Charmhaven vs Lake Haven

Charmhaven is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 49 in Lake Haven. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Lake Haven tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Charmhaven has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 72%)
  • Lake Haven has more childcare (4 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Charmhaven

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 38%)
  • has cheaper units ($575,000 vs $706,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Charmhaven

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (27% vs 34%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Lake Haven

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 13/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lake Haven

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 13/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 7%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (30% vs 19%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Charmhaven and Lake Haven drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Walkability 13 / 82
Charmhaven — Walkability: 13/100 Lake Haven — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 8 / 13
Charmhaven — Safety: 8/100 Lake Haven — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 43 / 100
Charmhaven — Low fire risk: 43/100 Lake Haven — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Lake Haven has more residents (3,529 vs 2,501); Charmhaven has higher household incomes ($72,384 vs $53,196).

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Population 2,501 3,529
+41% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.0% -1.4%
Median age 39 49
Median household income $72,384/yr
+27% vs other
 $53,196/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk
+7% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
0-4 6.5% / 5.4%
Charmhaven — 0-4: 6.5% Lake Haven — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 11.4% / 10.6%
Charmhaven — 5-14: 11.4% Lake Haven — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 7.1% / 5.2%
Charmhaven — 15-19: 7.1% Lake Haven — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 6.4% / 4.8%
Charmhaven — 20-24: 6.4% Lake Haven — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 13.3% / 10.6%
Charmhaven — 25-34: 13.3% Lake Haven — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 11.9% / 9.2%
Charmhaven — 35-44: 11.9% Lake Haven — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 11.7% / 10.7%
Charmhaven — 45-54: 11.7% Lake Haven — 45-54: 10.7%
55-64 13.4% / 13.9%
Charmhaven — 55-64: 13.4% Lake Haven — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 10.3% / 14.1%
Charmhaven — 65-74: 10.3% Lake Haven — 65-74: 14.1%
75-84 5.6% / 10.6%
Charmhaven — 75-84: 5.6% Lake Haven — 75-84: 10.6%
85+ 2.7% / 4.8%
Charmhaven — 85+: 2.7% Lake Haven — 85+: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Charmhaven 32.5% lone person
Charmhaven — Lone Person: 32.5% Charmhaven — Couple Families: 35.2% Charmhaven — One Parent Families: 23.6% Charmhaven — Group Household: 6.7% Charmhaven — Other Families: 2.0%
Lake Haven 44.9% lone person
Lake Haven — Lone Person: 44.9% Lake Haven — Couple Families: 23.3% Lake Haven — One Parent Families: 26.0% Lake Haven — Group Household: 4.3% Lake Haven — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Charmhaven 31.6% renting
Charmhaven — Owned Outright: 30.8% Charmhaven — Mortgage: 37.7% Charmhaven — Renting: 31.6%
Lake Haven 37.2% renting
Lake Haven — Owned Outright: 37.4% Lake Haven — Mortgage: 25.3% Lake Haven — Renting: 37.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Certificate III & IV 22.5% / 17.5%
Charmhaven — Certificate III & IV: 22.5% Lake Haven — Certificate III & IV: 17.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 4.8%
Charmhaven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Lake Haven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Bachelor Degree 5.7% / 4.1%
Charmhaven — Bachelor Degree: 5.7% Lake Haven — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.0% / 1.1%
Charmhaven — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0% Lake Haven — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 0.7%
Charmhaven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Lake Haven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
England 2.6% / 3.3%
Charmhaven — England: 2.6% Lake Haven — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.1%
Charmhaven — New Zealand: 1.9% Lake Haven — New Zealand: 2.1%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.2%
Charmhaven — Philippines: 0.6% Lake Haven — Philippines: 1.2%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.8%
Charmhaven — Scotland: 0.3% Lake Haven — Scotland: 0.8%
Thailand 0.7% / —
Charmhaven — Thailand: 0.7% Lake Haven — Thailand: not among its largest
Ireland 0.6% / —
Charmhaven — Ireland: 0.6% Lake Haven — Ireland: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.6%
Charmhaven — Germany: not among its largest Lake Haven — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Charmhaven 93.0% houses
Charmhaven — Houses: 93.0% Charmhaven — Townhouses: 6.5% Charmhaven — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Lake Haven 71.9% houses
Lake Haven — Houses: 71.9% Lake Haven — Townhouses: 23.3% Lake Haven — Flats / Apartments: 4.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Median house price $820,000 $861,000
Median unit price $575,000 $706,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 19 sales
 21 days
from 27 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
3 bed $760K / $800K
Charmhaven — 3 bed: $760K (37 sales) Lake Haven — 3 bed: $800K (40 sales)

