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Lower Hunter vs Newcastle

Name: Lower Hunter vs Newcastle — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 55 km apart · Lower Hunter profile · Newcastle profile

Lower Hunter Newcastle

Newcastle and Lower Hunter are two distinct New South Wales areas with a stark contrast in layout and education. Newcastle is very walkable and urban, where 27.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher and 57% finished Year 12. In contrast, Lower Hunter is mostly car-dependent and more rural, with 10.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree and 35.5% completing Year 12. Housing also differs; Lower Hunter has far more separate houses (90.7%) and larger homes, while Newcastle has a much higher share of renters at 35.9%.

Both areas are remarkably similar in their age profile, with about 17% of residents aged 65 or over. They also share very similar rates of mental health conditions and people needing daily help. Over time, some gaps have grown, such as the difference in university qualifications and the share of separate houses in Lower Hunter. Newcastle also continues to see a much higher proportion of recent overseas arrivals (18.9%) compared to Lower Hunter (8.2%).

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Where they differ most

Year 12: 21.5 pts higher in Newcastle Population: 81,073 larger in Newcastle Separate houses: 20.3 pts higher in Lower Hunter Bachelor+: 17.0 pts higher in Newcastle 3+ bedrooms: 14.1 pts higher in Lower Hunter

Demographics & Identity

Population in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +81,073 larger in Newcastle gap steady

97,927 75th pct 179,000 90th pct

Median age in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +1 yrs older in Lower Hunter gap widening

38 yrs 36th pct 37 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

25.8% Young adults (25–44) +2.8 pts ▸ 28.6%

25.2% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.6 pts 23.5%

20.1% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.7 pts 16.4%

16.9% Seniors (65+) +0.6 pts ▸ 17.4%

12.1% Youth (15–24) +2.0 pts ▸ 14.0%

Marital status

44.4% Married ◂ +5.2 pts 39.3%

36.9% Never married +5.7 pts ▸ 42.6%

9.7% Divorced even 9.7%

5.1% Widowed +0.3 pts ▸ 5.4%

3.9% Separated ◂ +0.9 pts 3.0%

Age & sex structure

Lower Hunter Newcastle

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

87.4% Australia ◂ +6.4 pts 81.0%

1.9% England +0.4 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.1% New Zealand ◂ +0.1 pts 1.1%

0.3% India +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% China +0.6 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Philippines +0.1 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.3% South Africa even 0.4%

0.1% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.0% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

45.4% Australian ◂ +7.4 pts 38.0%

42.3% English ◂ +1.5 pts 40.8%

9.7% Irish +2.7 pts ▸ 12.4%

11.1% Scottish +0.5 pts ▸ 11.6%

4.3% German ◂ +0.1 pts 4.2%

1.6% Italian +1.2 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.5% Chinese +1.5 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.4% Indian +0.9 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.1% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.3% Greek +0.8 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.8% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Language

Language used at home

90.7% English only ◂ +5.6 pts 85.1%

0.1% Mandarin +0.8 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Arabic +0.5 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Cantonese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

51.1% Christianity ◂ +6.6 pts 44.5%

39.6% No religion +5.5 pts ▸ 45.1%

7.9% Not stated ◂ +1.8 pts 6.1%

0.2% Islam +1.4 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.6% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Hinduism +0.7 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Judaism +0.1 pts ▸ 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +27 more in Newcastle

49 86th pct 76 99th pct

Schools/1k kids in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +0.10 more in Newcastle

2.49 58th pct 2.58 60th pct

Students in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +15,354 more in Newcastle

14,154 68th pct 29,508 88th pct

Avg size in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +110 larger in Newcastle

289 29th pct 399 44th pct

ICSEA in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +119 higher in Newcastle

936 13th pct 1,055 68th pct

Highest year of school

35.5% Year 12 +21.5 pts ▸ 57.0%

34.7% Year 10 ◂ +12.3 pts 22.4%

13.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.5 pts 9.2%

7.9% Year 11 ◂ +2.6 pts 5.3%

Highest qualification level

44.8% Certificate III / IV ◂ +18.0 pts 26.9%

13.6% Bachelor degree +15.3 pts ▸ 28.9%

13.1% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.5 pts ▸ 13.6%

3.0% Postgraduate degree +7.1 pts ▸ 10.1%

1.9% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.9 pts ▸ 3.8%

3.0% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.1 pts 1.9%

Field of qualification

21.9% Engineering & related ◂ +7.2 pts 14.7%

15.9% Management & commerce +1.6 pts ▸ 17.5%

9.4% Health +4.1 pts ▸ 13.5%

9.7% Society & culture +2.5 pts ▸ 12.2%

6.5% Education +2.3 pts ▸ 8.9%

6.4% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.9 pts 4.5%

5.1% Architecture & building +0.3 pts ▸ 5.4%

2.0% Creative arts +2.4 pts ▸ 4.4%

1.5% Natural & physical sciences +1.6 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.6% Agriculture & environment ◂ +1.0 pts 1.5%

