Lakelands
A compact 0.82 sq km suburb houses 1,445 people, yet 71.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms. That combination points to a low-rise, family-oriented housing market rather than an apartment-led centre. Household income sits at the 88.4th percentile nationally, while the median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure. Compared with Mount Hutton and Gateshead, Lakelands reads as a more concentrated residential pocket, with 94.3% separate houses and only 10.4% renting. Its profile suits buyers wanting space and stability, although the 64.4% car-driver share makes transport costs part of the decision.
Local council: Lake Macquarie
Population
1,445
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,315/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
For owner-occupiers, Lakelands is better suited to households seeking detached space than to buyers prioritising apartment living. Separate houses account for 94.3% of homes, while 71.2% have four or more bedrooms and 21.9% have three bedrooms. The tenure mix is divided between 45.2% owned outright and 43.8% with a mortgage, compared with 10.4% renting, which points to a settled ownership base. Mortgage repayments average $2,167 per month and represent 21.6% of household income, higher than the 19.4% rent-to-income ratio. Household income at the 88.4th percentile is above the national position, but buyers should still allow for car dependence because 64.4% travel as car drivers.
For Buyers
For owner-occupiers, Lakelands is better suited to households seeking detached space than to buyers prioritising apartment living. Separate houses account for 94.3% of homes, while 71.2% have four or more bedrooms and 21.9% have three bedrooms. The tenure mix is divided between 45.2% owned outright and 43.8% with a mortgage, compared with 10.4% renting, which points to a settled ownership base. Mortgage repayments average $2,167 per month and represent 21.6% of household income, higher than the 19.4% rent-to-income ratio. Household income at the 88.4th percentile is above the national position, but buyers should still allow for car dependence because 64.4% travel as car drivers.
For Investors
Lakelands has a small rental pool, with 10.4% of households renting, a weekly rent of $450 and a vacancy rate of 0.8%. The low vacancy figure is favourable compared with the suburb's limited renter share, because even modest tenant demand can affect a thin local market. Household income of $2,315 per week and an unemployment rate of 2.6% support a relatively resilient resident base, although income strength does not remove the need to test achievable rent. Only 3 development applications were lodged across the latest 12-month period, so the visible pipeline is smaller than in a high-volume expansion area. Investors should compare detached-house maintenance costs with the rent return before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Lakelands has a median age of 43, which is 3 years above the national figure, and an average household size of 2.8, or 0.3 higher than the national level. Couples with children account for 54.9% of families, helping explain the strong demand for four-bedroom-plus homes. University qualification attainment is 38.8%, 8.7 percentage points above the national comparison, while the overseas-born share is 13.3%, 8.3 points below it. English ancestry is reported by 621 people, followed by Scottish at 188 and Irish at 187. Christianity is recorded for 769 people and no religion for 573, giving the suburb a more Anglo-leaning profile than many nearby urban areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Lakelands has a strongly detached housing profile: 94.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 5.7% are semi-detached, while 71.2% contain four or more bedrooms. Compared with the 21.9% share of three-bedroom homes, this is a notably larger-home market. Tenure is also more ownership-focused than renter-led, with 45.2% owned outright, 43.8% mortgaged and 10.4% rented. Mortgage costs average $2,167 monthly, equal to 21.6% of household income, while rent represents 19.4%, so the mortgage burden is higher than the rental ratio in this profile. Household income ranks at the 88.4th percentile, above the national position, but the larger housing format can mean higher upkeep and insurance costs.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $450.
$725
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $725
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$939
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
0.8%
Unoccupied
4
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
54.9%
Couples with children
34.1%
Couples, no children
9.3%
Single parent
419
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Lakelands' largest employment industry at 24.4%, or 138 workers, followed by Education at 12.2% and 69 workers, Public Administration at 9.7% and 55, Construction at 8.5% and 48, and Professional and Technical services at 7.3% and 41. The occupational mix is led by 227 Professionals, 108 Community and Personal Service workers, 107 Clerical and Administrative workers, 101 Managers and 99 Trades workers. A labour force of 800, participation of 67.9% and unemployment of 2.6% indicate a healthy employment base, while 54.9% work full time. Compared with lower-income localities, the 88.4th household-income percentile supports spending capacity, although the concentration in healthcare and public services links some activity to institutional employers.
Unemployment
2.6%
Labour Force
800
Unemployed
21
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.9%
Part-time
38.6%
Participation
67.9%
Employed
779
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.8%
Postgraduate
6.9%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
505
Transport to Work
Daily travel is more car-oriented than active transport: 64.4% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.5% who walk or cycle, while 30.2% work from home. That mix can suit households with flexible work arrangements but makes access to shops, services and regional employment hubs more important than in a highly walkable suburb. Families should check exact school catchments, nearby government and non-government options, year-level availability and travel times before signing a lease or contract. Use current, street-level incident information when assessing safety, along with lighting, traffic and walking routes, rather than relying on population density alone. Household income is at the 88.4th percentile nationally, above the national position, but practical liveability still depends on the exact address and daily travel pattern.
Drive
64.4%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.5%
Work from Home
30.2%
Growth Outlook
Lakelands appears more established than churn-led: 83.8% of residents stayed at the same address and the turnover rate was 16.2%. Only 3 development applications were recorded across 12 months, involving alterations, a dwelling house, pools and related site works rather than a large visible subdivision program. With 1,445 residents living across 0.82 sq km, further change is more likely to be incremental than driven by a broad release of new land. Compared with a major greenfield precinct, the small application count and high residential stability suggest a mature housing pattern. Buyers should distinguish renovations and replacement projects from genuinely new dwelling supply when assessing local growth.
Population trend: Lake Macquarie council area
Lakelands sits in the Lake Macquarie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Lakelands's.
Residents 2025
224,540
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lakelands compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lakelands a good suburb to live in?
Lakelands suits households seeking detached space and a settled residential setting. Separate houses make up 94.3% of homes, 71.2% have 4 or more bedrooms and 83.8% of residents stayed at the same address, although 64.4% travel as car drivers.
What is the median house price in Lakelands?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales because Lakelands is dominated by 94.3% separate houses and 71.2% four-bedroom-plus homes. Compare like-for-like properties rather than applying a broad regional median, and use the $2,167 monthly mortgage figure only as an affordability reference.
What schools are in Lakelands?
Families should check school choices by exact address and enrolment zone. Lakelands covers 0.82 sq km and has 1,445 residents, so compare nearby government and non-government options across the surrounding Lake Macquarie area, including travel time, transport arrangements and year-level availability.
Is Lakelands safe?
Use current, street-level incident information before renting or buying. Lakelands has 1,445 residents across 0.82 sq km, but population density alone cannot establish safety. Compare recent incidents, lighting, traffic conditions and walking routes around the exact property and at the times your household will travel.
Is Lakelands good for property investment?
Lakelands may suit investors seeking a low-vacancy detached-house market. Weekly rent is $450, vacancy is 0.8% and 10.4% of households rent, while only 3 development applications were recorded over 12 months. Test the yield against maintenance, insurance, finance and the limited size of the rental pool.
How is Lakelands's population changing?
Lakelands currently has 1,445 residents. Residential stability is high, with 83.8% staying at the same address and 16.2% turnover, while 3 development applications in 12 months point to incremental visible change rather than a large construction pipeline. Track completed dwellings and local occupancy over time.
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).
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