Kotara at a glance
Walk score
10
Very car dependent
Population
3,980
Median age 39
The brief
What to know about Kotara.
The postcode for Kotara is 2289 (NSW).
Kotara (2289) sits in the Lake Macquarie region of NSW.
Kotara has roughly 3,980 residents, with a typical family-age mix. Households are predominantly owner-occupied. Daily life is car-dependent: most residents drive to work, school and the shops.
Side by side
Compare Kotara with a nearby suburb.
Median, growth, schools, walkability, all in one view.
Day to day
What it’s like to live here.
Kotara scores 10/100 on walkability, which makes it car-dependent with limited public transport. Plan for two cars in a typical household, especially if work isn't local.
Summer days here average around 25°C (mild), winter mornings around 8°C (mild). Annual rainfall lands at about 1143mm. Data comes from the Bureau of Meteorology's Newcastle Nobbys Signal station, 25.0km away.
Schooling within or near the suburb covers 10 government primary, 2 government secondary, 5 Catholic.
Who lives here
Demographics.
The 2021 Census put Kotara's population at 3,980, with a median age of 39. That sits as a typical family-age mix. Households are predominantly owner-occupied (78% own, 21% rent), which shapes everything from school catchment stability to how often properties turn over. The household mix skews family-dominated (75% family households, 21% lone person), so amenity decisions tend to follow what families want: parks, schools, supermarkets.
Population
3,980
Median age
39
Family households
75%
Lone person
21%
Demographics data as of May 2026· ABS 2021 Census
Market
The price of a home here.
Median house price
Verified median pending
We don't yet have a verified suburb-level median for this market. We're working on a data partner; in the meantime, treat the state-level figures as a guide only. How we source data.
Sales data as of May 2026· rental-nsw
Rental and ownership
Weekly rent (house)
$420/wk
Weekly rent (unit)
$460/wk
Owner occupied
78%
Renter occupied
21%
At a deeper level
3,980
Median age: 39
Free appraisal
What’s your home worth in Kotara?
A local agent who actually sells in Kotara will give you an honest number, backed by recent comparable sales. Free, no commitment to list.
Free guide · 2026 edition
Thinking of selling in Kotara?
The complete guide to selling: what it costs, how agents price your home, and a 12-week plan to settlement. Personalised to Kotara, free, in 60 seconds.
Free guide · 2026 edition
Thinking of buying in Kotara?
What you can actually spend, the 2026 first home buyer schemes for your state, and how not to overpay. A free buying guide, in about 60 seconds.
Get property alerts for Kotara
Be the first to know when new listings hit the market.
Safety
Crime and safety.
691
total offences in 2025
Top offence categories
Crime statistics are reported at LGA level and may cover a broader area than this suburb.
Source: State Police Open Data
Crime data as of January 2025· State Police Open Data
Getting around
Walkability.
10
20
100
Scores calculated from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
Walkability data as of May 2026· OpenStreetMap
Place
Location.
Amenities
Transport
Education
Schools in Kotara.
Local schools for Kotara
View the catchment for each school to find out more.
Government School Catchment
Kotara School
Kotara South Public School
Kotara High School
© ACARA, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Climate
Weather year-round.
Annual Rainfall
1143 mm
Hottest Month (avg max)
24.7°C
Coldest Month (avg min)
8.2°C
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Weather data from BOM station Newcastle Nobbys Signal (25 km away)
Climate data as of May 2026· Bureau of Meteorology
Frequently asked
About Kotara.
- What is the Kotara postcode?
- Kotara is in the 2289 postcode, in NSW, in the Lake Macquarie City Council region.
- Where is Kotara?
- Kotara is a regional suburb in NSW, postcode 2289, in the Lake Macquarie City Council region.
- What is the average rent in Kotara?
- The median weekly rent for houses is $420, for units it's $460.
- What schools are in Kotara?
- There are 20 schools serving Kotara on this page, including Kotara School, Kotara South Public School, St James' Primary School.
- How walkable is Kotara?
- Kotara has a Walk Score of 10 out of 100, highly car-dependent. transit score 20, bike score 100.
- What suburbs are near Kotara?
- Kotara is close to Kotara East, Kotara South, Kotara Fair, Garden Suburb, Adamstown Heights.
- What is the population of Kotara?
- The population of Kotara is approximately 3,980 (2021 Census). The median age is 39.
For Sale
Kotara
Buying
Selling
Side by side
Compare Kotara vs a nearby suburb
See median prices, growth, schools, walkability and risk side by side in one view.
Sources cited
Median, growth and rental data from state revenue offices and ABS. Census from ABS 2021. Climate from BoM. Hazard from Geoscience Australia. School data from ACARA. Crime from state police open data. Full methodology →
Always dated
Every figure on this page carries its source and as-of date in a tooltip. If a figure looks off to you, tell us and we’ll fix it within a week.
No login
No paywall, no sign-up, no download form. The suburb data is the product. We earn from partner brokers and agents on the rare occasion you ask for one.
Thinking about selling in Kotara?
The complete selling guide, personalised to Kotara: what it really costs, how agents price homes here, and a 12-week plan to settlement. Free PDF, 60 seconds.
Get the free selling guide