Newcastle
A 1.16 sq km footprint packs 3,852 residents into Newcastle, producing a density of 3,330.5 people per sq km. Apartments account for 92.8% of dwellings and vacancy reaches 23.2%, making the suburb more urban and rental-oriented than a detached-house market. The median age is 41, while 50.3% of residents hold university qualifications, supporting a professional inner-city profile. Compared with nearby The Hill and Cooks Hill, Newcastle's compact apartment concentration is its clearest housing distinction. An average household size of 1.7 helps explain demand for smaller dwellings.
Population
3,852
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,943/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
74
Newcastle suits buyers prioritising apartment access over a detached block: 92.8% of dwellings are apartments compared with just 2.2% separate houses. Smaller formats dominate, with 31.5% of dwellings having 0 or 1 bedroom and 40.4% having 2 bedrooms. Because the housing stock is so concentrated in units, buyers should compare like-for-like apartment sales rather than apply a detached-house benchmark. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, with mortgage costs at 25.8% of income versus rent at 25.2%, so the two tenure choices sit at a similar affordability level. Body corporate fees, outlook and building quality will therefore matter more than land size.
For Buyers
Newcastle suits buyers prioritising apartment access over a detached block: 92.8% of dwellings are apartments compared with just 2.2% separate houses. Smaller formats dominate, with 31.5% of dwellings having 0 or 1 bedroom and 40.4% having 2 bedrooms. Because the housing stock is so concentrated in units, buyers should compare like-for-like apartment sales rather than apply a detached-house benchmark. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, with mortgage costs at 25.8% of income versus rent at 25.2%, so the two tenure choices sit at a similar affordability level. Body corporate fees, outlook and building quality will therefore matter more than land size.
For Investors
Newcastle has a renter-majority profile, with 54.5% of households renting and weekly rent at $490. The 23.2% vacancy rate is higher than in a tightly supplied rental market, so investors should allow for leasing variability even though the renter base is substantial. Apartment concentration is likely to support demand for smaller dwellings because 71.9% of homes have 0 to 2 bedrooms. Development activity reached 69 matters over 12 months, which can increase competition between older and newer stock. Growth is running at 1.89% annually and is primarily driven by overseas migration, providing a stronger demand backdrop than a static established market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
403
Last 12 Months
74
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-12.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Newcastle
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Newcastle's median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, while the 50.3% university-qualified share is 20.2 percentage points higher than nationally. The overseas-born share is 20.6%, or 1.0 percentage point below the national comparison, and average household size is 1.7, which is 0.8 below the national level. English ancestry is recorded for 1,651 people, followed by Irish at 608 and Scottish at 552. No religion accounts for 1,899 people compared with 1,461 identifying with Christianity. A 47.3% turnover rate and an aging trajectory, including a 5.4 percentage point rise in the senior share, point to a mobile population becoming older over time.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
2.2%
Houses
3.8%
Townhouse
92.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Newcastle's tenure profile is renter-led: 54.5% rent, compared with 25.5% owning outright and 18.9% paying a mortgage. Renting is therefore higher than owner-occupation in either individual category, reflecting the suburb's apartment-heavy urban form. Apartments represent 92.8% of dwellings versus 2.2% separate houses, while 31.5% have 0 or 1 bedroom and 40.4% have 2 bedrooms. Weekly rent is $490 and the average monthly mortgage is $2,167. Rent-to-income pressure is 25.2% and mortgage-to-income pressure is 25.8%, both below a severe stress threshold, because smaller dwellings reduce the typical cost base.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $490.
