Lockhart
At just 2.1 people per square kilometre, Lockhart combines a population of 1,019 with a broad 485.68-square-kilometre footprint and a median age of 51. The housing profile is firmly detached, with 96.8% separate houses, while 55.4% of homes are owned outright. A 10.9% vacancy rate is high for a small township and points to a thinner, less competitive market than major regional centres. Compared with Wagga Wagga, Lockhart feels more dispersed and settled, with 82.3% of residents staying at the same address.
Local council: Lockhart (66% of the suburb; the rest sits in a neighbouring council)
Population
1,019
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,111/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
23
Lockhart suits buyers prioritising land, detached housing and manageable ongoing costs over apartment choice or urban convenience. Separate houses account for 96.8% of dwellings, with 43.8% containing 3 bedrooms and 38.7% containing 4 or more. The recorded mortgage measure is $867 per month, equal to 18.0% of household income, while the weekly rent figure is $195. That lower payment burden can support owner-occupiers, although the 485.68-square-kilometre footprint means services and commuting should be checked address by address. Compared with denser regional markets, the 2.1-person-per-square-kilometre setting provides more space but fewer housing formats.
For Buyers
Lockhart suits buyers prioritising land, detached housing and manageable ongoing costs over apartment choice or urban convenience. Separate houses account for 96.8% of dwellings, with 43.8% containing 3 bedrooms and 38.7% containing 4 or more. The recorded mortgage measure is $867 per month, equal to 18.0% of household income, while the weekly rent figure is $195. That lower payment burden can support owner-occupiers, although the 485.68-square-kilometre footprint means services and commuting should be checked address by address. Compared with denser regional markets, the 2.1-person-per-square-kilometre setting provides more space but fewer housing formats.
For Investors
Investment conditions are shaped by low tenant concentration and unusually loose availability. Only 20.6% of occupied dwellings are rented, the weekly rent figure is $195 and vacancy is 10.9%, higher than a tightly held rental market. That combination may reduce competition for tenants and limit rent-growth pressure, so investors should underwrite conservatively rather than assume rapid escalation. There were 24 development applications in 12 months, including additions, fences and a carport, indicating incremental renewal rather than a major apartment pipeline. Compared with larger regional centres, Lockhart is a smaller, lower-turnover market with 82.3% resident stability.
Development Activity
Total DAs
139
Last 12 Months
23
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+15.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lockhart
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Lockhart has an older, relatively stable resident base: median age is 51, or 11.0 years above the national comparison, and 82.3% stayed at the same address over the reference period. Overseas-born residents account for 6.5%, 15.1 percentage points below the national comparison, while university qualification at 17.7% is 12.4 points lower. English, Irish and Scottish ancestries number 453, 182 and 127 respectively; Christianity is reported by 725 people and no religion by 208. Couples without children make up 48.7% of families, consistent with an average household size of 2.2. Compared with Wagga Wagga's broader regional catchment, Lockhart has a more settled, Anglo-oriented profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.8%
Houses
1.5%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Lockhart's housing stock is unusually concentrated in detached homes rather than units: 96.8% are separate houses, compared with 1.7% apartments and 1.5% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes account for 43.8% and four-or-more-bedroom homes 38.7%, so the market is weighted toward family-sized properties. Ownership is also high, with 55.4% owned outright, 21.8% mortgaged and 20.6% rented. The $867 monthly mortgage measure equals 18.0% of household income, while the $195 weekly rent figure equals 17.6% on the rent-to-income measure. Compared with apartment-heavy markets, Lockhart offers less format choice but a lower-density, more traditional housing pattern.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$195
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$600
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.9%
Unoccupied
52
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.0%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.3%
Couples with children
48.7%
Couples, no children
18.5%
Single parent
275
Total families
Economy & Employment
Lockhart's economy rests on two equal pillars: agriculture and healthcare each employ 20.4% of workers, or 57 people, followed by public administration at 11.8% or 33 workers, education at 8.6% or 24, and retail at 7.9% or 22. The occupation mix adds 94 managers, 57 community and personal service workers, 55 trades workers, 52 professionals and 43 labourers. Unemployment is 3.9%, participation is 52.0% and full-time employment is 62.9%, supporting a practical local workforce, although household income sits at the 17.9th percentile, below the national midpoint. Compared with larger regional economies, this smaller base is more exposed to conditions in farming, health and public services.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
435
Unemployed
17
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.9%
Part-time
32.1%
Participation
52.0%
Employed
418
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.7%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
6.5%
Dwellings
410
Transport to Work
Life in Lockhart is practical and car-oriented. 68.8% of residents drive a car to work, compared with 15.3% who walk or cycle and 12.0% who work from home; at 2.1 people per square kilometre, that pattern reflects distance between homes and services. Lockhart Central School is the local government Central/Community School, giving families one nearby school option, with enrolment zones worth checking against the exact address. Community participation is a strength, with volunteering at 33.1%, while 10.2% need assistance with core activities. Crime-rate and SEIFA figures are not stated, so safety decisions should use current local sources. Compared with denser centres, the trade-off is more space and quieter movement but greater reliance on driving.
