Tingira Heights
With 94.7% of dwellings being separate houses, Tingira Heights ranks among the most detached-dominant suburbs in Lake Macquarie, yet it remains accessible: the median house price of $860,000 is well below the Sydney average, and mortgage costs absorb 22.4% of household income, below the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits in the 73.1st percentile nationally, meaning residents earn more than nearly three-quarters of Australian households. The suburb covers just 1.82 square kilometres, housing 2,043 people at a density of 1,121 per km2, creating a compact, owner-occupier community where 82.4% of residents did not move in the five years prior to the last Census.
Population
2,043
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,947/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$860K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $860,000 median house price reflects modest softening from $865,500 in 2024, a 0.6% fall over one year. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,887 represent 22.4% of median household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold that weighs on buyers in higher-cost markets. Stock is overwhelmingly detached: 94.7% separate houses, with apartments at just 2.0%. Bedroom mix skews large, with 50.3% three-bedroom homes and 42.7% four-or-more bedroom homes, so the suburb suits families needing space rather than first buyers seeking compact entry-level stock. Ownership rates are high: 33.0% own outright and 49.6% hold a mortgage, compared to a national renting rate typically above 30%.
For Buyers
The $860,000 median house price reflects modest softening from $865,500 in 2024, a 0.6% fall over one year. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,887 represent 22.4% of median household income, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold that weighs on buyers in higher-cost markets. Stock is overwhelmingly detached: 94.7% separate houses, with apartments at just 2.0%. Bedroom mix skews large, with 50.3% three-bedroom homes and 42.7% four-or-more bedroom homes, so the suburb suits families needing space rather than first buyers seeking compact entry-level stock. Ownership rates are high: 33.0% own outright and 49.6% hold a mortgage, compared to a national renting rate typically above 30%.
For Investors
Renters make up only 17.4% of Tingira Heights households, well below the national average, which narrows the landlord pool and keeps competition for tenants limited. Weekly rent of $400 against a $860,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%, modest by regional NSW standards. The vacancy rate of 1.5% is tight, suggesting that available rentals are absorbed quickly, which supports rent stability for existing landlords. Development activity is low at 10 applications in the past 12 months, almost all alterations to existing dwellings rather than new supply, so significant stock growth is not a near-term risk. Household income in the 73.1st percentile nationally supports tenant quality, but the thin renter base means investors should budget for longer vacancy periods between tenancies.
Development Activity
Total DAs
62
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, meaning Tingira Heights has neither an aging tilt nor a younger skew compared to Australian averages. Overseas-born residents account for 9.5% of the population, which is 12.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (925), Scottish (270) and Irish (205) are the top three groups. University qualifications reach 22.6%, which is 7.5 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a trades and services-oriented workforce. Average household size of 2.7 runs 0.2 above the national figure, aligning with the high share of couples with children (696 families) relative to total households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.7%
Houses
2.6%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership dominates tenure at Tingira Heights. Those who own outright (33.0%) and those with a mortgage (49.6%) together account for 82.6% of households, leaving just 17.4% renting, well below the national renter share. The stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 94.7%, with semi-detached dwellings at 2.6% and apartments at 2.0%. Bedroom distribution centres on three-bedroom (50.3%) and four-or-more bedroom (42.7%) homes, so the suburb is designed for established families rather than singles or couples seeking compact options. Price history shows a narrow range: $865,500 in 2024 to $860,000 in 2025, a decline of 0.6%, with the vacancy rate at a low 1.5% indicating constrained rental supply.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,887
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$826
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
1.5%
Unoccupied
11
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.4%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.9%
Couples, no children
1,784
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry, employing 22.6% of the local workforce (155 workers), a share that reflects broader Lake Macquarie trends where hospital and aged-care jobs anchor employment. Construction follows at 14.4% (99 workers) and Education at 11.1% (76 workers), together accounting for nearly half of all jobs. By occupation, Professionals lead (188 workers), followed by Community and Personal Services (151) and Clerical and Admin (129). The unemployment rate of 5.3% is modest given a participation rate of 63.3%, leaving 508 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment reaches 60.9% of those employed. Household income in the 73.1st percentile nationally indicates above-average earnings relative to most Australian suburbs.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.9%
Part-time
33.8%
Participation
63.3%
Employed
991
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.6%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
9.5%
Dwellings
732
Transport to Work
Car dependency is near-total: 92.8% of residents drive to work, compared to a national rate typically below 80%, and public transport accounts for just 0.7% of commutes. This reflects limited bus service in the area and the suburb's position as a low-density residential pocket within Lake Macquarie. No schools are recorded within Tingira Heights' 1.82 km2 boundary, so families rely on nearby schools in adjoining suburbs. Crime statistics are not available in the dataset. On affordability, the rent-to-income ratio of 20.5% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4% are both below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting residents are not under significant housing cost pressure relative to national benchmarks. The volunteering rate of 12.2% signals moderate community engagement.
Drive
92.8%
Public Transport
0.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.0%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tingira Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tingira Heights a good suburb to live in?
Tingira Heights offers high owner-occupancy (82.6% own or are buying), affordable mortgage costs at 22.4% of household income, and household income in the 73.1st percentile nationally. Trade-offs include near-total car dependency (92.8% drive to work) and limited public transport at just 0.7% of commutes.
What is the median house price in Tingira Heights?
The median house price is $860,000 as of 2025, a slight decline from $865,500 in 2024 (down 0.6%). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,887, and weekly rent averages $400. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.4% sits below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Tingira Heights?
No schools are recorded within the Tingira Heights 1.82 km2 boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Lake Macquarie suburbs. University qualifications in Tingira Heights reach 22.6% of the adult population, which is 7.5 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Tingira Heights safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Tingira Heights in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has high owner-occupancy (82.6%), a stable residential population where 82.4% of residents did not move over the prior 5-year period, and household incomes in the 73.1st percentile nationally, all consistent with a settled, low-turnover area.
Is Tingira Heights good for property investment?
The 17.4% renter share is well below national averages, meaning the landlord market is thin. Weekly rent of $400 against an $860,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.4%. The 1.5% vacancy rate is tight. With only 10 development applications in 12 months, new supply is minimal, supporting rent stability.
How is Tingira Heights's population changing?
Detailed population forecasts are not available in the dataset. The suburb's 1.82 km2 footprint is largely built out, with 10 development applications in the past 12 months covering mainly alterations rather than new dwellings. Residential turnover of 17.6% annually indicates moderate movement, with 82.4% of residents staying put over the preceding 5 years.
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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