Gateshead vs Redhead

Gateshead is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 48 in Redhead. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Gateshead, about half of households rent. In Redhead, the large majority of households own their home. Houses cost more in Redhead: a median of $1.61 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, while Redhead suits older residents.

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

  • Gateshead has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • Redhead carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 91/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Gateshead has cheaper houses ($802,500 vs $1,613,500)
  • Redhead has cheaper units ($529,000 vs $607,500)

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 14%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Redhead

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 61/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Redhead

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 91/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (28% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 61/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Gateshead returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.0%)
  • Redhead is growing faster (7.7% vs -0.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Gateshead Redhead
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.

Gateshead Redhead
Walkability 61 / 72
Gateshead — Walkability: 61/100 Redhead — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 9 / 52
Gateshead — Safety: 9/100 Redhead — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 36 / 22
Gateshead — Low fire risk: 36/100 Redhead — Low fire risk: 22/100

Demographics

Redhead rents higher ($420/wk vs $300/wk); Redhead skews older (48 vs 35).

Gateshead Redhead
Population 3,121 3,785
+21% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% +7.7%
Median age 35 48
Median household income $64,064/yr $83,096/yr
+30% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $420/wk
+40% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gateshead Redhead
0-4 5.7% / 4.5%
Gateshead — 0-4: 5.7% Redhead — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 14.5% / 13.1%
Gateshead — 5-14: 14.5% Redhead — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 6.4% / 6.2%
Gateshead — 15-19: 6.4% Redhead — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 6.1% / 3.9%
Gateshead — 20-24: 6.1% Redhead — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 16.9% / 6.4%
Gateshead — 25-34: 16.9% Redhead — 25-34: 6.4%
35-44 11.4% / 10.6%
Gateshead — 35-44: 11.4% Redhead — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 11.1% / 13.6%
Gateshead — 45-54: 11.1% Redhead — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 12.7% / 13.6%
Gateshead — 55-64: 12.7% Redhead — 55-64: 13.6%
65-74 8.4% / 13.2%
Gateshead — 65-74: 8.4% Redhead — 65-74: 13.2%
75-84 5.3% / 9.1%
Gateshead — 75-84: 5.3% Redhead — 75-84: 9.1%
85+ 1.8% / 5.9%
Gateshead — 85+: 1.8% Redhead — 85+: 5.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gateshead 36.2% lone person
Gateshead — Lone Person: 36.2% Gateshead — Couple Families: 30.6% Gateshead — One Parent Families: 26.6% Gateshead — Group Household: 5.0% Gateshead — Other Families: 1.7%
Redhead 43.1% lone person
Redhead — Lone Person: 43.1% Redhead — Couple Families: 42.8% Redhead — One Parent Families: 10.6% Redhead — Group Household: 2.2% Redhead — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Gateshead 45.3% renting
Gateshead — Owned Outright: 23.1% Gateshead — Mortgage: 31.6% Gateshead — Renting: 45.3%
Redhead 13.6% renting
Redhead — Owned Outright: 57.3% Redhead — Mortgage: 29.2% Redhead — Renting: 13.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Gateshead Redhead
Certificate III & IV 19.0% / 15.7%
Gateshead — Certificate III & IV: 19.0% Redhead — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 5.5% / 13.8%
Gateshead — Bachelor Degree: 5.5% Redhead — Bachelor Degree: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.6% / 8.1%
Gateshead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.6% Redhead — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 1.2% / 4.3%
Gateshead — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2% Redhead — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 2.5%
Gateshead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Redhead — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

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.

