Jesmond
With 70.2% of residents renting and a median age of 31, Jesmond sits 9 years below the national median age and ranks as one of the Hunter region's most renter-dominated suburbs. Population grew 24.9% over the decade, driven almost entirely by overseas migration averaging 551 arrivals a year, which places the suburb on an active gentrification trajectory with a score of 65 out of 100. SEIFA places Jesmond in decile 2 on IRSD and decile 3 on IRSAD nationally, indicating below-average advantage, yet income growth of 28.4% in real terms over the same period signals that the demographic mix is shifting.
Population
3,210
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,180/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
22
Median House
$722K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price in Jesmond is $722,500, below the Greater Newcastle average for comparable suburbs, and prices rose 15.2% from $673,000 in 2024 to $775,000 in 2025. The stock is reasonably balanced: 46.6% separate houses, 27.6% semi-detached and 25.8% apartments, giving buyers genuine choice across dwelling types. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 37.0% and three-bedroom homes 35.9%, while 4-plus bedroom properties are only 15.3% of the stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,652, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.3% is above the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers should model repayments carefully against household income at the 23.6th percentile nationally.
For Buyers
The median house price in Jesmond is $722,500, below the Greater Newcastle average for comparable suburbs, and prices rose 15.2% from $673,000 in 2024 to $775,000 in 2025. The stock is reasonably balanced: 46.6% separate houses, 27.6% semi-detached and 25.8% apartments, giving buyers genuine choice across dwelling types. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 37.0% and three-bedroom homes 35.9%, while 4-plus bedroom properties are only 15.3% of the stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,652, but the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.3% is above the 30% stress threshold, meaning buyers should model repayments carefully against household income at the 23.6th percentile nationally.
For Investors
Jesmond's investment case centres on tenant demand rather than yield expansion. A 70.2% renter share is well above the national average and weekly rent of $350 against a $722,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.5%. The vacancy rate of 8.2% is elevated, reflecting the student and transient rental pool that turns over frequently, with a 37.7% annual turnover rate. Overseas migration averaging 551 arrivals a year is the dominant demand driver, and 21 development applications in the past 12 months suggest ongoing housing activity. Rent grew 35.2% over the observed period, comfortably outpacing the 28.4% real income growth and supporting the case for continued rental demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
131
Last 12 Months
22
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-31.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Jesmond iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Callaghan College Jesmond Senior Campus
11-12 · 659 students
Heaton Public School
K-6 · 162 students
Jesmond Public School
K-6 · 216 students
Demographics
The median age of 31 is 9 years below the national figure, placing Jesmond firmly in a young-adult cohort. Overseas-born residents make up 41.7% of the population, which is 20.1 percentage points above the national average, driven by inflows from Arabic-speaking (93 residents), Mandarin-speaking (63) and Urdu-speaking (56) communities. University qualifications reach 35.0%, running 4.9 points above national, consistent with proximity to the University of Newcastle. The most common ancestries are English (823) and Irish (204), reflecting both longstanding Anglo-Celtic residents and an increasingly international mix. Average household size of 2.4 is marginally below the national figure, and Islam (518 residents) is the second-largest religion behind Christianity (1,024).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
46.6%
Houses
27.6%
Townhouse
25.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is heavily skewed: 70.2% of households rent compared to around 31% nationally, while outright owners at 16.3% and mortgage holders at 13.5% are both well below typical levels. The stock split of 46.6% separate houses and 27.6% semi-detached dwellings is not unusual for an inner-Newcastle suburb, but the 25.8% apartment share reflects growing densification. The median house price moved from $673,000 in 2024 to $775,000 in 2025, a 15.2% annual gain. Rent-to-income at 29.7% remains just below the 30% stress threshold, so renters are holding on, but mortgage holders face stress at 32.3%. Two- and three-bedroom dwellings together account for 72.9% of stock, keeping the market accessible for couples and small households.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,652
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$574
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.2%
Unoccupied
104
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.3% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.4%
Couples, no children
1,889
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 26.8% of workers, nearly double the share of the next sector, and Education contributes 12.1%, a combination that points to the suburb's proximity to John Hunter Hospital and the University of Newcastle. Hospitality (9.5%) and Retail (8.8%) round out the top four sectors, while Professional/Tech accounts for 6.2%. By occupation, Professionals (260) and Community/Personal service workers (228) lead, followed by Labourers (163) and Sales workers (151). The unemployment rate of 11.1% is high relative to state averages, and the participation rate of 48.6% is low, in part because the large student population is not in the labour force. SEIFA places the suburb in decile 4 on IEO, reflecting constrained education and occupation outcomes despite the university presence.
