Hawks Nest
A median age of 61, which is 21 years above the national figure, tells the defining story of Hawks Nest: this is one of NSW's most pronounced retirement destinations, where 58% of dwellings are owned outright and 54.4% of homes sit vacant, reflecting a large holiday and seasonal stock. Population has grown 28.9% over the decade, yet the suburb remains small at 1,413 residents across 33.77 square kilometres. Household income falls in the 17th percentile nationally, well below average, because the labour force participation rate of only 32.9% reflects a community living off assets and superannuation rather than wages.
Population
1,413
Median Age
61.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,096/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
27
Median House
$849K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $849,000, rising from $775,000 in 2024 to $925,000 in 2025, a 19.4% jump in one year. Separate houses make up 74.7% of stock, so buyers face a conventional detached-house market with limited apartment alternatives at just 7.3%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 50% and four-plus bedroom homes are 25.7%, giving most buyers practical family-sized options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.5% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, and only 14.9% of residents carry a mortgage, meaning most buyers either pay cash or enter a relatively thin financed market. Outright ownership at 58% is well above the national average.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $849,000, rising from $775,000 in 2024 to $925,000 in 2025, a 19.4% jump in one year. Separate houses make up 74.7% of stock, so buyers face a conventional detached-house market with limited apartment alternatives at just 7.3%. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 50% and four-plus bedroom homes are 25.7%, giving most buyers practical family-sized options. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.5% exceeds the 30% stress threshold, and only 14.9% of residents carry a mortgage, meaning most buyers either pay cash or enter a relatively thin financed market. Outright ownership at 58% is well above the national average.
For Investors
At first glance the 27.1% renter share and $330 weekly rent against an $849,000 median suggest a gross yield near 2%, modest but not unusual for a coastal market. The critical number is the 54.4% vacancy rate, by far the highest signal in this brief, pointing to a large volume of holiday homes that sit empty most of the year. Net internal migration averages 82 people a year, supporting a gradual demand base, and 27 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. Investors buying here are effectively betting on capital growth and holiday rental income rather than conventional long-term tenancy, and the 19.4% price rise from 2024 to 2025 shows the capital-growth thesis has recent support.
Development Activity
Total DAs
174
Last 12 Months
27
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-6.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 61 sits 21 years above the national figure, driven by a senior share that rose 14.3 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 7.1 points, confirming a fast-aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents make up 16.3%, which is 5.3 points below the national figure, and ancestry is heavily Anglo-Celtic, with English (616), Irish (178) and Scottish (170) the top three groups. Average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national, consistent with couples-without-children households at 54.4% of all families. University qualifications at 25.7% are 4.4 points below the national figure. Volunteering runs at 20.1%, above average for a community with high non-labour-force participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.7%
Houses
17.4%
Townhouse
7.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The ownership split is unusual: 58% own outright, only 14.9% carry a mortgage, and 27.1% rent. This skew toward debt-free ownership reflects the retirement and holiday-home character of the suburb. Separate houses dominate at 74.7%, with semi-detached at 17.4% and apartments at a low 7.3%. Three-bedroom homes account for 50% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes for 25.7%, leaving only 2% with one bedroom or fewer. The $849,000 median is the current price, climbing 19.4% from $775,000 in 2024. Both rent stress (30.1% of income) and mortgage stress (36.5%) flags are active, indicating that the 27.1% who rent and the 14.9% with mortgages face genuine affordability pressure relative to local incomes in the 17th percentile.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$330
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$617
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
54.4%
Unoccupied
728
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.1% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
54.4%
Couples, no children
929
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.6% of workers (60 people), followed by Hospitality at 11.3% (33), Construction at 11.0% (32) and Education at 10.0% (29), a pattern consistent with a service economy serving a retired coastal population. By occupation, Professionals lead at 83 workers, Community/Personal Service at 59, Managers at 54 and Clerical/Admin at 53. The labour force participation rate of just 32.9% sits well below national norms because 712 residents are not in the labour force. Unemployment among active participants is relatively low at 3.8%, with 16 unemployed people recorded. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 and IEO decile of 3 place Hawks Nest below the national median on both advantage and education-occupation measures, despite the high owner-occupier wealth.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
1,761
Unemployed
63
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.2%
Part-time
42.0%
Participation
32.9%
Employed
406
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.7%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
16.3%
Dwellings
605
Transport to Work
With 78.6% of residents driving and 14.1% walking or cycling, the car is essential in Hawks Nest, which has no recorded public transport usage, consistent with its low-density coastal setting at 41.8 people per square kilometre. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families must travel to neighbouring areas, which reinforces the adult-retirement character. Crime data is not available in this dataset. The IRSAD decile of 4 places the suburb below the national median on relative advantage, and 10.6% of residents (137 people) need daily assistance, higher than average and tied to the older age profile. Households in the 17th income percentile nationally face cost-of-living pressure, but the 58% outright ownership rate means many residents carry little ongoing housing cost.
Drive
78.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
14.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.47%/yr
(+85 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth runs at 1.47%, equivalent to 85 people a year, with the suburb projected to reach 6,436 by 2031 under the medium forecast. The 10-year population change of 28.9% is above average for a small coastal town. Internal migration is the primary driver at 82 net arrivals per year, with overseas migration adding 25. The gentrification score of 18 places Hawks Nest in the not-gentrifying stage, because the aging demographic and holiday-home character prevent the typical upward income shift. Affordability has worsened: the affordability ratio moved from 59.2% in 2011 to 63.4% in 2021, and rent grew 40% over the period against real income growth of only 6.3%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+25
Net Internal / yr
+82
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal migration +82/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hawks Nest compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hawks Nest a good suburb to live in?
Hawks Nest suits retirees and sea-change buyers more than young families. With a median age of 61 (21 years above national), 58% outright ownership, and a low-density coastal setting, it offers a quiet lifestyle. There are no schools within the suburb and the IRSAD decile of 4 places it below the national median on relative advantage.
What is the median house price in Hawks Nest?
The median house price is $849,000, after rising 19.4% from $775,000 in 2024 to $925,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.5% flags stress because household income sits in the 17th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Hawks Nest?
No schools are recorded within the Hawks Nest boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns. The suburb's population skews strongly toward older residents with a median age of 61, so school access is less central to the community profile than in most suburbs.
Is Hawks Nest safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Hawks Nest in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the IRSAD decile of 4 is below the national median, and 10.6% of the 1,413 residents (137 people) need daily assistance, reflecting the older age structure rather than socioeconomic vulnerability. Community volunteering runs at 20.1%.
Is Hawks Nest good for property investment?
The 54.4% vacancy rate is the dominant risk signal, reflecting a holiday-home heavy stock where most properties sit empty outside peak seasons. Weekly rent of $330 against an $849,000 median implies a conventional yield near 2%. Capital growth was strong at 19.4% in 2024-2025, but investors should plan for holiday-rental income rather than stable year-round tenancy.
How is Hawks Nest's population changing?
Population is growing at 1.47% annually, adding about 85 people a year, and is forecast to reach 6,436 by 2031. Over 10 years the suburb grew 28.9%. Internal migration drives most of the growth at 82 net arrivals per year. The trajectory is firmly aging, with the senior share up 14.3 points and working-age share down 7.1 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Hawks Nest?
There were 27 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a moderate level for a suburb of 1,413 residents. Recent applications include dwelling alterations, additions and demolition-rebuild works, consistent with an owner-occupier base upgrading existing holiday homes rather than building new supply at scale.
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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