Adamstown Heights vs Charlestown

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Adamstown Heights, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Adamstown Heights: a median of $1.3 million, against $1.06 million in Charlestown, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Adamstown Heights tends to suit couples, while Charlestown suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Adamstown Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 83/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 76%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 58%)
  • But Charlestown has more childcare (15 vs 3)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,055,500 vs $1,300,000)
  • has cheaper units ($675,000 vs $750,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $475/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 75/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (145 km vs 159.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Charlestown

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 5%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 75/100)
  • But Adamstown Heights carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 83/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Charlestown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Adamstown Heights and Charlestown drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Walkability 75 / 92
Adamstown Heights — Walkability: 75/100 Charlestown — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 56 / 17
Adamstown Heights — Safety: 56/100 Charlestown — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 54
Adamstown Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Charlestown — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

Charlestown has more residents (13,601 vs 5,621); Adamstown Heights has higher household incomes ($120,900 vs $95,628).

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Population 5,621 13,601
+142% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +5.3%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $120,900/yr
+21% vs other
 $95,628/yr
Median weekly rent $475/wk
+16% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
0-4 6.4% / 6.4%
Adamstown Heights — 0-4: 6.4% Charlestown — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 15.7% / 12.3%
Adamstown Heights — 5-14: 15.7% Charlestown — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 6.2% / 5.0%
Adamstown Heights — 15-19: 6.2% Charlestown — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 4.7% / 6.1%
Adamstown Heights — 20-24: 4.7% Charlestown — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 10.8% / 14.7%
Adamstown Heights — 25-34: 10.8% Charlestown — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 14.8% / 14.6%
Adamstown Heights — 35-44: 14.8% Charlestown — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 13.6% / 11.8%
Adamstown Heights — 45-54: 13.6% Charlestown — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 9.7% / 10.8%
Adamstown Heights — 55-64: 9.7% Charlestown — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 8.5% / 8.9%
Adamstown Heights — 65-74: 8.5% Charlestown — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 7.2% / 6.2%
Adamstown Heights — 75-84: 7.2% Charlestown — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.5% / 3.1%
Adamstown Heights — 85+: 2.5% Charlestown — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Heights 56.9% couple families
Adamstown Heights — Couple Families: 56.9% Adamstown Heights — Lone Person: 24.7% Adamstown Heights — One Parent Families: 13.0% Adamstown Heights — Group Household: 3.8% Adamstown Heights — Other Families: 1.6%
Charlestown 41.3% couple families
Charlestown — Couple Families: 41.3% Charlestown — Lone Person: 35.4% Charlestown — One Parent Families: 17.0% Charlestown — Group Household: 5.3% Charlestown — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Heights 15.3% renting
Adamstown Heights — Owned Outright: 44.0% Adamstown Heights — Mortgage: 40.7% Adamstown Heights — Renting: 15.3%
Charlestown 26.7% renting
Charlestown — Owned Outright: 35.2% Charlestown — Mortgage: 38.1% Charlestown — Renting: 26.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 15.1%
Adamstown Heights — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Charlestown — Bachelor Degree: 15.1%
Certificate III & IV 12.7% / 16.9%
Adamstown Heights — Certificate III & IV: 12.7% Charlestown — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.3%
Adamstown Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Charlestown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 4.3%
Adamstown Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Charlestown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 1.9%
Adamstown Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Charlestown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
England 2.5% / 2.1%
Adamstown Heights — England: 2.5% Charlestown — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.0%
Adamstown Heights — New Zealand: 1.1% Charlestown — New Zealand: 1.0%
China 0.5% / 0.9%
Adamstown Heights — China: 0.5% Charlestown — China: 0.9%
Italy 0.7% / 0.4%
Adamstown Heights — Italy: 0.7% Charlestown — Italy: 0.4%
India — / 0.7%
Adamstown Heights — India: not among its largest Charlestown — India: 0.7%
Thailand 0.5% / —
Adamstown Heights — Thailand: 0.5% Charlestown — Thailand: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Adamstown Heights — Philippines: not among its largest Charlestown — Philippines: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Heights 94.9% houses
Adamstown Heights — Houses: 94.9% Adamstown Heights — Townhouses: 2.6% Adamstown Heights — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Charlestown 76.0% houses
Charlestown — Houses: 76.0% Charlestown — Townhouses: 14.9% Charlestown — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Median house price $1,300,000 $1,055,500
Median unit price $750,000 $675,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 48 sales
 21 days
from 197 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
2 bed $1.2M / $905K
Adamstown Heights — 2 bed: $1.2M (8 sales) Charlestown — 2 bed: $905K (25 sales)

