NSW 2650 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Lake Albert

A 95.7% separate-house share and 57.7% four-bedroom-plus housing profile make Lake Albert more family-oriented than apartment-heavy parts of Wagga Wagga. The suburb has 6,291 residents, a median age of 43, and household income at the 70.6th percentile, supporting established owner-occupier demand because larger homes suit families and long-term residents. Compared with nearby Tatton, Lake Albert has a particularly detached, low-density identity at 256.4 people per square kilometre. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts of 2,739, 926 and 813 reinforce its Anglo-leaning profile, while 81.8% stayed at the same address five years earlier.

Lake Albert urban fabric map

Population

6,291

Median Age

43.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,891/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

147

24.54 km²· 256.4 people/km²· Family income $2,237/wk

Lake Albert suits buyers seeking detached space, established streets and larger floorplans. Separate houses account for 95.7% of dwellings, while 57.7% have four or more bedrooms and 32.2% have three bedrooms, so the stock is more family-sized than compact. This matters because larger homes can support home offices, children or multigenerational living. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,625 and mortgage repayments equal 19.8% of household income, below the mortgage-stress level. Compared with a rental-led market, the 15.8% renting share also points to strong owner occupation, although buyers should compare individual streets and recent sales before committing.

For Buyers

Lake Albert suits buyers seeking detached space, established streets and larger floorplans. Separate houses account for 95.7% of dwellings, while 57.7% have four or more bedrooms and 32.2% have three bedrooms, so the stock is more family-sized than compact. This matters because larger homes can support home offices, children or multigenerational living. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,625 and mortgage repayments equal 19.8% of household income, below the mortgage-stress level. Compared with a rental-led market, the 15.8% renting share also points to strong owner occupation, although buyers should compare individual streets and recent sales before committing.

For Investors

Lake Albert presents a detached family-rental profile rather than a high-density apartment strategy. Weekly rent is $340, vacancy is 6.0%, and 15.8% of households rent. By comparison, 42.0% own their homes outright and 38.3% have a mortgage, so tenant demand sits alongside a much larger owner-occupier base. That can support stable rental appeal because 95.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 57.7% contain four or more bedrooms. Development activity is material, with 146 applications in 12 months, including subdivision, a dwelling house and a swimming pool. Investors should weigh this activity against future rental competition and maintenance costs for larger homes.

Development Activity

Total DAs

569

Last 12 Months

147

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+20.5%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Garage / Carport / Shed
67
Swimming Pool / Spa
58
Renovation / Extension
52
New Dwelling
50
Subdivision
14
Demolition
11
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
6
Other
5

Schools in Lake Albert

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Lake Albert Public School

Primary School Government
School website

Demographics

Lake Albert has a median age of 43, which is 3.0 years above the national comparison, while 27.1% of residents hold university qualifications, 3.0 percentage points below the national comparison. Only 6.8% were born overseas, 14.8 points below the national comparison, helping explain the suburb's Anglo-leaning character. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,739, 926 and 813. Christianity is recorded for 4,118 people versus 1,787 reporting no religion. Average household size is 2.6, or 0.1 above the national comparison. The 81.8% five-year retention rate suggests a settled population because relatively few households move through the suburb each year.

Age Distribution

0-14
19.4%
15-24
11.4%
25-44
21.2%
45-64
25.0%
65+
22.9%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.4%
2 bed
9.7%
3 bed
32.2%
4+ bed
57.7%

Dwelling Structure

95.7%

Houses

0.7%

Townhouse

3.4%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 42.0% Mortgage 38.3% Rent 15.8% Other 3.9%

Lake Albert's housing is more detached than attached, with 95.7% separate houses versus 3.4% apartments and 0.7% semi-detached dwellings. Larger homes dominate: 57.7% contain four or more bedrooms, compared with 32.2% with three bedrooms and 9.7% with two. Tenure is also more owner-focused than rental-focused, with 42.0% owned outright, 38.3% mortgaged and 15.8% rented. This mix matters because established owners can reduce turnover and support demand for family-sized properties. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,625, equal to 19.8% of household income and below the mortgage-stress level. Average household size is 2.6, 0.1 above the national comparison.

Mortgage / mo

$1,625

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $340.

