Kotara, NSW: suburb profile

The population of Kotara NSW is 3,980 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Kotara is $927 per week ($48,204 per year). Median rent in Kotara is $460 per week ($1,993 per month). Kotara has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Kotara has a population density of 1,593 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Kotara is England. The most common religion is No religion (47.0% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kotara is $2,167.

There were 163 recorded offences in Kotara in 2025-26, a rate of 41 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (107 offences).

Population
3,980
Census 2021
Median income
$927/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$460/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au), 2025-26.

Kotara vs the typical NSW suburb

The median personal income in Kotara is $927 a week, 21% above the typical NSW suburb ($765). That ranks 529th of 2,150 NSW suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $460 a week, $75 more than the typical NSW suburb. Rent takes 22.1% of the median household income here, against 22.6% in the typical NSW suburb. The median resident is 39, 4 years younger than in the typical NSW suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureKotaraTypical NSWDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$927/wk$765/wk +21%$766/wk
Household income$2,077/wk$1,704/wk +22%$1,637/wk
Rent$460/wk$385/wk +19%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,167/mo$1,965/mo +10%$1,733/mo
Median age3943 −4 yrs42
Rent share of household income22.1%22.6% −0.4 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Kotara, the typical NSW suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Kotara Population

3,980 residents at the 2021 Census.

Kotara Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$927/wk
$48,204 per year
Ranked 1,837 of 14,663
Median Rent
$460/wk
$1,993 per month
Ranked 939 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,167/mo
Avg household size: 2.6 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Kotara Rent Prices & Affordability

22% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,077/wk
Median rent $460/wk
Rent to income 22.1%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Kotara against your income

About $9,000 a month
Median rent $460/wk
Left after rent $1,617/wk
Rent share 22.1%

Kotara Schools

26
schools nearby
20
government
1055
avg ICSEA score
11,262
total students
New Lambton Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 538 students
1108
ICSEA
St Columba's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 168 students
1107
ICSEA
St James' Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 334 students
1104
ICSEA
Belair Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 409 students
1103
ICSEA
St Joseph's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 361 students
1102
ICSEA
St Therese's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 543 students
1100
ICSEA
New Lambton Heights Infants School Government
Primary · K-2 · 55 students
1100
ICSEA
New Lambton South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 462 students
1095
ICSEA
Trinity Catholic College Catholic
Secondary · 7-11 · 849 students
1090
ICSEA
Hunter School of Performing Arts Government
Combined · K-12 · 1,094 students
1085
ICSEA
Wallsend South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 583 students
1083
ICSEA
Kahibah Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 291 students
1076
ICSEA
Charlestown South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 235 students
1075
ICSEA
Kotara South Public School Government
Primary · K-6 · 309 students
1069
ICSEA
Kotara High School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,130 students
1066
ICSEA

Showing 15 of 26 schools.

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Kotara, with a map

Kotara Map

Kotara, New South Wales Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Kotara, New South Wales: 32.9428°S, 151.6987°E

Kotara Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (26)

People in Kotara

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (1,954) Female 50.9% (2,023)

Population Density

1,593
people per km²
3,980 people · 2.5 km²

Households

2.6
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,449
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
2.8%
New Zealand
0.9%
United States of America
0.8%
China
0.7%
Nepal
0.5%
South Africa
0.5%
Scotland
0.5%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
0.9%
Macedonian
0.8%
Vietnamese
0.6%
Spanish
0.5%
Nepali
0.4%
Italian
0.3%
German
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
45.2%
Australian
40.0%
Scottish
13.2%
Irish
12.3%
German
4.7%
Italian
3.3%
Australian Aboriginal
3.2%
Chinese
1.8%
Macedonian
1.5%
Dutch
1.3%
Welsh
1.3%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
47.0%
Catholic
19.9%
Anglican
12.4%
Not stated
4.4%
Uniting Church
3.6%
Christian (other)
2.7%
Eastern Orthodox
1.6%
Presbyterian and Reformed
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

3.1%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
48.8% 1,567
Separated
3.1% 101
Divorced
8.1% 260
Widowed
4.5% 146
Never married
35.4% 1,138

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
42.8%
Couple: no children
25.5%
Couple: no children under 15
17.5%
One parent: children under 15
7.8%
One parent: no children under 15
6.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
21.5%
2 persons
33.7%
3 persons
17.8%
4 persons
19.1%
5 persons
6.3%
6+ persons
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Kotara

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,476 occupied private dwellings in Kotara at the 2021 Census, 21.3% were rented, 35.8% owned outright and 41.8% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.5% 8 dwellings
Owned outright
35.8% 528 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
41.8% 617 dwellings
Rented
21.3% 315 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
0.5% 7 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
88.6%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
8.0%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.3%
2 bedrooms
10.7%
3 bedrooms
57.1%
4 bedrooms
23.7%
5 bedrooms
6.5%
6+ bedrooms
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
3.6%
$300-$449/mo
0.7%
$450-$599/mo
1.6%
$600-$799/mo
2.2%
$800-$999/mo
3.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
9.5%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
15.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
32.6%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
21.1%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
9.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.6%
1 vehicle
32.9%
2 vehicles
44.1%
3 vehicles
11.7%
4+ vehicles
6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Kotara

