Dudley vs Gateshead

Gateshead is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 39 in Dudley. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Dudley, the large majority of households own their home and most households are couple families. In Gateshead, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Dudley: a median of $1.71 million, against $802,000 in Gateshead, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Dudley tends to suit couples, while Gateshead suits renters, 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

  • Dudley carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 91/100)
  • Gateshead has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Dudley leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 32%)
  • Gateshead has cheaper houses ($802,500 vs $1,712,500)

Weighs house 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 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $420/wk)
  • But Dudley leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Gateshead

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 43/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (117 min vs 128 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (143.2 km vs 147.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Dudley carries lower crime risk (32/100 vs 91/100)
  • Gateshead is more walkable (61/100 vs 43/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Dudley 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.

Dudley 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.

Dudley Gateshead
Walkability 43 / 61
Dudley — Walkability: 43/100 Gateshead — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 68 / 9
Dudley — Safety: 68/100 Gateshead — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 28 / 36
Dudley — Low fire risk: 28/100 Gateshead — Low fire risk: 36/100

Demographics

Dudley has higher household incomes ($129,324 vs $64,064); Dudley rents higher ($420/wk vs $300/wk).

Dudley Gateshead
Population 2,505 3,121
+25% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.8% -0.8%
Median age 39 35
Median household income $129,324/yr
+50% vs other
 $64,064/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+29% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dudley Gateshead
0-4 6.7% / 5.7%
Dudley — 0-4: 6.7% Gateshead — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 15.8% / 14.5%
Dudley — 5-14: 15.8% Gateshead — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 6.2% / 6.4%
Dudley — 15-19: 6.2% Gateshead — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 4.5% / 6.1%
Dudley — 20-24: 4.5% Gateshead — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 9.3% / 16.9%
Dudley — 25-34: 9.3% Gateshead — 25-34: 16.9%
35-44 13.5% / 11.4%
Dudley — 35-44: 13.5% Gateshead — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 13.8% / 11.1%
Dudley — 45-54: 13.8% Gateshead — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 11.9% / 12.7%
Dudley — 55-64: 11.9% Gateshead — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 11.1% / 8.4%
Dudley — 65-74: 11.1% Gateshead — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 4.9% / 5.3%
Dudley — 75-84: 4.9% Gateshead — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 2.2% / 1.8%
Dudley — 85+: 2.2% Gateshead — 85+: 1.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dudley 57.3% couple families
Dudley — Couple Families: 57.3% Dudley — Lone Person: 26.6% Dudley — One Parent Families: 14.2% Dudley — Group Household: 0.8% Dudley — Other Families: 1.1%
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.

Dudley 14.4% renting
Dudley — Owned Outright: 42.7% Dudley — Mortgage: 42.9% Dudley — Renting: 14.4%
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.

Dudley Gateshead
Certificate III & IV 13.5% / 19.0%
Dudley — Certificate III & IV: 13.5% Gateshead — Certificate III & IV: 19.0%
Bachelor Degree 19.7% / 5.5%
Dudley — Bachelor Degree: 19.7% Gateshead — Bachelor Degree: 5.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 4.6%
Dudley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Gateshead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.6%
Postgraduate Degree 7.0% / 1.2%
Dudley — Postgraduate Degree: 7.0% Gateshead — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 0.6%
Dudley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Gateshead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Dudley Gateshead
England 2.6% / 1.2%
Dudley — England: 2.6% Gateshead — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 0.4% / 1.2%
Dudley — New Zealand: 0.4% Gateshead — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.6%
Dudley — Philippines: 0.3% Gateshead — Philippines: 0.6%
Germany 0.5% / 0.2%
Dudley — Germany: 0.5% Gateshead — Germany: 0.2%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Dudley — South Africa: 0.6% Gateshead — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.3% / 0.3%
Dudley — Scotland: 0.3% Gateshead — Scotland: 0.3%
Canada 0.5% / —
Dudley — Canada: 0.5% Gateshead — Canada: not among its largest
India — / 0.4%
Dudley — India: not among its largest Gateshead — India: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dudley 92.3% houses
Dudley — Houses: 92.3% Dudley — Townhouses: 7.6% Dudley — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Gateshead 91.0% houses
Gateshead — Houses: 91.0% Gateshead — Townhouses: 5.1% Gateshead — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Dudley Gateshead
Median house price $1,712,500 $802,500
Median unit price — $607,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 77 days
from 4 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.

Dudley Gateshead
3 bed $1.5M / $824K
Dudley — 3 bed: $1.5M (14 sales) Gateshead — 3 bed: $824K (44 sales)

14 vs 44 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $820K
Dudley — 4 bed: $1.75M (9 sales) Gateshead — 4 bed: $820K (5 sales)

9 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Dudley has more land zoned for conservation (74% vs 49%); Gateshead has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

Dudley Gateshead
Environmental 74% 49%
Residential 17% 23%
Industrial 0% 11%
Parks and recreation 2% 10%
Other and special use 6% 1%
Rural and farming 0% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Dudley 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.

Dudley Gateshead
Houses — 3.9%
$690/wk on $915K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Dudley Gateshead
House price Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Income Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 26% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 43% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 69% of NSW

Liveability

Dudley scores higher overall (52 vs 26); Gateshead is more walkable (61 vs 43).

Dudley Gateshead
Grade B D
Score 52/100 26/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Gateshead carries more crime risk (91 vs 32).

Dudley Gateshead
Bushfire High
72/100
 Moderate
64/100
Crime Low
32/100
 High
91/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
25/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Dudley Gateshead
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 9.0 km
 None

Schools in Dudley

  • Dudley Public School Government · Primary at peers

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

Dudley Gateshead
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 3 5
Childcare 0 3
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3 9

Mobility

Dudley sits further from the CBD (147.5 km vs 143.2 km).

Dudley Gateshead
Walkability score 43/100 61/100
Distance to Sydney 147.5 km
+3% vs other
 143.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 128 min 117 min
Public transport score 73/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 40.2
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.

Dudley Gateshead
Car (driver) 59.2% / 76.1%
Dudley — Car (driver): 59.2% Gateshead — Car (driver): 76.1%
Worked from Home 34.2% / 12.8%
Dudley — Worked from Home: 34.2% Gateshead — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 7.6%
Dudley — Car (passenger): 4.8% Gateshead — Car (passenger): 7.6%
Walked Only 0.9% / 1.4%
Dudley — Walked Only: 0.9% Gateshead — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 0.3% / 1.6%
Dudley — Bus: 0.3% Gateshead — Bus: 1.6%
Bicycle 0.6% / 0.4%
Dudley — Bicycle: 0.6% Gateshead — Bicycle: 0.4%

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

Setting

Dudley Gateshead
Elevation 75 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 689 m
2.5 km to a named beach
 3.3 km
4.4 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Dudley Gateshead
Connectivity score 65/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 36%
973 premises
 42%
1,730 premises

Climate

Dudley 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)

Dudley 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Dudley

Acreage Coastal Family Professionals Quiet River

Gateshead

Large Blocks Parks Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dudley

Dudley vs Redhead Dudley vs Whitebridge

Other comparisons with Gateshead

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