1.3% Information technology +0.9 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +$116 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$727 32nd pct $843 62nd pct

Household income in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +$136 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,604 44th pct $1,740 55th pct

Family income in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +$299 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,941 43rd pct $2,240 66th pct

Household income distribution

29.7% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.4 pts 29.4%

27.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +2.5 pts 25.1%

16.4% Under $650 even 16.4%

8.9% $4,000 or more +2.8 pts ▸ 11.8%

9.9% $3,000–$3,999 +1.1 pts ▸ 11.0%

Personal income distribution

41.8% Under $650 ◂ +3.7 pts 38.1%

30.7% $650–$1,499 +0.7 pts ▸ 31.4%

15.6% $1,500–$2,999 +3.8 pts ▸ 19.4%

3.5% $3,000 or more +1.2 pts ▸ 4.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

11.9% Mental health +0.5 pts ▸ 12.4%

11.4% Arthritis ◂ +1.8 pts 9.6%

10.5% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 9.6%

8.4% Other condition +0.5 pts ▸ 8.9%

5.6% Diabetes ◂ +0.9 pts 4.7%

4.6% Heart disease ◂ +0.3 pts 4.3%

3.0% Cancer ◂ +0.1 pts 3.0%

2.4% Lung condition ◂ +0.5 pts 2.0%

1.1% Stroke ◂ +0.1 pts 1.0%

0.8% Dementia +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

56.5% None +3.5 pts ▸ 60.0%

21.8% One condition ◂ +0.1 pts 21.7%

7.6% Two conditions ◂ +0.6 pts 7.0%

4.4% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 3.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +1,030 larger in Lower Hunter

9,212 91st pct 8,182 90th pct

Median age in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +2 yrs older in Newcastle

22 yrs 21st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +$47 higher in Newcastle

$601 47th pct $648 61st pct

Household income in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +$7 higher in Lower Hunter

$1,736 61st pct $1,729 60th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +0.2 larger in Lower Hunter gap steady

2.6 71st pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

54.9% Couples with children ◂ +0.6 pts 54.3%

26.3% Couples without children +2.6 pts ▸ 28.9%

17.9% One-parent families ◂ +2.5 pts 15.3%

0.9% Other families +0.5 pts ▸ 1.5%

Household size

34.0% 2 people +0.2 pts ▸ 34.3%

23.9% 1 person +5.4 pts ▸ 29.3%

16.0% 3 people ◂ +0.3 pts 15.7%

15.0% 4 people ◂ +1.4 pts 13.6%

7.3% 5 people ◂ +2.1 pts 5.2%

3.8% 6 or more ◂ +1.8 pts 2.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +$60 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$340 43rd pct $400 71st pct

Mortgage in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +$229 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,733 43rd pct $1,962 60th pct

People / bedroom in Lower Hunter in Newcastle even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

39.1% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +7.6 pts 31.5%

25.3% Rented +10.6 pts ▸ 35.9%

32.6% Owned outright ◂ +2.7 pts 29.9%

1.5% Other tenure even 1.5%

1.4% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

90.7% Separate house ◂ +20.3 pts 70.4%

6.9% Townhouse / semi-detached +8.7 pts ▸ 15.6%

1.6% Flat or apartment +11.9 pts ▸ 13.5%

0.5% Other dwelling ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

41.8% 3 bedrooms +0.8 pts ▸ 42.6%

32.3% 4 bedrooms ◂ +12.7 pts 19.6%

14.1% 2 bedrooms +10.4 pts ▸ 24.5%

7.2% 5 or more ◂ +2.2 pts 5.0%

3.0% 1 bedroom +3.6 pts ▸ 6.6%

0.3% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

43.4% $350–$549 +5.6 pts ▸ 49.0%

41.0% $200–$349 ◂ +20.6 pts 20.3%

9.4% Under $200 +3.6 pts ▸ 13.0%

2.1% $550–$749 +9.7 pts ▸ 11.8%

0.4% $750 or more +2.4 pts ▸ 2.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

