Kotara South, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Kotara South NSW is 1,267 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Kotara South is $935 per week ($48,620 per year). Median rent in Kotara South is $378 per week ($1,638 per month). Kotara South has a median age of 37 years, younger than the national median of 38. Kotara South has a population density of 2,165 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Kotara South is England. The most common religion is No religion (43.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Macedonian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kotara South is $2,167.

There were 7 recorded offences in Kotara South in 2025-26, a rate of 6 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (3 offences).

Population
1,267
Census 2021
Median income
$935/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$378/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
37years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Kotara South vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Kotara South is $935 a week, 22% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 507th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $378 a week, $7 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 17.0% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 37, 6 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureKotara SouthTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$935/wk$765/wk +22%$766/wk
Household income$2,230/wk$1,704/wk +31%$1,637/wk
Rent$378/wk$385/wk −2%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,167/mo$1,965/mo +10%$1,733/mo
Median age3743 −6 yrs42
Rent share of household income17.0%22.6% −5.6 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Kotara South, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Kotara South Population

1,267 residents at the 2021 Census.

Kotara South Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$935/wk
$48,620 per year
Ranked 1,767 of 14,663
Median Rent
$378/wk
$1,638 per month
Ranked 2,618 of 14,663
Median Age
37years
1 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$2,167/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Kotara South Rent Prices & Affordability

17% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,230/wk
Median rent $378/wk
Rent to income 17.0%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Kotara South against your income

About $9,663 a month
Median rent $378/wk
Left after rent $1,852/wk
Rent share 17.0%

Kotara South Schools

29
schools nearby
21
government
1038
avg ICSEA score
10,325
total students
New Lambton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 538 students
1108
ICSEA
St James' Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 334 students
1104
ICSEA
Belair Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 409 students
1103
ICSEA
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 361 students
1102
ICSEA
New Lambton Heights Infants School Government
Primary · K-2 · 55 students
1100
ICSEA
St Therese's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 543 students
1100
ICSEA
New Lambton South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 462 students
1095
ICSEA
Trinity Catholic College Catholic
Secondary · 7-11 · 849 students
1090
ICSEA
Kahibah Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 291 students
1076
ICSEA
Charlestown South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 235 students
1075
ICSEA
St Kevin's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 130 students
1071
ICSEA
Kotara South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 309 students
1069
ICSEA
Kotara High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,130 students
1066
ICSEA
St Mary's Catholic College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 989 students
1062
ICSEA
Garden Suburb Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 227 students
1045
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 29 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Kotara South, with a map

Kotara South Map

Kotara South, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

People in Kotara South

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.6% (642) Female 49.4% (628)

Population Density

2,165
people per km²
1,267 people · 0.6 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,622
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
1.8%
South Africa
1.3%
New Zealand
0.6%
Scotland
0.6%
Canada
0.5%
Italy
0.5%
United States of America
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Macedonian
0.9%
German
0.8%
Italian
0.8%
Afrikaans
0.6%
Greek
0.5%
Punjabi
0.5%
Mandarin
0.4%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
45.8%
Australian
39.4%
Irish
16.2%
Scottish
13.3%
Australian Aboriginal
4.6%
German
3.7%
Italian
3.2%
Chinese
2.4%
Dutch
2.1%
Macedonian
1.3%
Welsh
1.1%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
43.1%
Catholic
21.2%
Anglican
16.0%
Not stated
5.3%
Uniting Church
4.3%
Christian (other)
2.3%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.1%
Pentecostal
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.5%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
52.7% 504
Separated
2.5% 24
Divorced
8.7% 83
Widowed
4.6% 44
Never married
31.5% 301

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
56.1%
Couple: no children
19.3%
Couple: no children under 15
14.0%
One parent: no children under 15
5.6%
One parent: children under 15
5.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
22.4%
2 persons
28.8%
3 persons
14.8%
4 persons
22.8%
5 persons
7.5%
6+ persons
3.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Kotara South

Housing Tenure

Of the 442 occupied private dwellings in Kotara South at the 2021 Census, 23.1% were rented, 30.3% owned outright and 45.7% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.1% 5 dwellings
Owned outright
30.3% 134 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
45.7% 202 dwellings
Rented
23.1% 102 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.7% 3 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
97.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
1.6%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
0.7%
2 bedrooms
11.1%
3 bedrooms
52.7%
4 bedrooms
25.9%
5 bedrooms
8.5%
6+ bedrooms
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.1%
$450-$599/mo
2.3%
$600-$799/mo
1.7%
$800-$999/mo
3.4%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
5.7%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
19.4%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
28.0%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
22.9%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
11.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.8%
1 vehicle
30.7%
2 vehicles
46.3%
3 vehicles
11.5%
4+ vehicles
6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Kotara South

