Moving to Smiths Lake NSW 2428
What the official numbers say about living in Smiths Lake — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $380 a week, against a median household income of $1,210 a week.
About 82% of homes are owner-occupied and 17% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Smiths Lake grew 24% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (1,076 → 1,332 people).
Around 73% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Ireland; most spoken languages besides English: German, Indonesian, Persian.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Smiths Lake sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (76% of workers), while 21% work from home.
Nearest airport: Forster (Wallis Island) Airport, 19.9 km north.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 205 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 cafe or restaurant · 1 supermarket · 3 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the Smiths Lake profile.
What's actually nearby
Groceries: Friendly Grocer Smith's Lake 50 m
Parks and reserves: Debert Reserve 300 m · Coates Reserve 500 m · Veropa Park 1.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Smiths Lake, most often seen first: White-cheeked Honeyeater · Lewin's Honeyeater · Eastern Yellow Robin · Laughing Kookaburra · Variegated Fairy-wren · Red-browed Finch.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Smiths Lake, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smiths Lake here | 1,332 | — | 4/10 | 76% |
| Boomerang Beach | 423 | — | 6/10 | 64% |
| Coomba Park | 691 | — | 1/10 | 44% |
| Forster | 14,187 | — | 2/10 | 43% |
| Tuncurry | 6,376 | — | 1/10 | 50% |
| Bulahdelah | 1,538 | — | 1/10 | 68% |
| Nabiac | 1,294 | — | 2/10 | 54% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Mid-Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Lyne — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2428 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Smiths Lake profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $380 a week, and about 17% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 24% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 1,076 people to 1,332. It sits about 205 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Mid-Coast council, and the federal seat is Lyne.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Smiths Lake vs Boomerang Beach.
Nearby guides: Boomerang Beach · Coomba Park · Forster · Tuncurry · Bulahdelah · Nabiac.
Keep an eye on Smiths Lake
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