Adamstown Heights vs Highfields

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Adamstown Heights, most households are couple families. In Highfields, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Adamstown Heights: a median of $1.3 million, against $1.01 million in Highfields, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Highfields tends to suit 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 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Highfields

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,007,500 vs $1,300,000)
  • has cheaper units ($584,000 vs $750,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Highfields

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $475/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Adamstown Heights is more walkable (75/100 vs 54/100)
  • Highfields sits closer to the CBD (148.1 km vs 159.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Adamstown Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 54/100)

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

Investors

Highfields

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.1% vs 6.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Adamstown Heights and Highfields 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 Highfields
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 Highfields
Walkability 75 / 54
Adamstown Heights — Walkability: 75/100 Highfields — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 56 / 50
Adamstown Heights — Safety: 56/100 Highfields — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 100 / 28
Adamstown Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Highfields — Low fire risk: 28/100

Demographics

Adamstown Heights has more residents (5,621 vs 936); Adamstown Heights rents higher ($475/wk vs $400/wk).

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Population 5,621
+83% vs other
 936
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +12.1%
Median age 39 37
Median household income $120,900/yr
+5% vs other
 $114,296/yr
Median weekly rent $475/wk
+16% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Adamstown Heights Highfields
0-4 6.4% / 8.3%
Adamstown Heights — 0-4: 6.4% Highfields — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 15.7% / 14.6%
Adamstown Heights — 5-14: 15.7% Highfields — 5-14: 14.6%
15-19 6.2% / 5.2%
Adamstown Heights — 15-19: 6.2% Highfields — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.7% / 5.0%
Adamstown Heights — 20-24: 4.7% Highfields — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 10.8% / 10.8%
Adamstown Heights — 25-34: 10.8% Highfields — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 14.8% / 15.2%
Adamstown Heights — 35-44: 14.8% Highfields — 35-44: 15.2%
45-54 13.6% / 13.8%
Adamstown Heights — 45-54: 13.6% Highfields — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 9.7% / 11.9%
Adamstown Heights — 55-64: 9.7% Highfields — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 8.5% / 7.2%
Adamstown Heights — 65-74: 8.5% Highfields — 65-74: 7.2%
75-84 7.2% / 4.4%
Adamstown Heights — 75-84: 7.2% Highfields — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 2.5% / 3.5%
Adamstown Heights — 85+: 2.5% Highfields — 85+: 3.5%

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%
Highfields 53.0% couple families
Highfields — Couple Families: 53.0% Highfields — Lone Person: 24.3% Highfields — One Parent Families: 15.8% Highfields — Group Household: 4.9% Highfields — Other Families: 2.0%
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%
Highfields 15.5% renting
Highfields — Owned Outright: 37.3% Highfields — Mortgage: 47.2% Highfields — Renting: 15.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Bachelor Degree 18.2% / 18.1%
Adamstown Heights — Bachelor Degree: 18.2% Highfields — Bachelor Degree: 18.1%
Certificate III & IV 12.7% / 15.8%
Adamstown Heights — Certificate III & IV: 12.7% Highfields — Certificate III & IV: 15.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 7.3%
Adamstown Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Highfields — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 5.2%
Adamstown Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Highfields — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 3.0%
Adamstown Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Highfields — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

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 Highfields
England 2.5% / 1.8%
Adamstown Heights — England: 2.5% Highfields — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.6%
Adamstown Heights — New Zealand: 1.1% Highfields — New Zealand: 0.6%
Italy 0.7% / 0.4%
Adamstown Heights — Italy: 0.7% Highfields — Italy: 0.4%
Thailand 0.5% / 0.4%
Adamstown Heights — Thailand: 0.5% Highfields — Thailand: 0.4%
India — / 0.9%
Adamstown Heights — India: not among its largest Highfields — India: 0.9%
China 0.5% / —
Adamstown Heights — China: 0.5% Highfields — China: not among its largest
Taiwan — / 0.5%
Adamstown Heights — Taiwan: not among its largest Highfields — Taiwan: 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%
Highfields 97.0% houses
Highfields — Houses: 97.0% Highfields — Townhouses: 1.5% Highfields — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Median house price $1,300,000 $1,007,500
Median unit price $750,000 $584,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 48 sales
 28 days
from 6 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 Highfields
2 bed $1.2M / $952K
Adamstown Heights — 2 bed: $1.2M (8 sales) Highfields — 2 bed: $952K (6 sales)

8 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.22M / $935K
Adamstown Heights — 3 bed: $1.22M (54 sales) Highfields — 3 bed: $935K (11 sales)

54 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Highfields has more land zoned for conservation (42% vs 6%).

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Residential 79% 42%
Environmental 6% 42%
Parks and recreation 10% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 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 Highfields
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 Highfields
Houses 2.8%
$770/wk on $1.43M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Adamstown Heights Highfields
House price Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 48% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 90% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 76% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 15% of NSW —

Liveability

Adamstown Heights scores higher overall (73 vs 47); Adamstown Heights is more walkable (75 vs 54).

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Grade A C
Score 73/100 47/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Highfields carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 0).

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
72/100
Crime Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
50/100
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
same for both

Schools

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 2.2%

Schools in Adamstown Heights

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

Schools in Highfields

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 3 1
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Adamstown Heights sits further from the CBD (159.3 km vs 148.1 km).

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Walkability score 75/100 54/100
Distance to Sydney 159.3 km
+7% vs other
 148.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 124 min 125 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 60/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 117.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 18.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2289
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2289
same for both

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 Highfields
Car (driver) 58.5% / 58.4%
Adamstown Heights — Car (driver): 58.5% Highfields — Car (driver): 58.4%
Worked from Home 35.0% / 33.8%
Adamstown Heights — Worked from Home: 35.0% Highfields — Worked from Home: 33.8%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 4.8%
Adamstown Heights — Car (passenger): 3.1% Highfields — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus 0.7% / 1.5%
Adamstown Heights — Bus: 0.7% Highfields — Bus: 1.5%
Bicycle 0.6% / 1.5%
Adamstown Heights — Bicycle: 0.6% Highfields — Bicycle: 1.5%
Walked Only 1.8% / —
Adamstown Heights — Walked Only: 1.8% Highfields — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.5%).

Setting

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Elevation 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.0 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 2.1 km
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Adamstown Heights Highfields
Connectivity score 68/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
2,163 premises
 47%
365 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Adamstown Heights Highfields
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

Highfields

Coastal Family Large Blocks Parks Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Adamstown Heights

Adamstown Heights vs Charlestown Adamstown Heights vs Merewether Adamstown Heights vs Adamstown Adamstown Heights vs Kotara Adamstown Heights vs Kotara South

Other comparisons with Highfields

Highfields vs Charlestown Highfields vs Merewether Highfields vs Whitebridge Highfields vs Kahibah
Full data on Adamstown Heights Full data on Highfields
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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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