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Lake Macquarie - West vs Newcastle

Name: Lake Macquarie - West vs Newcastle — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sub-region (SA3) comparison ≈ 24 km apart · Lake Macquarie - West profile · Newcastle profile

Lake Macquarie - West Newcastle

Newcastle and Lake Macquarie - West are nearby areas with very different characters. Newcastle is a very walkable hub where 27.7% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher and 35.9% of homes are rented. In contrast, Lake Macquarie - West is mostly car-dependent and more residential, with 89.6% of dwellings being separate houses and a much higher share of larger homes, with 81.4% having three or more bedrooms. Newcastle also sees more recent overseas arrivals at 18.9%, compared to 6.6% in Lake Macquarie - West.

These differences have generally grown over time, with the gap in university qualifications and the age difference between the two areas widening since 2011. While they diverge on housing and transport, they are very similar in other ways. They have almost the same rate of volunteers and nearly identical shares of one-parent families. Both areas also have a similar proportion of people who speak a First Nations language, at 3.5% each.

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Where they differ most

Population: 93,978 larger in Newcastle Separate houses: 19.2 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - West Recent arrivals: 12.3 pts higher in Newcastle Year 12: 15.4 pts higher in Newcastle 3+ bedrooms: 14.2 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - West

Demographics & Identity

Population in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +93,978 larger in Newcastle gap steady

85,022 69th pct 179,000 90th pct

Median age in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +5 yrs older in Lake Macquarie - West gap widening

42 yrs 67th pct 37 yrs 29th pct

Age structure

23.3% Young adults (25–44) +5.3 pts ▸ 28.6%

24.7% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +1.2 pts 23.5%

22.8% Seniors (65+) ◂ +5.4 pts 17.4%

18.0% Children (0–14) ◂ +1.6 pts 16.4%

11.2% Youth (15–24) +2.8 pts ▸ 14.0%

Marital status

47.8% Married ◂ +8.6 pts 39.3%

32.1% Never married +10.5 pts ▸ 42.6%

9.9% Divorced ◂ +0.2 pts 9.7%

6.7% Widowed ◂ +1.3 pts 5.4%

3.5% Separated ◂ +0.4 pts 3.0%

Age & sex structure

Lake Macquarie - West Newcastle

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

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

84.9% Australia ◂ +3.8 pts 81.0%

2.7% England ◂ +0.5 pts 2.2%

1.5% New Zealand ◂ +0.4 pts 1.1%

0.6% India +0.4 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.3% China +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.5% Philippines +0.2 pts ▸ 0.6%

0.5% South Africa ◂ +0.1 pts 0.4%

0.1% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Vietnam +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Nepal +0.1 pts ▸ 0.3%

Ancestry

44.0% English ◂ +3.2 pts 40.8%

42.8% Australian ◂ +4.7 pts 38.0%

10.0% Irish +2.4 pts ▸ 12.4%

11.1% Scottish +0.4 pts ▸ 11.6%

4.0% German +0.1 pts ▸ 4.2%

2.0% Italian +0.8 pts ▸ 2.8%

0.9% Chinese +1.1 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.5% Dutch ◂ +0.2 pts 1.3%

0.8% Indian +0.5 pts ▸ 1.3%

0.5% Greek +0.6 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.7% Filipino +0.2 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

Language

Language used at home

90.6% English only ◂ +5.6 pts 85.1%

0.3% Mandarin +0.7 pts ▸ 1.0%

0.1% Arabic +0.4 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.1% Greek +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.2% Italian +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Vietnamese +0.3 pts ▸ 0.4%

0.1% Cantonese +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

0.1% Hindi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Tagalog +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

0.1% Punjabi +0.1 pts ▸ 0.2%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.5% Christianity ◂ +6.0 pts 44.5%

41.4% No religion +3.7 pts ▸ 45.1%

5.9% Not stated +0.2 pts ▸ 6.1%

0.4% Islam +1.1 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.7% Buddhism +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.6% Hinduism +0.4 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.3% Other religions +0.2 pts ▸ 0.5%

0.0% Judaism even 0.1%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +39 more in Newcastle

37 71st pct 76 99th pct

Schools/1k kids in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +0.17 more in Newcastle

2.42 57th pct 2.58 60th pct

Students in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +18,169 more in Newcastle

11,339 58th pct 29,508 88th pct

Avg size in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +92 larger in Newcastle

306 31st pct 399 44th pct

ICSEA in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +76 higher in Newcastle

