Kotara South
Household income sits at the 84.5th percentile nationally, yet Kotara South follows an ageing, slow-growth path: the median age is 37, the annual forecast trend is -0.35%, and population change across the wider area is -7.0% over 10 years. The 0.59 sq km suburb is dense at 2,165.1 people per sq km and strongly detached, with 96.4% separate houses. Compared with nearby Kotara, its compact residential footprint gives it a quieter, established feel, while 32.1% working from home supports less commute-dependent routines. The mix suits established households more than buyers seeking rapid growth, with 45.6% carrying a mortgage and 30.2% owning outright.
Local council: Lake Macquarie
Population
1,267
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,230/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Detached-home buyers get a clear housing signal: 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses, including 52.7% with 3 bedrooms and 35.6% with 4 or more. That family-oriented mix fits the average household size of 2.8 and the fact that 55.4% of families are couples with children. Monthly mortgage costs are $2,167, compared with weekly rent of $378, while mortgage repayments equal 22.4% of household income versus 17.0% for rent, so borrowing costs sit higher than rental pressure. With 45.6% already paying a mortgage and only 3.6% semi-detached stock, buyers should compare renovation needs, block usability and school catchments rather than expect much apartment choice. Its compact detached profile differs from nearby Kotara's broader housing and retail setting.
For Buyers
Detached-home buyers get a clear housing signal: 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses, including 52.7% with 3 bedrooms and 35.6% with 4 or more. That family-oriented mix fits the average household size of 2.8 and the fact that 55.4% of families are couples with children. Monthly mortgage costs are $2,167, compared with weekly rent of $378, while mortgage repayments equal 22.4% of household income versus 17.0% for rent, so borrowing costs sit higher than rental pressure. With 45.6% already paying a mortgage and only 3.6% semi-detached stock, buyers should compare renovation needs, block usability and school catchments rather than expect much apartment choice. Its compact detached profile differs from nearby Kotara's broader housing and retail setting.
For Investors
Rental conditions look moderate rather than tight: 23.0% of households rent, weekly rent is $378 and vacancy is 5.2%. The rent burden is lower than the mortgage burden, at 17.0% of household income versus 22.4%, but investors should still allow for leasing time at the current vacancy rate. Development activity is limited to 10 applications in 12 months, including a 2-dwelling dual-occupancy proposal, which points to incremental supply rather than a large pipeline. The forecast trend is below zero at -0.35% annually, migration is described as Balanced, and the area is Not gentrifying with a score of 10. Detached stock may appeal to family tenants, but purchase-price evidence is needed before judging yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
77
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-8.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kotara South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Kotara South has a median age of 37, which is 3.0 years below the national figure, but its household structure is family-leaning: 55.4% of families are couples with children, compared with 30.8% couples without children and 13.5% one-parent families. University attainment is 41.8%, or 11.7 percentage points above national, while overseas-born residents are 9.8%, 11.8 points below national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 580, 205 and 169, while Christianity and no religion account for 622 and 546 people. Compared with nearby Kotara, the profile is more established and Anglo-leaning, with 76.7% of residents staying at the same address five years earlier. The concentration of couples with children helps explain demand for detached homes.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.4%
Houses
3.6%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Kotara South is a high-density pocket with 2,165.1 people per sq km across 0.59 sq km, yet its built form is overwhelmingly low-rise: 96.4% separate houses and 3.6% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes make up 52.7% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 35.6%, compared with 11.1% two-bedroom and 0.7% zero or one-bedroom homes. Tenure is led by mortgages at 45.6%, followed by outright ownership at 30.2% and renting at 23.0%, so leveraged owners outnumber renters. Mortgage costs equal 22.4% of household income, higher than the 17.0% rent share, while household income ranks at the 84.5th percentile. Compared with nearby Kotara, the suburb's compact footprint and detached concentration favour family houses over apartment-led housing.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $378.
