Waterview Heights
With a median age of 49, Waterview Heights sits 9 years above the national figure, making it one of the most age-skewed rural communities in the Clarence Valley. Its 1,364 residents occupy 58.33 sq km at a density of just 23.4 people per sq km, anchored entirely in detached houses with not a single apartment in the mix. The median house price of $702,500 is notable for a low-density rural suburb, yet household income tracks at only the 46.3rd percentile nationally. Overseas-born residents account for 7%, which is 14.6 percentage points below the national average, and English, Scottish and Irish ancestries dominate the community profile.
Population
1,364
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,485/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$702K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $747,500 in 2024 before pulling back to $685,000 in 2025, an 8.4% decline that brings values closer to what local incomes can support. Every dwelling here is a separate house, and 51.8% have four or more bedrooms, so buyers get substantial land and living space compared to metropolitan markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 50.1% of households, a figure far higher than the national average, signalling long-term stability in the ownership base. The 44.1% currently on mortgages reflects a steady cohort of buyers who have entered at lower price points than coastal NSW suburbs.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $747,500 in 2024 before pulling back to $685,000 in 2025, an 8.4% decline that brings values closer to what local incomes can support. Every dwelling here is a separate house, and 51.8% have four or more bedrooms, so buyers get substantial land and living space compared to metropolitan markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.6%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Outright owners make up 50.1% of households, a figure far higher than the national average, signalling long-term stability in the ownership base. The 44.1% currently on mortgages reflects a steady cohort of buyers who have entered at lower price points than coastal NSW suburbs.
For Investors
A rental vacancy rate of 6.0% sits above what most landlords would target, signalling softer rental demand in this low-density rural setting. Weekly rent of $300 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.3%, modest but higher than many coastal NSW markets on a percentage basis. Only 5.8% of households rent, which narrows the active tenant pool to roughly 79 households across the suburb. Development activity reached 18 applications in the past 12 months, predominantly new dwelling house constructions, a steady pace for a suburb of this size rather than a boom signal. The low turnover rate of 13.7% per year means most owners hold long-term, consistent with a stable owner-occupier base rather than a speculative market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
104
Last 12 Months
20
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 49 is 9 years above the national figure, and the older profile shapes nearly every other metric. Average household size of 2.7 sits 0.2 above the national average, despite an older population, because couples without children (36% of families) and couples with children (35.4%) make up most households. Overseas-born residents are just 7%, which is 14.6 percentage points below national, and ancestry is overwhelmingly Anglo-Celtic: English (616), Scottish (157) and Irish (139) are the three largest groups. University qualifications reach only 17.3%, which is 12.8 points below the national figure, a gap that reflects the rural location and the occupational structure of the local workforce. The volunteering rate of 16.6% is a notable positive for community cohesion.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every one of the suburb's dwellings is a separate house, a 100% detached-house rate compared to the mixed-stock profile of most NSW suburbs. Half the homes (50.1%) are owned outright and 44.1% carry mortgages, leaving just 5.8% renting. The bedroom profile skews large: 51.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 42% have three, so compact two-bedroom housing is rare at 4.9%. Median house prices fell from $747,500 in 2024 to $685,000 in 2025, an 8.4% correction over one year. Despite this, mortgage-to-income sits at 23.6% and rent-to-income at 20.2%, both below stress thresholds, suggesting the correction improved affordability rather than creating financial pressure for existing owners.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$300
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$582
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.0%
Unoccupied
30
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.0%
Couples, no children
1,146
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 19.0% of the workforce (68 workers), followed by Public Administration at 15.4% (55) and Education at 12.9% (46). Construction accounts for 8.7% and Retail 7.8%, rounding out a public-sector-heavy local economy typical of rural NSW. By occupation, Clerical and Administrative workers lead at 91, followed by Community and Personal Service workers at 87 and Professionals at 76. The unemployment rate of 6.1% is elevated compared to metro markets, and the participation rate of 50.6% is low, partly because the aging population leaves 479 residents outside the labour force. Household income sits at the 46.3rd percentile nationally, below median, consistent with the public-sector and service-industry employment base.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.5%
Part-time
33.4%
Participation
50.6%
Employed
539
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.3%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
7.0%
Dwellings
473
Transport to Work
Car reliance is near-total: 91.7% of residents drive to work, which is expected given the 58.33 sq km footprint and low density of 23.4 people per sq km. No public transport modal share is recorded, and walking or cycling accounts for just 2.1% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in the broader Clarence Valley region. Crime data is not available for Waterview Heights in this dataset. Mortgage stress is low at 23.6% of income and rent stress is moderate at 20.2%, both below the 30% threshold, indicating financial stability for most households. The 7.8% needing daily assistance (102 people) is in line with the older age profile, where the 49-year median age exceeds the national figure by 9 years.
Drive
91.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Waterview Heights compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waterview Heights a good suburb to live in?
Waterview Heights suits buyers who value large lots, low density and a stable owner-occupier community. The suburb has 1,364 residents across 58.33 sq km, a detached-house rate of 100%, and a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 23.6%. The trade-offs are limited services, near-total car dependence and a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national figure.
What is the median house price in Waterview Heights?
The median house price is $702,500 overall, with the latest 2025 data showing $685,000, down 8.4% from $747,500 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517. Weekly rent for the suburb is $300. All dwellings are separate houses with 51.8% having four or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Waterview Heights?
No schools are recorded within the Waterview Heights boundary in this dataset. Families draw on schools in the wider Clarence Valley area. The local university qualification rate is 17.3%, which is 12.8 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the rural and trade-employment profile of the suburb.
Is Waterview Heights safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Waterview Heights in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, mortgage stress sits at 23.6% and rent stress at 20.2%, both below the 30% threshold, suggesting financial stability across most households. The low 5.8% rental share and 50.1% outright-ownership rate are consistent with a settled, stable community.
Is Waterview Heights good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. A 6.0% vacancy rate is above most investor targets and only 5.8% of households rent, limiting the tenant pool. Weekly rent of $300 against a $685,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.3%. Prices fell 8.4% in 2025, and the low turnover rate of 13.7% means market liquidity is limited.
How is Waterview Heights's population changing?
Waterview Heights has a population of 1,364 with a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national figure. The low overseas-born share of 7%, which is 14.6 percentage points below national, means migration provides limited demographic uplift. The 86.3% residential stay rate and 13.7% annual turnover signal a slow-moving, stable community rather than a growing one.
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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