37 vs 40 sales

4 bed $879K / $952K
Charmhaven — 4 bed: $879K (18 sales) Lake Haven — 4 bed: $952K (28 sales)

18 vs 28 sales

5 bed $1.15M / $968K
Charmhaven — 5 bed: $1.15M (7 sales) Lake Haven — 5 bed: $968K (10 sales)

7 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Charmhaven has more rural and farming land (48% vs 0%); Charmhaven has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 1%).

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Residential 13% 88%
Rural and farming 48% 0%
Environmental 20% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 1%
Commercial 0% 6%
Industrial 5% 0%
Parks and recreation 1% 4%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Charmhaven Lake Haven
New dwellings approved 1,441
across Central Coast (NSW)
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Houses 3.9%
$640/wk on $850K
 3.9%
$690/wk on $912K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Charmhaven Lake Haven
House price Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 48% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 69% of NSW
same for both

Liveability

Lake Haven is more walkable (82 vs 13); Lake Haven scores higher overall (41 vs 16).

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Grade D C
Score 16/100 41/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Charmhaven carries more bushfire risk (57 vs 0).

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Bushfire Moderate
57/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
92/100
 High
87/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Charmhaven

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Lake Haven

  • Gorokan High School Government · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 3 4
Childcare 1 4
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Walkability score 13/100 82/100
Distance to Sydney 105.9 km 106.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 87 min 86 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 94.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 113.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2263
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2263
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Car (driver) 73.8% / 69.9%
Charmhaven — Car (driver): 73.8% Lake Haven — Car (driver): 69.9%
Worked from Home 17.2% / 19.7%
Charmhaven — Worked from Home: 17.2% Lake Haven — Worked from Home: 19.7%
Car (passenger) 6.0% / 5.2%
Charmhaven — Car (passenger): 6.0% Lake Haven — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 1.8% / 3.2%
Charmhaven — Walked Only: 1.8% Lake Haven — Walked Only: 3.2%
Train 0.5% / 1.0%
Charmhaven — Train: 0.5% Lake Haven — Train: 1.0%
Bus 0.7% / 0.5%
Charmhaven — Bus: 0.7% Lake Haven — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.8%).

Setting

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.0 km 5.7 km

NBN connectivity

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Connectivity score 72/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
1,412 premises
 35%
1,900 premises

Climate

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Annual rainfall 1,272 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.6°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Charmhaven Lake Haven
PM2.5 5.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.36 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Average residential rate $1,409/yr
same for both
Council Central Coast (NSW)
same for both

Federal electorate

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Division Dobell
same for both
Member Emma Mcbride
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Charmhaven Lake Haven
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Charmhaven

Acreage Quiet

Lake Haven

Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Charmhaven

Charmhaven vs Blue Haven Charmhaven vs Woongarrah Charmhaven vs San Remo Charmhaven vs Wallarah Charmhaven vs Doyalson

Other comparisons with Lake Haven

Lake Haven vs Gorokan Lake Haven vs Woongarrah Lake Haven vs Kanwal
Full data on Charmhaven Full data on Lake Haven
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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