Kotara
With 3,980 residents across 2.5 square kilometres, Kotara combines a dense footprint with a strongly detached housing profile: 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.1% have 3 bedrooms. The median age is 39, one year below the national comparison, while household income sits at the 78.1st percentile. That gives Kotara a more established, mortgage-belt feel than a high-turnover apartment market. Buyers comparing Kotara with Adamstown or New Lambton can focus on its 36.0% outright ownership, 42.0% mortgage ownership and 21.5% renting. Healthcare accounts for 23.5% of local industry employment, while overseas migration is the main forecast driver.
Population
3,980
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,077/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
69
Kotara suits buyers seeking a conventional family-home setting, because 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.1% contain 3 bedrooms. Another 30.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, so larger households have more choice than in a predominantly compact-home market. The typical monthly mortgage measure is $2,167, equal to 24.1% of household income, while weekly rent is $460. Compared with renting, the ownership pattern is substantial, with 36.0% owning outright and 42.0% paying a mortgage. The 39 median age and household income at the 78.1st percentile point to established households, although buyers comparing Kotara with Adamstown or New Lambton should still assess street-level prices, renovation needs and school catchments.
For Buyers
Kotara suits buyers seeking a conventional family-home setting, because 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.1% contain 3 bedrooms. Another 30.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, so larger households have more choice than in a predominantly compact-home market. The typical monthly mortgage measure is $2,167, equal to 24.1% of household income, while weekly rent is $460. Compared with renting, the ownership pattern is substantial, with 36.0% owning outright and 42.0% paying a mortgage. The 39 median age and household income at the 78.1st percentile point to established households, although buyers comparing Kotara with Adamstown or New Lambton should still assess street-level prices, renovation needs and school catchments.
For Investors
Kotara has a moderate rental base, with 21.5% of households renting compared with 36.0% owning outright and 42.0% holding a mortgage. Weekly rent is $460 and the vacancy rate is 4.4%, while rent consumes 22.1% of household income, below the mortgage burden of 24.1%. These conditions can support tenant demand, but the lower rental share means the suburb is less investor-dependent than a high-rental apartment precinct. Development activity is notable, with 68 records in the latest 12 months, including dwelling alterations, retail work and multi-dwelling housing. Annual forecast growth is 0.77%, driven primarily by overseas migration, so investors should weigh steady demand against additional supply and the suburb's established housing stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
384
Last 12 Months
69
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kotara
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Kotara has a median age of 39, which is 1 year below the national comparison, and 40.9% of residents hold a university qualification, 10.8 percentage points above the national measure. Overseas-born residents account for 12.6%, 9.0 points below the national comparison, reinforcing an Anglo-leaning profile shaped by English ancestry at 1,799 people, Scottish at 527 and Irish at 491. No religion is recorded for 1,870 people, slightly above Christianity at 1,799. Household size averages 2.6 people, 0.1 above the national figure, with couples with children forming 45.5% of families. For households comparing Kotara with Adamstown or New Lambton, its 77.5% staying rate and 22.5% turnover point to a relatively settled resident base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
88.5%
Houses
11.5%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Kotara's housing stock is heavily oriented toward detached living: 88.5% of dwellings are separate houses and 11.5% are semi-detached. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.1%, higher than the 10.7% share of 2-bedroom homes, while 4 or more bedrooms represent 30.9%. Tenure is split between 36.0% owned outright, 42.0% with a mortgage and 21.5% rented, showing more owner occupation than renting. The average household has 2.6 people, which helps explain the strong demand for 3-bedroom layouts. Household income is $2,077 per week at the 78.1st percentile, while mortgage repayments represent 24.1% of income compared with 22.1% for rent. This supports a relatively established housing profile rather than a high-density, short-term rental market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $460.
