Fastest growing Newcastle suburbs (2016-2021)

Catherine Hill Bay grew fastest in percentage terms, at +482%. Chisholm added the most residents, 3,116. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 146 eligible Newcastle suburbs.

This ranking shows which Newcastle suburbs grew fastest between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses — once by percent change, and once by the sheer number of residents added, because those two questions have very different answers.

Percent growth and headcount growth are both real and they rarely agree. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 has grown 4,900%, and a suburb going from 35,000 to 56,000 has grown 63% — but the second one added four times as many people. The first list finds the greenfield estates, the second finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Both are ranked within Newcastle's own pool. Note the period: the 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count available in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here.

Newcastle suburbs that grew fastest, 2016-2021

Ranked on percent population change between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses. Percent growth favours suburbs starting from a small base, so greenfield estates built on former farmland dominate the top.

1

Catherine Hill Bay

NSW 2281 · 943 residents

781 residents added · +482% · 943 residents in 2021

C 100.0
2

Chisholm

NSW 2322 · 4,577 residents

3,116 residents added · +213% · 4,577 residents in 2021

B 99.3
3

Farley

NSW 2320 · 605 residents

386 residents added · +178% · 605 residents in 2021

C 98.6
4

Cliftleigh

NSW 2321 · 2,309 residents

1,420 residents added · +160% · 2,309 residents in 2021

C 97.9
5

Newcastle West

NSW 2302 · 1,453 residents

834 residents added · +135% · 1,453 residents in 2021

B 97.2
6

Teralba

NSW 2284 · 2,654 residents

1,066 residents added · +67% · 2,654 residents in 2021

D 96.5
7

Boolaroo

NSW 2284 · 1,636 residents

597 residents added · +58% · 1,636 residents in 2021

C 95.9
8

Fletcher

NSW 2287 · 8,014 residents

2,878 residents added · +56% · 8,014 residents in 2021

B 95.2
9

Gillieston Heights

NSW 2321 · 4,796 residents

1,645 residents added · +52% · 4,796 residents in 2021

C 94.5
10

Wickham

NSW 2293 · 1,637 residents

557 residents added · +52% · 1,637 residents in 2021

B 93.8
11

Fern Bay

NSW 2295 · 4,046 residents

1,283 residents added · +46% · 4,046 residents in 2021

C 93.1
12

Louth Park

NSW 2320 · 922 residents

268 residents added · +41% · 922 residents in 2021

B 92.4
13

Newcastle

NSW 2300 · 3,852 residents

1,098 residents added · +40% · 3,852 residents in 2021

B 91.7
14

Lochinvar

NSW 2321 · 1,095 residents

311 residents added · +40% · 1,095 residents in 2021

B 91.0
15

Heddon Greta

NSW 2321 · 2,838 residents

790 residents added · +39% · 2,838 residents in 2021

D 90.3

Ranked from 146 qualifying suburbs.

Newcastle suburbs that added the most residents, 2016-2021

Ranked on the NUMBER of residents added between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses rather than the percentage, which surfaces the established growth corridors instead of small suburbs multiplying from near zero.

1

Chisholm

NSW 2322 · 4,577 residents

3,116 residents added · +213% · 4,577 residents in 2021

B 100.0
2

Fletcher

NSW 2287 · 8,014 residents

2,878 residents added · +56% · 8,014 residents in 2021

B 99.3
3

Thornton

NSW 2322 · 10,690 residents

2,628 residents added · +33% · 10,690 residents in 2021

C 98.6
4

Cameron Park

NSW 2285 · 9,977 residents

1,981 residents added · +25% · 9,977 residents in 2021

C 97.9
5

Gillieston Heights

NSW 2321 · 4,796 residents

1,645 residents added · +52% · 4,796 residents in 2021

C 97.2
6

Cliftleigh

NSW 2321 · 2,309 residents

1,420 residents added · +160% · 2,309 residents in 2021

C 96.5
7

Fern Bay

NSW 2295 · 4,046 residents

1,283 residents added · +46% · 4,046 residents in 2021

C 95.9
8

Rutherford

NSW 2320 · 13,091 residents

1,207 residents added · +10% · 13,091 residents in 2021

D 95.2
9

Aberglasslyn

NSW 2320 · 6,552 residents

1,150 residents added · +21% · 6,552 residents in 2021

C 94.5
10

Cessnock

NSW 2325 · 16,300 residents

1,123 residents added · +7% · 16,300 residents in 2021

D 93.8
11

Newcastle

NSW 2300 · 3,852 residents

1,098 residents added · +40% · 3,852 residents in 2021

B 93.1
12

Teralba

NSW 2284 · 2,654 residents

1,066 residents added · +67% · 2,654 residents in 2021

D 92.4
13

Newcastle West

NSW 2302 · 1,453 residents

834 residents added · +135% · 1,453 residents in 2021

B 91.7
14

Merewether

NSW 2291 · 11,788 residents

824 residents added · +8% · 11,788 residents in 2021

C 91.0
15

Heddon Greta

NSW 2321 · 2,838 residents

790 residents added · +39% · 2,838 residents in 2021

D 90.3

Ranked from 146 qualifying suburbs.

How we ranked these

100% population growth, ranked within Newcastle's candidate pool — once by percent change and once by residents added, because those two questions have different answers. Nothing else is blended in: a suburb that grew is not thereby better or worse to live in. The figures are the 2016 and 2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb population counts published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than today. Suburbs missing either count are excluded rather than ranked as no-growth. See how we calculate for the full methodology.

Common questions about this ranking

What are the fastest growing Newcastle suburbs (2016-2021)?

Catherine Hill Bay grew fastest in percentage terms, at +482%. Chisholm added the most residents, 3,116. Both figures are the change between the 2016-2021 Censuses, the most recent per-suburb measurement available. These 30 suburbs came from a field of 146 eligible Newcastle suburbs.

What period does this cover?

The 2016-2021 Censuses. The 2021 Census is the most recent per-suburb population count published in Australia, so this measures the five years to 2021 rather than the present day. Growth corridors tend to persist, but a suburb that has since filled up will still appear here, and one that took off after 2021 will not.

Why are there two different lists?

Because percent growth and headcount growth rarely agree, and both are real. A suburb going from 100 residents to 5,000 grew 4,900%; one going from 35,000 to 56,000 grew 63% but added four times as many people. The percent list finds greenfield estates built on former farmland; the headcount list finds the established corridors absorbing most of the actual growth. Presenting only one would hide half the answer.

Does fast growth make a suburb a good place to live?

This ranking does not say so, and deliberately blends nothing else in. Rapid growth can mean new housing, new schools and rising demand, or it can mean construction, strained roads and services that have not caught up — often both at once in the same suburb. Check the walkability, transport, schools and risk figures on each suburb's own page.

Which suburbs are eligible?

Suburbs in Newcastle with at least 500 residents and a population figure in both Censuses. A suburb missing either count is left out rather than ranked as no-growth, and the top 15 are shown in each list.

Same list in other cities

Related

Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.

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