Lake Heights
Lake Heights combines a compact 1.63 sq km footprint with 4,105 residents and a density of 2,520 people per sq km, giving it more urban intensity than its 82.7% separate-house share suggests. The median age is 36, four years below the national comparison, while 30.5% of residents were born overseas, 8.9 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Berkeley and Cringila, the suburb reads as a settled detached-home market, although household income sits at the 35th percentile. Population change across the wider area is 10.7% over 10 years, indicating growth without the pace of a major expansion corridor.
Population
4,105
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,356/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
For buyers, Lake Heights suits households seeking conventional family housing: 82.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 51.7% have 3 bedrooms and 28.8% have 4 or more. The main trade-off is financing pressure. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,950, mortgage costs equal 33.2% of household income and the mortgage stress flag is true. That burden is higher than the 29.5% rent-to-income figure, so deposit size and loan capacity need close attention. With 37.9% owning outright and 31.1% paying a mortgage, the tenure mix is more owner-oriented than renter-led. A current median sale price should be checked against comparable homes because dwelling size varies materially.
For Buyers
For buyers, Lake Heights suits households seeking conventional family housing: 82.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 51.7% have 3 bedrooms and 28.8% have 4 or more. The main trade-off is financing pressure. The typical monthly mortgage figure is $1,950, mortgage costs equal 33.2% of household income and the mortgage stress flag is true. That burden is higher than the 29.5% rent-to-income figure, so deposit size and loan capacity need close attention. With 37.9% owning outright and 31.1% paying a mortgage, the tenure mix is more owner-oriented than renter-led. A current median sale price should be checked against comparable homes because dwelling size varies materially.
For Investors
Lake Heights has a 29.1% renter share and weekly rent of $400, creating a meaningful tenant pool, while the 6.9% vacancy rate is an important counterweight because available stock can reduce leasing competition. Rent absorbs 29.5% of household income, below the 33.2% mortgage burden, which may support demand from households priced out of ownership. Rent growth is recorded at 84.2%, but the annual forecast trend is only 0.22%, so the case depends more on rental performance and property quality than rapid growth. There were 34 development applications in 12 months, including attached dual occupancies with 2 dwellings each, pointing to incremental supply. Compared with an apartment-led market, the 82.7% separate-house share brings greater land and maintenance exposure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
177
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+36.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lake Heights
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Lake Heights has a median age of 36, four years below the national comparison, and an average household size of 2.6, 0.1 above the national average. Families are significant: couples with children represent 42.7% of families, couples without children 35.3% and one-parent families 19.6%. Overseas-born residents account for 30.5%, 8.9 percentage points above the national figure. English ancestry is recorded for 911 residents, Italian for 387 and Macedonian for 330, while Arabic, Macedonian and Portuguese are recorded languages for 129, 105 and 61 people respectively. Christianity counts 2,249 residents, no religion 1,156 and Islam 373. Compared with nearby Berkeley and Cringila, Lake Heights has a settled household base, with 81.0% staying at the same address and turnover of 19.0%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.7%
Houses
5.9%
Townhouse
11.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Detached housing dominates Lake Heights: 82.7% of dwellings are separate houses, versus 11.2% apartments and 5.9% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile reinforces a family-oriented stock, with 51.7% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 28.8% containing 4 or more, compared with 15.7% with 2 bedrooms and 3.8% with 0 or 1 bedroom. Tenure is divided between 37.9% outright owners, 31.1% mortgagors and 29.1% renters, with 1.8% in other arrangements. Mortgage costs take 33.2% of household income, higher than the 29.5% rent-to-income figure, which explains the recorded mortgage stress. Compared with nearby Berkeley and Cringila, Lake Heights is primarily a detached market, so buyers seeking apartments face a smaller 11.2% segment.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $400.
