Charlestown vs Gateshead

Gateshead is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 38 in Charlestown. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Charlestown, most households own their home. In Gateshead, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Charlestown: a median of $1.06 million, against $802,000 in Gateshead, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Gateshead tends to suit renters 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

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)
  • But Gateshead has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 76%)

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

First-home buyers

Gateshead

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($802,500 vs $1,055,500)
  • has cheaper units ($607,500 vs $675,000)
  • But Charlestown leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Gateshead

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Charlestown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 61/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, 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 9%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 61/100)

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

Investors

Charlestown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.3% vs -0.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Charlestown Gateshead
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.

Charlestown Gateshead
Walkability 92 / 61
Charlestown — Walkability: 92/100 Gateshead — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 17 / 9
Charlestown — Safety: 17/100 Gateshead — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 54 / 36
Charlestown — Low fire risk: 54/100 Gateshead — Low fire risk: 36/100

Demographics

Charlestown has more residents (13,601 vs 3,121); Charlestown has higher household incomes ($95,628 vs $64,064).

Charlestown Gateshead
Population 13,601
+77% vs other
 3,121
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.3% -0.8%
Median age 38 35
Median household income $95,628/yr
+33% vs other
 $64,064/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+25% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Charlestown Gateshead
0-4 6.4% / 5.7%
Charlestown — 0-4: 6.4% Gateshead — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.3% / 14.5%
Charlestown — 5-14: 12.3% Gateshead — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 5.0% / 6.4%
Charlestown — 15-19: 5.0% Gateshead — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.1% / 6.1%
Charlestown — 20-24: 6.1% Gateshead — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 14.7% / 16.9%
Charlestown — 25-34: 14.7% Gateshead — 25-34: 16.9%
35-44 14.6% / 11.4%
Charlestown — 35-44: 14.6% Gateshead — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 11.8% / 11.1%
Charlestown — 45-54: 11.8% Gateshead — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 10.8% / 12.7%
Charlestown — 55-64: 10.8% Gateshead — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 8.9% / 8.4%
Charlestown — 65-74: 8.9% Gateshead — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 6.2% / 5.3%
Charlestown — 75-84: 6.2% Gateshead — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 3.1% / 1.8%
Charlestown — 85+: 3.1% Gateshead — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Gateshead 30.6% couple families
Gateshead — Couple Families: 30.6% Gateshead — Lone Person: 36.2% Gateshead — One Parent Families: 26.6% Gateshead — Group Household: 5.0% Gateshead — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Charlestown 26.7% renting
Charlestown — Owned Outright: 35.2% Charlestown — Mortgage: 38.1% Charlestown — Renting: 26.7%
Gateshead 45.3% renting
Gateshead — Owned Outright: 23.1% Gateshead — Mortgage: 31.6% Gateshead — Renting: 45.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Charlestown Gateshead
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 19.0%
Charlestown — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Gateshead — Certificate III & IV: 19.0%
Bachelor Degree 15.1% / 5.5%
Charlestown — Bachelor Degree: 15.1% Gateshead — Bachelor Degree: 5.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 4.6%
Charlestown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Gateshead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 1.2%
Charlestown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Gateshead — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 0.6%
Charlestown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Gateshead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

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.

Charlestown Gateshead
England 2.1% / 1.2%
Charlestown — England: 2.1% Gateshead — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
Charlestown — New Zealand: 1.0% Gateshead — New Zealand: 1.2%
India 0.7% / 0.4%
Charlestown — India: 0.7% Gateshead — India: 0.4%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.6%
Charlestown — Philippines: 0.5% Gateshead — Philippines: 0.6%
China 0.9% / —
Charlestown — China: 0.9% Gateshead — China: not among its largest
Scotland 0.4% / 0.3%
Charlestown — Scotland: 0.4% Gateshead — Scotland: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Charlestown 76.0% houses
Charlestown — Houses: 76.0% Charlestown — Townhouses: 14.9% Charlestown — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Gateshead 91.0% houses
Gateshead — Houses: 91.0% Gateshead — Townhouses: 5.1% Gateshead — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Charlestown Gateshead
Median house price $1,055,500 $802,500
Median unit price $675,000 $607,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 197 sales
 20 days
from 13 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.

Charlestown Gateshead
2 bed $905K / $720K
Charlestown — 2 bed: $905K (25 sales) Gateshead — 2 bed: $720K (9 sales)

25 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1,000K / $824K
Charlestown — 3 bed: $1,000K (135 sales) Gateshead — 3 bed: $824K (44 sales)

135 vs 44 sales

4 bed $1.25M / $820K
Charlestown — 4 bed: $1.25M (80 sales) Gateshead — 4 bed: $820K (5 sales)

80 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Gateshead has more land zoned for conservation (49% vs 11%); Gateshead has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

Charlestown Gateshead
Residential 70% 23%
Environmental 11% 49%
Parks and recreation 12% 10%
Industrial 0% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 2%
Commercial 3% 0%
Rural and farming 1% 3%
Other and special use 0% 1%
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

Charlestown Gateshead
New dwellings approved 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
same for both
Approvals change year on year +2%
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.

Charlestown Gateshead
Houses 3.8%
$780/wk on $1.06M
 3.9%
$690/wk on $915K
Units 4.4%
$620/wk on $730K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Charlestown Gateshead
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Schools Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 43% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of NSW —

Liveability

Charlestown scores higher overall (56 vs 26); Charlestown is more walkable (92 vs 61).

Charlestown Gateshead
Grade B D
Score 56/100 26/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Gateshead carries more bushfire risk (64 vs 46).

Charlestown Gateshead
Bushfire Moderate
46/100
 Moderate
64/100
Crime High
83/100
 High
91/100
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 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Charlestown Gateshead
Inside the suburb 7 5
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
 None

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

Schools in Gateshead

  • Hunter Sports High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Mary's Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Paul's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Wiripaang Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lakeside School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Charlestown Gateshead
Walkability score 92/100 61/100
Distance to Sydney 145 km
+1% vs other
 143.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 120 min 117 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 331.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 91.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2290
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 2290
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.

Charlestown Gateshead
Car (driver) 63.5% / 76.1%
Charlestown — Car (driver): 63.5% Gateshead — Car (driver): 76.1%
Worked from Home 28.1% / 12.8%
Charlestown — Worked from Home: 28.1% Gateshead — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 7.6%
Charlestown — Car (passenger): 4.5% Gateshead — Car (passenger): 7.6%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.4%
Charlestown — Walked Only: 2.1% Gateshead — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 1.2% / 1.6%
Charlestown — Bus: 1.2% Gateshead — Bus: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.1%).

Setting

Charlestown Gateshead
Elevation 108 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km 3.3 km
4.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Charlestown Gateshead
Connectivity score 68/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
6,886 premises
 42%
1,730 premises

Climate

Charlestown Gateshead
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)

Charlestown Gateshead
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

Charlestown Gateshead
Average residential rate $1,708/yr
same for both
Council Lake Macquarie
same for both

Federal electorate

Charlestown Gateshead
Division Shortland
same for both
Member Pat Conroy
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Charlestown

Parks Regional Centre River

Gateshead

Large Blocks Parks Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Charlestown

Charlestown vs Adamstown Heights Charlestown vs Mount Hutton Charlestown vs Whitebridge Charlestown vs Kahibah Charlestown vs Garden Suburb Charlestown vs Kotara South

Other comparisons with Gateshead

Gateshead vs Redhead Gateshead vs Mount Hutton Gateshead vs Windale Gateshead vs Whitebridge Gateshead vs Dudley
Full data on Charlestown Full data on Gateshead
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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