Lakes Entrance
An established coastal township of 5,145 people, Lakes Entrance has a median age of 55, or 15 years above the national comparison, and a 24.6% vacancy rate. Household income sits at the 6.5th percentile, helping explain the high 50.2% outright-ownership rate and limited mortgage share. The profile is older and quieter than nearby Bairnsdale, with a strong retiree and service-economy orientation rather than a large professional base.
Population
5,145
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$866/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$485K
October to December 2025
Stock is strongly detached, with 82.4% separate houses and 48.4% three-bedroom homes, so the market suits buyers seeking conventional family layouts more than apartment living, which accounts for only 1.8%. Mortgage costs are $1,227 monthly, and mortgage repayments equal 32.7% of household income, higher than the 29.1% rent-to-income measure. A 50.2% outright-owned base can mean fewer listings, so compare maintenance and insurance costs carefully.
For Buyers
Stock is strongly detached, with 82.4% separate houses and 48.4% three-bedroom homes, so the market suits buyers seeking conventional family layouts more than apartment living, which accounts for only 1.8%. Mortgage costs are $1,227 monthly, and mortgage repayments equal 32.7% of household income, higher than the 29.1% rent-to-income measure. A 50.2% outright-owned base can mean fewer listings, so compare maintenance and insurance costs carefully.
For Investors
Rental property conditions are mixed. Weekly rent is $252 and 28.4% of households rent, below the 50.2% outright-owned share, reflecting a settled owner base rather than a strongly renter-led market. The 24.6% vacancy rate is high, so advertised availability may dilute short-term rental competition and reduce income certainty. Seven development matters were recorded over 12 months, modest beside the existing detached stock, while the wider growth outlook runs at 1.17% annually and is driven by internal migration. Rent growth of 35.0% and an aging trajectory may support demand for practical, low-maintenance homes, but investors should stress-test vacancy, repairs and insurance rather than assume capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+166.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lakes Entrance
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Lakes Entrance Primary School
St Brendan's School
Lakes Entrance Secondary College
Demographics
Lakes Entrance has an older, smaller-household profile: median age is 55, 15 years above the national comparison, while average household size is 2.1, or 0.4 below national. University attainment is 16.3%, 13.8 percentage points below national, and 15.0% of residents were born overseas, 6.6 points below national. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 2,039, 549 and 509 respectively. No religion and Christianity are the largest recorded affiliations at 2,269 and 2,170 people. Italian and Greek are the leading listed non-English languages, with 17 and 15 speakers. Compared with nearby Bairnsdale, the community feels more settled and age-oriented, consistent with an 80.1% stay rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.4%
Houses
13.0%
Townhouse
1.8%
Apartment
Tenure
House prices have moved unevenly rather than in a straight line. Ownership is concentrated: 50.2% of households own outright, 19.5% hold a mortgage and 28.4% rent. Separate houses make up 82.4% of dwellings, with 48.4% containing three bedrooms and 24.1% four or more. The $1,227 monthly mortgage benchmark consumes 32.7% of household income, higher than the 29.1% rent ratio, so affordability is better for debt-free owners than for new borrowers.
Mortgage / mo
$1,227
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$252
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$514
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
24.6%
Unoccupied
705
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.7% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.7%
Couples with children
54.2%
Couples, no children
18.2%
Single parent
1,291
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is concentrated in healthcare at 22.9%, followed by hospitality at 13.2%, education at 11.4%, construction at 8.9% and retail at 8.0%. This mix supports essential services and visitor activity but is less concentrated in high-income professional work: community and personal roles number 253, labourers 247, professionals 226, managers 210 and trades 196. Unemployment is 5.4%, participation is 37.8% and full-time employment is 45.0%, while 2,285 people are outside the labour force. Household income is $866 weekly at the 6.5th percentile, and SEIFA places the area in decile 3 for disadvantage and decile 2 for advantage, below national socioeconomic benchmarks. The low participation rate is consistent with an older population, though it also limits workforce depth for employers.
Unemployment
5.4%
Labour Force
1,662
Unemployed
89
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
45.0%
Part-time
44.5%
Participation
37.8%
Employed
1,573
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.3%
Postgraduate
3.2%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
2,130
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-dependent: 76.0% of residents travel as car drivers, compared with 0.3% using public transport and 5.5% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 11.2%, so access to a vehicle matters for jobs, shopping and services across the coastal area. Families have 3 nearby schools spanning 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school, with both primary and secondary options; check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across the suburb. Safety requires a realistic reading of 903 recorded offences, including 371 property and deception offences and 197 crimes against the person, equal to 175.5 offences per 1,000 residents. SEIFA sits in decile 2 for relative advantage and decile 3 for disadvantage, below broader socioeconomic benchmarks. The setting may suit residents prioritising a slower pace, but transport and service access deserve more weight than scenery alone.
Drive
76.0%
Public Transport
0.3%
Walk / Cycle
5.5%
Work from Home
11.2%
Population Forecast
+1.17%/yr
(+133 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady but shaped by ageing. The wider area has an annual trend of 1.17%, with internal migration the primary driver, while the trajectory is labelled Aging. Population change across the wider area is 18.0% over 10 years, but the young share has fallen 2.1 percentage points and the senior share has risen 8.8 points. Gentrification is at an Early signs stage with a score of 31, alongside rent growth of 35.0%. Affordability was 48.4% in 2011 and 48.0% in 2021, 0.4 points lower in the later year. New subdivision activity includes 2-lot and 13-lot examples, but only 7 development matters were recorded across 12 months.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+26
Net Internal / yr
+80
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +18% since 2011, Net internal migration +80/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 13%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
903
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
175.5
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Lakes Entrance compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lakes Entrance a good suburb to live in?
Yes, for buyers who value a coastal setting, established services and a quieter pace. Lakes Entrance has 5,145 residents, a median age of 55 and 82.4% detached housing. Car dependence is high at 76.0%, while the 175.5 offences per 1,000 rate means safety and transport should be checked at street level.
What schools are in Lakes Entrance?
Lakes Entrance has 3 listed schools: 2 primary schools and 1 secondary college. The sector mix is 2 government schools and 1 Catholic school. Families should confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address, because a nearby school does not automatically guarantee a place.
Is Lakes Entrance safe?
Safety is mixed and deserves local checking. The recorded crime rate is 175.5 offences per 1,000 residents, with 903 total offences, including 371 property and deception offences and 197 crimes against the person. Compare individual streets and recent trends before choosing a home, especially if renting or buying remotely.
Is Lakes Entrance good for property investment?
Property investment can work for a carefully selected, low-maintenance home, but conditions are not automatic. Weekly rent is $252, vacancy is 24.6% and 28.4% of households rent, while 7 development matters were recorded over 12 months. Internal migration and 1.17% annual growth are supportive, but high vacancy warrants conservative yield and insurance assumptions.
How is Lakes Entrance's population changing?
The population profile is ageing rather than youthful. Median age is 55, the senior share has increased 8.8 percentage points and the young share has declined 2.1 points. Across the wider area, population change is 18.0% over 10 years and the annual trend is 1.17%, driven primarily by internal migration.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), 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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