Lake Illawarra
A 49.5% renting share makes Lake Illawarra more tenant-oriented than its 27.3% outright ownership share suggests. The suburb has 3,288 residents across 1.67 square kilometres, producing a density of 1,964.5 people per square kilometre. Its median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, while household income sits at the 16.2nd percentile nationally. English ancestry is prominent, with 1,245 people reporting it, alongside 1,585 identifying with Christianity. Compared with the more outward suburban form of nearby Warilla and Barrack Heights, Lake Illawarra has a compact housing and transport profile.
Population
3,288
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,069/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
33
Buying conditions are shaped by a mixed housing stock and notable repayment pressure. Separate houses account for 50.2% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes represent 26.7% and apartments 22.3%, giving buyers more choice than a detached-only market. The typical household size is 2.1 people, consistent with strong demand for 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom formats. Mortgage commitments average $1,733 monthly, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 37.4% is higher than the rent-to-income ratio of 30.7%. Buyers should confirm the current median sale price and compare specific streets with nearby Warilla, because dwelling type and condition may materially affect value.
For Buyers
Buying conditions are shaped by a mixed housing stock and notable repayment pressure. Separate houses account for 50.2% of dwellings, while semi-detached homes represent 26.7% and apartments 22.3%, giving buyers more choice than a detached-only market. The typical household size is 2.1 people, consistent with strong demand for 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom formats. Mortgage commitments average $1,733 monthly, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 37.4% is higher than the rent-to-income ratio of 30.7%. Buyers should confirm the current median sale price and compare specific streets with nearby Warilla, because dwelling type and condition may materially affect value.
For Investors
Lake Illawarra has a substantial tenant base, with 49.5% of households renting compared with 27.3% owning outright and 21.6% paying a mortgage. Weekly rent is $328 and the vacancy rate is 7.4%, so investors should test achievable rent carefully rather than assume tight conditions. Development activity is notable, with 36 applications recorded across 12 months, including a 2-dwelling dual occupancy and multi-dwelling housing proposals. Healthcare accounts for 25.8% of employment and education 11.2%, which may support tenant demand from workers and smaller households. Rental activity is higher than ownership activity, but the 37.4% mortgage stress measure highlights the importance of conservative debt assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
183
Last 12 Months
33
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lake Illawarra
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Lake Illawarra has an older age profile than the national average, with a median age of 43, or 3.0 years above it. University attainment is 15.6%, 14.5 percentage points below the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 19.9%, 1.7 points below nationally. Average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below the national figure, helping explain the concentration of smaller dwellings. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 1,245, 302 and 271 respectively. Christianity accounts for 1,585 people and no religion for 1,278. Compared with nearby Warilla and Barrack Heights, the suburb's compact 1.67 square kilometre footprint supports a more concentrated residential pattern.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
50.2%
Houses
26.7%
Townhouse
22.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is divided between 50.2% separate houses, 26.7% semi-detached dwellings and 22.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 40.7%, followed by 2-bedroom homes at 35.9%, while 4-bedroom or larger properties account for 15.1% and 0 to 1-bedroom dwellings 8.3%. This makes the suburb more suited to smaller households than a large-lot family market. Renting at 49.5% is higher than outright ownership at 27.3% and mortgage ownership at 21.6%. Weekly rent is $328, while the average mortgage payment is $1,733 per month and mortgage-to-income pressure at 37.4% is higher than rent pressure at 30.7%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $328.
$650
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $700 · units $495
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$608
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
114
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.7% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.4% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.5%
Couples with children
41.4%
Couples, no children
26.5%
Single parent
855
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 25.8%, followed by construction at 13.0%, education at 11.2%, public administration at 7.7% and manufacturing at 6.3%. The occupation profile is similarly practical, led by trades with 201 workers, community and personal services with 192, professionals with 188, labourers with 172 and clerical or administration roles with 140. Full-time employment is 53.9%, while unemployment is 6.2% and labour-force participation is 48.1%. Household income is $1,069 weekly and sits at the 16.2nd percentile, below a midpoint national comparison. The mix of healthcare, education and trades gives the local economy several service and construction links rather than relying on one industry alone.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
1,331
Unemployed
83
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.9%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
48.1%
Employed
1,248
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.6%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
19.9%
Dwellings
1,418
Transport to Work
Lake Illawarra is compact, with 3,288 residents living across 1.67 square kilometres at a density of 1,964.5 people per square kilometre. Two local government schools provide a primary and secondary option, while exact enrolment zones should be checked against the address. Daily travel is strongly car-dependent: 73.6% travel as a car driver, compared with 1.7% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 18.3%, which may reduce commuting for some households. Car use is substantially higher than public transport use, so off-street parking and road access matter more here than in a transit-led suburb. Compared with nearby Warilla and Barrack Heights, the compact setting can make local services accessible, but transport choices remain limited.
Drive
73.6%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
18.3%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lake Illawarra compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Illawarra a good suburb to live in?
Lake Illawarra can suit households seeking a compact setting, with 3,288 residents, 2 local government schools and a mix of houses, semi-detached homes and apartments. Car use is high at 73.6%, compared with 1.7% using public transport, so it is more practical for residents with reliable vehicle access.
What is the median house price in Lake Illawarra?
A current median house price should be checked against recent comparable sales because it cannot be inferred reliably from the $328 weekly rent or the $1,733 monthly mortgage figure. Housing choice is mixed, with 50.2% separate houses, 26.7% semi-detached dwellings and 22.3% apartments.
What schools are in Lake Illawarra?
Lake Illawarra has 2 local government schools: a primary school and a secondary school. Families should check the exact intake zone for each address, as enrolment boundaries can differ even within a 1.67 square kilometre suburb and may affect practical school access.
Is Lake Illawarra safe?
A reliable safety judgement should use the latest NSW Police incident information and recent local feedback, because conditions can vary across a 1.67 square kilometre area. Compare current incidents with nearby suburbs such as Warilla and Barrack Heights rather than relying on the suburb name alone.
Is Lake Illawarra good for property investment?
Lake Illawarra has a sizeable rental market at 49.5%, weekly rent of $328 and a 7.4% vacancy rate. There were 36 development applications across 12 months, including a 2-dwelling dual occupancy. Investors should compare achievable rent, insurance, maintenance and purchase price before estimating returns.
How is Lake Illawarra's population changing?
Lake Illawarra has 3,288 residents, with 78.6% staying at the same address and 21.4% turning over. The 36 development applications recorded across 12 months point to ongoing housing activity, while the established resident base suggests change is occurring alongside continuity rather than through a complete population replacement.
What development is happening in Lake Illawarra?
There were 36 development applications across 12 months. Recent examples include multi-dwelling housing proposals and a dual occupancy involving 2 dwellings. Buyers and residents should check approval conditions, construction timing and traffic effects because infill projects can change parking, privacy and streetscape conditions.
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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