Gateshead Redhead
England 1.2% / 3.0%
Gateshead — England: 1.2% Redhead — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.0%
Gateshead — New Zealand: 1.2% Redhead — New Zealand: 1.0%
Philippines 0.6% / 0.3%
Gateshead — Philippines: 0.6% Redhead — Philippines: 0.3%
Germany 0.2% / 0.6%
Gateshead — Germany: 0.2% Redhead — Germany: 0.6%
Scotland 0.3% / 0.4%
Gateshead — Scotland: 0.3% Redhead — Scotland: 0.4%
India 0.4% / —
Gateshead — India: 0.4% Redhead — India: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.4%
Gateshead — South Africa: not among its largest Redhead — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gateshead 91.0% houses
Gateshead — Houses: 91.0% Gateshead — Townhouses: 5.1% Gateshead — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Redhead 92.5% houses
Redhead — Houses: 92.5% Redhead — Townhouses: 5.9% Redhead — Flats / Apartments: 1.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Gateshead Redhead
Median house price $802,500 $1,613,500
Median unit price $607,500 $529,000
Median land price — $1,100,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 13 sales
 36 days
from 29 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.

Gateshead Redhead
2 bed $720K / $500K
Gateshead — 2 bed: $720K (9 sales) Redhead — 2 bed: $500K (14 sales)

9 vs 14 sales

3 bed $824K / $1.45M
Gateshead — 3 bed: $824K (44 sales) Redhead — 3 bed: $1.45M (20 sales)

44 vs 20 sales

4 bed $820K / $1.77M
Gateshead — 4 bed: $820K (5 sales) Redhead — 4 bed: $1.77M (22 sales)

5 vs 22 sales

Zoning mix

Gateshead Redhead
Environmental 49% 40%
Residential 23% 30%
Parks and recreation 10% 15%
Industrial 11% 8%
Rural and farming 3% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
Other and special use 1% 0%
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

Gateshead Redhead
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.

Gateshead Redhead
Houses 3.9%
$690/wk on $915K
 3.0%
$850/wk on $1.5M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Gateshead Redhead
House price Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Income Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
Schools Higher than 43% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 52% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 20% of NSW

Liveability

Redhead scores higher overall (46 vs 26); Redhead is more walkable (72 vs 61).

Gateshead Redhead
Grade D C
Score 26/100 46/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Gateshead carries more crime risk (91 vs 48); Redhead carries more bushfire risk (78 vs 64).

Gateshead Redhead
Bushfire Moderate
64/100
 High
78/100
Crime High
91/100
 Moderate
48/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
37/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Gateshead Redhead
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

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

Schools in Redhead

  • Redhead Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Gateshead Redhead
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 6
Parks & reserves 5 7
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 9 3

Mobility

Gateshead Redhead
Walkability score 61/100 72/100
Distance to Sydney 143.2 km 142.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 117 min 116 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 91.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 50.0
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.

Gateshead Redhead
Car (driver) 76.1% / 63.1%
Gateshead — Car (driver): 76.1% Redhead — Car (driver): 63.1%
Worked from Home 12.8% / 29.8%
Gateshead — Worked from Home: 12.8% Redhead — Worked from Home: 29.8%
Car (passenger) 7.6% / 4.4%
Gateshead — Car (passenger): 7.6% Redhead — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 1.4% / 1.9%
Gateshead — Walked Only: 1.4% Redhead — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 1.6% / —
Gateshead — Bus: 1.6% Redhead — Bus: not among its largest
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.7%
Gateshead — Bicycle: 0.4% Redhead — Bicycle: 0.7%

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

Setting

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

NBN connectivity

Gateshead Redhead
Connectivity score 68/100 63/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
1,730 premises
 33%
1,923 premises

Climate

Gateshead Redhead
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)

Gateshead Redhead
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Gateshead

Large Blocks Parks Quiet River

Redhead

Beach Coastal Large Blocks Parks Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gateshead

Gateshead vs Charlestown Gateshead vs Mount Hutton Gateshead vs Windale Gateshead vs Whitebridge Gateshead vs Dudley

Other comparisons with Redhead

Redhead vs Belmont Redhead vs Belmont North Redhead vs Whitebridge Redhead vs Dudley Redhead vs Jewells
Full data on Gateshead Full data on Redhead
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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