Garden Suburb vs Charlestown

Charlestown is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Garden Suburb. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Garden Suburb, most households are couple families. On these figures, Garden Suburb tends to suit couples, while Charlestown suits 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

They split

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

  • Garden Suburb carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 83/100)
  • Charlestown has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, 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 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $465/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 64/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (145 km vs 149.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Charlestown

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 0%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Garden Suburb carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Garden Suburb Charlestown
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.

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Walkability 64 / 92
Garden Suburb — Walkability: 64/100 Charlestown — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 61 / 17
Garden Suburb — Safety: 61/100 Charlestown — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 43 / 54
Garden Suburb — Low fire risk: 43/100 Charlestown — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

Charlestown has more residents (13,601 vs 1,959); Garden Suburb has higher household incomes ($122,772 vs $95,628).

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Population 1,959 13,601
+594% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +5.3%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $122,772/yr
+22% vs other
 $95,628/yr
Median weekly rent $465/wk
+14% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Garden Suburb Charlestown
0-4 6.0% / 6.4%
Garden Suburb — 0-4: 6.0% Charlestown — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 13.0% / 12.3%
Garden Suburb — 5-14: 13.0% Charlestown — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 7.0% / 5.0%
Garden Suburb — 15-19: 7.0% Charlestown — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 6.2% / 6.1%
Garden Suburb — 20-24: 6.2% Charlestown — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 9.1% / 14.7%
Garden Suburb — 25-34: 9.1% Charlestown — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 13.1% / 14.6%
Garden Suburb — 35-44: 13.1% Charlestown — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 12.0% / 11.8%
Garden Suburb — 45-54: 12.0% Charlestown — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 13.0% / 10.8%
Garden Suburb — 55-64: 13.0% Charlestown — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 10.2% / 8.9%
Garden Suburb — 65-74: 10.2% Charlestown — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 6.0% / 6.2%
Garden Suburb — 75-84: 6.0% Charlestown — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 4.2% / 3.1%
Garden Suburb — 85+: 4.2% Charlestown — 85+: 3.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Garden Suburb 61.9% couple families
Garden Suburb — Couple Families: 61.9% Garden Suburb — Lone Person: 22.2% Garden Suburb — One Parent Families: 13.1% Garden Suburb — Group Household: 2.2% Garden Suburb — Other Families: 0.7%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Garden Suburb 10.7% renting
Garden Suburb — Owned Outright: 45.6% Garden Suburb — Mortgage: 43.7% Garden Suburb — Renting: 10.7%
Charlestown 26.7% renting
Charlestown — Owned Outright: 35.2% Charlestown — Mortgage: 38.1% Charlestown — Renting: 26.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Bachelor Degree 16.5% / 15.1%
Garden Suburb — Bachelor Degree: 16.5% Charlestown — Bachelor Degree: 15.1%
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 16.9%
Garden Suburb — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% Charlestown — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 8.3%
Garden Suburb — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Charlestown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 4.8% / 4.3%
Garden Suburb — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8% Charlestown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.9%
Garden Suburb — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Charlestown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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.

Garden Suburb Charlestown
England 2.1% / 2.1%
Garden Suburb — England: 2.1% Charlestown — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.0%
Garden Suburb — New Zealand: 1.0% Charlestown — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 0.9% / 0.7%
Garden Suburb — India: 0.9% Charlestown — India: 0.7%
China — / 0.9%
Garden Suburb — China: not among its largest Charlestown — China: 0.9%
Germany 0.8% / —
Garden Suburb — Germany: 0.8% Charlestown — Germany: not among its largest
Sri Lanka 0.5% / —
Garden Suburb — Sri Lanka: 0.5% Charlestown — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Garden Suburb — Philippines: not among its largest Charlestown — Philippines: 0.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Garden Suburb 99.7% houses
Garden Suburb — Houses: 99.7% Garden Suburb — Townhouses: 0.0% Garden Suburb — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Charlestown 76.0% houses
Charlestown — Houses: 76.0% Charlestown — Townhouses: 14.9% Charlestown — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Median house price $995,000 $1,055,500
Median unit price — $675,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 14 sales
 21 days
from 197 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.

Garden Suburb Charlestown
2 bed $890K / $905K
Garden Suburb — 2 bed: $890K (7 sales) Charlestown — 2 bed: $905K (25 sales)

7 vs 25 sales

3 bed $900K / $1,000K
Garden Suburb — 3 bed: $900K (16 sales) Charlestown — 3 bed: $1,000K (135 sales)

16 vs 135 sales

4 bed $1.1M / $1.25M
Garden Suburb — 4 bed: $1.1M (27 sales) Charlestown — 4 bed: $1.25M (80 sales)

27 vs 80 sales

5 bed $1.43M / $1.34M
Garden Suburb — 5 bed: $1.43M (7 sales) Charlestown — 5 bed: $1.34M (14 sales)

7 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Residential 48% 70%
Other and special use 19% 0%
Environmental 15% 11%
Parks and recreation 5% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 3%
Commercial 0% 3%
Rural and farming 2% 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

Garden Suburb Charlestown
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.

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Houses 3.4%
$775/wk on $1.2M
 3.8%
$780/wk on $1.06M
Units — 4.4%
$620/wk on $730K

Ranking within NSW

Garden Suburb Charlestown
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 81% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 40% of NSW

Liveability

Charlestown is more walkable (92 vs 64).

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Charlestown carries more crime risk (83 vs 39); Garden Suburb carries more bushfire risk (57 vs 46).

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Bushfire Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime Low
39/100
 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

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Inside the suburb 1 7
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.4 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 1.9%

Schools in Garden Suburb

  • Garden Suburb Public School Government · Primary below peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Garden Suburb sits further from the CBD (149.2 km vs 145 km).

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Walkability score 64/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 149.2 km
+3% vs other
 145 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 118 min 120 min
Public transport score 66/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 20.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 331.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2289
 0.9%
postcode 2290
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2289
 37
postcode 2290

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.

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Car (driver) 64.0% / 63.5%
Garden Suburb — Car (driver): 64.0% Charlestown — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 29.6% / 28.1%
Garden Suburb — Worked from Home: 29.6% Charlestown — Worked from Home: 28.1%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 4.5%
Garden Suburb — Car (passenger): 4.6% Charlestown — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 0.4% / 2.1%
Garden Suburb — Walked Only: 0.4% Charlestown — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bus 0.4% / 1.2%
Garden Suburb — Bus: 0.4% Charlestown — Bus: 1.2%
Bicycle 0.7% / 0.4%
Garden Suburb — Bicycle: 0.7% Charlestown — Bicycle: 0.4%
Train 0.4% / 0.2%
Garden Suburb — Train: 0.4% Charlestown — Train: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.0%).

Setting

Garden Suburb Charlestown
Elevation 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 108 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.7 km 3.3 km

NBN connectivity

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

Climate

Garden Suburb Charlestown
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Garden Suburb

Large Blocks River

Charlestown

Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Garden Suburb

Garden Suburb vs Cardiff Garden Suburb vs Kotara Garden Suburb vs New Lambton Heights Garden Suburb vs Cardiff Heights Garden Suburb vs Kotara South Garden Suburb vs Hillsborough

Other comparisons with Charlestown

Charlestown vs Adamstown Heights Charlestown vs Mount Hutton Charlestown vs Gateshead Charlestown vs Whitebridge Charlestown vs Kahibah Charlestown vs Kotara South
Full data on Garden Suburb Full data on Charlestown
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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