Waratah
At 4,927 residents in just 1.91 sq km, Waratah has a density of 2,573.7 people per sq km and a median age of 41, 1 year above the national comparison. Its 33.1% university share is 3.0 percentage points above national, while 17.2% born overseas is 4.4 points below. The 47.2 household-income percentile and 47.4% renting share point to a mixed market because renter demand sits alongside modest household resources. Compared with nearby Mayfield, Waratah should be treated as a separate, compact Newcastle market, with its 62.5% separate-house share shaping the search.
Population
4,927
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,511/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
41
For homebuyers, Waratah's 62.5% separate-house share sits alongside 19.4% semi-detached and 17.4% apartment stock, so the suburb supports more than one dwelling style. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.8%, ahead of two-bedroom dwellings at 31.9%, which suits households needing a middle-sized layout. Mortgage commitments equal 27.9% of household income, higher than rent at 23.2%, while weekly rent is $350 and monthly mortgage payments are $1,827. Compared with nearby Mayfield, inspect each street's housing form and renovation needs rather than relying on suburb labels.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Waratah's 62.5% separate-house share sits alongside 19.4% semi-detached and 17.4% apartment stock, so the suburb supports more than one dwelling style. Three-bedroom homes account for 41.8%, ahead of two-bedroom dwellings at 31.9%, which suits households needing a middle-sized layout. Mortgage commitments equal 27.9% of household income, higher than rent at 23.2%, while weekly rent is $350 and monthly mortgage payments are $1,827. Compared with nearby Mayfield, inspect each street's housing form and renovation needs rather than relying on suburb labels.
For Investors
Waratah has a substantial renter base, with 47.4% renting compared with 21.7% owning outright. That can support leasing demand because the tenant pool is large, but the 7.8% vacancy rate calls for realistic pricing and allowance for downtime. Weekly rent is $350, while 43 development matters in 12 months, including multi-dwelling housing and an indoor recreation facility, may gradually add choice. The outlook is slow at 0.49% annual growth, with overseas migration the primary driver, while rent growth of 46.2% makes entry pricing and holding costs important.
Development Activity
Total DAs
216
Last 12 Months
41
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-14.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Waratah
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Waratah's median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national comparison, while university attainment at 33.1% is 3.0 points higher. The overseas-born share is 17.2%, 4.4 points below national, and average household size is 2.2, or 0.3 below national. English ancestry is most common at 1,797 people, followed by Irish at 645 and Scottish at 514; Christianity counts 2,141 and no religion 1,920. Smaller households help explain the 40.6% couples-without-children share, while 23.6% one-parent families create a different need from the dominant couple pattern. Residential stability is moderate: 70.9% stayed at the same address, versus 29.1% turnover.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
62.5%
Houses
19.4%
Townhouse
17.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Waratah's dwelling stock is weighted to separate houses at 62.5%, but semi-detached homes at 19.4% and apartments at 17.4% add useful variation. Bedroom supply is concentrated in two and three-bedroom homes: 31.9% and 41.8%, compared with 13.1% for zero or one bedroom and 13.2% for four or more. Tenure is more renter-led than owner-led, with 47.4% renting versus 21.7% owning outright and 28.7% paying a mortgage. Housing costs sit at 23.2% of income for rent and 27.9% for mortgages, with rent lower than mortgage burden. When comparing Waratah with nearby Mayfield, assess dwelling condition and tenure street by street because the 1.91 sq km suburb contains mixed stock.
Mortgage / mo
$1,827
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $350.
