North Haven
North Haven's standout feature is its older, settled profile: 1,619 residents have a median age of 61, which is 21 years above the national comparison. Outright ownership is 55.6%, while the 20.2% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly occupied market. Household income sits at the 5.3rd percentile nationally, helping explain the suburb's price sensitivity and reliance on established housing. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 743, 206 and 159. Compared with nearby Laurieton and Dunbogan, North Haven suits buyers prioritising quieter coastal living over rapid growth.
Local council: Port Macquarie-Hastings
Population
1,619
Median Age
61.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$832/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
North Haven's housing mix favours detached living, with 61.2% separate houses, 15.8% semi-detached dwellings and 6.7% apartments. Smaller homes are common: 37.3% have 2 bedrooms and 37.6% have 3, compared with 14.6% with 4 or more. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,495 a month, while mortgage costs absorb 41.5% of household income versus 37.3% rent-to-income among renters. Outright ownership at 55.6% is higher than the 13.9% mortgaged share, reflecting an older owner base. Compare streets carefully with Laurieton and Dunbogan, particularly for insurance, maintenance and coastal exposure.
For Buyers
North Haven's housing mix favours detached living, with 61.2% separate houses, 15.8% semi-detached dwellings and 6.7% apartments. Smaller homes are common: 37.3% have 2 bedrooms and 37.6% have 3, compared with 14.6% with 4 or more. The typical mortgage repayment is $1,495 a month, while mortgage costs absorb 41.5% of household income versus 37.3% rent-to-income among renters. Outright ownership at 55.6% is higher than the 13.9% mortgaged share, reflecting an older owner base. Compare streets carefully with Laurieton and Dunbogan, particularly for insurance, maintenance and coastal exposure.
For Investors
North Haven presents a cautious, income-sensitive rental case. Renting accounts for 30.1% of occupied tenure and weekly rent is $310, while vacancy is a very high 20.2% compared with a tightly supplied rental market. High vacancy can weaken tenant competition and make rent increases less durable, even though rent growth is recorded at 36.4%. Development activity reached 18 applications in the last 12 months. Forecast migration is Balanced and annual growth is 0.48%, so the case rests more on holding quality and local demand than rapid capital growth. Review flood exposure, insurance, vacancy history and management costs before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
124
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Haven
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
North Haven is markedly older than the national profile: median age is 61, or 21 years above the national comparison, and average household size is 1.9, 0.6 below the national figure. Couples without children make up 63.7% of families, while couples with children account for 19.6%, consistent with a mature resident base. Overseas-born residents are 10.4%, 11.2 percentage points below the national comparison, and university qualification share is 14.6%, 15.5 points lower. English ancestry counts 743, Scottish 206 and Irish 159. Christianity counts 883 versus 564 reporting no religion, giving local services an older, more established focus than in younger suburbs.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.2%
Houses
15.8%
Townhouse
6.7%
Apartment
Tenure
North Haven's tenure profile is more settled than a renter-heavy market: 55.6% of residents own outright, 13.9% have a mortgage and 30.1% rent. The 20.2% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly occupied suburb, which matters because holiday use or second homes can soften year-round demand. Housing is led by separate houses at 61.2%, but semi-detached dwellings contribute 15.8% and apartments 6.7%. Two- and three-bedroom homes dominate at 37.3% and 37.6%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes are 14.6%. Mortgage stress is flagged at 41.5% of income, and rent stress at 37.3%. Compared with nearby Laurieton and Dunbogan, compare tenure, insurance and vacancy conditions rather than assume the coastal market is uniform.
Mortgage / mo
$1,495
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $310.
$530
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $623
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$519
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.2%
Unoccupied
190
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.3% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
41.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
19.6%
Couples with children
63.7%
Couples, no children
15.8%
Single parent
449
Total families
Economy & Employment
North Haven's labour market is smaller and less active than the national pattern, with a 36.4% participation rate, 7.7% unemployment and 49.0% of employed residents working full time. Healthcare leads local employment at 24.7% or 79 workers, followed by construction at 15.3% and 49, education at 12.8% and 41, hospitality at 10.0% and 32, and manufacturing at 6.6% and 21. Occupations include trades at 91, community and personal services at 85, labourers at 81, professionals at 59 and managers at 48. Household income is $832 weekly, at the 5.3rd percentile, below national norms, because 835 people are outside the labour force. All four SEIFA deciles are 3, below higher socioeconomic areas.
