Suburb in Port Macquarie-Hastings

Lake Cathie, NSW

Lake Cathie had a population of 4,296 at the 2021 Census (+23.0% since 2016). Median age 52.1. Median weekly household income $1,279. Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. Census 2026 data arrives June 2027.

Lake Cathie at a glance

What the 2021 Census says, compared with New South Wales.

In Mid North Coast

Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Lake Cathie's population grew by 23.0% to 4,296, faster than New South Wales as a whole (+7.9%). With a median age of 52.1, it is older than the NSW average (38.4). Children under 10 make up 10.1% of residents, and people aged 70 and over 22.7%.

17.3% of households rent, a smaller share than the NSW average of 33.1%. 52.7% own their home outright. Almost every home is a house; flats and apartments are 3.6% of homes. The 2021 Census counted 1,713 households.

The median household earns $1,279 a week, below the NSW average of $1,829. Renters pay a median $368 a week, and households with a mortgage repay $1,828 a month.

11.0% of residents were born overseas, fewer than the NSW average of 31.0%. 2.3% use a language other than English at home. 40.5% report no religion, higher than the NSW average (35.7%).

Key figures

2021 Census, Lake Cathie beside NSW and Australia.

MeasureLake CathieNSWAustralia
Population4,2968,072,17125,422,828
Growth since 2016+23.0%+7.9%+8.6%
Median age52.138.438.2
Households1,7132,900,4569,275,123
Flats and apartments3.6%21.8%14.3%
Renting17.3%33.1%31.1%
Owned outright52.7%32.0%31.4%
Median household income a week$1,279$1,829$1,747
Median rent a week$368$423$376
Median mortgage repayment a month$1,828$2,142$1,866
Born overseas11.0%31.0%29.3%
Other language at home2.3%28.2%23.6%
No religion40.5%35.7%41.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Population and age

Each census since 2011, and the age profile in 2021.

Population

+23.0% since 2016.

Population · each census
  1. 3,1562011
  2. 3,4942016
  3. 4,2962021

Age

Median age 52.1, against 38.4 for New South Wales.

Lake Cathie New South Wales
Share of people by age, Lake Cathie and New South Wales
0–910.1%
10–1911.8%
20–296.8%
30–397.8%
40–4910.0%
50–5914.4%
60–6916.7%
70–7917.6%
80+5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Cultural background

The largest groups in Lake Cathie at the 2021 Census.

Ancestry

Top 5 · ancestry
  1. English47.6%
  2. Australian47.5%
  3. Scottish13.6%
  4. Irish12.3%
  5. Australian Aboriginal4.7%

Languages at home

Top 5 · languages at home
  1. Cantonese0.4%
  2. Italian0.2%
  3. Spanish0.1%
  4. Thai0.1%
  5. Australian Indigenous languages0.1%

Country of birth

Top 5 · country of birth
  1. England4.5%
  2. New Zealand1.4%
  3. Scotland0.6%
  4. Germany0.5%
  5. the United States0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, via Censible. How the figures are built

Around Lake Cathie

The places it belongs to, sits beside and contains.

Explore Lake Cathie in Censible

Every census figure for Lake Cathie, mapped and compared with any other place. A free account takes a minute.