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Upper Hunter vs Newcastle

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

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 122 km apart · Upper Hunter profile · Newcastle profile

Upper Hunter Newcastle

Upper Hunter and Newcastle are two very different New South Wales regions. Newcastle is a dense urban centre where the typical home is more likely to be a flat or apartment, and 27.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher. In contrast, Upper Hunter is more rural, with 89.4% of homes being separate houses and only 10.3% of adults having a degree. The gap in education is stark, with 57.0% of people in Newcastle completing Year 12 compared to 35.6% in Upper Hunter. Newcastle is also very walkable, while Upper Hunter is mostly car-dependent.

Both areas sit near the national figure for people earning $2,000 or more a week, with 12.5% in Upper Hunter and 13.0% in Newcastle. They also share similar rates of volunteers and a nearly identical average of 2.4 people per home. Over time, the differences between them have often grown. The gap in university qualifications and the share of people with no religion have both widened since 2011, while Newcastle has seen a sharp increase in people working from home compared to Upper Hunter.

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Where they differ most

Population: 148,416 larger in Newcastle Year 12: 21.3 pts higher in Newcastle Separate houses: 19.0 pts higher in Upper Hunter Bachelor+: 17.4 pts higher in Newcastle 3+ bedrooms: 14.7 pts higher in Upper Hunter

Demographics & Identity

Population in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +148,416 larger in Newcastle gap widening

30,584 22nd pct 179,000 90th pct

Median age in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +2 yrs older in Upper Hunter gap widening

39 yrs 43rd pct 37 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

25.5% Young adults (25–44) +3.1 pts ▸ 28.6%

25.6% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +2.0 pts 23.5%

20.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +3.5 pts 16.4%

17.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +0.4 pts 17.4%

11.2% Youth (15–24) +2.8 pts ▸ 14.0%

Marital status

44.3% Married ◂ +5.1 pts 39.3%

36.5% Never married +6.1 pts ▸ 42.6%

9.5% Divorced +0.2 pts ▸ 9.7%

5.8% Widowed ◂ +0.4 pts 5.4%

4.0% Separated ◂ +0.9 pts 3.0%

Age & sex structure

Upper Hunter Newcastle

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

84.4% Australia ◂ +3.4 pts 81.0%

1.6% England +0.7 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.4% New Zealand ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

0.5% India +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.5% China +0.3 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.7% Philippines ◂ +0.1 pts 0.6%

0.3% South Africa +0.1 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Italy +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Nepal +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

45.2% Australian ◂ +7.1 pts 38.0%

40.9% English ◂ +0.1 pts 40.8%

10.6% Irish +1.8 pts ▸ 12.4%

9.6% Scottish +2.0 pts ▸ 11.6%

3.7% German +0.5 pts ▸ 4.2%

1.4% Italian +1.4 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.9% Chinese +1.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

0.5% Indian +0.8 pts ▸ 1.3%

1.0% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.2% Greek +0.9 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.9% Filipino even 1.0%

0.0% Vietnamese +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

Language

Language used at home

88.7% English only ◂ +3.6 pts 85.1%

0.5% Mandarin +0.5 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Arabic +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Greek +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Italian +0.4 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Hindi +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.2% Tagalog even 0.2%

0.2% Punjabi even 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

58.4% Christianity ◂ +13.9 pts 44.5%

31.6% No religion +13.5 pts ▸ 45.1%

8.3% Not stated ◂ +2.2 pts 6.1%

0.3% Islam +1.3 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.6% Buddhism +0.5 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.4% Hinduism +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.4% Other religions +0.1 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +53 more in Newcastle

23 43rd pct 76 99th pct

Schools/1k kids in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +1.18 more in Upper Hunter

3.77 78th pct 2.58 60th pct

Students in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +24,575 more in Newcastle

4,933 19th pct 29,508 88th pct

Avg size in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +184 larger in Newcastle

214 19th pct 399 44th pct

ICSEA in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +124 higher in Newcastle

931 12th pct 1,055 68th pct

Highest year of school

35.6% Year 12 +21.3 pts ▸ 57.0%

33.6% Year 10 ◂ +11.3 pts 22.4%

14.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +4.8 pts 9.2%

7.6% Year 11 ◂ +2.3 pts 5.3%

Highest qualification level

43.1% Certificate III / IV ◂ +16.2 pts 26.9%

13.9% Bachelor degree +15.1 pts ▸ 28.9%

12.4% Advanced diploma / diploma +1.2 pts ▸ 13.6%

2.7% Postgraduate degree +7.4 pts ▸ 10.1%

1.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +2.0 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.9% Certificate I / II ◂ +1.0 pts 1.9%