Unemployment
7.7%
Labour Force
531
Unemployed
41
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.0%
Part-time
41.2%
Participation
36.4%
Employed
490
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.6%
Postgraduate
0.9%
Born Overseas
10.4%
Dwellings
748
Transport to Work
North Haven suits residents who value low-density coastal living and can rely on a car. Car driving is reported at 78.7%, walking or cycling at 7.2% and working from home at 10.4%, so daily convenience is more car-oriented than active or remote alternatives. One local school is identified: North Haven Public School, a government primary school. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address, since boundaries can cut across nearby streets and settlements. The suburb has 1,619 residents, a median age of 61 and 10.7% needing assistance, so health and support access matter more than in a younger area. SEIFA disadvantage and advantage scores both sit in decile 3, below higher-ranked deciles. Check current NSW Police mapping and visit at different times when comparing streets.
Drive
78.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
7.2%
Work from Home
10.4%
Growth Outlook
North Haven is tracking as an established, slow-growth suburb, with forecast annual growth of 0.48% and wider-area population change of 5.3% over 10 years. The forecast migration driver is Balanced, so momentum is not dominated by one intake stream. Its shift trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.6 percentage points and the working share down 1.9 points, which can support steadier service demand but limit family-driven expansion. Rent growth of 36.4% has outpaced the 9.6% real income growth measure. The gentrification model labels the suburb Not gentrifying with a score of 8, compared with a shift score of 31 marked Early signs. This points to gradual change rather than rapid redevelopment.
Population trend: Port Macquarie-Hastings council area
North Haven sits in the Port Macquarie-Hastings council area. These are the council area's residents, not North Haven's.
Residents 2025
92,432
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.5%
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 North Haven compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Haven a good suburb to live in?
North Haven can suit buyers seeking a quieter coastal setting, especially those comfortable with an older resident profile. Median age is 61, outright ownership is 55.6% and car driving is 78.7%, so it is more settled and car-oriented than a younger, denser suburb. Check services, insurance and coastal exposure before deciding.
What is the median house price in North Haven?
Use recent comparable sales and a local valuation to establish North Haven's current median rather than infer a price from rent. Weekly rent is $310, vacancy is 20.2% and 61.2% of homes are separate houses. Compared with relying on rent alone, like-for-like sales should be filtered by dwelling type, bedroom count, condition and insurance exposure.
What schools are in North Haven?
North Haven Public School is the identified local option, and it is a government primary school. Families should confirm enrolment zones and current availability because access can differ across nearby streets. With 1 local school, compare the exact address, transport needs and any secondary-school travel time before buying or renting.
Is North Haven safe?
Safety should be checked using current NSW Police crime mapping, local observations and visits at different times, because conditions can vary by street. North Haven has 1,619 residents and a 20.2% vacancy rate, so compare the lived feel of the target pocket with nearby streets rather than rely on a suburb-wide impression.
Is North Haven good for property investment?
North Haven is a cautious investment proposition rather than a high-growth play. Renting is 30.1%, weekly rent is $310 and vacancy is 20.2%, higher than a tightly supplied rental market. Forecast annual growth is 0.48% and migration is Balanced, so compare net yield after vacancy, insurance, maintenance and management costs. Development activity reached 18 applications in 12 months.
How is North Haven's population changing?
North Haven's population is 1,619 today, with change better characterised as gradual than rapid. Forecast annual growth is 0.48%, wider-area 10-year population change is 5.3% and the trajectory is Aging. The senior share has risen 4.6 percentage points while the working share fell 1.9 points, so compare future demand for health, support and smaller homes with family-oriented suburbs.
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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