$640
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $690 · units $500
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$623
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
111
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.2% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.7%
Couples with children
35.3%
Couples, no children
19.6%
Single parent
1,109
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Lake Heights' leading industry at 23.2% of jobs and 238 workers, followed by construction at 13.0% and 133, education at 9.4% and 96, professional and technical services at 7.8% and 80, and retail at 7.6% and 78. This mix connects the suburb to essential services, building activity and local-facing work rather than one dominant employer. Occupations include 286 trades workers, 261 professionals, 226 community and personal service workers, 214 clerical and administrative workers and 180 labourers, broadly matching the industry profile. Household income is $1,356 weekly at the 35th percentile, while unemployment is 6.4% and participation is 54.1%. The IEO is in decile 1, IER in decile 2, IRSD in decile 1 and IRSAD in decile 1. IER is the relative high point, but remains only one decile above the other measures, indicating lower socioeconomic advantage than higher-decile areas.
Unemployment
6.4%
Labour Force
1,750
Unemployed
112
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.4%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
54.1%
Employed
1,638
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.0%
Postgraduate
5.8%
Born Overseas
30.5%
Dwellings
1,495
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led: 69.6% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.9% using public transport, while 22.3% work from home. That pattern can make local trips practical for drivers but leaves less flexibility for households without a car, even within the compact 1.63 sq km suburb. Lake Heights Public School is the local government primary option; families should confirm enrolment zones and year levels because boundaries can cross nearby streets. With 1 local school, households may need to consider surrounding areas for secondary years or another sector. The IRSAD and IRSD both sit in decile 1, indicating lower relative advantage than higher-decile areas. A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so current NSW Police information and an exact-street check are sensible before moving.
Drive
69.6%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.4%
Work from Home
22.3%
Population Forecast
+0.22%/yr
(+32 people/yr)
EstablishedLake Heights is forecast to grow at 0.22% annually, a slow rate consistent with its established type and Stable trajectory. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 10.7% over 10 years. Other shift indicators record rent growth of 84.2%, affordability worsening from 50.3% in 2011 to 62.5% in 2021, and real income growth of 20.4%. These forces suggest demand can rise without rapid expansion because overseas migration supports occupancy while worsening affordability limits who can buy. The outlook therefore points to gradual change rather than a sharp population surge. Compared with faster-growing corridors, Lake Heights is more likely to experience steady renewal, targeted additions and pressure on established housing costs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+89
Net Internal / yr
-120
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -120/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lake Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Heights a good suburb to live in?
Lake Heights may suit households wanting detached housing and a compact setting: 82.7% of dwellings are separate houses, while 69.6% of commuters drive. Check transport and school access carefully if you do not own a car.
What is the median house price in Lake Heights?
Check recent comparable sales or an agent appraisal for the current median house price. Lake Heights has 51.7% three-bedroom and 28.8% four-plus-bedroom homes, so compare like-for-like properties rather than mixing dwelling types.
What schools are in Lake Heights?
Lake Heights Public School is the local government primary option. Families should confirm enrolment zones and year levels, because 1 local school does not cover every schooling stage or sector.
Is Lake Heights safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so review recent NSW Police information and inspect the exact street before deciding. Lake Heights has 4,105 residents and 81.0% stayed at the same address, but those figures are not safety ratings.
Is Lake Heights good for property investment?
Investment conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $400 and the renter share is 29.1%, while vacancy is 6.9%. Rent growth is 84.2%, but 34 development applications in 12 months could add competing stock.
How is Lake Heights's population changing?
Growth is steady rather than rapid: the annual forecast trend is 0.22%, the trajectory is Stable and overseas migration is the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 10.7% over 10 years.
What languages are spoken in Lake Heights?
Arabic is recorded for 129 residents, Macedonian for 105 and Portuguese for 61. Italian ancestry totals 387 people, while English ancestry is recorded for 911, pointing to language needs worth considering in local services.
What development is occurring in Lake Heights?
There were 34 development applications in 12 months, including attached dual occupancies for 2 dwellings each and alterations to existing homes. Check approvals, construction timing and likely effects on parking or housing 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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