Cooks Hill
At 5,234 residents per square kilometre, Cooks Hill is one of the most densely occupied suburbs in the Newcastle area, yet 56.6% of its 3,774 residents rent rather than own. That majority-renter profile is unusual for a suburb where household income sits in the 70th percentile nationally and 52.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 22.2 points above the national figure. The suburb scores SEIFA decile 9 on IEO and decile 9 on IRSAD, placing it in the top tier for education/occupation advantage and overall advantage, while the active gentrification score of 57 signals the area is still moving upward, not already peaked.
Population
3,774
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,881/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
35
Median House
$1.1M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price of $1,095,000 in 2025 follows a 5.0% rise from $1,057,500 in 2024, with the CAGR over the tracked period running at 5.0%. Semi-detached homes dominate at 51.4% of stock, followed by apartments at 31.1%, while separate houses are only 17.5%, so buyers competing for a detached home face genuine scarcity. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 40.8% of the market and three-bedroom 36.6%, with 4-plus bedrooms at just 9.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,297, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite above-average household incomes. The low outright ownership rate of 22.9% compared to the 56.6% renter share suggests a market where long-term owner-occupiers are relatively rare.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,095,000 in 2025 follows a 5.0% rise from $1,057,500 in 2024, with the CAGR over the tracked period running at 5.0%. Semi-detached homes dominate at 51.4% of stock, followed by apartments at 31.1%, while separate houses are only 17.5%, so buyers competing for a detached home face genuine scarcity. Two-bedroom dwellings make up 40.8% of the market and three-bedroom 36.6%, with 4-plus bedrooms at just 9.1%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,297, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold despite above-average household incomes. The low outright ownership rate of 22.9% compared to the 56.6% renter share suggests a market where long-term owner-occupiers are relatively rare.
For Investors
A renter majority of 56.6% provides a deep and stable tenant base, with weekly rent at $430. Against a $1,095,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 2.0%, below the national average but consistent with inner-city coastal markets. The vacancy rate of 11.7% is elevated and warrants attention, pointing to meaningful competition in the apartment segment which is 31.1% of dwellings. Net overseas migration drives 238 arrivals per year compared to net internal migration of 158, supporting demand from incoming residents. Development activity is active with 34 applications in the past 12 months. Annual population growth of 1.89% is above trend and the 10-year population change of 26.3% shows sustained demand pressure for this compact 0.72 square kilometre suburb.
Development Activity
Total DAs
230
Last 12 Months
35
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-20.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure, making this a younger-than-average community. University qualifications reach 52.3%, which is 22.2 points above the national rate, concentrated in a workforce led by Professionals (856 workers) and Managers (292). Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,718), Irish (636) and Scottish (524) are the top three ancestries. Overseas-born residents are at 15.0%, which is 6.6 points below the national average, so the suburb draws its high education level from domestically trained residents rather than an international migrant flow. Household size averages 2.0 persons, 0.5 below national, consistent with the high share of couples without children, at 40.3% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
17.5%
Houses
51.4%
Townhouse
31.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily weighted toward renting at 56.6%, with mortgage holders at 20.5% and outright owners at 22.9%. That renter-majority structure is striking for a suburb with SEIFA decile 9 advantage, and it reflects the dominance of semi-detached homes (51.4%) and apartments (31.1%) rather than freestanding houses (17.5%). The median house price rose from $1,057,500 in 2024 to $1,110,000 at the 2025 peak, a 5.0% increase. Rent-to-income sits at 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so most tenants are not financially stretched despite the above-median rent of $430 per week. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 40.8%, reflecting the predominance of compact semi-detached and apartment stock rather than family-sized homes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,297
Rent / wk
$430
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,025
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.7%
Unoccupied
228
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.3%
Couples, no children
2,147
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest industry at 25.5% (416 workers), well above the typical suburban concentration, likely anchored by proximity to John Hunter and Calvary Mater hospitals in the Newcastle precinct. Education follows at 13.7% (224 workers) and Professional/Tech at 13.3% (217 workers), creating a knowledge-economy cluster. The full-time employment rate of 62.2% is solid and unemployment sits at 4.2%. SEIFA IEO decile 9 confirms this is a highly educated, occupation-advantaged area, though the IER (economic resources) decile of 3 is an anomaly explained by the 56.6% renter base, which depresses household asset measures even as incomes rank in the 70th percentile nationally. Real income grew 18.5% over the decade, comfortably above inflation.
