Lake Coogee
A 3.45 sq km footprint houses 4,768 residents at a density of 1,384 people per sq km, giving Lake Coogee a compact but predominantly family-home profile. The median age is 37, three years below the national figure, while household income sits at the 81.8th percentile. Separate houses account for 93.1% of dwellings and mortgages for 52.8% of tenure, making this more of a home-owning and family market than a rental-led one. Compared with nearby Coogee and Spearwood, the clearest local distinction is Lake Coogee's detached housing base, alongside an aging trajectory and early gentrification signals.
Population
4,768
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,147/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
24
Lake Coogee suits buyers seeking a conventional house rather than apartment stock: 93.1% of homes are separate houses, 60.4% have four or more bedrooms and 34.9% have three bedrooms. Buyers should compare live sales with the $2,000 monthly mortgage reference and $400 weekly rent, since a single suburb-wide median is not a dependable guide here. Mortgage commitments equal 21.5% of household income, higher than the 18.6% rent share, while 52.8% of households are paying a mortgage. Compared with nearby Coogee or Spearwood, the address-level test matters because dwelling type and renovation condition can vary sharply within a detached market.
For Buyers
Lake Coogee suits buyers seeking a conventional house rather than apartment stock: 93.1% of homes are separate houses, 60.4% have four or more bedrooms and 34.9% have three bedrooms. Buyers should compare live sales with the $2,000 monthly mortgage reference and $400 weekly rent, since a single suburb-wide median is not a dependable guide here. Mortgage commitments equal 21.5% of household income, higher than the 18.6% rent share, while 52.8% of households are paying a mortgage. Compared with nearby Coogee or Spearwood, the address-level test matters because dwelling type and renovation condition can vary sharply within a detached market.
For Investors
Lake Coogee presents a predominantly owner-occupier investment profile, with 15.8% of occupied dwellings rented, 30.5% owned outright and 52.8% held with a mortgage. Weekly rent is $400 and vacancy is 5.7%, so rental demand should be assessed carefully against property condition and tenant depth rather than assumed from low rental supply. Rent growth is 7.2%, while development activity reached 20 matters in 12 months. The forecast trend is 1.71% annually with Balanced migration, suggesting growth is supported by more than one demand source. Yields and maintenance need comparison with nearby Coogee and Spearwood before purchase.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lake Coogee
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
ST JEROME'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Demographics
Lake Coogee's 4,768 residents have a median age of 37, three years below the national figure, but the trajectory is aging as the senior share has increased by 4.1 percentage points. University attainment is 26.5%, 3.6 points below the national level, while 30.0% were born overseas, 8.4 points above it. English ancestry counts 1,651 people and Italian ancestry 734; Italian, Croatian and Portuguese are the leading listed non-English languages, with 68, 53 and 49 speakers. Couples with children represent 51.0% of families, and 80.4% stayed at the same address, higher than the 19.6% turnover rate. Compared with nearby Coogee and Spearwood, this points to a settled family base with growing age diversity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.1%
Houses
5.5%
Townhouse
1.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Lake Coogee is strongly detached and family-sized: 93.1% of dwellings are separate houses, 60.4% contain four or more bedrooms and 34.9% contain three. Tenure is led by mortgages at 52.8%, followed by outright ownership at 30.5% and renting at 15.8%. Weekly household income is $2,147, while mortgage and rent burdens are 21.5% and 18.6%, respectively, so mortgage households carry the higher reported housing share. Compared with nearby Coogee and Spearwood, buyers should treat Lake Coogee as a house-led market and compare land, build age and renovation needs rather than rely on a suburb-wide median.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$951
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.7%
Unoccupied
104
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
51.0%
Couples with children
34.1%
Couples, no children
14.0%
Single parent
1,356
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment conditions are relatively solid, with a 71.5% participation rate, 3.2% unemployment and 60.9% of workers employed full time. Healthcare leads local industry at 15.9% with 269 workers, followed by construction at 12.1% and 205, education at 11.4% and 193, manufacturing at 9.2% and 155, and public administration at 6.6% and 112. Trades are the largest occupation group at 526, ahead of professionals at 467 and clerical and administrative workers at 383. Household income ranks at the 81.8th percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA deciles of 6 for education and occupation, 9 for economic resources, and 7 for advantage suggest stronger financial capacity than education indicators alone would imply.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
2,705
Unemployed
87
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
32.1%
Participation
71.5%
Employed
2,618
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.5%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
30.0%
Dwellings
1,732
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 82.3% drive to work, compared with 3.1% using public transport and 0.9% walking or cycling; 9.4% work from home. That pattern makes parking and road access more important than transit proximity, especially for households commuting outside Lake Coogee. One local primary school is in the non-government sector, so families should check enrolment zones and compare nearby government and non-government options against the exact address. The IRSAD decile is 7, above the midpoint for area-level advantage, while 13.1% volunteer and 3.9% need assistance. For safety, inspect current police or council reports and visit at different times. Compared with a transit-led suburb, Lake Coogee is better suited to residents comfortable with driving.
Drive
82.3%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
0.9%
Work from Home
9.4%
Population Forecast
+1.71%/yr
(+189 people/yr)
EstablishedLake Coogee has an established forecast type, with annual growth of 1.71% and Balanced migration as the primary driver. The wider area records 30.5% population change over ten years, while the shift trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 4.1 percentage points and working share is down 1.0 point. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage, with a score of 36, and rent growth is 7.2%. These signals suggest steady expansion because demand is being fed by demographic change and continued housing pressure rather than a single migration source. The 1.71% trend is above zero, but the aging label means future demand may favour accessible homes and established services more than rapid turnover.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+104
Net Internal / yr
+68
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +38% since 2011, Net internal migration +68/yr, Accelerating: 14% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lake Coogee compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Coogee a good suburb to live in?
It suits households wanting detached homes, larger bedrooms and car-based commuting. The suburb has 4,768 residents, a 93.1% separate-house share and an IRSAD decile of 7, but public transport use is only 3.1%, so it is less suitable than a transit-focused area.
What is the median house price in Lake Coogee?
There is no reliable current median house price to use as the sole benchmark. Buyers should compare live sales with the $400 weekly rent, the $2,000 monthly mortgage reference and the 93.1% separate-house share, then adjust for land size, build age and condition.
What schools are in Lake Coogee?
Lake Coogee has one local primary school, St Jerome's Primary School, in the non-government sector. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and compare nearby options because access can vary by address. The average household size is 2.7 people, indicating meaningful family demand.
Is Lake Coogee safe?
Compared with a suburb that has a published crime-rate measure, Lake Coogee requires more direct checking. Inspect current police or council information and visit at different times. The IRSAD decile is 7 and 82.3% of commuters drive, but neither figure replaces current safety advice.
Is Lake Coogee good for property investment?
It may suit investors targeting detached family rental stock, but the numbers call for selectivity. Renting is 15.8%, weekly rent is $400, vacancy is 5.7% and rent growth is 7.2%. Compare likely yield, insurance, maintenance and resale depth with Coogee and Spearwood before buying.
How is Lake Coogee's population changing?
The direction is growth with aging characteristics. Annual growth is forecast at 1.71%, migration is Balanced, and population change across the wider area is 30.5% over ten years. The senior share has risen 4.1 points while the working share has fallen 1.0 point, compared with a younger growth corridor.
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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