West Haven
With a median age of 67, West Haven sits 27 years above the national figure, making it one of the oldest resident profiles you will find in NSW. Only 28.7% of its 1,139 residents participate in the labour force because the suburb has effectively transitioned into a retirement community, with 675 people not in work. Household income of $940 per week places the suburb in just the 10.1st income percentile nationally, yet 62.6% of households own their homes outright, a tenure pattern that reflects accumulated wealth rather than current earnings.
Population
1,139
Median Age
67.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$940/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$750K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price sits at $750,000, down 5.2% from $780,000 in 2024 to $739,500 in 2025, a modest correction that makes entry marginally more accessible than a year ago. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 70.2%, with 29.8% semi-detached and no apartment stock recorded, so buyers get a detached-house market rather than a mixed tower environment. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.6% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes 21.8%, with two-bedroom at 20.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 39.9% flags stress because household incomes sit in the bottom 10.1st percentile nationally, making this a market where buyers typically arrive with significant equity rather than relying on borrowing capacity.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $750,000, down 5.2% from $780,000 in 2024 to $739,500 in 2025, a modest correction that makes entry marginally more accessible than a year ago. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 70.2%, with 29.8% semi-detached and no apartment stock recorded, so buyers get a detached-house market rather than a mixed tower environment. Three-bedroom homes account for 57.6% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes 21.8%, with two-bedroom at 20.7%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 39.9% flags stress because household incomes sit in the bottom 10.1st percentile nationally, making this a market where buyers typically arrive with significant equity rather than relying on borrowing capacity.
For Investors
The investor case is thin: rental yield is constrained by a $400 weekly rent against a $750,000 median, implying a gross yield below 2.8%, well below typical benchmarks. The 12.2% renter share is one of the lowest you will find, because 62.6% of residents own outright, limiting tenant demand. The vacancy rate of 6.9% sits above the 3% threshold that typically signals balanced supply, pointing to oversupply in the rental segment. Development activity is low at 6 applications in 12 months, consistent with limited new supply pressure. The suburb's aging profile and 5.2% price decline over the past year suggest that capital growth momentum is not a current driver.
Development Activity
Total DAs
30
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-11.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 67 is 27 years above the national average, placing West Haven firmly in retirement territory. Labour force participation at 28.7% is far below the national norm because the majority of residents are beyond working age, with 675 people recorded as not in the labour force. Overseas-born residents make up 15.6%, which is 6.0 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (538), Scottish (154) and Irish (149) are the top three groups. University qualifications reach 19.8%, which is 10.3 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with a cohort educated in an era of lower university participation. Volunteering is relatively high at 17.6%, common in retirement communities where residents have time for civic activity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.2%
Houses
29.8%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure structure reflects the retirement character: 62.6% own outright, 25.2% hold a mortgage and just 12.2% rent, an outright-ownership rate that is exceptionally high compared to the national average. Separate houses dominate at 70.2%, with semi-detached properties making up the remaining 29.8% and no apartment stock. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 57.6% of homes, with 4-plus bedroom at 21.8% and two-bedroom at 20.7%. The median house price moved from $780,000 in 2024 down to $739,500 in 2025, a 5.2% decline over the year. Average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below the national figure, consistent with the couples-without-children profile where 54.7% of families are couples with no children and no one-parent families are recorded.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$524
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
38
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
42.6% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
39.9% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
54.7%
Couples, no children
783
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 25.1% of workers, more than double the next largest sector, Education at 12.8%. Construction follows at 11.8%, Retail at 10.9% and Public Administration at 7.6%. The occupation mix is led by Professionals (48 workers) and Community/Personal service roles (46), with Clerical/Admin (35) and Sales (34) close behind. Unemployment sits at 5.8%, but the figure applies only to the small 28.7% participation pool; most residents are simply retired rather than unemployed. The household income of $940 per week sits in the 10.1st percentile nationally, and both rent stress (42.6% rent-to-income) and mortgage stress (39.9% mortgage-to-income) are flagged, because incomes are low relative to housing costs despite the modest property values.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.1%
Part-time
36.1%
Participation
28.7%
Employed
277
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.8%
Postgraduate
4.2%
Born Overseas
15.6%
Dwellings
513
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 94.1% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, which is expected for a coastal suburb outside major transport corridors. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, meaning families with children would rely on services in neighbouring areas; however, the 67-year median age means the school-age cohort is effectively absent from the current population. The need-for-assistance rate of 18.0%, covering 201 residents, is substantially above the national average and directly linked to the aged demographic profile. Safety data is not available in the current dataset. The coastal setting in postcode 2443 on the Mid North Coast draws residents for lifestyle reasons that the standard metrics do not fully capture, but the 6.9% vacancy rate does suggest some seasonal or secondary-dwelling use.
Drive
94.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How West Haven compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Haven a good suburb to live in?
West Haven suits retirees and sea-change buyers well. With 62.6% of residents owning outright and a median age of 67, it functions as a retirement community on the NSW Mid North Coast. The $750,000 median house price reflects coastal demand, though household income sits in just the 10.1st percentile nationally, so buyers typically need equity rather than borrowing power.
What is the median house price in West Haven?
The median house price in West Haven is $750,000, based on 2024-2025 data. Prices declined 5.2% from $780,000 in 2024 to $739,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $400 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,625.
What schools are in West Haven?
No schools are recorded within the West Haven suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb has a median age of 67, meaning the school-age population is very small, and families with children would need to access schools in neighbouring areas such as Laurieton or Port Macquarie.
Is West Haven safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for West Haven in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, 80.8% of residents have lived at the same address without moving, pointing to a stable, settled community. The low rental proportion of 12.2% and high outright ownership at 62.6% are generally associated with lower crime rates in comparable coastal suburbs.
Is West Haven good for property investment?
The investment fundamentals are cautious. A $400 weekly rent against a $750,000 median implies a gross yield below 2.8%, and the 6.9% vacancy rate signals more rental supply than demand. Prices fell 5.2% over the past year and development activity is low at only 6 applications in 12 months, so capital growth momentum is limited.
How is West Haven's population changing?
West Haven's population of 1,139 is stable with low turnover: 80.8% of residents stayed at the same address over the survey period, and only 19.2% moved. The suburb's aging profile, with a median age of 67 which is 27 years above the national figure, means growth depends on retirees relocating rather than family formation or migration.
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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