Smiths Lake
A median age of 49 sits 9 years above the national figure, and 35.8% of dwellings stand vacant at any given time: together these numbers tell the story of Smiths Lake as a coastal retreat community rather than a primary-residence suburb. The population of 1,332 is spread across 15.46 km2, giving a density of 86 people per km2, well below typical NSW coastal towns. Household income falls at the 25.9th percentile nationally, yet the median house price reached $797,500, a divergence explained by the high share of outright owners (47.3%) who bought before recent price growth and carry no mortgage stress. Stock is almost entirely freestanding houses at 98.8%.
Population
1,332
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,210/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
34
Median House
$798K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $797,500, sitting above many regional NSW benchmarks given the small population base. Prices rose 18.2% from $698,000 in 2024 to $825,000 in 2025, a sharp one-year gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, offering moderate serviceability relative to income. Stock is 98.8% separate houses with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 50.1% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes at 36.0%, so buyers have good choice in larger family configurations. The 47.3% outright ownership rate is high compared to national norms, suggesting many long-term holders with no urgency to sell, which keeps available supply tight.
For Buyers
The median house price is $797,500, sitting above many regional NSW benchmarks given the small population base. Prices rose 18.2% from $698,000 in 2024 to $825,000 in 2025, a sharp one-year gain. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% stays below the 30% stress threshold, offering moderate serviceability relative to income. Stock is 98.8% separate houses with 3-bedroom homes the most common at 50.1% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes at 36.0%, so buyers have good choice in larger family configurations. The 47.3% outright ownership rate is high compared to national norms, suggesting many long-term holders with no urgency to sell, which keeps available supply tight.
For Investors
The 35.8% vacancy rate is the headline risk: more than one in three dwellings is unoccupied, a figure consistent with a holiday-home destination where properties sit idle outside peak seasons. Rental yield potential is limited because weekly rent of $380 against a $797,500 median implies a gross yield below 2.5%, lower than many comparable regional markets. The renter share is just 16.9%, meaning the tenant pool is thin. On the positive side, 33 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, showing active planning engagement, and the 18.2% price rise over one year exceeds state averages. Income levels at the 25.9th percentile nationally suggest owner-occupiers drive demand more than rental investors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
183
Last 12 Months
34
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+41.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 49 is 9 years higher than the national average, and 47.3% of properties are owned outright, both pointing to a settled, older resident base. Overseas-born residents account for 13.6% of the population, which is 8.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile where English (609 residents), Irish (184) and Scottish (131) dominate. The university qualification rate of 23.0% runs 7.1 points below national, consistent with a trade and community-services workforce. Average household size is 2.3, marginally below national. Couples without children make up 39.2% of families, and mobility is low: 80.7% of residents stayed in the same address compared to the prior census, signalling high attachment to place.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.8%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Smiths Lake is dominated by outright owners at 47.3%, with mortgage holders at 35.8% and renters at 16.9%, an ownership profile well above national renter shares. The outright ownership rate indicates much of the housing wealth is held by debt-free residents, many of whom likely purchased well before the recent 18.2% price run from $698,000 to $825,000 over one year. The 35.8% vacancy rate is unusually high by NSW standards, reflecting seasonal holiday use rather than economic distress. Separate houses account for 98.8% of the dwelling stock, with semi-detached at 1.2% and no apartment supply recorded. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.1%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 36.0%, giving a layout skewed toward larger family homes rather than downsizer units.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,473
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$615
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
35.8%
Unoccupied
289
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.2%
Couples, no children
999
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 18.9% (68 workers), followed by Construction at 17.5% (63) and Education at 14.5% (52), a mix that reflects service provision to an aging and holiday-oriented community rather than a commercial or industrial base. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 102 workers, ahead of Community and Personal service workers at 72 and Labourers at 71. The unemployment rate is 5.8%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 45.7% is low compared to typical working-age areas, because the older age profile places 456 residents outside the labour force entirely. Full-time employment runs at 49.6%, with part-time at similar levels (237 workers), consistent with the hospitality and care-sector employment mix found in coastal communities.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.6%
Part-time
44.6%
Participation
45.7%
Employed
470
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.0%
Postgraduate
5.5%
Born Overseas
13.6%
Dwellings
520
Transport to Work
Car dependence is the dominant transport reality: 89.3% of workers drive, and no public transport share is recorded, so a private vehicle is effectively essential for daily life in Smiths Lake. The volunteering rate of 15.9% indicates meaningful community participation. Rent stress affects tenants: rent-to-income at 31.4% exceeds the 30% threshold, meaning renting here is financially stretched relative to local incomes. Mortgage holders, by contrast, sit below stress at 28.1%. No schools are listed within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby towns for education. The 4.3% assistance need rate (52 residents) is moderate, and the low density of 86 people per km2 across 15.46 km2 reflects the semi-rural and coastal character of the area.
Drive
89.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
3.9%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Smiths Lake compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smiths Lake a good suburb to live in?
Smiths Lake suits people seeking a low-density coastal lifestyle: 98.8% of dwellings are separate houses, density is just 86 people per km2, and 80.7% of residents stay long-term between census periods. Trade-offs include limited public transport (89.3% drive), no schools within the suburb boundary, and household income at the 25.9th percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Smiths Lake?
The median house price is $797,500 based on 2024-2025 PSI data. Prices rose 18.2% from $698,000 in 2024 to $825,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,473, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% stays below the 30% stress level.
What schools are in Smiths Lake?
No schools are recorded inside the Smiths Lake boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns. Education is the third-largest employment sector locally at 14.5% of workers (52 people), suggesting residents commute to teaching roles in surrounding areas rather than attending local schools.
Is Smiths Lake safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Smiths Lake in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb has low density at 86 people per km2, a stable long-term resident base with 80.7% staying in the same address, and a volunteering rate of 15.9%, all characteristics associated with cohesive low-crime communities.
Is Smiths Lake good for property investment?
The 18.2% price gain in one year (from $698,000 to $825,000) is compelling, but the 35.8% vacancy rate reflects holiday-home usage and limits rental income. Weekly rent of $380 against a $797,500 median gives a gross yield below 2.5%. Investors should weigh capital growth potential against carrying costs from high vacancy.
How is Smiths Lake's population changing?
Detailed population growth forecasts are not available for Smiths Lake. The suburb shows signs of demographic stability: 80.7% of residents did not move between census periods, the median age of 49 is 9 years above national, and the outright ownership rate of 47.3% suggests a long-established resident base rather than rapid turnover.
How much development is happening in Smiths Lake?
There were 33 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, a high count relative to the 1,332-person population. Recent applications include new dwelling construction and alterations, indicating ongoing investment in the existing housing stock despite the 35.8% vacancy rate across the suburb.
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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