Urban Centre · Area profile
Newcastle
297 km²
A population that grew by 13% since 2011 has seen Newcastle evolve into a larger, more qualified regional centre. This is a community where the typical resident is 39, and a significant 44.2% of people now report having no religion. The area's character is shaped by a strong shift towards higher education and professional work, reflecting a workforce that is increasingly working from home. It remains a predominantly Australian-born community with a high proportion of separate houses.
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The total population is 348,539, among the largest for its level. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population rose to 4.9% since 2011, which is a little above the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia (83.3%), though those born overseas make up 12.6% of the community. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, and English is the most common ancestry at 42.2%.
English is the main language for 87.8% of people, while 7.9% use another language at home. This is much higher than most similar areas, although it remains far below the state average.
A large proportion of the community—44.2%—has no religion, a figure that rose 23 points since 2011 and is well above the national average.
Education levels have risen sharply, with those holding a bachelor degree or higher increasing by 7.6 points since 2011 to reach 24.0%. This is much higher than most similar areas.
Typical weekly household income is $1,708, which is about the same as the national figure. Incomes have risen significantly, with the proportion of households earning $3,000 or more a week increasing by 13 points since 2011.
About 33.8% of people have a long-term health condition, which is well above the national figure. This includes 12.2% with a mental health condition, a rate much higher than most similar areas.
Community participation is steady, with 13.1% of people providing unpaid care. However, the number of volunteers fell 2.3 points since 2011 to 13.5%, which is lower than most similar areas.
Family sizes are typical, with an average of 2.4 people per home. Around 27.2% of people live alone, and 54.9% of households are couples with children.
Separate houses are common here at 76.9%, well above the national average. Typical weekly rent has risen $60 since 2016 to $390, and typical monthly mortgage payments are $1,959.
A huge 22.1% of the workforce now works from home, a massive increase of 19 points since 2011. Conversely, only 0.9% of people commute by public transport.
The area is quite mobile, with 39.3% of people moving house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 14.4% of the population.
The community is active, with 61.3% of adults working or looking for work, which is higher than most similar areas. Health care and social assistance is the largest industry, employing 20.0% of the workforce.
The area is very walkable, with a score of 6.4. Nearly all homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport (95.6%) or a park (95.6%).