$740
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $588
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$927
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.4%
Unoccupied
68
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.5%
Couples with children
36.5%
Couples, no children
16.4%
Single parent
1,119
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kotara's employment base is led by healthcare at 23.5% and 351 workers, followed by education at 14.7% and 220 workers. Healthcare is higher than education, while professional and technical services account for 9.6%, construction 9.2% and public administration 8.0%. The largest occupation group is professionals at 634 people, ahead of managers at 272, clerical and administrative workers at 263, trades at 248 and community or personal service workers at 244. Labour-force participation is 68.4%, unemployment is 4.0% and the full-time rate is 56.7%, indicating a broad working base. Personal income is $927 per week and household income is $2,077, placing household income at the 78.1st percentile. SEIFA scores also sit above the midpoint, with IRSAD and IRSD both at decile 8 and IER at decile 7.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
2,198
Unemployed
87
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.7%
Part-time
37.1%
Participation
68.4%
Employed
2,111
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
40.9%
Postgraduate
9.7%
Born Overseas
12.6%
Dwellings
1,470
Transport to Work
Kotara is convenient for residents who drive, with 60.4% travelling as a car driver compared with only 0.2% using public transport. Working from home is common at 33.9%, while 1.8% walk or cycle to work, so daily life is more car-oriented than active-transport focused. There is 1 listed local school, Kotara School, a government Schools for Specific Purposes campus; families seeking mainstream options should check exact enrolment zones and current intake rules. Socioeconomic conditions are stronger than the national midpoint, with IRSAD and IRSD both in decile 8 and IEO also in decile 8, while IER is in decile 7. For safety decisions, check current NSW Police figures and recent incidents around the exact address. The compact 2.5 square kilometre area makes street-level access, traffic and nearby services particularly important.
Drive
60.4%
Public Transport
0.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
33.9%
Population Forecast
+0.77%/yr
(+135 people/yr)
EstablishedKotara has an established growth outlook, with forecast annual growth of 0.77% and overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 10.3% over 10 years, while the forecast shift is labelled Mixed rather than clearly accelerating or declining. Rental growth has reached 41.4%, creating stronger investor attention even as affordability moved from 47.8 in 2011 to 43.8 in 2021 and the affordability trend is labelled Improving. Compared with rapid-growth corridors, the 0.77% annual pace points to gradual change supported by an existing suburb rather than a new-release cycle. The gentrification signal is restrained at score 4 and Not gentrifying, although the separate shift measure records a score of 51 and Active stage, so renewal is likely to be selective rather than suburb-wide.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+98
Net Internal / yr
+24
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +11% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Kotara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kotara a good suburb to live in?
Kotara suits households seeking established detached housing, with 88.5% of dwellings separate houses and 57.1% containing 3 bedrooms. Household income ranks at the 78.1st percentile, although 60.4% of workers drive and only 0.2% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Kotara?
A current median house price is best checked against recent Kotara sales. Useful housing context includes a $2,167 monthly mortgage measure, $460 weekly rent, 88.5% separate houses and 30.9% of dwellings with 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Kotara?
Kotara has 1 listed local school, Kotara School, a government Schools for Specific Purposes campus. Families comparing mainstream options should check the exact enrolment zone and current intake rules, as school access can vary by address.
Is Kotara safe?
For a safety decision, check current NSW Police figures and recent incidents around the exact address rather than relying on suburb-wide impressions. Kotara covers 2.5 square kilometres and has 3,980 residents, so street context can matter when comparing locations.
Is Kotara good for property investment?
Kotara has 21.5% renting, $460 weekly rent and a 4.4% vacancy rate, supporting a functioning tenant market. However, 68 development records in 12 months and forecast annual growth of 0.77% mean investors should assess supply, property condition and likely tenant demand carefully.
How is Kotara's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 10.3% over 10 years, with forecast annual growth of 0.77%. Overseas migration is the primary driver and the trajectory is Mixed, while the gentrification signal is scored 4 and labelled Not gentrifying.
How much development is occurring in Kotara?
Kotara recorded 68 development matters in the latest 12 months. Examples include dwelling alterations, a retail kiosk, demolition, multi-dwelling housing and subdivision, indicating ongoing renewal across both residential and small commercial sites.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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