Unemployment
3.9%
Labour Force
9,787
Unemployed
379
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.2%
Part-time
33.6%
Participation
63.9%
Employed
2,054
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.3%
Postgraduate
14.7%
Born Overseas
15.0%
Dwellings
1,710
Transport to Work
Active transport use is notably high: 18.0% of residents walk or cycle to work, far above the national norm, reflecting the suburb's 0.72 square kilometre footprint and walkable inner-city location. Car dependence at 76.8% is lower than many outer suburbs, though public transport at 2.0% is modest. The IRSAD decile of 9 places Cooks Hill in the top tier nationally for overall advantage. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Newcastle and Merewether areas. Volunteering runs at 18.4% and only 4.7% of residents (167 people) require daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 22.9% keeps housing affordable for most tenants even at the above-average density of 5,234 residents per square kilometre.
Drive
76.8%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
18.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.89%/yr
(+276 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 26.3% over 10 years, and the current annual rate of 1.89% adds roughly 276 residents per year, above the national average. Overseas migration contributes a net 238 arrivals annually versus internal migration of 158, making external inflow the stronger driver. The medium forecast projects the broader SA2 reaching 15,927 by 2031 from 14,632 in 2025. The gentrification score of 57 rates the suburb as Active, with signals including population growth of 36% since 2011 and the accelerating composition shift from 6% to 28%. The aging trajectory shows the senior share rising 5.4 points and the working-age share falling 1.2 points, though the below-national median age of 35 means the suburb is aging from a comparatively young base.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+238
Net Internal / yr
+158
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +36% since 2011, Net internal migration +158/yr, Strong overseas inflow +238/yr, Accelerating: 6% → 28%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cooks Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cooks Hill a good suburb to live in?
Cooks Hill ranks in SEIFA decile 9 on both IRSAD and IEO, placing it in the top tier nationally for advantage and education/occupation outcomes. Household income is in the 70th percentile nationally, university qualifications reach 52.3%, and the active transport rate of 18.0% reflects a walkable, compact environment. The main trade-offs are a high $1,095,000 median house price and an 11.7% vacancy rate in the rental market.
What is the median house price in Cooks Hill?
The median house price is $1,095,000, rising from $1,057,500 in 2024 to $1,110,000 at the 2025 peak, a 5.0% increase over the period. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,297, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%. Weekly rent averages $430 for the 56.6% of residents who rent.
What schools are in Cooks Hill?
No schools are recorded within the Cooks Hill boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.72 square kilometres, so families draw on schools in adjacent Newcastle and Merewether precincts. Despite the lack of local schools, 52.3% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 22.2 points above the national average.
Is Cooks Hill safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cooks Hill in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA decile 9 on IRSD, the second-highest tier for low disadvantage nationally, and only 4.7% of its 3,774 residents need daily assistance. These are consistent with a low-disadvantage, high-advantage community.
Is Cooks Hill good for property investment?
The 56.6% renter majority provides a deep tenant pool, but a vacancy rate of 11.7% signals supply exceeding demand in the apartment and semi-detached segment. Weekly rent of $430 against a $1,095,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.0%. Annual population growth of 1.89% and net overseas migration of 238 per year support medium-term demand, but buyers should monitor vacancy trends before committing.
How is Cooks Hill's population changing?
Population grew 26.3% over the past decade and is expanding at 1.89% annually, adding around 276 residents per year. Overseas migration of 238 net arrivals per year is the stronger growth driver compared to internal migration of 158. The gentrification score of 57 rates the suburb as Active, with population up 36% since 2011. The suburb is also aging, with the senior share rising 5.4 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Cooks Hill?
There were 34 development applications lodged in the past 12 months. Recent examples include dwelling houses, subdivision applications, and structural additions. For a suburb of just 0.72 square kilometres and 3,774 residents, this represents meaningful activity consistent with the Active gentrification stage and 26.3% population growth over the decade.
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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