North Haven

Development Activity

Schools in North Haven iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Demographics

The median age of 61 is 21 years above the national figure, driving every other demographic pattern. Working-age share fell 1.9 points over the decade while the senior share rose 4.6 points. Only 10.4% were born overseas, 11.2 points below national, and ancestry is almost entirely Anglo-Celtic: English (743), Scottish (206) and Irish (159). University qualifications at 14.6% run 15.5 points below the national average. Average household size is 1.9 vs the national 2.5, because 53.4% of families are couples with no children, consistent with empty-nester retirees rather than young families.

Ownership is the standout feature: 55.8% of residents own outright, far higher than the national average, because the population retired into properties bought years or decades ago. Only 14.0% hold a mortgage, and 30.2% rent. Separate houses account for 61.2% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 15.8% and apartments at 6.7%. Bedroom distribution is balanced, with 2-bedroom at 37.3% and 3-bedroom at 37.6%. The median rose from $710,000 in 2024 to $805,000 in 2025, a 13.4% gain over one year. A 20.2% vacancy rate indicates that a significant portion of the housing stock sits empty at any given time, likely reflecting short-stay or investment properties that are not consistently occupied.

Community Profile

Economy & Employment

Healthcare dominates at 24.7% of workers (79 people), higher than most suburbs, because the older population generates disproportionate demand for care services. Construction follows at 15.3% and Education at 12.8%, with Hospitality at 10.0% reflecting coastal tourism. Unemployment is 8.5%, above the NSW state average, and participation is just 33.1% because 835 residents are not in the labour force, primarily retirees. SEIFA IRSD decile 3 and IRSAD decile 3 both place North Haven in the lower third nationally on economic advantage. Real income growth of 9.6% over the decade was positive but below inflation.

Transport to Work

Car dependence is high at 87.9%, above national urban averages, because coastal geography limits public transport options. Walking and cycling account for 8.1% of commuters. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on neighbouring areas. The IRSAD decile of 3 places North Haven below average nationally on advantage. Rent stress sits at 37.3% and mortgage stress at 41.5%, both above the 30% threshold. About 10.7% of residents (161 people) need daily assistance, above national rates, because a median age of 61 generates higher care dependency than most suburbs.

Population Forecast

Annual population growth is 0.48%, adding about 75 people per year. The 10-year change of 5.3% is slower than most NSW coastal markets. Net internal migration adds 66 per year and overseas migration 80, giving a balanced driver. Medium forecasts project the broader area reaching around 15,838 by 2031. The gentrification score of 8 places it firmly as not gentrifying, consistent with SEIFA decile 3 and a stable retired base. Rent grew 36.4% while incomes grew 9.6%, a divergence that has pushed the rent-to-income ratio to 37.3%, above the 30% stress threshold.

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