Charlestown
Charlestown's 13,601 residents occupy a compact 7.12 square kilometres at 1,911.6 people per square kilometre, making density the standout feature. The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national comparison, while household income sits at the 66.6th percentile. Growth is measured at a modest 0.46% annually, with 7.2% population change across the wider area over ten years. Its 76.2% separate-house share and 63.6% car-driver share create an established, car-oriented profile, with overseas migration the primary growth driver. Compared with nearby Kotara and Adamstown, Charlestown should be assessed through its detached housing, local school access and established pace rather than a rapid-growth story.
Population
13,601
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,839/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
173
For homebuyers, Charlestown's main choice is between a broad detached-house base and a smaller attached market. Separate houses account for 76.2%, semi-detached dwellings 14.9% and apartments 8.9%; that mix gives families more three-bedroom options, which represent 47.4% of homes, than compact zero or one-bedroom stock at 4.3%. Four-plus-bedroom dwellings add 29.6% for upsizers. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,000, higher than the $400 weekly rent as a cash-flow measure, while mortgage and rent shares sit at 25.1% and 21.8% of household income. Compared with an apartment-led market, Charlestown's detached bias means buyers should focus on land, renovation condition and street access because those factors drive the practical difference between homes.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Charlestown's main choice is between a broad detached-house base and a smaller attached market. Separate houses account for 76.2%, semi-detached dwellings 14.9% and apartments 8.9%; that mix gives families more three-bedroom options, which represent 47.4% of homes, than compact zero or one-bedroom stock at 4.3%. Four-plus-bedroom dwellings add 29.6% for upsizers. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,000, higher than the $400 weekly rent as a cash-flow measure, while mortgage and rent shares sit at 25.1% and 21.8% of household income. Compared with an apartment-led market, Charlestown's detached bias means buyers should focus on land, renovation condition and street access because those factors drive the practical difference between homes.
For Investors
Investors get a mixed rental picture. Renting accounts for 26.5% of households and weekly rent is $400, creating an established tenant base, while the 5.2% vacancy rate makes property selection and pricing important rather than allowing blanket assumptions about leasing speed. Compared with owner-occupied households, rental demand is a smaller part of the tenure profile, so detached homes may appeal to a different tenant segment than apartments. Development activity is material at 172 applications over 12 months, including commercial alterations, a change of use and a secondary dwelling, which can add amenity but also future competition. Rent growth of 39.3% and overseas migration as the primary driver support demand interest, but the 0.46% annual growth trend argues for disciplined purchase prices and realistic holding assumptions.
Development Activity
Total DAs
949
Last 12 Months
173
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+9.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Charlestown
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Charlestown has 13,601 residents and a median age of 38, which is 2 years below the national comparison. University participation is 36.2%, 6.1 percentage points above the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 13.6%, 8.0 points below it. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 5,735, 1,765 and 1,698, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning profile; Christianity counts 6,418 and no religion 6,089, so neither identity dominates by a wide margin. Mandarin is the most common listed non-English language at 59 people, followed by Macedon at 52 and Canton at 51. Compared with the national profile, household size is identical at 2.5, and 77.8% stayed at the same address, suggesting stability because many households remain rooted while overseas migration adds gradual change.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
76.2%
Houses
14.9%
Townhouse
8.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Charlestown is primarily an owner-occupier market: 35.0% own outright and 37.8% hold a mortgage, versus 26.5% renting and 0.7% in other tenure. That owner base is higher than the renting share because detached homes account for 76.2%, compared with 14.9% semi-detached and 8.9% apartments. The floorplan is family weighted, with 47.4% three-bedroom and 29.6% four-plus-bedroom dwellings, while 18.7% have two bedrooms and 4.3% have zero or one. Monthly mortgage cost is $2,000 and weekly rent is $400; mortgage-to-income is 25.1%, above the 21.8% rent-to-income figure. Compared with a unit-heavy suburb, Charlestown's housing economics are more exposed to land, maintenance and renovation decisions because separate houses dominate.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $400.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $728 · units $520
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$880
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
293
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.6%
Couples with children
39.1%
Couples, no children
17.6%
Single parent
3,791
Total families
Economy & Employment
