears attractive. There were 40 development applications over 12 months, with examples including 1 dwelling for emergency repairs and multiple dwelling alterations, suggesting activity is more renovation-led than a large new-estate pipeline. The 35.0% work-from-home rate may support demand for larger homes because 51.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. Investors should stress-test vacancy, insurance and maintenance rather than rely on rent alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
236
Last 12 Months
44
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-2.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Coal Point
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Coal Point has an older and more settled age structure than Australia overall. Its median age is 52, or 12 years above the national figure, while 38.4% of residents hold a university qualification, 8.3 percentage points above the national comparison. The overseas-born share is 14.0%, which is 7.6 points below the national figure, and ancestry counts are led by English at 839, Scottish at 278 and Irish at 266. Christianity is recorded for 897 residents, compared with 746 reporting no religion. Residential stability is also pronounced: 79.8% stayed at the same address and turnover was 20.2%. Compared with nearby Wangi Wangi and Fishing Point, Coal Point's profile is notably established, because limited mobility and a median household size of 2.5 reduce rapid demographic churn.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.2%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Coal Point is dominated by conventional detached housing, with separate houses accounting for 98.2% of dwellings and semi-detached homes only 1.8%. The largest bedroom category is 4 or more bedrooms at 51.7%, higher than the 38.4% share of 3-bedroom homes, which helps explain the suburb's appeal to established households and work-from-home residents. Ownership is also prominent: 52.0% own outright and 35.2% hold a mortgage, compared with 11.2% renting. The $2,167 monthly mortgage figure equals 23.3% of household income, while rent of $440 per week equals 20.5%, so neither stress measure is flagged. Compared with nearby Wangi Wangi and Fishing Point, Coal Point sits toward a concentrated detached-home pattern within its 1.37 sq km area. Vacancy at 12.6% is higher than the renting share and may reflect intermittent occupancy.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $440.
$645
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $660 · units $520
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$901
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.6%
Unoccupied
97
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
38.3%
Couples with children
51.9%
Couples, no children
9.2%
Single parent
543
Total families
Economy & Employment
Coal Point's employment base is anchored by healthcare, which accounts for 16.2% of workers or 100 people, followed by professional and technical work at 10.8% or 67, education at 10.5% or 65, construction at 9.5% or 59, and manufacturing at 7.9% or 49. The occupational mix is led by 221 professionals and 147 managers, ahead of 115 clerical and administrative workers and 113 trades workers. Unemployment is 3.6%, below the participation rate of 55.4%, while 53.4% of employed residents work full time. Household income is $2,148 per week and ranks at the 81.9th percentile, above a middle-of-distribution suburb. This income position is consistent with the large professional and managerial base, while 35.0% working from home reduces the need for daily commuting.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
830
Unemployed
30
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.4%
Part-time
37.4%
Participation
55.4%
Employed
800
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.4%
Postgraduate
10.1%
Born Overseas
14.0%
Dwellings
670
Transport to Work
Coal Point is better suited to households comfortable with car-based travel than to residents relying on frequent public transport. Around 60.7% of workers drive, compared with only 0.6% using public transport, while 35.0% work from home and may avoid some commuting pressure. There is 1 local government primary school, giving families a nearby starting point, but enrolment zones and secondary-school access should be checked against the exact address. Community participation is supported by a 17.1% volunteering rate, and 4.3% of residents, or 74 people, report needing assistance. The average household size is 2.5 and the median age is 52, so the suburb may feel more settled than youth-oriented areas. Car use is substantially higher than public transport use, making parking, road access and everyday driving important parts of the livability decision.
Drive
60.7%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
35.0%
Growth Outlook
Coal Point's near-term change looks more renovation-led than estate-led. Forty development applications were recorded over 12 months, including 1 complying certificate for emergency repairs and at least 2 dwelling alterations, so activity appears focused on maintaining and upgrading existing homes. That fits a compact 1.37 sq km suburb with 1,749 residents, a 20.2% turnover rate and 79.8% staying at the same address. The 12.6% vacancy rate is higher than the 11.2% renting share, which may reflect lifestyle or intermittent occupancy rather than rapid household churn. Growth is therefore more likely to be incremental than in comparable greenfield areas because detached housing already accounts for 98.2% of stock. The 35.0% work-from-home share may support ongoing demand for larger existing homes rather than rapid apartment construction.
Population trend: Lake Macquarie council area
Coal Point sits in the Lake Macquarie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Coal Point'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 Coal Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coal Point a good suburb to live in?
Coal Point can suit households wanting a settled, detached-home setting, especially with 98.2% separate houses and 35.0% working from home. The trade-off is mobility: 60.7% drive to work and only 0.6% use public transport, so a car is more important than in transit-oriented suburbs.
What is the median house price in Coal Point?
A current median house price should be checked against settled sales rather than inferred from the $2,167 monthly mortgage figure. Coal Point is 98.2% separate houses, and 51.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, so the local mix can shift the median more than in apartment-heavy suburbs. Confirm sale date, land size and condition before comparing addresses.
What schools are in Coal Point?
Coal Point Public School is the local government primary option. Families should confirm intake zones and year availability at the address, since 1 primary school does not cover every age group. The suburb's median age is 52 and average household size is 2.5, but those figures do not replace an enrolment check.
Is Coal Point safe?
Use current NSW Police incident information and visit at different times before deciding. Coal Point has 79.8% of residents staying at the same address and a 17.1% volunteering rate, which suggest residential stability and participation, but neither is a crime measure. Treat the 12.6% vacancy rate as a housing signal, not a safety score.
Is Coal Point good for property investment?
Coal Point may suit investors focused on detached homes, but the rental profile needs care. Weekly rent is $440 and 11.2% of households rent, while the 12.6% vacancy rate is higher than the renting share. Forty development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing renovation activity, although investors should allow for reletting, insurance and maintenance costs.
How is Coal Point's population changing?
Coal Point has 1,749 residents and a settled demographic direction. The median age is 52, or 12 years above the national figure, while 79.8% stayed at the same address and turnover was 20.2%. Forty development applications over 12 months point to gradual housing change, mainly through repairs and alterations rather than a large new subdivision.
What development is occurring in Coal Point?
There were 40 development applications over the past 12 months. Examples include 1 complying development certificate for emergency repairs and 2 applications for dwelling alterations or additions. With 98.2% of homes classed as separate houses and 51.7% containing 4 or more bedrooms, the pattern points more to upgrading existing stock than major new housing construction.
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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