$740
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $588
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$935
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
24
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.4%
Couples with children
30.8%
Couples, no children
13.5%
Single parent
341
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by healthcare at 22.0% of workers, education at 16.1%, professional and technical services at 10.8%, public administration at 8.1% and construction at 7.7%. The occupation mix is led by 190 professionals and 94 managers, ahead of 84 trades workers, 69 community and personal service workers and 67 clerical and administrative workers. That service and professional base helps explain household income at the 84.5th percentile, while unemployment is 3.1% and labour-force participation is 66.9%. The unusual contrast is socioeconomic: IEO and IRSAD both sit in decile 1, and IER is decile 2, below the income profile implied by local households. Earnings and disadvantage measures should be read together because a small 1,267-person suburb can contain sharply different household circumstances.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
639
Unemployed
20
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
33.1%
Participation
66.9%
Employed
619
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
41.8%
Postgraduate
11.1%
Born Overseas
9.8%
Dwellings
442
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 64.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.6% using public transport and 0.6% walking or cycling, although 32.1% work from home. That combination suits households with cars and flexible schedules but can make regional trips more dependent on road access. Kotara South has 1 local government primary school, so families should check the exact enrolment zone and compare secondary options before committing. Volunteering is 17.2%, and 5.8% of residents need assistance, adding useful context to local support needs. IRSAD sits in decile 1, below the midpoint of the national scale, so amenity decisions should weigh household circumstances as well as the suburb's quiet, detached setting. For safety, review current incident patterns around the exact address rather than relying on suburb-wide assumptions.
Drive
64.1%
Public Transport
0.6%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
32.1%
Growth Outlook
Growth is defensive rather than expansionary. The annual trend is -0.35%, while population change across the wider area is -7.0% over 10 years, and the primary migration driver is Balanced. The shift trajectory is Aging: the senior share rose 6.9 percentage points, the young share fell 5.1 points and the working-age share fell 1.6 points. This age profile helps explain why demand is more likely to centre on established houses and services than rapid new construction. Gentrification is Not gentrifying, with a score of 10, despite rent growth of 38.5%; affordability moved from 34.9% in 2011 to 36.4% in 2021 and is labelled Stable. COVID's -2.5% dip was followed by 2.6% recovery, so the pattern is recovery without strong momentum.
Population trend: Lake Macquarie council area
Kotara South sits in the Lake Macquarie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kotara South'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 Kotara South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kotara South a good suburb to live in?
It suits buyers seeking established detached housing and a compact setting: 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses, 32.1% work from home and 64.1% drive. The trade-off is car dependence, with only 0.6% using public transport, while IRSAD is decile 1, below the national midpoint, so inspect the exact street and services.
What is the median house price in Kotara South?
Check recent comparable sales in postcode 2289 for the exact dwelling type and condition. Kotara South is 96.4% separate houses, with 52.7% three-bedroom and 35.6% four-plus-bedroom stock, so a house-level benchmark is more useful than comparing against apartment medians or nearby suburb averages.
What schools are in Kotara South?
Kotara South has 1 listed local government primary school, Kotara South Public School. Check the enrolment zone against the exact address, then compare secondary-school travel times and transport options. With 64.1% driving and 0.6% public transport, school runs may be more car-dependent than in better-served areas.
Is Kotara South safe?
Safety should be checked at address level using current police incident information and a daytime and evening visit. Kotara South has 1,267 residents and a low-activity transport pattern, with 64.1% driving and 0.6% using public transport. Compare the exact street with nearby routes, shops and school paths before deciding.
Is Kotara South good for property investment?
It may suit a long-term, family-oriented strategy because 96.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 23.0% of households rent. However, vacancy is 5.2%, annual growth is -0.35% and gentrification is Not gentrifying with a score of 10. Compare the $378 weekly rent with the purchase price, costs and likely vacancy before judging yield.
How is Kotara South's population changing?
The direction is ageing and slightly contracting. The annual trend is -0.35%, population change across the wider area is -7.0% over 10 years, and the shift is labelled Aging. The senior share rose 6.9 percentage points while the young share fell 5.1 points, suggesting demand may favour established homes and services more than rapid family-led expansion.
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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