Lakelands
Household income in the 88.4th percentile nationally sits alongside a vacancy rate of just 0.8%, signalling a suburb where financially stable residents stay put. Lakelands covers only 0.82 square kilometres on the NSW Central Coast with 1,445 residents, giving a density of 1,759 people per square kilometre. The dominant story is owner-occupation: 45.5% own outright and only 10.4% rent, compared to much higher renter shares across most urban NSW suburbs. University qualifications reach 38.8%, which is 8.7 percentage points above the national figure, and the workforce leans toward healthcare and education rather than trade-heavy industries.
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
4
Median House
$1.2M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Lakelands is $1,235,000, up from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,250,000 in 2025, a 2.5% gain over the period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold, making serviceability more manageable than in many comparable NSW coastal markets. Detached houses account for 94.3% of the stock, meaning buyers are almost exclusively purchasing freestanding homes. The bedroom profile is skewed large: 71.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 21.9% have three, so three-bedroom entry stock is thin. With 45.5% of homes owned outright, long-term ownership is the norm, and turnover is low at 16.2% annually.
For Buyers
The median house price in Lakelands is $1,235,000, up from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,250,000 in 2025, a 2.5% gain over the period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.6%, well below the 30% stress threshold, making serviceability more manageable than in many comparable NSW coastal markets. Detached houses account for 94.3% of the stock, meaning buyers are almost exclusively purchasing freestanding homes. The bedroom profile is skewed large: 71.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 21.9% have three, so three-bedroom entry stock is thin. With 45.5% of homes owned outright, long-term ownership is the norm, and turnover is low at 16.2% annually.
For Investors
The 10.4% renter share is low compared to the NSW state average, reflecting a predominantly owner-occupier suburb where rental demand is limited. Weekly rent sits at $450, and the vacancy rate is 0.8%, below typical equilibrium thresholds, meaning the few available rentals fill quickly. Development activity is modest with 4 applications in the past 12 months, most involving alterations or additions to existing houses rather than new dwellings. Rent-to-income at 19.4% indicates tenants are not stressed, which supports rental stability but also suggests limited upward rent pressure. The 2.5% price growth from 2024 to 2025 is moderate, and with no forecast data available, investors should weigh the low yield potential against the suburb's income-stable, low-vacancy profile.
Development Activity
Total DAs
29
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, consistent with an established, owner-occupier suburb where families have aged in place. Overseas-born residents make up 13.3%, which is 8.3 percentage points below the national average, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (621), Scottish (188) and Irish (187) lead all groups. University qualifications reach 38.8%, running 8.7 percentage points above national, which aligns with the professional and managerial occupation mix. Average household size is 2.8, slightly above the national average of 2.5. Couples with children form 42.2% of families and couples without children 22.1%, pointing to a family-oriented demographic rather than a retiree or singles market.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.3%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Lakelands is one of the more consistently owner-occupier suburbs on the NSW Central Coast: 45.5% own outright, 44.1% hold a mortgage, and only 10.4% rent, a renter share far lower than most NSW suburbs. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 94.3%, with semi-detached dwellings at 5.7% and no apartments recorded. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 71.2% of the stock, which is unusually top-heavy compared to state norms, reflecting a suburb built for family living. Median house prices moved from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,250,000 in 2025, a 2.5% gain. Mortgage stress is low at a 21.6% mortgage-to-income ratio, and the 0.8% vacancy rate shows housing is tightly held.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$450
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
22.1%
Couples, no children
1,285
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 24.4% of workers (138 people), more than double the share of the next largest sector, Education at 12.2% (69 workers). Public Administration follows at 9.7%, Construction at 8.5% and Professional and Technical Services at 7.3%. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group (227 workers), followed by Community and Personal Services (108) and Clerical and Administrative roles (107). Unemployment is 2.8%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate is 58.7%. Personal weekly income averages $939 and household weekly income $2,315, placing the suburb in the 88.4th percentile nationally. The low-migrant, high-qualification workforce pattern is consistent with established mid-career professionals rather than recent arrivals.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.7%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
63.7%
Employed
729
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.8%
Postgraduate
6.9%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
505
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 92.2% of residents drive to work, compared to lower car-reliance figures in denser urban suburbs, and only 0.7% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in surrounding suburbs. The volunteering rate of 15.3% is above typical levels, reflecting a community with spare capacity and civic engagement. Only 4.7% of residents need daily assistance, low relative to the median age of 43 years. Housing stress is absent by both measures: rent-to-income at 19.4% and mortgage-to-income at 21.6% both sit below stress thresholds, making Lakelands one of the more financially comfortable suburbs in this income tier. The low vacancy rate of 0.8% and 83.8% residential stability reinforce a settled, low-turnover living environment.
Drive
92.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.7%
Work from Home
N/A
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 places household income in the 88.4th percentile nationally, with mortgage-to-income at 21.6% and rent-to-income at 19.4%, both well below stress thresholds. The 0.8% vacancy rate and 83.8% residential stability rate suggest residents consistently choose to stay. The main trade-off is high car dependence at 92.2% of commuters and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Lakelands?
The median house price is $1,235,000, rising from $1,220,000 in 2024 to $1,250,000 in 2025, a 2.5% gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, which is a 21.6% mortgage-to-income ratio, below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $450.
What schools are in Lakelands?
No schools are recorded within the Lakelands suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby suburbs. The local adult population is well-qualified, with 38.8% holding university degrees, which is 8.7 percentage points above the national average.
Is Lakelands safe?
Detailed crime rate data is not available for Lakelands in this dataset. As a proxy, only 4.7% of residents (66 people) require daily assistance, unemployment is low at 2.8%, and the suburb's income sits in the 88.4th percentile nationally, all factors associated with lower crime prevalence in comparable Australian suburbs.
Is Lakelands good for property investment?
The 0.8% vacancy rate is tight, meaning rental stock is absorbed quickly, but the 10.4% renter share is low compared to most NSW suburbs, limiting the tenant pool. Weekly rent of $450 against a $1,235,000 median implies a gross yield near 1.9%. Price growth of 2.5% from 2024 to 2025 is modest. The investment case rests on capital stability and income-stable tenants rather than high yield.
How is Lakelands's population changing?
The suburb has 1,445 residents across 0.82 square kilometres, giving a density of 1,759 per square kilometre. The 83.8% residential stability rate indicates very low turnover. With only 4 development applications in the past 12 months and a compact boundary, meaningful population growth is constrained by the limited land available for new dwellings.
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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