Council (LGA) · Area profile
Newcastle
187 km²
A far higher share of people in Newcastle identify as having no religion compared to the state average. This large city is younger than most, with a typical resident aged 37 and a population that grew by 14% since 2011. It is a highly educated hub where a huge number of adults hold degrees, which helps explain why typical weekly incomes are above the national figure. The community is dynamic, with many residents having moved into the area within the last five years.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
Explore Newcastle by topic
The population is younger than most areas, and there are more people in de facto relationships than the state average. The number of children under 15 has fallen slightly since 2011 to 16.2%.
About 14.8% of residents were born overseas, which is higher than most areas, though far below the New South Wales average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language, but 10.5% of people use another language at home, a figure that has risen since 2011. This is higher than most areas, but still far below the state average.
Nearly half of the community (45.4%) report no religion, which is well above the national figure. This represents a significant increase of 23 points since 2011.
Newcastle is very well qualified, with 28.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion rose 11 points since 2011 to 57.8%, and the area has a very high school advantage score.
Typical weekly family incomes are $2,264, which is higher than most areas. The number of households earning $3,000 or more a week rose 14 points since 2011.
Mental health conditions are among the highest at this level, affecting 12.5% of people. Long-term health conditions are also more common here than in the rest of the state.
The area has a higher proportion of Defence Force veterans than most areas. However, the share of people who volunteer fell to 13.9% since 2011.
The First Nations community is among the largest at this level, with a Year 12 completion rate (43.5%) and personal incomes that are much higher than most similar areas.
Single-person households are more common here than in the state, with 29.5% of people living alone. One-parent families also make up a higher share than usual at 15.3%.
Renting is much more common than in most areas, and typical weekly rents are $400. Homes are less likely to be owned outright and more likely to have fewer than three bedrooms compared to the national average.
Working from home has surged since 2011 to 23.4%, though most people still drive to work. The area is well served by public transport, with a very high number of stops and departures per 1,000 people.
The community is quite mobile, with 43.6% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are also much more common here than in most other areas.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most areas, though full-time employment fell slightly since 2011. Health care and education are the dominant industries.
The area is ranked very highly for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. Population growth has remained strong, rising 5.6% since 2021.
The climate is much wetter than the state average, with annual rainfall reaching 1,058mm. Minimum temperatures are also notably higher than the New South Wales figure.
Recorded offences are much higher than most areas, with motor vehicle theft and burglary being particularly frequent.
The area is very walkable, with 88% of homes within a 15-minute walk of key amenities. Most residents live within a short walk of public transport, parks, and schools.