Wickham
Wickham's population of 1,637 is packed into just 0.73 sq km, producing a density of 2,236.0 people per sq km. The suburb is younger than the national profile, with a median age of 32, and its average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below the national comparison. Renting accounts for 56.0% of homes, while apartments represent 45.5%, creating a more mobile, apartment-led market than many established Newcastle suburbs. Household income sits at the 71st percentile and university attainment is 46.6%, 16.5 percentage points above the national level. Compared with nearby Carrington and Maryville, Wickham reads as a more renter-oriented inner urban area, supported by a 31.1% work-from-home rate but exposed to a high 13.9% vacancy rate.
Local council: Newcastle
Population
1,637
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,902/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
16
Homebuyers in Wickham are choosing a compact, apartment-heavy market rather than a detached-house-dominated one: 45.5% of dwellings are apartments, 31.7% are semi-detached and only 20.8% are separate houses. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern, with 46.8% of homes containing 2 bedrooms and 19.9% containing 0 or 1, compared with 29.5% with 3 bedrooms and 3.7% with 4 or more. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,024, while weekly rent is $470, so buyers should compare strata, maintenance and transport costs alongside the purchase price. Mortgage costs equal 24.6% of household income, slightly lower than the 24.7% rent-to-income share, because household income is $1,902 weekly. Compared with a family-home market, Wickham suits buyers prioritising lower-maintenance living and central access.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Wickham are choosing a compact, apartment-heavy market rather than a detached-house-dominated one: 45.5% of dwellings are apartments, 31.7% are semi-detached and only 20.8% are separate houses. The bedroom mix reinforces that pattern, with 46.8% of homes containing 2 bedrooms and 19.9% containing 0 or 1, compared with 29.5% with 3 bedrooms and 3.7% with 4 or more. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,024, while weekly rent is $470, so buyers should compare strata, maintenance and transport costs alongside the purchase price. Mortgage costs equal 24.6% of household income, slightly lower than the 24.7% rent-to-income share, because household income is $1,902 weekly. Compared with a family-home market, Wickham suits buyers prioritising lower-maintenance living and central access.
For Investors
Wickham has a strong renter orientation, with 56.0% of households renting, a share higher than outright ownership at 17.9% and mortgage ownership at 24.5%. Weekly rent is $470, but the 13.9% vacancy rate creates more tenant choice and can increase letting risk compared with a tightly held market. A 50.0% turnover rate also points to a mobile tenant base, which may support demand for well-presented, smaller dwellings but increase management activity. Seventeen development applications were recorded over 12 months, including multi-dwelling housing, so investors should monitor future competition. The annual growth trend is 1.63% and migration is described as Balanced, while rent growth of 57.3% indicates that recent rental escalation has been higher than the 31.0% real-income growth measure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
106
Last 12 Months
16
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+6.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Wickham's median age is 32, eight years younger than the national comparison, while 46.6% of residents hold a university qualification, 16.5 percentage points above the national level. Only 16.9% were born overseas, 4.7 points below the national comparison, giving the suburb an Anglo-leaning ancestry profile. English ancestry is recorded for 722 people, followed by Irish at 260, Scottish at 221 and German at 85. No religion is the largest stated affiliation at 907 people, higher than Christianity at 563. Average household size is 1.9, or 0.6 lower than the national figure, because couples without children account for 63.4% of families. With 50.0% of residents changing address or not remaining locally, the population is younger and more mobile than a settled family suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
20.8%
Houses
31.7%
Townhouse
45.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Wickham's housing stock is more apartment-led than detached, with apartments at 45.5%, semi-detached dwellings at 31.7% and separate houses at 20.8%. Renting is also higher than either outright ownership or mortgage ownership: 56.0% rent, compared with 17.9% owned outright and 24.5% owned with a mortgage. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 46.8%, followed by 3-bedroom homes at 29.5%; studios and one-bedroom homes account for 19.9%, while only 3.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. This mix reflects the suburb's small 1.9-person households, which are 0.6 below the national comparison. Vacancy is 13.9%, giving renters more choice but making investor returns more sensitive to presentation, pricing and competing apartments than in a low-supply market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,024
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $470.
