Newcastle East
A median house price of $1,845,000 in just 0.52 square kilometres marks Newcastle East as one of the Hunter region's most expensive pockets. Apartments dominate at 52.9% of dwellings and separate houses sit at a scarce 8.7%, well below state norms. The suburb skews older, with a median age of 47 that is 7.0 years above the national figure, and 50.4% of residents hold university qualifications, some 20.3 percentage points above national. Despite household incomes at the 70.6th percentile nationally, the mortgage-to-income ratio of 39.5% sits above the standard stress threshold.
Population
1,061
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,891/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Median House
$1.8M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Entry costs are steep: the median house stands at $1,845,000, up from $1,700,000 in 2024 to $1,885,000 in 2025, a one-year gain of 10.9%. Monthly repayments average $3,238, pushing the mortgage-to-income ratio to 39.5%, above the 30% stress threshold even at the 70.6th household income percentile nationally. Separate houses are scarce at 8.7% of dwellings, so buyers compete within a stock that is 52.9% apartments and 38.4% semi-detached. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 42.7% and two-bedroom 30.2%. Outright owners at 31.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 15.5%, signalling long-held coastal stock rather than recent buying activity.
For Buyers
Entry costs are steep: the median house stands at $1,845,000, up from $1,700,000 in 2024 to $1,885,000 in 2025, a one-year gain of 10.9%. Monthly repayments average $3,238, pushing the mortgage-to-income ratio to 39.5%, above the 30% stress threshold even at the 70.6th household income percentile nationally. Separate houses are scarce at 8.7% of dwellings, so buyers compete within a stock that is 52.9% apartments and 38.4% semi-detached. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 42.7% and two-bedroom 30.2%. Outright owners at 31.3% outnumber mortgage holders at 15.5%, signalling long-held coastal stock rather than recent buying activity.
For Investors
Renters form 53.2% of residents, providing a majority tenant base, but $390 weekly rent against a $1,845,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.1%, well below national averages. The 23.5% vacancy rate signals oversupply in the apartment segment, which makes up 52.9% of all dwellings. Development activity is modest at 14 applications in 12 months, skewing toward alterations rather than new supply. The 10.9% price gain over 2024-2025 shows the investment case rests on capital appreciation rather than yield. High vacancy is the clearest risk for landlords targeting apartment stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
65
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+77.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7.0 years above the national figure, and the dominant household type is couples without children at 40.3% of families. University qualifications reach 50.4%, some 20.3 percentage points above national, and Professionals are the top occupation at 197 workers. Overseas-born residents stand at 16.5%, which is 5.1 points below the national average, and ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English, Irish and Scottish heritage. Average household size is 2.1 people, 0.4 below the national figure, consistent with smaller, post-family households in a compact coastal setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
8.7%
Houses
38.4%
Townhouse
52.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartments at 52.9% and semi-detached homes at 38.4% together dominate, leaving separate houses at just 8.7%, well below NSW norms. Tenure divides sharply: 53.2% rent, 31.3% own outright and only 15.5% carry a mortgage, so ownership is concentrated among long-term holders rather than recent buyers. Three-bedroom stock leads at 42.7%, followed by two-bedroom at 30.2% and studios or one-bedrooms at 19.0%. The median rose 10.9% from $1,700,000 in 2024 to $1,885,000 in 2025, reaching a current level of $1,845,000. Mortgage-to-income at 39.5% exceeds the stress threshold despite household incomes ranking at the 70.6th percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,238
Rent / wk
$390
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,036
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
23.5%
Unoccupied
140
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
39.5% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.3%
Couples, no children
615
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 25.1% of employed residents, reflecting proximity to regional health infrastructure. Professional and Technical services follow at 16.7% and Education at 11.2%, with Public Administration adding 7.5%. This knowledge-sector concentration drives the high qualification rate of 50.4%, which is 20.3 points above national. Full-time employment runs at 56.1% and unemployment sits at 5.4%, slightly above average, partly because the 55.3% participation rate is pulled down by 299 residents outside the labour force. Weekly household income of $1,891 places the suburb at the 70.6th percentile nationally. A volunteering rate of 20.2% is notably high compared to most suburbs.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.1%
Part-time
38.5%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
494
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.4%
Postgraduate
17.6%
Born Overseas
16.5%
Dwellings
450
Transport to Work
A walkable coastal setting drives an unusually high active transport share: 24.3% of residents walk or cycle, far above the national average, while only 3.1% use public transport. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on institutions in neighbouring Newcastle suburbs. Rent-to-income sits at 20.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, keeping conditions comfortable for the 53.2% renter majority. A volunteering rate of 20.2% is above average nationally. The suburb's 50.4% university qualification rate, 20.3 points above national, reflects a professional, owner-occupier and renter base suited to the inner-coastal lifestyle.
Drive
71.4%
Public Transport
3.1%
Walk / Cycle
24.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Newcastle East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newcastle East a good suburb to live in?
Newcastle East combines coastal walkability with a highly qualified population: 24.3% commute on foot or bike and 50.4% hold university degrees, some 20.3 points above the national average. Household incomes sit at the 70.6th percentile nationally. The main trade-off is a $1,845,000 median house price and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 39.5%, above the standard stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Newcastle East?
The median house price is $1,845,000 based on PSI-derived data. Prices rose 10.9% from $1,700,000 in 2024 to $1,885,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,238 and weekly rent is $390.
What schools are in Newcastle East?
No schools are recorded inside the Newcastle East boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Newcastle suburbs. Locally, 50.4% of adults hold university qualifications, which is 20.3 percentage points above the national average.
Is Newcastle East safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Newcastle East in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household incomes rank at the 70.6th percentile nationally and only 5.5% of the 1,061 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Newcastle East good for property investment?
The 53.2% renter majority provides a broad tenant base, but $390 weekly rent against a $1,845,000 median implies a gross yield below 1.1%. The 23.5% vacancy rate signals apartment oversupply, which covers 52.9% of dwellings. The 10.9% price gain over 2024-2025 shows returns depend on capital appreciation rather than yield.
How is Newcastle East's population changing?
Newcastle East has 1,061 residents across 0.52 square kilometres. Resident turnover is 28.9% with 71.1% staying in place, indicating stable long-term occupancy. The median age of 47 is 7.0 years above the national figure, pointing to a gradually aging resident profile.
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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