Birmingham Gardens vs Shortland

Birmingham Gardens is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 33 in Shortland. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Birmingham Gardens, most households rent. In Shortland, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Birmingham Gardens: a median of $892,000, against $810,000 in Shortland. On these figures, Birmingham Gardens tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Shortland suits older residents.

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

Shortland

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Birmingham Gardens has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 70%)

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

First-home buyers

Shortland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($810,000 vs $892,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Birmingham Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 39%)

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

Commuting to the city

Birmingham Gardens

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (152.5 km vs 156.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Shortland

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 9%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (30% vs 20%)

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

Investors

Shortland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.2% vs 9.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
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.

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Walkability 66 / 63
Birmingham Gardens — Walkability: 66/100 Shortland — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 27 / 21
Birmingham Gardens — Safety: 27/100 Shortland — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 44
Birmingham Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100 Shortland — Low fire risk: 44/100

Demographics

Shortland has more residents (4,537 vs 2,598); Shortland skews older (33 vs 28).

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Population 2,598 4,537
+75% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.3% +16.2%
Median age 28 33
Median household income $76,336/yr
+8% vs other
 $69,888/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk $377/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
0-4 5.3% / 6.3%
Birmingham Gardens — 0-4: 5.3% Shortland — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 7.7% / 9.3%
Birmingham Gardens — 5-14: 7.7% Shortland — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 7.8% / 4.7%
Birmingham Gardens — 15-19: 7.8% Shortland — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 19.2% / 11.4%
Birmingham Gardens — 20-24: 19.2% Shortland — 20-24: 11.4%
25-34 23.8% / 20.8%
Birmingham Gardens — 25-34: 23.8% Shortland — 25-34: 20.8%
35-44 11.0% / 11.0%
Birmingham Gardens — 35-44: 11.0% Shortland — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 8.4% / 8.0%
Birmingham Gardens — 45-54: 8.4% Shortland — 45-54: 8.0%
55-64 7.5% / 8.7%
Birmingham Gardens — 55-64: 7.5% Shortland — 55-64: 8.7%
65-74 4.3% / 9.7%
Birmingham Gardens — 65-74: 4.3% Shortland — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 2.7% / 7.8%
Birmingham Gardens — 75-84: 2.7% Shortland — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 1.8% / 2.6%
Birmingham Gardens — 85+: 1.8% Shortland — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Birmingham Gardens 35.1% lone person
Birmingham Gardens — Lone Person: 35.1% Birmingham Gardens — Couple Families: 23.0% Birmingham Gardens — Group Household: 23.5% Birmingham Gardens — One Parent Families: 15.5% Birmingham Gardens — Other Families: 2.8%
Shortland 40.5% lone person
Shortland — Lone Person: 40.5% Shortland — Couple Families: 27.4% Shortland — Group Household: 11.4% Shortland — One Parent Families: 18.0% Shortland — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Birmingham Gardens 58.5% renting
Birmingham Gardens — Owned Outright: 19.8% Birmingham Gardens — Mortgage: 21.7% Birmingham Gardens — Renting: 58.5%
Shortland 39.3% renting
Shortland — Owned Outright: 27.0% Shortland — Mortgage: 33.8% Shortland — Renting: 39.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 19.1%
Birmingham Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% Shortland — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Bachelor Degree 11.3% / 10.6%
Birmingham Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 11.3% Shortland — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.2% / 6.2%
Birmingham Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2% Shortland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 6.7% / 3.1%
Birmingham Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 6.7% Shortland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.1%
Birmingham Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Shortland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

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.

