Lake Cathie
With a median age of 52, Lake Cathie sits 12 years above the national figure, making it one of the most age-concentrated coastal communities in NSW. The suburb's 4,296 residents occupy a 19.2 km2 area at a density of just 223.8 people per km2, a deliberate low-density footprint where 91.1% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income sits in the 29th percentile nationally, yet the median house price reached $820,000 in the 2024-2025 period, creating a notable affordability gap for incoming buyers. The vacancy rate at 8.7% is above typical coastal suburb averages, pointing to a holiday or semi-retirement ownership pattern.
Population
4,296
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,275/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
64
Median House
$820K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $820,000 reflects Lake Cathie's desirable Mid North Coast position, with price history showing a rise from $770,000 in 2024 to $879,000 in 2025, a 14.2% single-year gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850, but with household income in the 29th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 91.1% separate houses, and 43.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, well above state norms. Only 28.3% of residents hold a mortgage while 54% own outright, which speaks to an older, settled ownership base rather than a market driven by first-home buyers or upgraders.
For Buyers
The median house price of $820,000 reflects Lake Cathie's desirable Mid North Coast position, with price history showing a rise from $770,000 in 2024 to $879,000 in 2025, a 14.2% single-year gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850, but with household income in the 29th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio reaches 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold. The stock is overwhelmingly detached, with 91.1% separate houses, and 43.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms, well above state norms. Only 28.3% of residents hold a mortgage while 54% own outright, which speaks to an older, settled ownership base rather than a market driven by first-home buyers or upgraders.
For Investors
At $380 per week, rent is modest relative to the $820,000 median, implying a gross yield under 2.5%, below typical regional NSW benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 8.7% is elevated, likely reflecting holiday letting cycles rather than chronic oversupply. With 17.7% renters and a participation rate of only 45.7%, the permanent tenant pool is thin. On the positive side, 58 development applications in 12 months signal builder confidence, and the 14.2% price rise from 2024 to 2025 shows capital growth potential that offsets the low yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
557
Last 12 Months
64
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-21.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lake Cathie iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lake Cathie Public School
K-6 · 395 students
Demographics
The median age of 52 sits 12 years above the national figure, and only 40.7% of families are couples with children. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,970), Scottish (562) and Irish (509) lead the count. The overseas-born share of 11% is 10.6 percentage points below national, consistent with a long-settled community. University qualifications reach 22.9%, which is 7.2 points below national, reflecting a workforce that skews toward trades and community services. The volunteering rate of 19.2% is high, and 79.1% of residents stayed at the same address over the survey period.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.1%
Houses
5.4%
Townhouse
3.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is dominated by outright owners at 54%, more than double the 28.3% on mortgage, and well above national averages. This pattern reflects buyers who entered the market years ago and have cleared debt. The stock is 91.1% separate houses with only 3.6% apartments, meaning very limited entry-level options. Bedrooms skew large: 43.9% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 33.1% have 3. The median house price reached $820,000 in 2024-2025, up 14.2% from $770,000 in 2024, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,850
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$658
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.7%
Unoccupied
163
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.7%
Couples, no children
3,539
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 20.2% (233 workers), followed by Education at 16.1% (186) and Construction at 13.9% (160). This service and trades mix reflects the care needs of an aging population. By occupation, Professionals lead at 353, followed by Community and Personal service workers at 242. The unemployment rate of 5.6% sits above the national benchmark, partly because the participation rate of only 45.7% leaves 1,710 residents outside the labour force, consistent with early retirement. Personal weekly income averages $658, placing household income in the 29th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.9%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
45.7%
Employed
1,552
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.9%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
11.0%
Dwellings
1,712
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 91.4% of commuters drive and public transport use sits at 1.4%, well below state and national rates. The 19.2 km2 footprint at 223.8 people per km2 makes car access essential for daily tasks. No schools are recorded within the boundary, so families use services in Port Macquarie and surrounding centres. Rent-to-income at 29.8% stays just below the 30% stress threshold, keeping renting manageable. The need-for-assistance rate of 7.2% (299 residents) is above national average, which follows directly from the median age of 52. Crime data is unavailable in the dataset.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lake Cathie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Cathie a good suburb to live in?
Lake Cathie suits retirees and buyers who want a low-density coastal lifestyle. With 91.1% separate houses and 54% of residents owning outright, the suburb has a settled, stable character. The median age of 52 is 12 years above the national figure. The main trade-offs are near-total car dependency (91.4% drive) and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Lake Cathie?
The median house price is $820,000, based on PSI-derived data for the 2024-2025 period. Prices rose from $770,000 in 2024 to $879,000 in 2025, a gain of 14.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 33.5%, above the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Lake Cathie?
No schools are recorded inside the Lake Cathie boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Port Macquarie and other Mid North Coast centres. This is consistent with the suburb's aging demographic profile, where 52 is the median age and couples without children make up 40.7% of families.
Is Lake Cathie safe?
Crime rate data is not available for Lake Cathie in this dataset, so a direct comparison to state or national figures cannot be made. As a proxy indicator, the suburb has a low vacancy-rate driven by owner-occupiers (54% own outright), a low renter share of 17.7%, and a volunteering rate of 19.2%, all consistent with a stable, low-transient community.
Is Lake Cathie good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $380 against a median of $820,000 gives a gross yield under 2.5%, below typical regional NSW benchmarks. However, price growth of 14.2% over the past year and 58 development applications in 12 months suggest capital growth demand. The vacancy rate of 8.7% is elevated, likely due to holiday lettings, which can compress permanent rental income.
How is Lake Cathie's population changing?
Lake Cathie has a population of 4,296 across 19.2 km2. Residential turnover is low, with 79.1% of residents not having moved in the past 5 years, compared to higher mobility in most coastal NSW suburbs. The aging profile, with a median age of 52 and a participation rate of only 45.7%, suggests slow organic growth unless younger buyers enter the market.
How much development is happening in Lake Cathie?
There were 58 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, with recent samples including new dwelling house constructions and alterations. This is notable for a suburb of 4,296 residents and reflects strong builder and buyer interest. The detached housing stock dominates at 91.1%, so most new activity continues the established low-density pattern.
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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