Field of qualification

22.5% Engineering & related ◂ +7.8 pts 14.7%

14.5% Management & commerce +3.0 pts ▸ 17.5%

9.4% Health +4.1 pts ▸ 13.5%

7.6% Society & culture +4.6 pts ▸ 12.2%

7.2% Education +1.6 pts ▸ 8.9%

5.7% Agriculture & environment ◂ +4.2 pts 1.5%

4.5% Architecture & building +0.9 pts ▸ 5.4%

5.2% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.7 pts 4.5%

1.4% Creative arts +3.0 pts ▸ 4.4%

1.1% Natural & physical sciences +1.9 pts ▸ 3.0%

0.7% Information technology +1.5 pts ▸ 2.2%

Income

Personal income in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +$83 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$760 41st pct $843 62nd pct

Household income in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +$219 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,521 36th pct $1,740 55th pct

Family income in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +$270 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,970 46th pct $2,240 66th pct

Household income distribution

28.0% $1,500–$2,999 +1.4 pts ▸ 29.4%

27.0% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.9 pts 25.1%

18.3% Under $650 ◂ +2.0 pts 16.4%

8.6% $4,000 or more +3.2 pts ▸ 11.8%

9.7% $3,000–$3,999 +1.2 pts ▸ 11.0%

Personal income distribution

40.2% Under $650 ◂ +2.1 pts 38.1%

29.1% $650–$1,499 +2.3 pts ▸ 31.4%

17.4% $1,500–$2,999 +2.0 pts ▸ 19.4%

3.9% $3,000 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 4.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.5% Mental health +2.9 pts ▸ 12.4%

10.4% Asthma ◂ +0.7 pts 9.6%

10.0% Arthritis ◂ +0.4 pts 9.6%

7.3% Other condition +1.6 pts ▸ 8.9%

5.5% Diabetes ◂ +0.8 pts 4.7%

4.3% Heart disease even 4.3%

2.9% Cancer +0.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.3% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 2.0%

1.0% Stroke +0.1 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.7% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

58.7% None +1.3 pts ▸ 60.0%

20.3% One condition +1.3 pts ▸ 21.7%

6.9% Two conditions +0.2 pts ▸ 7.0%

3.9% Three or more ◂ +0.2 pts 3.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +5,289 larger in Newcastle

2,893 73rd pct 8,182 90th pct

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

22 yrs 21st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +$52 higher in Newcastle

$596 45th pct $648 61st pct

Household income in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +$110 higher in Newcastle

$1,619 51st pct $1,729 60th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Upper Hunter in Newcastle even gap narrowing

2.4 29th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

54.7% Couples with children ◂ +0.4 pts 54.3%

29.3% Couples without children ◂ +0.4 pts 28.9%

15.2% One-parent families +0.1 pts ▸ 15.3%

0.8% Other families +0.7 pts ▸ 1.5%

Household size

34.9% 2 people ◂ +0.6 pts 34.3%

28.6% 1 person +0.6 pts ▸ 29.3%

13.8% 3 people +1.9 pts ▸ 15.7%

13.1% 4 people +0.6 pts ▸ 13.6%

6.6% 5 people ◂ +1.4 pts 5.2%

3.0% 6 or more ◂ +1.0 pts 2.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +$110 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$290 26th pct $400 71st pct

Mortgage in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +$424 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,538 30th pct $1,962 60th pct

People / bedroom in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +0.10 higher in Newcastle gap widening

0.70 0th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

29.4% Rented +6.5 pts ▸ 35.9%

32.5% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +1.0 pts 31.5%

32.4% Owned outright ◂ +2.5 pts 29.9%

4.0% Other tenure ◂ +2.5 pts 1.5%

1.6% Not stated ◂ +0.5 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

89.4% Separate house ◂ +19.0 pts 70.4%

8.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +7.1 pts ▸ 15.6%

0.9% Flat or apartment +12.6 pts ▸ 13.5%

0.9% Other dwelling ◂ +0.5 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

41.3% 3 bedrooms +1.3 pts ▸ 42.6%

32.8% 4 bedrooms ◂ +13.2 pts 19.6%

13.0% 2 bedrooms +11.5 pts ▸ 24.5%

7.8% 5 or more ◂ +2.8 pts 5.0%

3.2% 1 bedroom +3.4 pts ▸ 6.6%

0.3% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

28.6% $350–$549 +20.5 pts ▸ 49.0%

47.7% $200–$349 ◂ +27.4 pts 20.3%

17.1% Under $200 ◂ +4.0 pts 13.0%

0.7% $550–$749 +11.1 pts ▸ 11.8%

0.5% $750 or more +2.3 pts ▸ 2.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