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
China 4.6% / 1.7%
Birmingham Gardens — China: 4.6% Shortland — China: 1.7%
India 2.8% / 1.4%
Birmingham Gardens — India: 2.8% Shortland — India: 1.4%
Pakistan 1.7% / 0.8%
Birmingham Gardens — Pakistan: 1.7% Shortland — Pakistan: 0.8%
England 1.0% / 1.4%
Birmingham Gardens — England: 1.0% Shortland — England: 1.4%
Vietnam 1.5% / 0.4%
Birmingham Gardens — Vietnam: 1.5% Shortland — Vietnam: 0.4%
Philippines 1.0% / 0.8%
Birmingham Gardens — Philippines: 1.0% Shortland — Philippines: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.8%
Birmingham Gardens — New Zealand: 0.9% Shortland — New Zealand: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Birmingham Gardens 80.0% houses
Birmingham Gardens — Houses: 80.0% Birmingham Gardens — Townhouses: 10.0% Birmingham Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 10.1%
Shortland 69.7% houses
Shortland — Houses: 69.7% Shortland — Townhouses: 28.2% Shortland — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Median house price $892,500 $810,000
Median unit price $726,250 $707,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 18 sales
 17 days
from 28 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.

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
2 bed $790K / $782K
Birmingham Gardens — 2 bed: $790K (9 sales) Shortland — 2 bed: $782K (14 sales)

9 vs 14 sales

3 bed $850K / $825K
Birmingham Gardens — 3 bed: $850K (27 sales) Shortland — 3 bed: $825K (45 sales)

27 vs 45 sales

4 bed $940K / $907K
Birmingham Gardens — 4 bed: $940K (11 sales) Shortland — 4 bed: $907K (9 sales)

11 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Shortland has more land zoned for conservation (42% vs 0%).

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Residential 90% 21%
Environmental 0% 42%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 24%
Parks and recreation 5% 13%
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

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
same for both
Approvals change year on year +77%
same for both

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.

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Houses 4.6%
$770/wk on $862K
 4.3%
$650/wk on $780K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
House price Higher than 35% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Income Higher than 44% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 84% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 59% of NSW
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW

Liveability

Birmingham Gardens scores higher overall (49 vs 43).

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Grade B C
Score 49/100 43/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Shortland carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0).

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime High
73/100
 High
79/100
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 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 1.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 10.9% 5.3%

Schools in Birmingham Gardens

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

Schools in Shortland

  • Our Lady of Victories Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Margaret Jurd College Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Shortland Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Awabakal Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 1 12
Childcare 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

Shortland sits further from the CBD (156.5 km vs 152.5 km).

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Walkability score 66/100 63/100
Distance to Sydney 152.5 km 156.5 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 114 min 118 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 60.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2287
 0.5%
postcode 2307
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 2287
 33
postcode 2307

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.

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Car (driver) 68.9% / 74.1%
Birmingham Gardens — Car (driver): 68.9% Shortland — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 17.0% / 19.0%
Birmingham Gardens — Worked from Home: 17.0% Shortland — Worked from Home: 19.0%
Car (passenger) 8.0% / 4.1%
Birmingham Gardens — Car (passenger): 8.0% Shortland — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Bus 3.4% / 1.6%
Birmingham Gardens — Bus: 3.4% Shortland — Bus: 1.6%
Walked Only 2.4% / 0.8%
Birmingham Gardens — Walked Only: 2.4% Shortland — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.1%).

Setting

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Elevation 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.6 km 6.5 km

NBN connectivity

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Connectivity score 62/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
1,041 premises
 40%
2,006 premises

Climate

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
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)

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Average residential rate $1,783/yr
same for both
Council Newcastle
same for both

Federal electorate

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Birmingham Gardens Shortland
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Birmingham Gardens

Parks Students Urban

Shortland

Parks Quiet River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Birmingham Gardens

Birmingham Gardens vs Wallsend Birmingham Gardens vs North Lambton Birmingham Gardens vs Jesmond Birmingham Gardens vs Callaghan

Other comparisons with Shortland

Shortland vs Wallsend Shortland vs Maryland Shortland vs Warabrook Shortland vs Callaghan Shortland vs Sandgate Shortland vs Hexham
Full data on Birmingham Gardens Full data on Shortland
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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