Employment

Employed full-time
40.1% 1,194 people
Employed part-time
26.4% 784 people
Unemployed
2.9% 85 people
Not in labour force
30.7% 912 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
39.7%
Managers
15.3%
Technicians & Trade Workers
13.1%
Clerical & Administrative
11.6%
Community & Personal Service
9.2%
Sales Workers
4.4%
Labourers
3.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.1%
$1-$149/wk
0.6%
$150-$299/wk
0.3%
$300-$399/wk
1.4%
$400-$499/wk
5.7%
$500-$649/wk
3.2%
$650-$799/wk
4.7%
$800-$999/wk
5.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.2%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.8%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
12.1%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
8.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
11.0%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.4%
$4,000+/wk
14.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.7%
$1-$149/wk
5.0%
$150-$299/wk
4.9%
$300-$399/wk
3.7%
$400-$499/wk
3.3%
$500-$649/wk
3.2%
$650-$799/wk
8.0%
$800-$999/wk
10.0%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
8.6%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.4%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
12.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.0%
$3,500+/wk
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.4%
Did not go to work
24.4%
Car (passenger)
4.2%
Walked only
1.1%
Truck
1.1%
Bicycle
0.9%
Other
0.6%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.2%
Train
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
65.9%
Year 10 or equivalent
25.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.0%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.0%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
34.5%
Certificate III/IV
29.7%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
17.7%
Postgraduate Degree
11.0%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
5.1%
Certificate I/II
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
21.3%
Health
15.3%
Engineering
14.4%
Society & Culture
12.6%
Education
11.8%
Architecture & Building
7.6%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
4.9%
Creative Arts
4.9%
Information Technology
3.6%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.2%
Agriculture & Environment
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
31.7%
Secondary: Government
26.8%
Pre-school
12.3%
Vocational Education
11.7%
Primary: Catholic
7.3%
Secondary: Catholic
6.2%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
2.4%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
92.4%
Has need for assistance
4.3%
Need for assistance not stated
3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
407
Asthma
176
Arthritis
120
Heart disease
91
Diabetes
74
Cancer
66
Lung condition
56
Kidney disease
42
Stroke
24
Dementia
11

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.1% 404
Did not provide
86.9% 2,690

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.3% 503
Not a volunteer
83.7% 2,592

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.4% 12
Current ADF: Reserves
0.3% 10
Previously served
3.8% 119
Never served
95.5% 2,969

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
33.3%
1 child
12.1%
2 children
32.5%
3 children
16.8%
4 children
4.7%
5+ children
0.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
10
1951: 1960
25
1961: 1970
48
1971: 1980
52
1981: 1990
43
1991: 2000
43
2001: 2010
106
2011: 2015
77
2016
21
2017
15
2018
15
2019
22
2020
17

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

14.2%
moved in the last year
36.5%
moved in the last 5 years
4.0%
unemployment rate (Census)
68.4%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,293
Moved from NSW
401
Moved: same area (SA2)
90
Moved from QLD
11
Moved from overseas
9
Moved from VIC
8
Moved from SA
5
Moved from ACT
4

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
22.5%
5: 14 hours
32.9%
15: 29 hours
15.2%
30+ hours
9.3%
Did not do domestic work
20.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
88.9%
Step family: no other children
7.6%
Blended family: no other children
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Kotara Crime Statistics

163 reported offences in 2025-26, by category.

Theft
107
Other Against Property
12
Assault
11
Property Damage
11
Other Against Person
10
Drug Offences
8
Sexual Offences
2
Weapons
2

Total offences by year

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: NSW BOCSAR (bocsar.nsw.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Yenda (NSW)
Income: $821/wk Rent: $250/wk $210/wk less rent
Narrabri
Income: $826/wk Rent: $260/wk $200/wk less rent
Hanwood
Income: $825/wk Rent: $275/wk $185/wk less rent
Scone
Income: $802/wk Rent: $290/wk $170/wk less rent
Mangerton
Income: $941/wk Rent: $353/wk $107/wk less rent
Barnsley
Income: $794/wk Rent: $360/wk $100/wk less rent
East Corrimal
Income: $840/wk Rent: $361/wk $99/wk less rent
Clarence Town
Income: $794/wk Rent: $365/wk $95/wk less rent

Suburbs near Kotara

The closest suburb to Kotara is Kotara South, 1.1 km away.

Kotara South
1.1 km away · income $935/wk · rent $378/wk
Adamstown Heights
1.2 km away · income $983/wk · rent $475/wk
Garden Suburb
1.9 km away · income $942/wk · rent $465/wk
New Lambton
2.0 km away · income $914/wk · rent $395/wk
New Lambton Heights
2.0 km away · income $1,087/wk · rent $483/wk
Kahibah
2.4 km away · income $932/wk · rent $400/wk

Compare Kotara

Frequently Asked Questions About Kotara

What is the population of Kotara NSW?

The population of Kotara NSW is 3,980 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,593 people per km². Kotara is ranked #1,932 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Kotara?

The median personal income in Kotara NSW is $927 per week, or $48,204 per year. The median household income is $2,077 per week. Family income is $2,449 per week. Kotara is ranked #1,837 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Kotara?

Median rent in Kotara NSW is $460 per week ($1,993 per month). Rent represents 22.1% of household income, which is considered affordable. Kotara ranks #939 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Kotara?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kotara NSW is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Kotara?

The median age in Kotara NSW is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Kotara a good suburb to live in?

Kotara is a suburb in New South Wales with a population of 3,980. The median income is $927/wk, which is above the typical NSW suburb ($765/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (22.1% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Sydney Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 12208. All dollar figures in AUD.