Kanwal vs Lake Haven

Kanwal is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 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.

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

Kanwal

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 4)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 72%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 49%)
  • But Lake Haven has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Kanwal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 38%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Kanwal leaves renters under less rental stress (28% vs 34%)
  • Lake Haven has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $380/wk)

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 65/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Lake Haven

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (28% vs 15%)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 65/100)
  • But Kanwal carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 87/100)

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

Kanwal 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.

Kanwal 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.

Kanwal Lake Haven
Walkability 65 / 82
Kanwal — Walkability: 65/100 Lake Haven — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 26 / 13
Kanwal — Safety: 26/100 Lake Haven — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kanwal — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lake Haven — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kanwal has higher household incomes ($69,888 vs $53,196); Lake Haven skews older (49 vs 45).

Kanwal Lake Haven
Population 4,194
+16% vs other
 3,529
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.3% -1.4%
Median age 45 49
Median household income $69,888/yr
+24% vs other
 $53,196/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+8% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kanwal Lake Haven
0-4 5.0% / 5.4%
Kanwal — 0-4: 5.0% Lake Haven — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 11.0% / 10.6%
Kanwal — 5-14: 11.0% Lake Haven — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 6.2% / 5.2%
Kanwal — 15-19: 6.2% Lake Haven — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 6.1% / 4.8%
Kanwal — 20-24: 6.1% Lake Haven — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 11.1% / 10.6%
Kanwal — 25-34: 11.1% Lake Haven — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 10.3% / 9.2%
Kanwal — 35-44: 10.3% Lake Haven — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 11.5% / 10.7%
Kanwal — 45-54: 11.5% Lake Haven — 45-54: 10.7%
55-64 11.0% / 13.9%
Kanwal — 55-64: 11.0% Lake Haven — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 11.3% / 14.1%
Kanwal — 65-74: 11.3% Lake Haven — 65-74: 14.1%
75-84 9.4% / 10.6%
Kanwal — 75-84: 9.4% Lake Haven — 75-84: 10.6%
85+ 7.0% / 4.8%
Kanwal — 85+: 7.0% Lake Haven — 85+: 4.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kanwal 35.8% lone person
Kanwal — Lone Person: 35.8% Kanwal — Couple Families: 35.6% Kanwal — One Parent Families: 22.4% Kanwal — Group Household: 4.4% Kanwal — Other Families: 1.7%
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.

Kanwal 28.0% renting
Kanwal — Owned Outright: 34.4% Kanwal — Mortgage: 37.5% Kanwal — Renting: 28.0%
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.

Kanwal Lake Haven
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 17.5%
Kanwal — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Lake Haven — Certificate III & IV: 17.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.0% / 4.8%
Kanwal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0% Lake Haven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Bachelor Degree 6.1% / 4.1%
Kanwal — Bachelor Degree: 6.1% Lake Haven — Bachelor Degree: 4.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 1.1%
Kanwal — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Lake Haven — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.5% / 0.7%
Kanwal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5% Lake Haven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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.

Kanwal Lake Haven
England 3.5% / 3.3%
Kanwal — England: 3.5% Lake Haven — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.5% / 2.1%
Kanwal — New Zealand: 1.5% Lake Haven — New Zealand: 2.1%
Philippines 0.8% / 1.2%
Kanwal — Philippines: 0.8% Lake Haven — Philippines: 1.2%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.8%
Kanwal — Scotland: 0.7% Lake Haven — Scotland: 0.8%
India 0.6% / 0.4%
Kanwal — India: 0.6% Lake Haven — India: 0.4%
Germany — / 0.6%
Kanwal — Germany: not among its largest Lake Haven — Germany: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kanwal 85.1% houses
Kanwal — Houses: 85.1% Kanwal — Townhouses: 3.6% Kanwal — Flats / Apartments: 11.3%
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

Kanwal Lake Haven
Median house price $835,750 $861,000
Median unit price $677,500 $706,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 17 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.

Kanwal Lake Haven
3 bed $805K / $800K
Kanwal — 3 bed: $805K (41 sales) Lake Haven — 3 bed: $800K (40 sales)

41 vs 40 sales

4 bed $970K / $952K
Kanwal — 4 bed: $970K (10 sales) Lake Haven — 4 bed: $952K (28 sales)

10 vs 28 sales

5 bed $941K / $968K
Kanwal — 5 bed: $941K (5 sales) Lake Haven — 5 bed: $968K (10 sales)

5 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Kanwal has more rural and farming land (31% vs 0%).

Kanwal Lake Haven
Residential 54% 88%
Rural and farming 31% 0%
Parks and recreation 8% 4%
Commercial 0% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 1%
Environmental 3% 1%
Industrial 2% 0%
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

Kanwal 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.

Kanwal Lake Haven
Houses 4.0%
$670/wk on $870K
 3.9%
$690/wk on $912K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Kanwal Lake Haven
House price Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 37% of NSW
Income Higher than 33% of NSW Higher than 13% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW

Liveability

Lake Haven is more walkable (82 vs 65); Kanwal scores higher overall (46 vs 41).

Kanwal Lake Haven
Grade C
same for both
Score 46/100 41/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Lake Haven carries more crime risk (87 vs 74).

Kanwal Lake Haven
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Kanwal

  • Kanwal Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Lake Haven

  • Gorokan High School Government · Secondary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kanwal Lake Haven
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 10 4
Childcare 3 4
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Kanwal Lake Haven
Walkability score 65/100 82/100
Distance to Sydney 105.4 km 106.5 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 84 min 86 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 106.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 113.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2259
 0.5%
postcode 2263
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2259
 36
postcode 2263

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.

Kanwal Lake Haven
Car (driver) 71.0% / 69.9%
Kanwal — Car (driver): 71.0% Lake Haven — Car (driver): 69.9%
Worked from Home 19.7% / 19.7%
Kanwal — Worked from Home: 19.7% Lake Haven — Worked from Home: 19.7%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 5.2%
Kanwal — Car (passenger): 5.6% Lake Haven — Car (passenger): 5.2%
Walked Only 1.4% / 3.2%
Kanwal — Walked Only: 1.4% Lake Haven — Walked Only: 3.2%
Train 1.1% / 1.0%
Kanwal — Train: 1.1% Lake Haven — Train: 1.0%
Bus 1.3% / 0.5%
Kanwal — Bus: 1.3% Lake Haven — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.0%).

Setting

Kanwal Lake Haven
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 5.7 km

NBN connectivity

Kanwal Lake Haven
Connectivity score 64/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
1,764 premises
 35%
1,900 premises

Climate

Kanwal 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)

Kanwal 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Kanwal

Large Blocks Parks Retirees

Lake Haven

Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kanwal

Kanwal vs Hamlyn Terrace Kanwal vs Gorokan Kanwal vs Woongarrah Kanwal vs Wadalba Kanwal vs Wyongah

Other comparisons with Lake Haven

Lake Haven vs Gorokan Lake Haven vs Woongarrah Lake Haven vs Charmhaven
Full data on Kanwal 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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or