Callaghan
A median age of 20 sets Callaghan 20 years below the national figure, making it one of Australia's youngest suburbs by this measure. The suburb is defined by the University of Newcastle campus, which explains why 1,358 residents are packed into 1.79 sqkm at a density of 758 per sqkm. With an 82.3% turnover rate, fewer than 1 in 5 residents stayed between census periods, a transience level that reflects student accommodation cycles rather than a permanent residential community. Personal weekly income averages just $302, well below national norms, consistent with a population dominated by full-time students who hold part-time work.
Population
1,358
Median Age
20.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$0/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Callaghan carries no recorded median house price or rental data in this dataset, which itself signals the nature of the suburb: purpose-built student and institutional accommodation dominates rather than a conventional residential market. The sole development application lodged in the past 12 months was for an educational establishment with co-living, confirming that construction activity targets student housing rather than standard dwellings. The 82.3% population turnover means that compared to typical owner-occupier suburbs, long-term ownership here is unusual. Buyers considering Callaghan should note that the local economy and housing demand are tied closely to university enrolment trends, making investment decisions contingent on Newcastle's higher education outlook.
For Buyers
Callaghan carries no recorded median house price or rental data in this dataset, which itself signals the nature of the suburb: purpose-built student and institutional accommodation dominates rather than a conventional residential market. The sole development application lodged in the past 12 months was for an educational establishment with co-living, confirming that construction activity targets student housing rather than standard dwellings. The 82.3% population turnover means that compared to typical owner-occupier suburbs, long-term ownership here is unusual. Buyers considering Callaghan should note that the local economy and housing demand are tied closely to university enrolment trends, making investment decisions contingent on Newcastle's higher education outlook.
For Investors
Rental demand in Callaghan derives almost entirely from student accommodation tied to the University of Newcastle, which generates consistent but seasonal occupancy patterns. The 82.3% turnover rate reflects the academic calendar rather than market weakness. No vacancy rate, rental price or yield data is available for this suburb in the dataset, so standard yield calculations cannot be made. The only development application in the past 12 months targeted educational and co-living uses, consistent with institutional rather than private residential investment. Compared to a typical NSW suburb, the investor calculus here depends on proximity to campus facilities and lease structures specific to student housing, not standard residential metrics.
Development Activity
Total DAs
7
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 20 is 20 years below the national average, a gap that places Callaghan among the youngest suburbs in Australia. The university student population drives every demographic signal: university-qualified residents account for just 4.7% of the local population, which is 25.4 percentage points below the national figure, because most students are enrolled but not yet graduated. The male share is 44.4%, slightly below the national average. Overseas-born residents make up 13.9%, which is 7.7 points below the national average, lower than many university precincts. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (387 residents) and Irish (154). Christianity is the largest religious group at 317 residents, with small Hindu (18) and Muslim (17) communities.
Age Distribution
Dwelling Structure
N/A
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Callaghan has no recorded median house price, weekly rent, or tenure breakdown in this dataset, reflecting its character as an institutional suburb rather than a conventional housing market. The dominant housing form is student accommodation associated with the University of Newcastle campus. The suburb covers 1.79 sqkm and supports a population density of 758 people per sqkm, higher than many comparable NSW suburbs of this size. The lone development application in the 12 months to late 2025 was for an educational establishment incorporating co-living, pointing to continued institutional development. Housing stress indicators show neither mortgage nor rental stress flags, though this is more a reflection of the data's limited applicability to student housing than evidence of affordability.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wk
$0
HH Size
—
Personal Income / wk
$302
Community Profile
Ancestry
Economy & Employment
Education is the dominant industry at 29.4% of local workers (20 employed), followed by Hospitality at 22.1% (15 workers) and Retail and Healthcare tied at 17.6% each (12 workers apiece). This concentration of student-oriented services is consistent with a university precinct. Community and Personal services is the top occupation category (154 workers), followed by Sales (143), both sectors that align with campus support roles. The unemployment rate is 22.6%, exceptionally high compared to NSW and national averages, because student survey respondents often declare themselves unemployed or out of the labour force. The participation rate is only 35.1% and the full-time employment rate is 0.8%, confirming that most working residents hold part-time roles around their studies.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
0.8%
Part-time
76.6%
Participation
35.1%
Employed
369
Occupations
Top Industries
University
4.7%
Postgraduate
0.6%
Born Overseas
13.9%
Dwellings
0
Transport to Work
Cars dominate travel in Callaghan, with 83.3% of residents driving, higher than many urban NSW suburbs. Public transport use is low at 5.3%, while 8.6% walk or cycle, the latter figure reflecting on-campus movement rather than commuting. Safety data is not available for Callaghan in this dataset. Only 5 residents (0.5%) require daily assistance, consistent with a young, healthy student population. No schools are located within the suburb boundary in this dataset, as Callaghan serves a tertiary rather than primary or secondary education function. The suburb's livability is shaped almost entirely by the university campus amenity: proximity to lectures, libraries, student services and on-campus recreation rather than the shops and parks that define a conventional residential suburb.
Drive
83.3%
Public Transport
5.3%
Walk / Cycle
8.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Callaghan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Callaghan a good suburb to live in?
Callaghan suits university students rather than general residents. The median age is 20, which is 20 years below the national average, and 82.3% of residents turn over each census period. Campus amenity is strong, but housing price data, schools and crime statistics are not available in this dataset.
What is the median house price in Callaghan?
No median house price or weekly rental figure is recorded for Callaghan in this dataset. The suburb covers 1.79 sqkm and is dominated by university-associated student accommodation rather than a conventional residential market, so standard price benchmarks do not apply here.
What schools are in Callaghan?
No primary or secondary schools are recorded within the Callaghan suburb boundary in this dataset. Callaghan is home to the University of Newcastle campus, which serves a population of 1,358 residents concentrated in 1.79 sqkm of university precinct.
Is Callaghan safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Callaghan in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 5 residents (0.5% of the population of 1,358) require daily assistance, consistent with a predominantly young, healthy student population. Broader safety context would require checking NSW Police crime statistics.
Is Callaghan good for property investment?
Callaghan has no recorded residential price or yield data, so standard investment comparisons cannot be made. Demand is driven by University of Newcastle enrolment. The only development application in the past 12 months targeted a co-living educational facility, and the 82.3% turnover rate is tied to the academic calendar.
How is Callaghan's population changing?
No population growth trend or forecast data is available for Callaghan in this dataset. The suburb records an 82.3% turnover rate between census periods, with only 17.7% of residents staying, reflecting the student accommodation cycle tied to the University of Newcastle rather than permanent demographic change.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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