Islington
At 0.71 square kilometres and 2,026 residents, Islington packs a density of 2,869 people per km2 into one of Newcastle's most compact inner-city pockets. The standout figure is education: 47.1% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 17 percentage points above the national average, pointing to a professional knowledge-worker base rather than a transient renter community. Household income sits in the 65.9th percentile nationally, above median but not in the top tier. With 47.8% of households renting and a median house price of $900,000, the suburb draws a mix of owner-occupiers and professionals who prefer to rent close to Newcastle's CBD.
Population
2,026
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,828/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
27
Median House
$900K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Islington reached $900,000 in 2025, up 1.1% from $890,000 in 2024. That modest gain is more likely stabilisation than stagnation given the small sample size for a suburb of just 2,026 residents. Separate houses make up 56.1% of the stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 30.5% and apartments at 11.8%, so buyers have a reasonable choice of dwelling types compared to more apartment-heavy inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.6%, followed by two-bedroom at 37.6%. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 25.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning typical buyers are not overextended at current prices relative to household income at the 65.9th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price in Islington reached $900,000 in 2025, up 1.1% from $890,000 in 2024. That modest gain is more likely stabilisation than stagnation given the small sample size for a suburb of just 2,026 residents. Separate houses make up 56.1% of the stock, with semi-detached dwellings at 30.5% and apartments at 11.8%, so buyers have a reasonable choice of dwelling types compared to more apartment-heavy inner suburbs. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 41.6%, followed by two-bedroom at 37.6%. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 25.3%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning typical buyers are not overextended at current prices relative to household income at the 65.9th percentile nationally.
For Investors
A 47.8% renter share is one of the higher rental proportions you will find in Newcastle's inner ring, meaning demand for rental accommodation is structurally strong. Weekly rent averages $430, and against the $900,000 median house price that implies a gross yield around 2.5%, which is modest but consistent with inner-city capital-growth markets. The vacancy rate of 9.6% is elevated and warrants scrutiny; it may reflect short-term rental churn or stock sitting between tenancies in a suburb with 36.1% annual population turnover. Development activity shows 24 applications lodged in the past 12 months, mostly residential alterations rather than new supply additions, limiting future oversupply risk. Rent-to-income at 23.5% keeps tenants below the stress threshold, supporting lease renewals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
148
Last 12 Months
27
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+8.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Islington iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Islington Public School
K-6 · 159 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years younger than the national figure, consistent with a suburb that draws working-age professionals and couples. University qualifications at 47.1% run 17 percentage points above the national average, the strongest differentiating characteristic in the brief. Only 14.0% of residents were born overseas, which is 7.6 points below the national figure, and ancestry is Anglo-Celtic in composition: English leads at 870 residents, followed by Irish (314) and Scottish (288). Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, reflecting the prevalence of couples without children: 34.7% of families have no children, and the data shows zero one-parent families recorded, an unusual figure that likely reflects census classification rather than true absence. Volunteering participation sits at 16.6%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
56.1%
Houses
30.5%
Townhouse
11.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split fairly evenly between renters (47.8%), mortgage holders (31.4%) and outright owners (20.8%), with renters holding a clear plurality. This is high renting for a suburb with a $900,000 median house price, suggesting many residents prioritise the location over ownership at current prices. The stock leans toward separate houses (56.1%) and semi-detached dwellings (30.5%), making Islington more house-oriented than many inner-city Newcastle suburbs. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.6% of dwellings and two-bedroom 37.6%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are only 9.3%. Price growth from $890,000 to $900,000 over one year represents a 1.1% CAGR, which is below national house price averages for the same period, reflecting a market consolidating after earlier gains rather than declining.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$430
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$995
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
97
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.7%
Couples, no children
1,252
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 23.5% of workers (223 people), reflecting proximity to Newcastle's major hospital infrastructure. Education follows at 14.0% (133 workers) and Professional/Tech at 12.2% (116 workers). By occupation, Professionals lead at 406 workers, followed by Community/Personal services (176) and Managers (161). The unemployment rate is 5.3%, which is above the typical inner-city average, and participation is 70.4%. Full-time employment accounts for 62.0% of employed residents, with 445 in part-time roles. Weekly personal income averages $995, and family income $2,315. The concentration in Healthcare and Education, two sectors that anchor to fixed physical locations, supports residential stability because workers in these industries tend to live close to their workplaces.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.0%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
70.4%
Employed
1,172
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.1%
Postgraduate
12.3%
Born Overseas
14.0%
Dwellings
905
Transport to Work
Active transport uptake is a standout: 10.5% of residents walk or cycle to work, well above the national average for non-car commuting, and only 83.1% rely on a car as driver, lower than most suburban areas. Public transport use at 3.0% is relatively low, suggesting most non-car commuters walk or cycle rather than take buses or trains, consistent with an inner-city suburb within cycling distance of Newcastle's employment centres. No schools are recorded within the Islington boundary in the dataset, so families rely on schools in adjacent suburbs. Only 5.2% of residents (103 people) need daily assistance, which is a low figure. Rent-to-income at 23.5% is comfortable for tenants and mortgage-to-income at 25.3% is below the 30% stress level, making housing costs manageable compared to many Sydney inner suburbs.
Drive
83.1%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
10.5%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Islington compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Islington a good suburb to live in?
Islington suits working professionals, with 47.1% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 17 percentage points above the national average. Household income sits in the 65.9th percentile nationally. The suburb offers walkable access with 10.5% of residents walking or cycling to work. The main consideration is a 9.6% vacancy rate and limited local schooling within the boundary.
What is the median house price in Islington?
The median house price in Islington is $900,000, based on 2025 data derived from the NSW Price Series Index. This represents a 1.1% rise from $890,000 in 2024. Weekly rent averages $430 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 25.3%.
What schools are in Islington?
No schools are recorded inside the Islington boundary in this dataset. The suburb covers just 0.71 square kilometres, so families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Mayfield or Maryville. Despite the lack of local schools, education levels are high, with 47.1% of residents holding university qualifications.
Is Islington safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Islington in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 25.3% and rent-to-income at 23.5%, both below financial stress thresholds. Only 5.2% of residents (103 people) require daily assistance, consistent with a stable, lower-disadvantage community.
Is Islington good for property investment?
Islington has a 47.8% renter share, one of the higher rental proportions in Newcastle's inner ring, which supports consistent tenant demand. Weekly rent of $430 against a $900,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.5%. The 9.6% vacancy rate is elevated and should be monitored. Price growth was 1.1% over the past year, below NSW state averages, so recent capital gains have been modest.
How is Islington's population changing?
Islington's population is 2,026 and the suburb has a 36.1% turnover rate over five years, meaning over a third of residents moved in or out in that period. The median age of 35 is 5 years younger than the national figure, suggesting ongoing attraction to younger workers. With only 24 development applications in the past year, mostly alterations, significant population expansion is unlikely in the near term.
How much development is happening in Islington?
There were 24 development applications lodged in Islington in the past 12 months. Samples include a new dwelling house, a warehouse and retail modification under a CDC, and residential alterations. For a suburb of just 0.71 square kilometres and 2,026 residents, 24 applications represents active but not intensive development, mostly focused on existing building improvements rather than new supply.
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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