41.1% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +13.9 pts 27.3%

25.3% $1,800–$2,999 +12.0 pts ▸ 37.3%

18.7% Under $1,000 ◂ +4.9 pts 13.8%

9.3% $3,000 or more +7.1 pts ▸ 16.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +1,122 more in Newcastle

94 20th pct 1,216 95th pct

Stops/1k in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +3.72 more in Newcastle

3.07 26th pct 6.79 87th pct

Departures/1k in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +1,802.8 more in Newcastle

68.9 16th pct 1,871.6 83rd pct

PT routes in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +54 more in Newcastle

13 27th pct 67 86th pct

Stop walk in Upper Hunter in Newcastle

— 7 59th pct

Drive to city in Upper Hunter in Newcastle

— 98 85th pct

How people get to work

65.0% Car (driver) ◂ +14.3 pts 50.7%

10.7% Worked at home +12.5 pts ▸ 23.3%

4.3% Car (passenger) ◂ +1.3 pts 3.0%

3.7% Walked ◂ +1.1 pts 2.5%

0.1% Bus +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.3% Bicycle +0.6 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.0% Train +0.2 pts ▸ 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

34.3% 1 vehicle +4.3 pts ▸ 38.6%

37.6% 2 vehicles ◂ +0.2 pts 37.4%

14.6% 3 vehicles ◂ +4.0 pts 10.5%

8.4% 4 or more ◂ +3.1 pts 5.4%

5.1% No vehicle +3.0 pts ▸ 8.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

9.0% Health care & social assistance +11.4 pts ▸ 20.4%

16.8% Mining ◂ +14.8 pts 1.9%

12.0% Agriculture, forestry & fishing ◂ +11.6 pts 0.4%

6.8% Education & training +3.4 pts ▸ 10.2%

7.3% Retail trade +1.3 pts ▸ 8.6%

6.2% Accommodation & food +2.1 pts ▸ 8.3%

6.3% Construction +1.5 pts ▸ 7.8%

3.3% Professional & technical +4.4 pts ▸ 7.7%

4.2% Public administration & safety +2.4 pts ▸ 6.6%

5.0% Manufacturing ◂ +0.1 pts 4.9%

4.1% Administrative & support ◂ +1.1 pts 2.9%

3.8% Other services ◂ +0.5 pts 3.3%

Occupations people work in

11.1% Professionals +17.5 pts ▸ 28.7%

18.3% Technicians & trades ◂ +6.1 pts 12.2%

15.7% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +10.6 pts 5.1%

15.2% Labourers ◂ +7.2 pts 8.0%

9.9% Community & personal service +3.5 pts ▸ 13.4%

12.1% Managers ◂ +0.7 pts 11.4%

8.9% Clerical & administrative +2.7 pts ▸ 11.7%

6.9% Sales workers +1.3 pts ▸ 8.2%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +158,934 higher in Newcastle

31,282 17th pct 190,216 89th pct

Growth in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +4.1 pts higher in Newcastle

1.8% 13th pct 5.9% 53rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +274 higher in Newcastle

807 44th pct 1,081 67th pct

Max temp in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +0.1 higher in Upper Hunter

24.1 54th pct 24.0 52nd pct

Min temp in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +3.5 higher in Newcastle

9.0 18th pct 12.6 60th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +3.7 higher in Newcastle

3.6 26th pct 7.3 80th pct

Types ≤15 min in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +3.0 more in Newcastle

3.8 29th pct 6.8 77th pct

15-min city in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +42.6 pts higher in Newcastle

43.2% 29th pct 85.8% 74th pct

Walk to shops in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +34.6 pts higher in Newcastle

43.1% 28th pct 77.7% 68th pct

Walk to transit in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +44.3 pts higher in Newcastle

52.9% 28th pct 97.2% 76th pct

Walk to school in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +35.9 pts higher in Newcastle

53.6% 34th pct 89.5% 77th pct

Walk to a park in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +36.3 pts higher in Newcastle

60.3% 15th pct 96.6% 63rd pct

Walk to health in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +40.5 pts higher in Newcastle

35.3% 36th pct 75.8% 80th pct

Amenities/1k in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +2.4 more in Newcastle

13.7 38th pct 16.1 55th pct

Intersections/km² in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +101 higher in Newcastle

0 9th pct 102 64th pct

Mean slope in Upper Hunter in Newcastle +0.2 pts higher in Upper Hunter

6.4% 66th pct 6.1% 61st pct

Compare Upper Hunter with nearby areas

Lower Hunter Lithgow - Mudgee Tamworth - Gunnedah Maitland Hawkesbury Lake Macquarie - West Newcastle Gosford

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). Upper Hunter vs Newcastle [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/10604/upper-hunter/vs/11103/newcastle