Newtown
At 9,257 people per sq km, Newtown's 1.59 sq km footprint is intensely urban, with 14,690 residents and a renter-majority profile. Compared with nearby Enmore and Erskineville, Newtown reads more clearly as the King Street transport and retail spine, which helps explain its 58.6% renting share and compact stock mix of 52.2% semi-detached homes and 39.9% apartments. The median age is 34, which is 6.0 years below national, while 65.3% university attainment is 35.2 points above national, giving the suburb a young, highly educated inner-city character.
Population
14,690
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,330/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
195
Median House
$1.5M
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
Buyers should read the $1.453 million median house price against a housing stock where only 5.1% are separate houses, 52.2% are semi-detached and 39.9% are apartments. That scarcity means price is driven more by location and attached-home character than land size. Mortgage costs sit at $3,000 a month and 29.7% of income, below a stress flag, helped by household income in the 88.7 percentile nationally. Smaller homes dominate: 28.7% have 0 or 1 bedroom and 35.9% have 2, so upsizers face thinner choice.
For Buyers
Buyers should read the $1.453 million median house price against a housing stock where only 5.1% are separate houses, 52.2% are semi-detached and 39.9% are apartments. That scarcity means price is driven more by location and attached-home character than land size. Mortgage costs sit at $3,000 a month and 29.7% of income, below a stress flag, helped by household income in the 88.7 percentile nationally. Smaller homes dominate: 28.7% have 0 or 1 bedroom and 35.9% have 2, so upsizers face thinner choice.
For Investors
Newtown's rental pool is unusually deep: 58.6% of dwellings are rented, above the 41.5% combined owned and mortgaged share. Median rent is $550 a week and rents rose 27.9% through the shift period, but the 11.3% vacancy rate is a caution because tenant choice may limit near-term increases. Activity is high, with 178 development applications in 12 months, while migration adds +388 overseas residents a year and loses -287 internally. Demand is real, but pricing should allow for churn.
Development Activity
Total DAs
940
Last 12 Months
195
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+34.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Newtown iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Australia Street Infants School
P-2 · 104 students
Newtown Public School
K-6 · 272 students
Camdenville Public School
P-6 · 310 students
Newtown North Public School
K-6 · 221 students
Newtown High School of Performing Arts
7-12 · 1145 students
Demographics
Newtown is young, highly educated and internationally mixed. The median age of 34 is 6.0 years below national, while 65.3% university attainment sits 35.2 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents are 32.4%, 10.8 points above national, yet English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts still lead at 5,132, 2,423 and 1,672. Small households shape daily life: average household size is 2.1, 0.4 below national, supporting demand for compact rentals and local services over large-family formats.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
5.1%
Houses
52.2%
Townhouse
39.9%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market is tightly supplied and mostly attached. The latest price point is $1.455 million in 2025, up from $1.450 million in 2024, a 0.3% gain with the peak also at $1.455 million and peak-to-latest change of 0.0%. Tenure is renter-heavy: 58.6% rent, higher than 17.6% owned outright and 23.9% with a mortgage. Bedrooms reinforce the compact profile, with 35.9% at 2 bedrooms and only 9.7% at 4 or more, so family-sized stock attracts a scarcity premium.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$3,000
Rent / wk
$550
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,309
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
11.3%
Unoccupied
830
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.0%
Couples, no children
8,168
Total families
Economy & Employment
Workforce strength is the standout economic signal. Professional/Tech employs 1,538 people or 20.2%, followed by Healthcare at 1,018, Education at 929, Public Admin at 605 and Finance at 559. Occupations skew higher-skill, with 4,277 professionals and 1,656 managers. Employment is solid at 72.7% full-time, 68.1% participation and 4.5% unemployment. SEIFA is split: IEO decile 10, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 10 sit above average, while IER decile 2 is lower because renters and smaller households dilute economic resources.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
10,811
Unemployed
558
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
72.7%
Part-time
22.8%
Participation
68.1%
Employed
8,628
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.3%
Postgraduate
20.7%
Born Overseas
32.4%
Dwellings
6,510
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for people who value walkability and school access over car dependence. Walking and cycling account for 30.9% of commutes, public transport 18.7% and car driving 46.4%. Six schools sit within the suburb, with ICSEA scores from 1058 to 1143; Australia Street Infants has 1143 and 104 enrolments, Newtown Public has 1140 and 272, and Newtown High School of Performing Arts adds a Government secondary option at 1127 and 1,145. IRSAD decile 10 points to above-average advantage.
Drive
46.4%
Public Transport
18.7%
Walk / Cycle
30.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.26%/yr
(+41 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is modest rather than expansionary. The trend forecast adds 0.26% a year, about 41 people annually, lifting the medium population path from 15,753 in 2026 to 15,957 in 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, adding +388 people a year, but that is partly offset by -287 net internal movement, so the outlook is subdued compared with the 3.6% population change recorded over 10 years. The gentrification score is 10 and stage is Not gentrifying; prices are already high, so change is more about turnover than uplift.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+388
Net Internal / yr
-287
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -287/yr, Strong overseas inflow +388/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Newtown compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newtown a good suburb to live in?
Yes, especially for people who prioritise walkability, food, transport and compact inner-city housing. Density is high at 9,257 people per sq km, the median age is 34, and 30.9% of commuters walk or cycle.
What is the median house price in Newtown?
The median house price is $1.453 million, with the latest price history point at $1.455 million in 2025. Prices were broadly flat over the short series, rising 0.3% from 2024 to 2025.
What schools are in Newtown?
Newtown has 6 schools, spanning Government primary, Government secondary and Independent options. ICSEA scores range from 1058 to 1143, led by Australia Street Infants, Newtown Public and Camdenville Public.
Is Newtown safe?
There is no suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 to quote for Newtown, so current NSW crime maps are worth checking by street. Daily activity is supported by 30.9% walking or cycling and 18.7% public transport commuting.
Is Newtown good for property investment?
Newtown has strong rental depth, with 58.6% of dwellings rented and a median rent of $550 a week. The caution is vacancy at 11.3%, which is higher than a tight market and may affect short-term rent growth.
How is Newtown's population changing?
Population growth is slow. The trend adds 0.26% a year, or about 41 people annually, with the medium path rising from 15,753 in 2026 to 15,957 in 2031. Overseas migration adds +388 a year but internal movement is -287.
What languages are spoken in Newtown?
Newtown is more internationally mixed than the national baseline, with 32.4% born overseas, 10.8 points above national. Common non-English languages include Mandarin with 113 speakers, Greek with 94 and Canton with 80.
Is there much development in Newtown?
Yes. There were 178 development applications over 12 months, including attached dwelling alterations and commercial food or retail works. In a 1.59 sq km suburb, that points to ongoing renewal rather than broad land release.
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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