Lake Cathie
NSW 2445 · Port Macquarie-Hastings
4,296 (2021) → 4,664 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area (est. 90,351 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Lake Cathie is a moderate growth suburb in Port Macquarie-Hastings, NSW 2445, about 300km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $933K is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 0/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Lake Cathie has an overall score of 28/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 74/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (4.38%), New Zealand (1.35%), Scotland (0.58%), Germany (0.44%), USA (0.4%)
Top languages: Cantonese (0.4%), Italian (0.21%), Spanish (0.14%), Thai (0.12%), Australian Indigenous Languages (0.09%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q4 2025
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated 2025
Schools
Limited school choices
Below average for school access — fewer schools nearby, and families may need to travel for preferred options.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1021 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Lake Cathie Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1011
Nearby (within 10km)
- The Nature SchoolCombined · Independent · 9.1kmICSEA 1064
- North Haven Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 9.7kmICSEA 988
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Few fitness options
Very few fitness facilities in and around this suburb.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Limited outdoor options
Below average — fewer parks and green spaces close by.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Limited cultural access
Below average — fewer cultural venues nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW
Childcare
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Port Macquarie-Hastings
Compare Lake Cathie with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Lake Cathie
Is Lake Cathie safe?
Lake Cathie has a residential safety score of 74/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 3,445 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Lake Cathie?
In Lake Cathie, the median house price is $933K and the median unit price is $668K. Median weekly house rent is $700.
How far is Lake Cathie from Sydney CBD?
Lake Cathie is about 300.1 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Lake Cathie?
Lake Cathie has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1011 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Lake Cathie?
Lake Cathie has a transport score of 0/100.