Lake Cathie, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Lake Cathie NSW is 4,296 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Lake Cathie is $658 per week ($34,216 per year). Median rent in Lake Cathie is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Lake Cathie has a median age of 52 years, older than the national median of 38. Lake Cathie has a population density of 224 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Lake Cathie is England. The most common religion is No religion (38.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Cantonese. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lake Cathie is $1,850.

There were 30 recorded offences in Lake Cathie in 2025-26, a rate of 7 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was other against property (8 offences).

Population
4,296
Census 2021
Median income
$658/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$380/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
52years
Census 2021

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

Lake Cathie vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Lake Cathie is $658 a week, 14% below the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 1,533rd of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $380 a week, $5 less than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 29.8% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 52, 9 years older 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.
MeasureLake CathieTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$658/wk$765/wk −14%$766/wk
Household income$1,275/wk$1,704/wk −25%$1,637/wk
Rent$380/wk$385/wk −1%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,850/mo$1,965/mo −6%$1,733/mo
Median age5243 +9 yrs42
Rent share of household income29.8%22.6% +7.2 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 Lake Cathie, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Lake Cathie Population

4,296 residents at the 2021 Census.

Lake Cathie Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$658/wk
$34,216 per year
Ranked 6,188 of 14,663
Median Rent
$380/wk
$1,647 per month
Ranked 2,445 of 14,663
Median Age
52years
14 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,850/mo
Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Lake Cathie Rent Prices & Affordability

30% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,275/wk
Median rent $380/wk
Rent to income 29.8%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Lake Cathie against your income

About $5,525 a month
Median rent $380/wk
Left after rent $895/wk
Rent share 29.8%

Lake Cathie Schools

1
schools nearby
1
government
1007
avg ICSEA score
395
total students
Lake Cathie Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 395 students
1007
ICSEA

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

All schools near Lake Cathie, with a map

Lake Cathie Map

Lake Cathie, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Lake Cathie, New South Wales: 31.5496°S, 152.8380°E

Lake Cathie Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (1)

People in Lake Cathie

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.5% (2,083) Female 51.5% (2,214)

Population Density

224
people per km²
4,296 people · 19.2 km²

Households

2.4
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,485
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
4.4%
New Zealand
1.4%
Scotland
0.6%
Germany
0.4%
United States of America
0.4%
Netherlands
0.3%
Philippines
0.3%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Cantonese
0.4%
Italian
0.2%
Spanish
0.1%
Thai
0.1%
Australian Indigenous Languages
0.1%
Filipino
0.1%
German
0.1%

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

Ancestry

English
45.9%
Australian
45.7%
Scottish
13.1%
Irish
11.8%
Australian Aboriginal
4.5%
German
4.3%
Italian
2.3%
Dutch
1.8%
Maltese
0.8%
Chinese
0.7%
Welsh
0.7%

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
38.0%
Anglican
21.3%
Catholic
21.1%
Not stated
5.1%
Uniting Church
3.4%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.4%
Christian (other)
1.9%
Baptist
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.8%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
55.9% 2,008
Separated
3.1% 110
Divorced
10.1% 361
Widowed
6.1% 219
Never married
24.9% 893

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
41.1%
Couple: children under 15
33.4%
Couple: no children under 15
12.9%
One parent: children under 15
7.3%
One parent: no children under 15
5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
23.0%
2 persons
45.2%
3 persons
11.7%
4 persons
12.3%
5 persons
5.5%
6+ persons
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Lake Cathie

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,713 occupied private dwellings in Lake Cathie at the 2021 Census, 17.0% were rented, 51.8% owned outright and 27.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.0% 34 dwellings
Owned outright
51.8% 888 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
27.1% 465 dwellings
Rented
17.0% 291 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.6% 28 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
94.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.8%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.6%
2 bedrooms
21.4%
3 bedrooms
33.1%
4 bedrooms
36.8%
5 bedrooms
5.7%
6+ bedrooms
1.4%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.0%
$300-$449/mo
3.3%
$450-$599/mo
1.4%
$600-$799/mo
3.1%
$800-$999/mo
5.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
15.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
15.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
31.4%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
12.0%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
7.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
2.1%
1 vehicle
37.1%
2 vehicles
42.3%
3 vehicles
11.8%
4+ vehicles
6.7%