979 31st pct 1,055 68th pct

Highest year of school

41.6% Year 12 +15.4 pts ▸ 57.0%

32.8% Year 10 ◂ +10.5 pts 22.4%

12.7% Year 9 or below ◂ +3.5 pts 9.2%

7.2% Year 11 ◂ +1.9 pts 5.3%

Highest qualification level

39.6% Certificate III / IV ◂ +12.8 pts 26.9%

17.8% Bachelor degree +11.2 pts ▸ 28.9%

15.3% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +1.7 pts 13.6%

5.3% Postgraduate degree +4.8 pts ▸ 10.1%

2.8% Graduate diploma / certificate +1.0 pts ▸ 3.8%

2.5% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.6 pts 1.9%

Field of qualification

18.8% Engineering & related ◂ +4.1 pts 14.7%

17.4% Management & commerce +0.1 pts ▸ 17.5%

11.8% Health +1.7 pts ▸ 13.5%

11.2% Society & culture +1.1 pts ▸ 12.2%

8.5% Education +0.4 pts ▸ 8.9%

6.8% Architecture & building ◂ +1.4 pts 5.4%

5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +1.0 pts 4.5%

2.6% Creative arts +1.9 pts ▸ 4.4%

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

1.7% Information technology +0.5 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.6% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.1 pts 1.5%

Income

Personal income in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +$116 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$727 32nd pct $843 62nd pct

Household income in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +$178 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,562 40th pct $1,740 55th pct

Family income in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +$310 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,930 42nd pct $2,240 66th pct

Household income distribution

30.0% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +0.6 pts 29.4%

28.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +3.5 pts 25.1%

16.7% Under $650 ◂ +0.3 pts 16.4%

8.0% $4,000 or more +3.8 pts ▸ 11.8%

10.0% $3,000–$3,999 +1.0 pts ▸ 11.0%

Personal income distribution

42.7% Under $650 ◂ +4.6 pts 38.1%

32.6% $650–$1,499 ◂ +1.2 pts 31.4%

15.6% $1,500–$2,999 +3.8 pts ▸ 19.4%

2.6% $3,000 or more +2.1 pts ▸ 4.7%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

12.5% Mental health ◂ +0.1 pts 12.4%

12.4% Arthritis ◂ +2.8 pts 9.6%

10.5% Asthma ◂ +0.9 pts 9.6%

9.7% Other condition ◂ +0.9 pts 8.9%

6.0% Diabetes ◂ +1.3 pts 4.7%

5.8% Heart disease ◂ +1.4 pts 4.3%

3.8% Cancer ◂ +0.8 pts 3.0%

2.7% Lung condition ◂ +0.7 pts 2.0%

1.4% Stroke ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

1.3% Dementia ◂ +0.3 pts 1.0%

Number of long-term health conditions

55.8% None +4.2 pts ▸ 60.0%

23.2% One condition ◂ +1.6 pts 21.7%

8.5% Two conditions ◂ +1.5 pts 7.0%

5.0% Three or more ◂ +1.3 pts 3.7%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +2,730 larger in Newcastle

5,452 87th pct 8,182 90th pct

Median age in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +2 yrs older in Newcastle

22 yrs 21st pct 24 yrs 43rd pct

Median income in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +$47 higher in Newcastle

$601 47th pct $648 61st pct

Household income in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +$44 higher in Lake Macquarie - West

$1,773 64th pct $1,729 60th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +0.1 larger in Lake Macquarie - West gap narrowing

2.5 57th pct 2.4 29th pct

Family composition

53.9% Couples with children +0.4 pts ▸ 54.3%

29.3% Couples without children ◂ +0.4 pts 28.9%

15.9% One-parent families ◂ +0.6 pts 15.3%

0.9% Other families +0.6 pts ▸ 1.5%

Household size

36.3% 2 people ◂ +2.0 pts 34.3%

23.6% 1 person +5.6 pts ▸ 29.3%

15.8% 3 people ◂ +0.1 pts 15.7%

14.9% 4 people ◂ +1.3 pts 13.6%

6.3% 5 people ◂ +1.1 pts 5.2%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 2.0%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +$20 higher in Newcastle gap steady

$380 60th pct $400 71st pct

Mortgage in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +$62 higher in Newcastle gap widening

$1,900 54th pct $1,962 60th pct

People / bedroom in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

37.4% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.9 pts 31.5%

22.6% Rented +13.3 pts ▸ 35.9%

35.7% Owned outright ◂ +5.7 pts 29.9%

3.0% Other tenure ◂ +1.5 pts 1.5%

1.4% Not stated ◂ +0.2 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

89.6% Separate house ◂ +19.2 pts 70.4%

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

2.5% Flat or apartment +10.9 pts ▸ 13.5%

0.8% Other dwelling ◂ +0.4 pts 0.4%

Bedrooms per home

40.0% 3 bedrooms +2.6 pts ▸ 42.6%

34.0% 4 bedrooms ◂ +14.4 pts 19.6%

13.9% 2 bedrooms +10.6 pts ▸ 24.5%

7.4% 5 or more ◂ +2.4 pts 5.0%

3.1% 1 bedroom +3.4 pts ▸ 6.6%

0.2% Studio / none +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

Weekly rent distribution

50.9% $350–$549 ◂ +1.8 pts 49.0%

24.7% $200–$349 ◂ +4.4 pts 20.3%

12.4% Under $200 +0.6 pts ▸ 13.0%

7.6% $550–$749 +4.2 pts ▸ 11.8%

0.6% $750 or more +2.2 pts ▸ 2.8%

Monthly mortgage distribution

39.2% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +2.0 pts 37.3%

30.0% $1,000–$1,799 ◂ +2.7 pts 27.3%

11.3% $3,000 or more +5.2 pts ▸ 16.4%

13.9% Under $1,000 ◂ +0.1 pts 13.8%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +661 more in Newcastle