31.1% $1,800–$2,999 +6.2 pts ▸ 37.3%

37.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +9.8 pts 27.3%

11.5% $3,000 or more +5.0 pts ▸ 16.4%

14.6% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.8 pts 13.8%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +732 more in Newcastle

484 72nd pct 1,216 95th pct

Stops/1k in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +1.85 more in Newcastle

4.94 61st pct 6.79 87th pct

Departures/1k in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +1,594.5 more in Newcastle

277.1 32nd pct 1,871.6 83rd pct

PT routes in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +28 more in Newcastle

39 70th pct 67 86th pct

Stop walk in Lower Hunter in Newcastle

— 7 59th pct

Drive to city in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +28 longer in Lower Hunter

126 88th pct 98 85th pct

How people get to work

60.8% Car (driver) ◂ +10.1 pts 50.7%

13.7% Worked at home +9.6 pts ▸ 23.3%

3.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.4 pts 3.0%

2.3% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.2% Bus +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Bicycle +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Train +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

38.9% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.4 pts 37.4%

30.1% 1 vehicle +8.5 pts ▸ 38.6%

16.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +5.6 pts 10.5%

10.8% 4 or more ◂ +5.5 pts 5.4%

4.0% No vehicle +4.0 pts ▸ 8.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

12.5% Health care & social assistance +7.9 pts ▸ 20.4%

11.7% Mining ◂ +9.8 pts 1.9%

6.2% Education & training +4.0 pts ▸ 10.2%

9.0% Retail trade ◂ +0.4 pts 8.6%

8.9% Construction ◂ +1.1 pts 7.8%

7.8% Accommodation & food +0.5 pts ▸ 8.3%

3.6% Professional & technical +4.1 pts ▸ 7.7%

5.5% Public administration & safety +1.0 pts ▸ 6.6%

6.4% Manufacturing ◂ +1.5 pts 4.9%

4.5% Other services ◂ +1.2 pts 3.3%

4.5% Administrative & support ◂ +1.5 pts 2.9%

3.8% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.3 pts 3.6%

Occupations people work in

12.2% Professionals +16.5 pts ▸ 28.7%

18.1% Technicians & trades ◂ +5.9 pts 12.2%

13.3% Community & personal service +0.1 pts ▸ 13.4%

13.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +8.1 pts 5.1%

11.8% Labourers ◂ +3.8 pts 8.0%

10.9% Clerical & administrative +0.8 pts ▸ 11.7%

10.5% Managers +0.9 pts ▸ 11.4%

8.4% Sales workers ◂ +0.2 pts 8.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +82,656 higher in Newcastle

107,560 74th pct 190,216 89th pct

Growth in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +3.2 pts higher in Lower Hunter

9.1% 77th pct 5.9% 53rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +276 higher in Newcastle

805 44th pct 1,081 67th pct

Max temp in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +1.5 higher in Lower Hunter

25.4 66th pct 24.0 52nd pct

Min temp in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +1.5 higher in Newcastle

11.0 40th pct 12.6 60th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +4.1 higher in Newcastle

3.3 20th pct 7.3 80th pct

Types ≤15 min in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +3.6 more in Newcastle

3.2 17th pct 6.8 77th pct

15-min city in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +52.7 pts higher in Newcastle

33.0% 14th pct 85.8% 74th pct

Walk to shops in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +53.1 pts higher in Newcastle

24.5% 7th pct 77.7% 68th pct

Walk to transit in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +36.7 pts higher in Newcastle

60.5% 33rd pct 97.2% 76th pct

Walk to school in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +43.1 pts higher in Newcastle

46.4% 25th pct 89.5% 77th pct

Walk to a park in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +27.1 pts higher in Newcastle

69.5% 26th pct 96.6% 63rd pct

Walk to health in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +59.8 pts higher in Newcastle

16.0% 9th pct 75.8% 80th pct

Amenities/1k in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +4.3 more in Newcastle

11.8 22nd pct 16.1 55th pct

Intersections/km² in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +100 higher in Newcastle

1 27th pct 102 64th pct

Mean slope in Lower Hunter in Newcastle +0.3 pts higher in Lower Hunter

6.4% 67th pct 6.1% 61st pct

Compare Lower Hunter with nearby areas

Maitland Lake Macquarie - West Newcastle Wyong Gosford Hawkesbury Lake Macquarie - East Upper Hunter

Compare Newcastle with nearby areas

Lake Macquarie - East Maitland Port Stephens Lake Macquarie - West Wyong Lower Hunter Gosford Great Lakes

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Lower Hunter vs Newcastle [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/10601/lower-hunter/vs/11103/newcastle