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

Work, income and education in Lake Cathie

Employment

Employed full-time
26.7% 896 people
Employed part-time
19.5% 655 people
Unemployed
2.7% 91 people
Not in labour force
51.0% 1,711 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
28.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
16.3%
Community & Personal Service
15.0%
Clerical & Administrative
12.9%
Managers
11.1%
Labourers
7.2%
Sales Workers
5.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.3%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.0%
$1-$149/wk
1.1%
$150-$299/wk
1.4%
$300-$399/wk
1.5%
$400-$499/wk
6.9%
$500-$649/wk
6.3%
$650-$799/wk
10.8%
$800-$999/wk
9.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.7%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
10.0%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
6.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
5.7%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
3.0%
$4,000+/wk
6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.2%
$1-$149/wk
5.3%
$150-$299/wk
7.9%
$300-$399/wk
7.0%
$400-$499/wk
4.3%
$500-$649/wk
5.3%
$650-$799/wk
12.1%
$800-$999/wk
11.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
12.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.2%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
6.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.0%
$3,500+/wk
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
78.0%
Did not go to work
12.4%
Car (passenger)
4.5%
Walked only
1.6%
Truck
1.0%
Bus
0.8%
Other
0.7%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.6%
Train
0.4%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
46.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
37.2%
Year 9 or equivalent
9.3%
Year 11 or equivalent
7.2%

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

Certificate III/IV
47.4%
Bachelor Degree
22.3%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.4%
Postgraduate Degree
4.7%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
3.5%
Certificate I/II
2.7%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
20.7%
Engineering
14.8%
Society & Culture
14.7%
Education
13.6%
Health
11.3%
Architecture & Building
11.0%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.9%
Creative Arts
2.4%
Agriculture & Environment
1.7%
Natural & Physical Sciences
1.6%
Information Technology
1.3%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
33.8%
Secondary: Catholic
17.1%
Vocational Education
12.2%
Secondary: Government
11.5%
Pre-school
10.7%
Primary: Catholic
5.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
5.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
4.0%

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
89.8%
Has need for assistance
7.0%
Need for assistance not stated
3.4%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
401
Arthritis
295
Heart disease
194
Asthma
151
Diabetes
140
Lung condition
127
Cancer
109
Stroke
69
Kidney disease
51
Dementia
19

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.6% 506
Did not provide
85.4% 2,964

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
19.2% 663
Not a volunteer
80.8% 2,795

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 6
Previously served
4.5% 157
Never served
95.3% 3,317

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
22.1%
1 child
11.0%
2 children
36.4%
3 children
22.6%
4 children
6.6%
5+ children
1.4%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
16
1951: 1960
56
1961: 1970
119
1971: 1980
68
1981: 1990
53
1991: 2000
42
2001: 2010
48
2011: 2015
13
2016
8
2017
5
2018
8
2019
6

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

Population Mobility

13.8%
moved in the last year
45.2%
moved in the last 5 years
5.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
49.1%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,553
Moved from NSW
362
Moved: same area (SA2)
138
Moved from QLD
18
Moved from overseas
16
Moved from VIC
10
Moved from ACT
5
Moved from NT
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
17.1%
5: 14 hours
32.0%
15: 29 hours
16.4%
30+ hours
11.5%
Did not do domestic work
23.1%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
83.1%
Step family: no other children
11.0%
Blended family: no other children
3.8%
Other couple: children only
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Lake Cathie Crime Statistics

30 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Other Against Property
8
Assault
7
Theft
5
Other Against Person
4
Sexual Offences
3
Property Damage
3

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Harden
Income: $550/wk Rent: $220/wk $160/wk less rent
Corowa
Income: $634/wk Rent: $230/wk $150/wk less rent
Crookwell
Income: $639/wk Rent: $280/wk $100/wk less rent
Moruya
Income: $592/wk Rent: $300/wk $80/wk less rent
Dungog
Income: $582/wk Rent: $300/wk $80/wk less rent
Evans Head
Income: $638/wk Rent: $321/wk $59/wk less rent
Lemon Tree Passage
Income: $533/wk Rent: $365/wk $15/wk less rent
Finley
Income: $636/wk Rent: $175/wk $205/wk less rent

Suburbs near Lake Cathie

The closest suburb to Lake Cathie is Bonny Hills, 3.4 km away.

Bonny Hills
3.4 km away · income $677/wk · rent $445/wk
King Creek
9.9 km away · income $721/wk · rent $410/wk
North Haven (NSW)
9.9 km away · income $519/wk · rent $310/wk
Thrumster
10.1 km away · income $882/wk · rent $460/wk
West Haven
10.9 km away · income $524/wk · rent $400/wk
Laurieton
11.1 km away · income $487/wk · rent $315/wk

Compare Lake Cathie

Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Cathie

What is the population of Lake Cathie NSW?

The population of Lake Cathie NSW is 4,296 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 224 people per km². Lake Cathie is ranked #1,793 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Lake Cathie?

The median personal income in Lake Cathie NSW is $658 per week, or $34,216 per year. The median household income is $1,275 per week. Family income is $1,485 per week. Lake Cathie is ranked #6,188 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Lake Cathie?

Median rent in Lake Cathie NSW is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Rent represents 29.8% of household income, which is considered moderate. Lake Cathie ranks #2,445 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Lake Cathie?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Lake Cathie NSW is $1,850. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Lake Cathie?

The median age in Lake Cathie NSW is 52 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Lake Cathie a good suburb to live in?

Lake Cathie is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 4,296. The median income is $658/wk, which is below the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (29.8% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12251. All dollar figures in AUD.