$635
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $720 · units $500
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$785
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.8%
Unoccupied
161
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.2%
Couples with children
40.6%
Couples, no children
23.6%
Single parent
1,074
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates Waratah's employment base at 26.9%, or 441 workers, followed by education at 13.6% and 222 workers. Professional and technical work contributes 8.8% and 144 workers, ahead of public administration at 6.6% and 108, while retail is 6.9% and 113. The occupation mix reinforces this service orientation: professionals number 662, higher than trades at 274, with community and personal service work at 346. Unemployment is 4.8%, participation is 56.4% and full-time employment is 55.8%. Socioeconomic results are uneven: IEO is decile 6, but IER is decile 2, with IRSD decile 4 and IRSAD decile 5. Compared with the occupation profile, the lower resource ranking suggests earnings and household resources do not rise evenly across residents.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
2,440
Unemployed
117
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.8%
Part-time
37.7%
Participation
56.4%
Employed
2,323
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
33.1%
Postgraduate
8.4%
Born Overseas
17.2%
Dwellings
1,895
Transport to Work
Waratah is practical for car-based travel: 62.6% drive as car drivers, compared with 1.8% using public transport, 4.9% walking or cycling and 26.9% working from home. Public transport use is below car-driver use, so households without a car should test the exact route and timetable. Four government schools are nearby, spanning 1 primary school, 1 secondary campus and 2 schools for specific purposes; enrolment zones should be checked against the exact address. IRSAD sits at decile 5 and IRSD at decile 4, placing area advantage and disadvantage near the middle rather than at the top or bottom. Compared with highly transit-oriented areas, Waratah's livability depends more on local access, school proximity and car availability.
Drive
62.6%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
26.9%
Population Forecast
+0.49%/yr
(+65 people/yr)
EstablishedWaratah's growth outlook is measured rather than rapid: the annual trend is 0.49%, and population change across the wider area is 8.6% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so demand is more likely to build gradually than through a sharp local surge. The shift pattern is Mixed, with rent growth of 46.2%, a 2.5 point rise in the working share and a 1.2 point fall in the young share. Gentrification readings are mixed: one indicator records score 54 and stage Active, while another records score 0 and Not gentrifying. That contrast supports cautious expectations because established-market renewal does not yet equal a clear transformation.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+148
Net Internal / yr
-38
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Waratah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waratah a good suburb to live in?
Waratah can suit households wanting a compact, established suburb with 4,927 residents, 62.5% separate houses and 4 government schools. Car use is high at 62.6%, while public transport is 1.8%, so lifestyle fit depends on commuting needs, school enrolment zones and whether a household needs frequent transit.
What is the median house price in Waratah?
Waratah's current median house price should be checked against recent settled sales rather than inferred from the $350 weekly rent. Separate houses make up 62.5% of dwellings, higher than apartments at 17.4%, so house and unit medians can differ materially. Compare dwelling type, condition and sale date before relying on a single median.
What schools are in Waratah?
Waratah has 4 government schools: 1 primary school, 1 secondary campus and 2 schools for specific purposes. The mix is broader than a suburb with only 1 school type, but location does not determine enrolment or suitability. Check the exact address, intake area, transport and support arrangements before choosing.
Is Waratah safe?
Use current NSW Police crime maps and inspect the exact street before judging safety, because suburb averages can hide differences by offence and location. Waratah has 4,927 residents, so incident patterns should be read alongside the street setting, lighting, access and nearby activity rather than treated as a blanket suburb verdict.
Is Waratah good for property investment?
Waratah may suit an investor seeking an established rental market, with 47.4% of occupied dwellings rented, weekly rent of $350 and a 7.8% vacancy rate. Demand may benefit from overseas migration and 43 recent development matters, but 0.49% annual growth is slow, so yield, maintenance and vacancy assumptions deserve more weight than a rapid-growth thesis.
How is Waratah's population changing?
Waratah's current population is 4,927. Growth is measured, with an annual trend of 0.49% and 8.6% population change across the wider area over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while the trajectory is Mixed, so change is more gradual than a high-growth expansion and should be assessed alongside housing supply.
What development is occurring in Waratah?
Development activity is material for an established suburb: 43 matters were lodged over 12 months, including a multi-dwelling housing proposal, an indoor recreation facility and alterations to a dwelling. These projects may add housing choice or amenity, but the effect depends on approvals, timing and final scale, so buyers should check the exact address and application status.
What is the rental market like in Waratah?
Waratah's rental profile is renter-heavy, with 47.4% renting versus 21.7% owning outright. Weekly rent is $350 and rent takes 23.2% of household income, lower than the 27.9% mortgage share. Vacancy is 7.8%, so landlords should avoid assuming that strong renter demand guarantees rapid leasing or unlimited rent growth.
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.
Explore Waratah on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map