8 vs 25 sales

3 bed $1.22M / $1,000K
Adamstown Heights — 3 bed: $1.22M (54 sales) Charlestown — 3 bed: $1,000K (135 sales)

54 vs 135 sales

4 bed $1.38M / $1.25M
Adamstown Heights — 4 bed: $1.38M (32 sales) Charlestown — 4 bed: $1.25M (80 sales)

32 vs 80 sales

5 bed $1.69M / $1.34M
Adamstown Heights — 5 bed: $1.69M (7 sales) Charlestown — 5 bed: $1.34M (14 sales)

7 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Residential 79% 70%
Parks and recreation 10% 12%
Environmental 6% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Commercial 0% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
Approvals change year on year +77% +2%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Houses 2.8%
$770/wk on $1.43M
 3.8%
$780/wk on $1.06M
Units — 4.4%
$620/wk on $730K

Ranking within NSW

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
House price Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 81% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 40% of NSW

Liveability

Adamstown Heights scores higher overall (73 vs 56); Charlestown is more walkable (92 vs 75).

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Grade A B
Score 73/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Charlestown carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 0); Charlestown carries more crime risk (83 vs 44).

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime Moderate
44/100
 High
83/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Inside the suburb 2 7
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 1.9%

Schools in Adamstown Heights

  • Belair Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Kotara High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Charlestown

  • Charlestown East Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Charlestown Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Charlestown South Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Hillsborough Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • Alesco Secondary College - Charlestown Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 3 15
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 6
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 9
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 0 12

Mobility

Adamstown Heights sits further from the CBD (159.3 km vs 145 km).

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Walkability score 75/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 159.3 km
+9% vs other
 145 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 124 min 120 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 117.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 331.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2289
 0.9%
postcode 2290
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2289
 37
postcode 2290

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Car (driver) 58.5% / 63.5%
Adamstown Heights — Car (driver): 58.5% Charlestown — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 35.0% / 28.1%
Adamstown Heights — Worked from Home: 35.0% Charlestown — Worked from Home: 28.1%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 4.5%
Adamstown Heights — Car (passenger): 3.1% Charlestown — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 1.8% / 2.1%
Adamstown Heights — Walked Only: 1.8% Charlestown — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bus 0.7% / 1.2%
Adamstown Heights — Bus: 0.7% Charlestown — Bus: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.5%).

Setting

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Elevation 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 108 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.0 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 3.3 km

NBN connectivity

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Connectivity score 68/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
2,163 premises
 38%
6,886 premises

Climate

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Annual rainfall 1,025 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 10.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 21.7 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.64 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Average residential rate $1,783/yr $1,708/yr
Council Newcastle Lake Macquarie

Federal electorate

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Division Newcastle Shortland
Member Sharon Claydon Pat Conroy
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Adamstown Heights Charlestown
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Adamstown Heights

Family Parks Professionals

Charlestown

Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Adamstown Heights

Adamstown Heights vs Merewether Adamstown Heights vs Adamstown Adamstown Heights vs Kotara Adamstown Heights vs Kotara South Adamstown Heights vs Highfields

Other comparisons with Charlestown

Charlestown vs Mount Hutton Charlestown vs Gateshead Charlestown vs Whitebridge Charlestown vs Kahibah Charlestown vs Garden Suburb Charlestown vs Kotara South
Full data on Adamstown Heights Full data on Charlestown
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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