555 78th pct 1,216 95th pct

Stops/1k in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +0.27 more in Newcastle

6.53 86th pct 6.79 87th pct

Departures/1k in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +1,203.8 more in Newcastle

667.9 46th pct 1,871.6 83rd pct

PT routes in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +36 more in Newcastle

31 56th pct 67 86th pct

Stop walk in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +30 longer in Lake Macquarie - West

37 87th pct 7 59th pct

Drive to city in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +19 longer in Newcastle

79 78th pct 98 85th pct

How people get to work

58.1% Car (driver) ◂ +7.3 pts 50.7%

18.2% Worked at home +5.0 pts ▸ 23.3%

3.4% Car (passenger) ◂ +0.3 pts 3.0%

1.1% Walked +1.5 pts ▸ 2.5%

0.3% Bus +0.7 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.1% Bicycle +0.8 pts ▸ 0.9%

0.3% Train ◂ +0.1 pts 0.2%

Motor vehicles per home

39.2% 2 vehicles ◂ +1.8 pts 37.4%

32.1% 1 vehicle +6.5 pts ▸ 38.6%

14.8% 3 vehicles ◂ +4.2 pts 10.5%

9.5% 4 or more ◂ +4.1 pts 5.4%

4.4% No vehicle +3.6 pts ▸ 8.1%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

18.5% Health care & social assistance +1.9 pts ▸ 20.4%

11.7% Construction ◂ +3.9 pts 7.8%

8.2% Education & training +2.0 pts ▸ 10.2%

9.8% Retail trade ◂ +1.2 pts 8.6%

5.8% Accommodation & food +2.4 pts ▸ 8.3%

4.9% Professional & technical +2.8 pts ▸ 7.7%

6.7% Manufacturing ◂ +1.8 pts 4.9%

5.0% Public administration & safety +1.5 pts ▸ 6.6%

4.5% Other services ◂ +1.2 pts 3.3%

4.3% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.7 pts 3.6%

3.4% Administrative & support ◂ +0.4 pts 2.9%

2.6% Finance & insurance +0.7 pts ▸ 3.3%

Occupations people work in

18.0% Professionals +10.7 pts ▸ 28.7%

17.0% Technicians & trades ◂ +4.8 pts 12.2%

13.3% Community & personal service even 13.4%

12.7% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.0 pts 11.7%

10.4% Managers +1.0 pts ▸ 11.4%

10.1% Labourers ◂ +2.1 pts 8.0%

8.7% Sales workers ◂ +0.4 pts 8.2%

8.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +3.0 pts 5.1%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +98,361 higher in Newcastle

91,855 66th pct 190,216 89th pct

Growth in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +2.0 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - West

7.9% 71st pct 5.9% 53rd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +171 higher in Lake Macquarie - West

1,253 78th pct 1,081 67th pct

Max temp in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle even

24.0 52nd pct 24.0 52nd pct

Min temp in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +0.5 higher in Newcastle

12.0 53rd pct 12.6 60th pct

Walkability

Walk score in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +3.3 higher in Newcastle

4.0 32nd pct 7.3 80th pct

Types ≤15 min in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +2.9 more in Newcastle

3.9 31st pct 6.8 77th pct

15-min city in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +48.9 pts higher in Newcastle

36.9% 19th pct 85.8% 74th pct

Walk to shops in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +44.7 pts higher in Newcastle

32.9% 13th pct 77.7% 68th pct

Walk to transit in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +14.2 pts higher in Newcastle

83.0% 52nd pct 97.2% 76th pct

Walk to school in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +38.8 pts higher in Newcastle

50.7% 30th pct 89.5% 77th pct

Walk to a park in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +19.1 pts higher in Newcastle

77.5% 35th pct 96.6% 63rd pct

Walk to health in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +52.6 pts higher in Newcastle

23.2% 14th pct 75.8% 80th pct

Amenities/1k in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +5.0 more in Newcastle

11.1 17th pct 16.1 55th pct

Intersections/km² in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +84 higher in Newcastle

18 44th pct 102 64th pct

Mean slope in Lake Macquarie - West in Newcastle +1.8 pts higher in Lake Macquarie - West

7.9% 81st pct 6.1% 61st pct

Compare Lake Macquarie - West with nearby areas

Lake Macquarie - East Newcastle Wyong Maitland Gosford Port Stephens Lower Hunter Hornsby

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). Lake Macquarie - West vs Newcastle [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa3/11102/lake-macquarie-west/vs/11103/newcastle