$755
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $750 · units $750
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,135
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
13.9%
Unoccupied
131
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.4%
Couples with children
63.4%
Couples, no children
14.2%
Single parent
393
Total families
Economy & Employment
Wickham's employment base is led by Healthcare, with 176 workers or 22.0%, followed by Public Administration at 100 or 12.5%, Professional and Technical services at 89 or 11.1%, Education at 85 or 10.6%, and Construction at 52 or 6.5%. Professionals number 344, higher than Managers at 160, while Community and Personal Service workers number 153 and Trades 140. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, participation is 74.7% and full-time employment is 63.6%. Personal weekly income is $1,135 and household income is $1,902, placing households at the 71st percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA results show IEO decile 8 and IRSAD decile 7, but IER is lower at decile 3, indicating stronger education and occupation characteristics than economic-resource outcomes. That split supports professional demand while leaving some households more exposed to housing costs.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
1,121
Unemployed
34
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
31.4%
Participation
74.7%
Employed
1,087
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.6%
Postgraduate
12.2%
Born Overseas
16.9%
Dwellings
808
Transport to Work
Wickham's 0.73 sq km footprint and density of 2,236.0 people per sq km create an intensely urban setting where daily destinations may be closer than in a lower-density suburb. Transport behaviour is still car-led: 52.5% drive to work, higher than the 4.2% using public transport and the 8.9% walking or cycling. However, 31.1% work from home, which can reduce commuting needs and increase the value of quiet, functional apartment layouts. The suburb's IRSAD decile 7 sits above the middle of the national distribution, consistent with relatively strong education and occupation measures. Families should verify local service access against the exact address, while safety-conscious renters and buyers should review current street-level incident information before committing. The combination of high density, 56.0% renting and 13.9% vacancy suits residents who value urban convenience and housing choice over large private yards.
Drive
52.5%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
8.9%
Work from Home
31.1%
Growth Outlook
Wickham's forecast annual growth trend is 1.63%, with migration identified as Balanced and the wider-area shift trajectory described as Mixed. Population change across the wider area runs at 19.6% over 10 years, indicating continued expansion rather than contraction. Rental growth of 57.3% has been higher than the 31.0% real-income growth measure, helping explain pressure on tenants even though affordability is labelled Stable, moving from 46.3 in 2011 to 45.2 in 2021. The gentrification score is 37 at the Early signs stage, while the separate shift score is 49 at the Active stage. Together, these measures point to gradual change driven by housing demand and redevelopment, rather than a single clear demographic direction. The 17 development applications in 12 months add a practical supply signal, particularly for apartments and mixed urban uses.
Population trend: Newcastle council area
Wickham sits in the Newcastle council area. These are the council area's residents, not Wickham's.
Residents 2025
178,935
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wickham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wickham a good suburb to live in?
Wickham can suit residents seeking a dense inner urban setting, with a population of 1,637, a median age of 32 and a 31.1% work-from-home rate. It is younger than the national profile and has strong apartment availability, but 56.0% renting and 13.9% vacancy indicate a more mobile market than a settled family suburb.
What is the median house price in Wickham?
Use recent settled sales and a current local valuation when assessing Wickham's median house price. The suburb's stock is not dominated by detached houses: 45.5% of dwellings are apartments, 31.7% are semi-detached and 20.8% are separate houses. Comparing like-for-like apartment, townhouse and house sales will produce a more useful result.
What schools are in Wickham?
School choices should be checked using the exact property address and current enrolment information. Wickham covers only 0.73 sq km, but catchment boundaries can extend beyond the suburb and may differ by school sector and year level. Families should confirm eligibility, transport arrangements and available places before signing a lease or purchase contract.
Is Wickham safe?
A reliable safety decision should be based on recent incidents for the exact streets and building, rather than suburb-wide impressions. Wickham has 1,637 residents in a compact 0.73 sq km area, so conditions can vary between apartment complexes, commercial areas and quieter residential pockets. Review current local information and inspect the immediate surroundings at different times.
Is Wickham good for property investment?
Wickham has investor appeal because 56.0% of households rent and weekly rent is $470, but the 13.9% vacancy rate can create higher letting risk than a tightly held market. The annual growth trend is 1.63%, migration is Balanced and 17 development applications were recorded over 12 months, so investors should stress-test vacancy and future competing supply.
How is Wickham's population changing?
Wickham's current population is 1,637, and the annual growth trend is 1.63%. Population change across the wider area is 19.6% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed and migration is Balanced. The gentrification score is 37 at the Early signs stage, suggesting gradual change rather than a fully established transformation.
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).
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