Charlestown's employment base is led by healthcare, with 1,214 workers or 24.1%, followed by education at 652 or 13.0%, construction at 513 or 10.2%, professional and technical work at 437 or 8.7%, and public administration at 354 or 7.0%. The occupation mix includes 1,869 professionals, 1,055 trades workers, 967 clerical and admin workers, 884 community and personal workers and 750 managers. A labour force of 7,314, participation of 66.1% and unemployment of 3.9% point to a functioning employment base, with 57.4% working full time. University attainment is 36.2%, 6.1 points above national, yet all four SEIFA measures sit at decile 6: IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD. Compared with a top-decile suburb, this middle-six position reflects a broader mix of professional, trade and service households rather than a single high-income pattern, while healthcare and education help anchor demand.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
7,314
Unemployed
283
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.4%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
66.1%
Employed
7,031
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.2%
Postgraduate
8.0%
Born Overseas
13.6%
Dwellings
5,290
Transport to Work
Daily life is strongly car-led: 63.6% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.2% using public transport and 2.5% walking or cycling, while 28.2% work from home. That pattern makes road access and parking more important than a transit-first routine. Families have practical local coverage from 4 nearby schools, all government primary schools. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since boundaries can cut across suburb edges. Charlestown's IRSAD is 1,010 at decile 6, a middle position rather than a top-decile advantage or bottom-decile disadvantage. For safety, use current incident maps and visit the exact streets at different times, because a suburb-wide impression can sit above or below conditions at an individual address.
Drive
63.6%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
28.2%
Population Forecast
+0.46%/yr
(+119 people/yr)
EstablishedCharlestown's growth profile is established and measured. The annual trend is 0.46%, while population change across the wider area is 7.2% over ten years; the shift trajectory is labelled Stable. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so change is more likely to arrive through gradual household turnover than a rapid construction-led surge. The shift indicators also record rent growth of 39.3%, real income growth of 25.6% and an affordability trend labelled Improving, with affordability moving from 49.9 in 2011 to 45.0 in 2021. Gentrification signals are mixed: the shift profile gives a score of 45 and stage Active, while the current gentrification classification is score 0 and Not gentrifying. Compared with a high-growth corridor, this points to incremental change and a need to watch rents, development and migration rather than expect a sudden reset.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+136
Net Internal / yr
-103
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -103/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Charlestown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlestown a good suburb to live in?
Charlestown can suit households wanting established housing, local primary schools and practical car access. Separate houses make up 76.2% of dwellings, 4 nearby schools are government primary schools, and 63.6% of workers drive. Its 0.46% annual growth trend suggests a settled environment rather than a rapidly changing one.
What is the median house price in Charlestown?
Use recent settled sales to establish the current median rather than infer it from rent. Charlestown has a $400 weekly rent, with 76.2% separate houses, 14.9% semi-detached dwellings and 8.9% apartments. Those figures describe rental and dwelling mix, not a sale median, so prices should be checked by property type, condition and street.
What schools are in Charlestown?
There are 4 nearby schools serving Charlestown, all government primary schools. The local group includes Charlestown East Public School, Charlestown Public School, Charlestown South Public School and Hillsborough Public School. Confirm the exact enrolment zone for any address, because school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries.
Is Charlestown safe?
Safety should be assessed at street level using current incident maps, local council information and visits at different times. Charlestown covers 7.12 square kilometres and has 13,601 residents, so conditions may vary between busy roads, shopping areas and quieter residential streets. Check lighting, pedestrian activity, parking and nearby traffic before choosing an address.
Is Charlestown good for property investment?
Charlestown has a 26.5% renting share, $400 weekly rent and a 5.2% vacancy rate, giving investors a measurable rental market to research. Development activity reached 172 applications over 12 months, while rent growth was 39.3%. Overseas migration supports demand, but the 0.46% annual growth trend makes purchase price, property condition and future competition important.
How is Charlestown's population changing?
Change is gradual rather than rapid. The annual growth trend is 0.46%, and population change across the wider area is 7.2% over ten years. The trajectory is Stable, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. A 77.8% address-stability rate also points to an established base, while migration contributes incremental household turnover.
What development is happening in Charlestown?
Charlestown recorded 172 development applications over 12 months. Recent examples include commercial alterations, a change of use or building classification, and a secondary dwelling. This level of activity can improve or adapt existing properties, but it may also increase future rental competition. Buyers should review the immediate street and nearby applications before committing.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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