Urban Area · Area profile
Newcastle - Maitland
1,179 km²
A massive population jump of nearly 1,300% since 2011 has transformed Newcastle - Maitland into one of the largest areas of its kind. This community is characterized by a high proportion of detached houses and families, with a strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While the typical resident is 39, the area is seeing a sharp rise in people reporting no religion. It is a place where traditional Australian roots remain strong, but where incomes and qualifications have climbed steadily over the last decade.
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The area has a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than most similar areas, at 6.1%. While the typical age is 39, the number of seniors aged 65 and over has risen to 18.6% since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower share of overseas-born people (11.3%) compared to the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 88.6% of the community. Far fewer people use another language at home (6.8%) than in the rest of the state or nation.
A significant shift has occurred here, with the share of people reporting no religion rising 28 points since 2011 to reach 42.8%, which is well above the national figure.
The community is becoming more qualified, as the share of adults with a bachelor degree or higher rose to 20.5% since 2011. This is much higher than in most similar areas, though still well below the state average.
Incomes have risen notably, with the typical family now earning $2,089 a week. The share of households earning $3,000 or more weekly is much higher than in most similar areas.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.3% of people reporting a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are also much more frequent than the national average.
A high proportion of people (28.5%) provide unpaid childcare, which is well above the national figure. Conversely, the rate of volunteering has fallen 6.1 points since 2011.
Families with children make up over half of all households (54.8%). There are 2.5 people per home, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
Detached houses are very common, making up 80% of all homes. While typical weekly rent is $375, the typical monthly mortgage payment is much higher than in most similar areas at $1,890.
Working from home has surged, rising 17 points since 2011 to reach 20%. Most people still rely on cars, and only 0.8% of the workforce commutes via public transport.
The population is quite mobile, with 40% of residents moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 13.2% of the community.
More adults are working or looking for work (60.8%) than in most similar areas. Health care and social assistance is the most common industry, employing 18.8% of the workforce.
Most homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport and 15 minutes of a park. However, far fewer people can walk to groceries or health services compared to the state average.