$700
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $670
HH Size
1.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,251
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
23.2%
Unoccupied
619
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
17.3%
Couples with children
70.3%
Couples, no children
10.4%
Single parent
942
Total families
Economy & Employment
Weekly household income is $1,943, placing Newcastle at the 73rd household-income percentile, while personal and family incomes are $1,251 and $2,677. Healthcare leads employment at 22.7% or 416 workers, followed by Professional/Tech at 13.2% or 242, Education at 11.9% or 218, Public Administration at 8.9% or 163, and Construction at 5.8% or 106. Professionals number 866 and managers 402, reinforcing the qualified employment base. Unemployment is 4.7% and participation is 68.3%. The IEO decile of 9 is higher than the IER decile of 3, a sharp split likely reflecting strong education and professional employment alongside a renter-heavy housing profile.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
2,470
Unemployed
115
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.6%
Part-time
29.9%
Participation
68.3%
Employed
2,355
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
50.3%
Postgraduate
15.9%
Born Overseas
20.6%
Dwellings
2,045
Transport to Work
Newcastle's compact 1.16 sq km footprint and density of 3,330.5 people per sq km support an urban lifestyle, although the apartment setting will not suit households seeking private land. Car driving is recorded for 43.8% of commuters, while walking or cycling reaches 13.8%, higher than public transport at 3.3%; working from home is also substantial at 37.1%. One local government primary school serves the suburb, so families should check enrolment zones against the exact address. IRSAD and IEO both sit at decile 9, above the national median, supporting access to established services. Safety should be checked using current NSW Police information because conditions can vary across a dense neighbourhood.
Drive
43.8%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
13.8%
Work from Home
37.1%
Population Forecast
+1.89%/yr
(+276 people/yr)
EstablishedNewcastle has an annual growth trend of 1.89%, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area runs at 26.3% over 10 years, indicating stronger momentum than a flat established market. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 5.4 percentage points, while the working share has fallen 1.2 points and the young share has fallen 0.9 points. Gentrification is rated Active with a score of 57, higher than the shift assessment of 37 and its Early signs stage. Rent growth of 39.1% helps explain the active classification, as incoming demand and limited dwelling variety can lift competition for well-located apartments.
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 Newcastle compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newcastle a good suburb to live in?
Newcastle can suit residents who value apartments, walkability and access to urban services. It has 3,852 residents in 1.16 sq km, with 92.8% of dwellings being apartments and 13.8% walking or cycling to work. Compared with detached-house suburbs, space is more limited, but the 37.1% work-from-home rate may suit professional households.
What is the median house price in Newcastle?
A single median house price can be misleading because 92.8% of Newcastle dwellings are apartments and only 2.2% are separate houses. Buyers should compare recent settled sales by dwelling type and bedroom count rather than use a mixed suburb figure. Weekly rent is $490, which provides a useful comparison point for ongoing housing costs.
What schools are in Newcastle?
Newcastle East Public School is a government primary school in Newcastle. Families should check the current enrolment zone against the exact address, since boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. With 3,852 residents in a compact 1.16 sq km area, some households may have practical walking access, while secondary options should be reviewed across the surrounding Newcastle area.
Is Newcastle safe?
Safety should be assessed using the latest NSW Police crime map and by inspecting the immediate street, as conditions can vary across a dense area of 3,330.5 people per sq km. Newcastle has 3,852 residents and a 23.2% vacancy rate, so activity levels may differ between apartment buildings and streets. Compare current local incidents before making a final decision.
Is Newcastle good for property investment?
Newcastle has a sizeable renter base, with 54.5% renting and weekly rent of $490. However, the 23.2% vacancy rate is higher than in a tightly supplied market, so leasing conditions need attention. Growth is 1.89% annually, overseas migration is the primary driver, and 69 development matters were recorded over 12 months. Apartment supply is higher than detached housing, which supports choice but also competition.
How is Newcastle's population changing?
Newcastle has a current population of 3,852, while population change across the wider area is 26.3% over 10 years. The growth trend is 1.89% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration. Compared with a younger growth profile, Newcastle is aging: the senior share has risen 5.4 percentage points and the young share has fallen 0.9 points.
What development is occurring in Newcastle?
Development activity reached 69 matters over the past 12 months, including alterations, additions, demolitions, outdoor recreation and changes of use. Because 92.8% of dwellings are apartments, apartment upgrades and building changes may affect local amenity as much as new homes. Buyers and investors should compare proposed works with nearby stock, vacancy of 23.2% and weekly rent of $490.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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