$530

Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $550 · units $420

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$907

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

6.0%

Unoccupied

146

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.0%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.8%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
12

Ancestry

English
2,739
Irish
926
Scottish
813
German
356
Other
285
Ancestry NS
242

Household Composition

43.8%

Couples with children

43.7%

Couples, no children

12.3%

Single parent

1,809

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is Lake Albert's largest employment industry at 21.7%, representing 462 workers, followed by education at 16.1% and 344 workers. Construction accounts for 12.9% and 276 workers, while public administration contributes 8.0% and 170 workers; professional and technical services add 5.6% and 120 workers. The occupation mix is led by professionals at 628, trades at 509, clerical and administration at 448, managers at 417, and community and personal services at 377. This combination supports regional service employment because healthcare, education, construction and government roles are substantial. Unemployment is 2.4%, participation is 63.7%, and household income ranks at the 70.6th percentile, above the median position.

Unemployment

2.4%

Labour Force

3,227

Unemployed

77

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

33.8%

Participation

63.7%

Employed

3,150

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 628
Trades 509
Clerical/Admin 448
Managers 417
Community/Personal 377
Sales 276
Labourers 270
Machinery/Drivers 167

Top Industries

Healthcare 21.7%
Education 16.1%
Construction 12.9%
Public Admin 8.0%
Professional/Tech 5.6%

University

27.1%

Postgraduate

5.5%

Born Overseas

6.8%

Dwellings

2,296

Transport to Work

Lake Albert is well suited to residents who rely on cars, because 81.5% of commuters drive while only 0.6% use public transport and 2.2% walk or cycle. A further 10.3% work from home, which can reduce daily commuting for some households. The suburb covers 24.54 square kilometres at a density of 256.4 people per square kilometre, giving it a lower-density feel than compact urban areas. Lake Albert Public School provides one local government primary-school option, so families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address. Car travel is far more common than public transport, and safety decisions should include current incident checks and visits at different times.

Drive

81.5%

Public Transport

0.6%

Walk / Cycle

2.2%

Work from Home

10.3%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Lake Albert compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 9%
Household Income
Top 29%
Rent Level
Top 30%
Apartments
Top 14%
Renters
Top 48%
Uni Educated
Top 41%
Public Transport
Bottom 9%
Born Overseas
Bottom 14%
Density
Top 22%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Albert a good suburb to live in?

Lake Albert can suit households seeking detached space and an established setting. It has 6,291 residents, 95.7% separate houses, 57.7% four-plus-bedroom dwellings and a median age of 43. Car access matters because 81.5% of commuters drive, while only 0.6% use public transport.

What is the median house price in Lake Albert?

A reliable current median house price requires recent settled-sale evidence by bedroom and street. Lake Albert's stock is strongly detached, with 95.7% separate houses and 57.7% having four or more bedrooms, so buyers should compare like-for-like homes rather than rely on a single suburb-wide figure.

What schools are in Lake Albert?

Lake Albert Public School is a local government primary school. Families should confirm enrolment zones against the exact address, particularly where school access is important. The suburb has 6,291 residents and an average household size of 2.6 people, indicating a substantial family and household base.

Is Lake Albert safe?

A definitive safety rating should not be inferred from dwelling mix or household characteristics. Check current police incident patterns and visit at different times, especially around routes used by children and commuters. Lake Albert covers 24.54 square kilometres and 81.5% of commuters drive, so address-level location matters.

Is Lake Albert good for property investment?

It may suit investors targeting detached family rentals, but returns need to be tested against the purchase price. Weekly rent is $340, vacancy is 6.0%, and 15.8% of households rent. Development activity is notable at 146 applications in 12 months, which may increase competition or add newer stock.

How is Lake Albert's population changing?

Lake Albert has 6,291 residents and appears relatively settled: 81.8% stayed at the same address five years earlier, while turnover was 18.2%. That indicates less churn than a highly mobile suburb, although development activity remains notable at 146 applications in 12 months.

What development is happening in Lake Albert?

There were 146 development applications in the past 12 months. Recent examples include a subdivision modification, a swimming pool complying development certificate and a one-dwelling house complying development certificate. Because 95.7% of homes are separate houses, new activity is more likely to affect detached housing and individual lots than apartment supply.

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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