Employment

Employed full-time
42.3% 370 people
Employed part-time
23.7% 207 people
Unemployed
2.2% 19 people
Not in labour force
31.9% 279 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
38.3%
Managers
16.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
14.0%
Community & Personal Service
12.1%
Clerical & Administrative
9.5%
Sales Workers
4.7%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.8%
Labourers
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.2%
$1-$149/wk
1.0%
$150-$299/wk
1.0%
$300-$399/wk
1.2%
$400-$499/wk
7.5%
$500-$649/wk
3.6%
$650-$799/wk
6.1%
$800-$999/wk
4.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
4.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
4.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.6%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
10.4%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
8.7%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.8%
$4,000+/wk
17.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
6.5%
$1-$149/wk
4.7%
$150-$299/wk
6.3%
$300-$399/wk
4.2%
$400-$499/wk
2.7%
$500-$649/wk
3.9%
$650-$799/wk
8.2%
$800-$999/wk
9.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.5%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
14.6%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.1%
$3,500+/wk
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
72.3%
Did not go to work
21.7%
Car (passenger)
2.9%
Truck
1.8%
Bus
0.7%
Bicycle
0.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
67.3%
Year 10 or equivalent
21.8%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
5.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
34.9%
Certificate III/IV
28.6%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.6%
Postgraduate Degree
12.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.9%
Certificate I/II
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
19.6%
Engineering
17.8%
Health
14.3%
Society & Culture
13.2%
Education
12.5%
Architecture & Building
7.0%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
5.1%
Creative Arts
5.1%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.1%
Agriculture & Environment
1.5%
Information Technology
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
36.7%
Secondary: Government
22.2%
Pre-school
11.4%
Primary: Catholic
10.8%
Vocational Education
7.7%
Secondary: Catholic
4.9%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.4%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
90.8%
Has need for assistance
5.6%
Need for assistance not stated
3.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
150
Asthma
50
Arthritis
33
Heart disease
32
Diabetes
29
Lung condition
19
Cancer
17
Stroke
11
Kidney disease
10
Dementia
9

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.6% 133
Did not provide
85.4% 781

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
17.2% 158
Not a volunteer
82.8% 762

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
2.9% 27
Never served
97.1% 889

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
27.0%
1 child
7.4%
2 children
34.4%
3 children
23.3%
4 children
6.0%
5+ children
1.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

1951: 1960
5
1961: 1970
13
1971: 1980
11
1981: 1990
11
1991: 2000
19
2001: 2010
40
2011: 2015
13
2016
3
2018
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

14.2%
moved in the last year
37.7%
moved in the last 5 years
3.7%
unemployment rate (Census)
67.4%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,032
Moved from NSW
143
Moved: same area (SA2)
28

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
23.5%
5: 14 hours
33.6%
15: 29 hours
16.6%
30+ hours
9.6%
Did not do domestic work
16.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
86.3%
Step family: no other children
11.1%
Blended family: no other children
2.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Kotara South Crime Statistics

7 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
3
Other Against Property
2
Sexual Offences
1
Other Against Person
1

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Kotara South

The closest suburb to Kotara South is Kotara, 1.1 km away.

Kotara
1.1 km away · income $927/wk · rent $460/wk
Garden Suburb
1.3 km away · income $942/wk · rent $465/wk
Adamstown Heights
1.7 km away · income $983/wk · rent $475/wk
Charlestown (NSW)
1.9 km away · income $880/wk · rent $400/wk
Kahibah
2.2 km away · income $932/wk · rent $400/wk
Cardiff South
2.6 km away · income $805/wk · rent $400/wk

Frequently Asked Questions About Kotara South

What is the population of Kotara South NSW?

The population of Kotara South NSW is 1,267 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,165 people per km². Kotara South is ranked #3,636 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Kotara South?

The median personal income in Kotara South NSW is $935 per week, or $48,620 per year. The median household income is $2,230 per week. Family income is $2,622 per week. Kotara South is ranked #1,767 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Kotara South?

Median rent in Kotara South NSW is $378 per week ($1,638 per month). Rent represents 17.0% of household income, which is considered affordable. Kotara South ranks #2,618 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Kotara South?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kotara South NSW is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Kotara South?

The median age in Kotara South NSW is 37 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Kotara South a good suburb to live in?

Kotara South is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 1,267. The median income is $935/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (17.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12209. All dollar figures in AUD.