Hamilton
Healthcare employs more than a quarter of Hamilton's workforce, 25.1%, and that single fact shapes much of the suburb's profile. Sitting on 1.41 km2 at a dense 3,275 residents per km2, this inner-Newcastle pocket of 4,614 people leans heavily toward renters at 45.9%, well above the owner-occupier mix of most suburbs. University qualifications reach 44.1%, which is 14.0 points above the national figure, yet household income sits in the middle 59.3rd percentile, a gap that reflects a workforce strong in health and education rather than high finance. The median age of 39 runs 1.0 year below national, and at a $980,000 median house price the market is comparatively accessible for a knowledge-heavy area close to the Newcastle CBD.
Population
4,614
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,689/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
49
Median House
$980K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $980,000 median house price is moderate for a knowledge-worker suburb so close to central Newcastle, and prices have been flat to soft, easing 0.8% from $985,000 in 2024 to $977,500 in 2025. The stock favours buyers wanting a house: 58.3% are separate dwellings, with semi-detached at 25.2% and apartments just 15.1%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 40.8% and two-bedroom at 33.4%, so family-sized housing dominates over compact units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits only in the 59.3rd percentile. That affordability headroom, combined with a slight price dip rather than a run-up, makes Hamilton more reachable than its high education levels alone might suggest.
For Buyers
The $980,000 median house price is moderate for a knowledge-worker suburb so close to central Newcastle, and prices have been flat to soft, easing 0.8% from $985,000 in 2024 to $977,500 in 2025. The stock favours buyers wanting a house: 58.3% are separate dwellings, with semi-detached at 25.2% and apartments just 15.1%. Three-bedroom homes lead at 40.8% and two-bedroom at 33.4%, so family-sized housing dominates over compact units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold even though household income sits only in the 59.3rd percentile. That affordability headroom, combined with a slight price dip rather than a run-up, makes Hamilton more reachable than its high education levels alone might suggest.
For Investors
With 45.9% of residents renting, nearly half the suburb, Hamilton offers landlords a deep tenant pool that is unusually large compared with owner-dominated suburbs. Weekly rent of $420 against the $980,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.2%, modest but stronger than premium Sydney markets. The vacancy rate of 9.2% is on the higher side and points to softer near-term demand, a caution that aligns with the 0.8% price dip over the past year. Development activity is steady at 46 applications in 12 months, several of them changes of use and commercial premises rather than new dwelling supply, so stock is unlikely to balloon. The investment case rests on the renter-heavy base and proximity to health and education employers, with yield rather than rapid capital growth doing the work.
Development Activity
Total DAs
296
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-5.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hamilton iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hamilton Public School
K-6 · 306 students
St Francis Xavier's College
7-12 · 959 students
Newcastle High School
7-12 · 1072 students
Demographics
The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure, a relatively young profile for an established inner suburb, supported by the renter-heavy and professional workforce. University qualifications at 44.1% run 14.0 points above national, yet only 17.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 3.7 points below national, marking Hamilton as more Australian-born than most metro areas. Ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English at 1,793, Irish at 726 and Scottish at 587, and the largest non-English languages are Greek at 34 speakers and Italian at 29. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with the small-household mix where 35.4% of families are couples without children against 888 couples with children. Christianity dominates religious affiliation at 1,738 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
58.3%
Houses
25.2%
Townhouse
15.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts strongly toward renting at 45.9%, while 29.6% own outright and 24.5% carry a mortgage, a renter share well above the owner-occupier norm. The stock is house-led: 58.3% separate dwellings, 25.2% semi-detached and only 15.1% apartments, so detached living remains the default despite the dense 3,275 per km2 setting. Three-bedroom homes make up 40.8% and two-bedroom 33.4%, leaving 4-plus bedroom houses at 15.6%. The median house price eased from $985,000 to $977,500 across 2024 to 2025, a 0.8% decline. Mortgage-to-income sits at 27.3% and rent-to-income at 24.9%, both below the 30% stress line, so neither owners nor tenants are stretched, a sign that the $980,000 median is well calibrated to local incomes rather than speculatively inflated.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$888
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.2%
Unoccupied
203
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.4%
Couples, no children
2,818
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce concentrates in Healthcare at 25.1% (453 workers), reflecting Hamilton's proximity to major Newcastle hospitals, followed by Education at 13.5% (243) and Professional/Tech at 11.9% (215), with Public Admin at 8.3% and Construction at 6.6%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 840 and Community/Personal services at 421, an unusually high care-sector share that explains why university attainment of 44.1% does not translate into top-tier income. Unemployment is 4.9% and the participation rate 61.5%, with full-time employment at 57.0%. SEIFA tells a split story: the suburb scores decile 7 on IEO for education and occupation but only decile 3 on IER for economic resources, a gap driven by the 45.9% renter base that depresses household wealth measures despite strong qualifications.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.0%
Part-time
38.1%
Participation
61.5%
Employed
2,398
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.1%
Postgraduate
11.9%
Born Overseas
17.9%
Dwellings
1,993
Transport to Work
Hamilton is built for short trips: 12.4% of residents walk or cycle to work and 80.2% drive, while just 3.7% use public transport, reflecting a compact 1.41 km2 footprint where most destinations are close. The suburb scores decile 6 on IRSAD and decile 5 on IRSD, both mid-range, so advantage and disadvantage are balanced rather than concentrated. Volunteering runs at 15.5% and 7.1% of residents, 310 people, need daily assistance. Both rent-to-income at 24.9% and mortgage-to-income at 27.3% stay below the 30% stress threshold, keeping housing costs manageable. No schools are recorded inside the boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for a small, dense pocket so close to central Newcastle.
Drive
80.2%
Public Transport
3.7%
Walk / Cycle
12.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hamilton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamilton a good suburb to live in?
Hamilton scores decile 6 on IRSAD and decile 5 on IRSD, both mid-range, and university qualifications reach 44.1%, which is 14.0 points above national. Housing costs stay manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 27.3% and rent-to-income at 24.9%, both below the 30% stress line. The main caveat is no schools recorded inside the boundary.
What is the median house price in Hamilton?
The median house price is $980,000, moderate for an inner-Newcastle suburb. Prices eased 0.8% from $985,000 in 2024 to $977,500 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.3%, below the stress threshold.
What schools are in Hamilton?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.41 km2 Hamilton boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 44.1%, which is 14.0 points above the national figure.
Is Hamilton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Hamilton in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 5 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a mid-range tier, and 7.1% of its residents, about 310 people, need daily assistance, broadly consistent with a balanced inner-suburban area.
Is Hamilton good for property investment?
Rent of $420 a week against a $980,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.2%, stronger than premium Sydney markets. The renter share is high at 45.9%, supporting demand, but the 9.2% vacancy rate and a 0.8% price dip suggest returns lean on yield rather than rapid capital growth.
How is Hamilton's population changing?
Hamilton houses 4,614 residents at a dense 3,275 per km2 across 1.41 km2. The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below national, a relatively young inner-suburban profile. With 45.9% renting and development at 46 applications in 12 months skewed to commercial use, the suburb reads as stable rather than rapidly expanding.
How much development is happening in Hamilton?
There were 46 development applications lodged in the past 12 months across the 1.41 km2 suburb. Several are changes of use and commercial or recreation premises rather than new dwellings, so housing supply is unlikely to expand sharply, consistent with the soft 0.8% price movement over the year.
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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