Drive
68.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
15.3%
Work from Home
12.0%
Growth Outlook
Lockhart's near-term growth story is incremental rather than high-density. The suburb has 24 development applications across 12 months, with recent examples including a dwelling-house alteration, a fence and a carport. Because 96.8% of homes are separate houses and density is only 2.1 people per square kilometre, new activity is more likely to reinforce existing housing patterns than quickly change the streetscape. Population stability is also notable: 82.3% stayed at the same address and turnover was 17.7%. Compared with faster-expanding regional centres, Lockhart's 1,019 residents and 485.68-square-kilometre footprint point to a gradual, service-led growth profile. Check council decisions for timing and scale before relying on any project.
Population trend: Lockhart council area
About 66% of Lockhart sits in Lockhart; the rest is in a neighbouring council. These are the council area's residents, not Lockhart's.
Residents 2025
3,509
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.6%
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 Lockhart compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lockhart a good suburb to live in?
Lockhart can suit buyers seeking detached homes, lower-density living and established local ties. It has 1,019 residents, a median age of 51, 96.8% separate houses and 33.1% volunteering, but 68.8% drive to work, so compare services and commuting with Wagga Wagga before deciding.
What is the median house price in Lockhart?
A current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales rather than inferred from rents. Lockhart's stock is 96.8% separate houses, with 43.8% three-bedroom and 38.7% four-or-more-bedroom homes, so compare like-for-like properties by land size, condition and location.
What schools are in Lockhart?
Lockhart Central School is the local government Central/Community School. Families should confirm the relevant enrolment zone and year-level availability for the exact address, as 1 school and a 485.68-square-kilometre suburb make travel planning more important than in denser centres.
Is Lockhart safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so use current NSW Police and council information before making a safety decision. Lockhart has 1,019 residents across 485.68 square kilometres, and local experience can vary between the township and outlying roads; inspect the exact street at different times.
Is Lockhart good for property investment?
It may suit a conservative investor who accepts a small market: renting is 20.6%, weekly rent is $195 and vacancy is 10.9%, higher than a tightly held market. The 24 development applications in 12 months add activity, but lower tenant depth means vacancy and resale risk deserve more weight than headline yield.
How is Lockhart's population changing?
The current population is 1,019, with 82.3% of residents staying at the same address and turnover of 17.7%, indicating a settled base. Median age is 51, or 11.0 years above the national comparison. That points to gradual change rather than rapid churn, although future movement should be checked against current regional forecasts.
Is there new development in Lockhart?
Development activity is present but appears incremental: 24 applications were made over 12 months, including a dwelling-house alteration, a fence and a carport. With 96.8% separate houses and density of 2.1 people per square kilometre, the pattern is more consistent with upkeep and small additions than a rapid shift to apartments. Check council records for approvals and timing.
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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