Federal Electorate · Area profile
Newcastle
156 km²
Walking to shops, parks, and transport is a central part of daily life in Newcastle, where nearly 90% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed. This is a growing regional hub that has added over 21,000 people since 2011 and features a relatively young population, with a typical resident aged 37. The area is marked by a strong shift away from traditional faith, as nearly half the community now reports having no religion. This blend of high walkability, a youthful feel, and a modern social outlook defines the city's character.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The typical resident is 37, making the area a little younger than both the state and national figures. There is a high proportion of people in de facto relationships, which is well above the New South Wales average, and the population grew by 15% between 2011 and 2021.
While 80.7% of residents were born in Australia, the number of people born overseas rose to 15% by 2021. This figure remains far below the state and national averages, with English and Australian being the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 84.7% of residents, and the proportion of people using another language at home is far below the national figure. However, this has risen significantly from just 2.6% in 2011 to 10.6% in 2021.
A striking 45.7% of people report having no religion, a figure well above the national average. This reflects a major shift in the community, as the number of non-religious residents rose by 31 percentage points since 2011.
Newcastle has a well-qualified workforce, with 29.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, which is above the national figure. The area is also well-served by schools, with 2.58 schools per 1,000 children, much higher than in most similar areas.
Typical family incomes are a little above the national figure at $2,303 per week. There has been a significant rise in prosperity since 2011, with the share of households earning $3,000 or more a week jumping from 4.3% to 23.8%.
The community faces higher health challenges than most areas, with 31.8% of people living with a long-term condition. This includes mental health conditions, which affect 12.4% of residents, a rate well above the national figure.
Volunteering has dropped since 2011, though 14.2% of residents still give their time, which is slightly above the state average. There is also a higher than usual proportion of former Defence Force members, at 3.4%.
Living arrangements vary, with 29.1% of people living alone, a figure well above the national average. Typical households are slightly smaller than usual, with 2.4 people per home.
Renters are common here, with 36.6% of households renting, which is well above the national figure. This is consistent with a decline in outright home ownership, which fell from 37.8% in 2011 to 29.2% in 2021.
Public transport infrastructure is among the best at this level, with 1,127 stops and very high weekly departures. Despite this, only 1.3% of people commute via public transport, while 23.9% work from home.
The area is quite dynamic, with 43.7% of residents having moved in the last five years. This is well above the national average and is consistent with a high number of recent overseas arrivals, who make up 19.2% of the population.
The workforce is active, with 64.5% of adults working or looking for work, which is well above the state average. Many residents work in health care and social assistance, the city's largest employment sector at 20.7%.
Newcastle is very walkable, with a score of 7.5. Residents enjoy exceptional access to amenities, as 98% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park and nearly 98% are within 10 minutes of public transport.