NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Kahibah, 2290
Current weather
18.1°CClear sky
64% humidity · 14.1 km/h wind · 21.8° / 14.1° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Kahibah is a practical mid-sized suburb in Lake Macquarie, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Daily life is practical and well connected, with the city and nearby suburbs easy to tap into. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access against similar metro suburbs, even with housing affordability and growth momentum holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,603
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,804
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 64 of 1,108
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,089
- Employment rate
- 63.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 70 / 258 / 11
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $575
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $720
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $670
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 207
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 191
- Against the person
- 46
- Against property
- 105
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 73.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 57 residents
- State safety percentile
- 51.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.8%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault162
- Fraud206
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment188
- Malicious Damage To Property201
- Steal From Retail Store455
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,076
- Kahibah Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
38 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kahibah Rd At Kenibea Av
- Kahibah Rd At Newcastle Cres
- Kahibah Rd Opp Frith St
- Kenibea Av Opp Ocean View Pde
- Wallsend St At Kenibea Av
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
154 planning-related records
2026· 15 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 LOWANA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Under Assessment
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space37 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure106 KAHIBAH ROAD KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Subdivision15 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)10 COLLARENA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing28 HEXHAM STREET KAHIBAH 2290Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support45 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support47 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)62 BURWOOD STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool8 BADEN CLOSE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development57 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure23 Kenibea Avenue Kahibah 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure20 PARKVIEW AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
2025· 22 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure73 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 KENDELLA PARADE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
September 2025
- Registered club; Hours of operation and trading63 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure137 WALLSEND STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure54 BURWOOD STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 KULLAROO ROAD KAHIBAH 2290Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool20 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
June 2025
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure25 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 COLLARENA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure46 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure8 BURWOOD STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool10 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation1 LEMANA PLACE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool41A BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 HAMILTON STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation26 COLLARENA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Swimming pool6 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space47 WARATAH STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure35 KENIBEA AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Withdrawn
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 LOWANA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 SYMES AVENUE KAHIBAH 2290Determined
2024· 3 proposals
December 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 LOWANA CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 FRANCES STREET KAHIBAH 2290Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 BEATH CRESCENT KAHIBAH 2290Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
18 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench
- Glebe St at Burwood StBus stop
- Kahibah Memorial Park, Hexham StBus stop
- Kahibah Rd after Frith StBus stop
- Kahibah Rd at Kenibea AvBus stop
- Kahibah Rd at Newcastle CresBus stop
- Kahibah Rd opp Frith StBus stop
- Kahibah Sports Club, Kahibah RdBus stop
- Wallsend St at Jarvie LaneBus stop
- Wallsend St at Kenibea AvBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Kahibah Memorial ParkPark
- Pit Pony ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 44.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 41% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2732nd in Australia
- State rank
- 870th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #269 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #546 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Glebe St at Burwood Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Hilltop Fish and Chipsamenitiesfast_food
- Kahibah Memorial Park, Hexham Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Post Officeamenities1 Glebe Streetpost_office
- Kahibah Rd after Frith Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Rd at Kenibea Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Rd at Newcastle Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Rd opp Frith Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Kahibah Sports Club, Kahibah Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.