Charlestown vs Hillsborough

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Hillsborough, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Charlestown tends to suit people living alone.

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 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (15 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • But Hillsborough has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 76%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Charlestown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 14%)

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

Commuting to the city

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 52/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (145 km vs 149.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Charlestown

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 52/100)

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

Investors

Charlestown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.3% vs -1.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Charlestown and Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough
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 Hillsborough
Walkability 92 / 52
Charlestown — Walkability: 92/100 Hillsborough — Walkability: 52/100
Low fire risk 54 / 84
Charlestown — Low fire risk: 54/100 Hillsborough — Low fire risk: 84/100

Demographics

Charlestown has more residents (13,601 vs 641); Hillsborough skews older (40 vs 38).

Charlestown Hillsborough
Population 13,601
+95% vs other
 641
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.3% -1.7%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $95,628/yr $102,440/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $420/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Charlestown Hillsborough
0-4 6.4% / 5.1%
Charlestown — 0-4: 6.4% Hillsborough — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 12.3% / 12.3%
Charlestown — 5-14: 12.3% Hillsborough — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.0% / 6.4%
Charlestown — 15-19: 5.0% Hillsborough — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.1% / 6.1%
Charlestown — 20-24: 6.1% Hillsborough — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 14.7% / 12.9%
Charlestown — 25-34: 14.7% Hillsborough — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 14.6% / 10.1%
Charlestown — 35-44: 14.6% Hillsborough — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 11.8% / 14.4%
Charlestown — 45-54: 11.8% Hillsborough — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 10.8% / 11.9%
Charlestown — 55-64: 10.8% Hillsborough — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 8.9% / 10.0%
Charlestown — 65-74: 8.9% Hillsborough — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 6.2% / 6.7%
Charlestown — 75-84: 6.2% Hillsborough — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 3.1% / 0.6%
Charlestown — 85+: 3.1% Hillsborough — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

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%
Hillsborough 51.2% couple families
Hillsborough — Couple Families: 51.2% Hillsborough — Lone Person: 27.2% Hillsborough — One Parent Families: 19.1% Hillsborough — Group Household: 2.5% Hillsborough — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Hillsborough 14.2% renting
Hillsborough — Owned Outright: 38.8% Hillsborough — Mortgage: 47.0% Hillsborough — Renting: 14.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Charlestown Hillsborough
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 22.5%
Charlestown — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Hillsborough — Certificate III & IV: 22.5%
Bachelor Degree 15.1% / 9.8%
Charlestown — Bachelor Degree: 15.1% Hillsborough — Bachelor Degree: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 9.5%
Charlestown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Hillsborough — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 0.8%
Charlestown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Hillsborough — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 0.9%
Charlestown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Hillsborough — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.5%).

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 Hillsborough
England 2.1% / 1.9%
Charlestown — England: 2.1% Hillsborough — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.0% / 2.5%
Charlestown — New Zealand: 1.0% Hillsborough — New Zealand: 2.5%
Scotland 0.4% / 0.6%
Charlestown — Scotland: 0.4% Hillsborough — Scotland: 0.6%
China 0.9% / —
Charlestown — China: 0.9% Hillsborough — China: not among its largest
Italy 0.4% / 0.5%
Charlestown — Italy: 0.4% Hillsborough — Italy: 0.5%
India 0.7% / —
Charlestown — India: 0.7% Hillsborough — India: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Charlestown — Philippines: 0.5% Hillsborough — Philippines: not among its largest

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

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%
Hillsborough 96.2% houses
Hillsborough — Houses: 96.2% Hillsborough — Townhouses: 0.0% Hillsborough — Flats / Apartments: 3.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Charlestown Hillsborough
Median house price $1,055,500 $1,117,500
Median unit price $675,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 197 sales
 17 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Charlestown Hillsborough
Residential 70% 16%
Parks and recreation 12% 49%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 17%
Environmental 11% 16%
Commercial 3% 0%
Rural and farming 1% 2%
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 Hillsborough
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 Hillsborough
Houses 3.8%
$780/wk on $1.06M
 —
Units 4.4%
$620/wk on $730K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Charlestown Hillsborough
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Schools Higher than 81% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 82% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of NSW —

Liveability

Charlestown is more walkable (92 vs 52).

Charlestown Hillsborough
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 59/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Charlestown carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 16).

Charlestown Hillsborough
Bushfire Moderate
46/100
 Low
16/100
Crime 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 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Charlestown Hillsborough
Inside the suburb 7 0
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9%
same for both

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 Hillsborough

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

Amenities in the suburb

Charlestown Hillsborough
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 15 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 6 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 12 7

Mobility

Hillsborough sits further from the CBD (149.6 km vs 145 km).

Charlestown Hillsborough
Walkability score 92/100 52/100
Distance to Sydney 145 km 149.6 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 120 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 35/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 331.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 6 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Hillsborough
Car (driver) 63.5% / 69.9%
Charlestown — Car (driver): 63.5% Hillsborough — Car (driver): 69.9%
Worked from Home 28.1% / 24.2%
Charlestown — Worked from Home: 28.1% Hillsborough — Worked from Home: 24.2%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.8%
Charlestown — Car (passenger): 4.5% Hillsborough — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus 1.2% / 1.1%
Charlestown — Bus: 1.2% Hillsborough — Bus: 1.1%
Walked Only 2.1% / —
Charlestown — Walked Only: 2.1% Hillsborough — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.9%).

Setting

Charlestown Hillsborough
Elevation 108 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km 5.2 km

NBN connectivity

Charlestown Hillsborough
Connectivity score 68/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
6,886 premises
 57%
248 premises

Climate

Charlestown Hillsborough
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 Hillsborough
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³ 6.1 µg/m³
PM10 21.7 µg/m³ 16.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.64 pphm 0.53 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Charlestown Hillsborough
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

Hillsborough

Acreage River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Charlestown

Charlestown vs Adamstown Heights Charlestown vs Mount Hutton Charlestown vs Gateshead Charlestown vs Whitebridge Charlestown vs Kahibah Charlestown vs Garden Suburb

Other comparisons with Hillsborough

Hillsborough vs Warners Bay Hillsborough vs Cardiff Hillsborough vs Mount Hutton Hillsborough vs Cardiff South Hillsborough vs Garden Suburb
Full data on Charlestown Full data on Hillsborough
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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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