Unemployment
7.3%
Labour Force
8,066
Unemployed
585
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.4%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
48.6%
Employed
1,151
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.0%
Postgraduate
14.3%
Born Overseas
41.7%
Dwellings
1,154
Transport to Work
Transport in Jesmond is car-dependent: 81.8% of residents drive to work and only 6.8% use public transport, which is below the NSW state average and reflects the suburb's layout as an inner ring suburb with reasonable road access but limited rail. Walking and cycling account for 4.4% of commutes. No schools are recorded inside the 1.21 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs. SEIFA's IRSAD decile of 3 nationally indicates below-average overall advantage, and 7.3% of residents (204 people) need daily assistance, above what the young median age of 31 would predict. Volunteering participation at 12.6% is moderate, and the density of 2,658 residents per km2 reflects a compact inner-Newcastle suburb.
Drive
81.8%
Public Transport
6.8%
Walk / Cycle
4.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.65%/yr
(+236 people/yr)
EstablishedJesmond's population grew 24.9% over the decade, well above NSW state average, and the annual growth rate of 1.65% translates to roughly 236 additional residents per year. Medium forecasts project population rising from around 14,339 in 2025 to 15,431 by 2031. Overseas migration is the engine, adding a net 551 residents annually while internal migration removes 170, a net drain that signals the suburb attracts new arrivals more than it retains longer-term locals. The gentrification score of 37 places Jesmond at the early-signs stage: population is up 36% since 2011, affordability improved from 74.2% to 63.5%, and the overseas-born share is accelerating from 13% toward 21%. Rent growth of 35.2% and real income growth of 28.4% over the period confirm that demand is outpacing stagnant wages.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+551
Net Internal / yr
-170
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +36% since 2011, Net internal outflow -170/yr, Strong overseas inflow +551/yr, Accelerating: 13% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Jesmond compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jesmond a good suburb to live in?
Jesmond offers affordable rents at $350 a week and a median house price of $722,500, below many comparable Newcastle suburbs. The trade-off is a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 3 nationally, indicating below-average advantage, an unemployment rate of 11.1%, and high renter turnover at 37.7% annually. It suits younger residents and students well given its proximity to the University of Newcastle and John Hunter Hospital.
What is the median house price in Jesmond?
The median house price is $722,500, up 15.2% from $673,000 in 2024 to $775,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,652, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 32.3% is above the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $350, giving landlords a gross yield near 2.5%.
What schools are in Jesmond?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.21 km2 Jesmond boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby suburbs. Despite this, 35.0% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 4.9 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the suburb's proximity to the University of Newcastle.
Is Jesmond safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Jesmond in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on IRSD nationally, placing it in the lower advantage tier, which is typically associated with higher social risk. The unemployment rate of 11.1% and 7.3% of residents needing daily assistance are factors prospective buyers should weigh.
Is Jesmond good for property investment?
Jesmond has investment appeal based on tenant depth rather than yield alone. The 70.2% renter share is well above the national average and rent grew 35.2% over the period. However, the 8.2% vacancy rate is elevated and gross yield is near 2.5%. The annual population growth rate of 1.65%, driven by overseas migration of 551 net arrivals per year, supports ongoing demand.
How is Jesmond's population changing?
Population grew 24.9% over the decade and is forecast to reach 15,431 by 2031 from a 2025 base of around 14,339. Annual growth of roughly 236 residents is almost entirely driven by overseas migration adding a net 551 per year, while internal migration removes 170 annually. The gentrification score of 37 places the suburb at the early-signs stage of transition.
What languages are spoken in Jesmond?
With 41.7% of residents born overseas, Jesmond is 20.1 percentage points above the national average for overseas-born populations. The most common non-English languages are Arabic (93 speakers), Mandarin (63), Urdu (56), Nepali (28) and Bengali (22), reflecting the suburb's strong international student and migrant communities.
How much development is happening in Jesmond?
There were 21 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including multi-dwelling housing modifications, commercial alterations and indoor recreation works. This level of activity is consistent with a suburb experiencing active gentrification at a score of 65 and 24.9% population growth over the decade, suggesting ongoing investor and developer interest.
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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