Charlestown vs Whitebridge

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Whitebridge, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Whitebridge: a median of $1.28 million, against $1.06 million in Charlestown. On these figures, Charlestown tends to suit 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Charlestown has more childcare (15 vs 2)
  • Whitebridge carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 83/100)

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 units ($675,000 vs $835,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,055,500 vs $1,280,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 54/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 54/100)
  • But Whitebridge carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Whitebridge

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (11.0% vs 5.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Charlestown and Whitebridge 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 Whitebridge
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 Whitebridge
Walkability 92 / 54
Charlestown — Walkability: 92/100 Whitebridge — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 17 / 52
Charlestown — Safety: 17/100 Whitebridge — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 54 / 40
Charlestown — Low fire risk: 54/100 Whitebridge — Low fire risk: 40/100

Demographics

Charlestown has more residents (13,601 vs 2,900); Whitebridge has higher household incomes ($107,224 vs $95,628).

Charlestown Whitebridge
Population 13,601
+79% vs other
 2,900
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.3% +11.0%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $95,628/yr $107,224/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $410/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Charlestown Whitebridge
0-4 6.4% / 5.4%
Charlestown — 0-4: 6.4% Whitebridge — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 12.3% / 14.4%
Charlestown — 5-14: 12.3% Whitebridge — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 5.0% / 5.5%
Charlestown — 15-19: 5.0% Whitebridge — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.1% / 5.8%
Charlestown — 20-24: 6.1% Whitebridge — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 14.7% / 11.3%
Charlestown — 25-34: 14.7% Whitebridge — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 14.6% / 13.2%
Charlestown — 35-44: 14.6% Whitebridge — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 11.8% / 13.8%
Charlestown — 45-54: 11.8% Whitebridge — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 10.8% / 12.4%
Charlestown — 55-64: 10.8% Whitebridge — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 8.9% / 10.6%
Charlestown — 65-74: 8.9% Whitebridge — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 6.2% / 6.0%
Charlestown — 75-84: 6.2% Whitebridge — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 3.1% / 1.8%
Charlestown — 85+: 3.1% Whitebridge — 85+: 1.8%

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%
Whitebridge 49.9% couple families
Whitebridge — Couple Families: 49.9% Whitebridge — Lone Person: 27.3% Whitebridge — One Parent Families: 16.9% Whitebridge — Group Household: 4.5% Whitebridge — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Whitebridge 18.9% renting
Whitebridge — Owned Outright: 40.9% Whitebridge — Mortgage: 40.2% Whitebridge — Renting: 18.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Charlestown Whitebridge
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 16.3%
Charlestown — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Whitebridge — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 15.1% / 14.7%
Charlestown — Bachelor Degree: 15.1% Whitebridge — Bachelor Degree: 14.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.8%
Charlestown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Whitebridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 4.4%
Charlestown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Whitebridge — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.3%
Charlestown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Whitebridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

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

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 Whitebridge
England 2.1% / 1.8%
Charlestown — England: 2.1% Whitebridge — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.8%
Charlestown — New Zealand: 1.0% Whitebridge — New Zealand: 0.8%
China 0.9% / —
Charlestown — China: 0.9% Whitebridge — China: not among its largest
Scotland 0.4% / 0.5%
Charlestown — Scotland: 0.4% Whitebridge — Scotland: 0.5%
India 0.7% / —
Charlestown — India: 0.7% Whitebridge — India: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Charlestown — Philippines: 0.5% Whitebridge — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.4%
Charlestown — Germany: not among its largest Whitebridge — Germany: 0.4%
Netherlands — / 0.4%
Charlestown — Netherlands: not among its largest Whitebridge — Netherlands: 0.4%

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%
Whitebridge 80.3% houses
Whitebridge — Houses: 80.3% Whitebridge — Townhouses: 18.0% Whitebridge — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Charlestown Whitebridge
Median house price $1,055,500 $1,280,000
Median unit price $675,000 $835,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 197 sales
 30 days
from 5 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 Whitebridge
3 bed $1,000K / $1.24M
Charlestown — 3 bed: $1,000K (135 sales) Whitebridge — 3 bed: $1.24M (16 sales)

135 vs 16 sales

4 bed $1.25M / $1.36M
Charlestown — 4 bed: $1.25M (80 sales) Whitebridge — 4 bed: $1.36M (9 sales)

80 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Whitebridge has more land zoned for conservation (60% vs 11%).

Charlestown Whitebridge
Residential 70% 21%
Environmental 11% 60%
Parks and recreation 12% 6%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 0%
Commercial 3% 0%
Rural and farming 1% 2%
Industrial 0% 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 Whitebridge
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 Whitebridge
Houses 3.8%
$780/wk on $1.06M
 4.4%
$825/wk on $985K
Units 4.4%
$620/wk on $730K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Charlestown Whitebridge
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 73% 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 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of NSW —

Liveability

Charlestown is more walkable (92 vs 54); Charlestown scores higher overall (56 vs 49).

Charlestown Whitebridge
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 49/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Charlestown carries more crime risk (83 vs 48); Whitebridge carries more bushfire risk (60 vs 46).

Charlestown Whitebridge
Bushfire Moderate
46/100
 Moderate
60/100
Crime High
83/100
 Moderate
48/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
23/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Charlestown Whitebridge
Inside the suburb 7 1
Rated above peers 3 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 7.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 1.6%

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 Whitebridge

  • Whitebridge High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Charlestown Whitebridge
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 2
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 15 2
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 6 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 4 1
Waterways 12
same for both

Mobility

Charlestown Whitebridge
Walkability score 92/100 54/100
Distance to Sydney 145 km 146.6 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 120 min 122 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 50/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 331.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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 Whitebridge
Car (driver) 63.5% / 64.8%
Charlestown — Car (driver): 63.5% Whitebridge — Car (driver): 64.8%
Worked from Home 28.1% / 29.8%
Charlestown — Worked from Home: 28.1% Whitebridge — Worked from Home: 29.8%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 3.6%
Charlestown — Car (passenger): 4.5% Whitebridge — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.3%
Charlestown — Walked Only: 2.1% Whitebridge — Walked Only: 1.3%
Bus 1.2% / 0.2%
Charlestown — Bus: 1.2% Whitebridge — Bus: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Charlestown Whitebridge
Elevation 108 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 93 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km 987 m
4.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Charlestown Whitebridge
Connectivity score 68/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
6,886 premises
 49%
1,240 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Charlestown Whitebridge
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

Whitebridge

Coastal River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Charlestown

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

Other comparisons with Whitebridge

Whitebridge vs Merewether Whitebridge vs Redhead Whitebridge vs Gateshead Whitebridge vs Kahibah Whitebridge vs Dudley Whitebridge vs Highfields
Full data on Charlestown Full data on Whitebridge
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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