Hamilton East vs Hamilton South

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Hamilton East, about half of households are couple families. In Hamilton South, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Hamilton East: a median of $1.95 million, against $1.65 million in Hamilton South, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Hamilton East tends to suit couples, while Hamilton South suits 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

Hamilton East

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 60%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (60% vs 46%)
  • carries lower crime risk (85/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Hamilton South has more parks and reserves (4 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

  • Hamilton East leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 39%)
  • Hamilton South has cheaper houses ($1,650,000 vs $1,950,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hamilton South

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($162/wk vs $470/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (45% vs 17%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (11% vs 20%)

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

Commuting to the city

Hamilton East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 76/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Hamilton East

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 76/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (85/100 vs 95/100)
  • But Hamilton South has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 12%)

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

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

Hamilton East Hamilton South
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.

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Walkability 99 / 76
Hamilton East — Walkability: 99/100 Hamilton South — Walkability: 76/100
Safety 15 / 5
Hamilton East — Safety: 15/100 Hamilton South — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hamilton East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hamilton South — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Hamilton South has more residents (4,057 vs 997); Hamilton East rents higher ($470/wk vs $162/wk).

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Population 997 4,057
+307% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +4.7%
Median age 43 44
Median household income $119,444/yr
+38% vs other
 $74,152/yr
Median weekly rent $470/wk
+66% vs other
 $162/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hamilton East Hamilton South
0-4 4.9% / 4.6%
Hamilton East — 0-4: 4.9% Hamilton South — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 13.1% / 12.3%
Hamilton East — 5-14: 13.1% Hamilton South — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.3% / 5.5%
Hamilton East — 15-19: 5.3% Hamilton South — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.0% / 6.0%
Hamilton East — 20-24: 6.0% Hamilton South — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 8.6% / 10.6%
Hamilton East — 25-34: 8.6% Hamilton South — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 13.3% / 11.7%
Hamilton East — 35-44: 13.3% Hamilton South — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 14.8% / 15.4%
Hamilton East — 45-54: 14.8% Hamilton South — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 12.6% / 14.1%
Hamilton East — 55-64: 12.6% Hamilton South — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 11.7% / 11.1%
Hamilton East — 65-74: 11.7% Hamilton South — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 5.8% / 6.1%
Hamilton East — 75-84: 5.8% Hamilton South — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.7% / 2.7%
Hamilton East — 85+: 2.7% Hamilton South — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hamilton East 50.2% couple families
Hamilton East — Couple Families: 50.2% Hamilton East — Lone Person: 31.4% Hamilton East — One Parent Families: 10.0% Hamilton East — Group Household: 5.5% Hamilton East — Other Families: 3.0%
Hamilton South 34.5% couple families
Hamilton South — Couple Families: 34.5% Hamilton South — Lone Person: 47.7% Hamilton South — One Parent Families: 11.2% Hamilton South — Group Household: 5.6% Hamilton South — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hamilton East 17.3% renting
Hamilton East — Owned Outright: 49.4% Hamilton East — Mortgage: 33.2% Hamilton East — Renting: 17.3%
Hamilton South 44.6% renting
Hamilton South — Owned Outright: 32.6% Hamilton South — Mortgage: 22.8% Hamilton South — Renting: 44.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Bachelor Degree 21.2% / 16.9%
Hamilton East — Bachelor Degree: 21.2% Hamilton South — Bachelor Degree: 16.9%
Certificate III & IV 9.6% / 10.0%
Hamilton East — Certificate III & IV: 9.6% Hamilton South — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 8.8% / 5.8%
Hamilton East — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8% Hamilton South — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 6.2%
Hamilton East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Hamilton South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 2.6%
Hamilton East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Hamilton South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Hamilton East Hamilton South
England 2.2% / 2.3%
Hamilton East — England: 2.2% Hamilton South — England: 2.3%
Greece 2.1% / 1.1%
Hamilton East — Greece: 2.1% Hamilton South — Greece: 1.1%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.1%
Hamilton East — New Zealand: 0.7% Hamilton South — New Zealand: 1.1%
Italy 0.5% / 1.0%
Hamilton East — Italy: 0.5% Hamilton South — Italy: 1.0%
Vietnam 1.0% / 0.4%
Hamilton East — Vietnam: 1.0% Hamilton South — Vietnam: 0.4%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.6%
Hamilton East — Scotland: 0.8% Hamilton South — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hamilton East 87.7% houses
Hamilton East — Houses: 87.7% Hamilton East — Flats / Apartments: 5.7% Hamilton East — Townhouses: 6.6%
Hamilton South 60.2% houses
Hamilton South — Houses: 60.2% Hamilton South — Flats / Apartments: 27.9% Hamilton South — Townhouses: 11.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Median house price $1,950,000 $1,650,000
Median unit price — $887,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 64 days
from 8 sales
 54 days
from 23 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.

Hamilton East Hamilton South
3 bed $1.62M / $1.52M
Hamilton East — 3 bed: $1.62M (13 sales) Hamilton South — 3 bed: $1.52M (29 sales)

13 vs 29 sales

4 bed $2.4M / $1.89M
Hamilton East — 4 bed: $2.4M (10 sales) Hamilton South — 4 bed: $1.89M (32 sales)

10 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Residential 93% 86%
Parks and recreation 1% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 2%
Commercial 0% 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

Hamilton East Hamilton South
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
same for both
Approvals change year on year +77%
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.

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Houses — 3.6%
$1,000/wk on $1.45M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Hamilton East Hamilton South
House price Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Income Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 25% of NSW Higher than 10% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 89% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 50% of NSW

Liveability

Hamilton East scores higher overall (69 vs 49); Hamilton East is more walkable (99 vs 76).

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Grade B
same for both
Score 69/100 49/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Hamilton South carries more crime risk (95 vs 85).

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
85/100
 High
95/100
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 17
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 2.2 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 3.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.8%

Schools in Hamilton East

  • St Francis Xavier's College Catholic · Secondary below peers

Schools in Hamilton South

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

Amenities in the suburb

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Parks & reserves 1 4
Childcare 0 1
GPs 2
same for both
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Walkability score 99/100 76/100
Distance to Sydney 159.3 km 159.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 123 min
same for both
Public transport score 66/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 21.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 59.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 2303
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2303
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.

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Car (driver) 46.8% / 53.6%
Hamilton East — Car (driver): 46.8% Hamilton South — Car (driver): 53.6%
Worked from Home 42.6% / 36.1%
Hamilton East — Worked from Home: 42.6% Hamilton South — Worked from Home: 36.1%
Walked Only 6.2% / 2.8%
Hamilton East — Walked Only: 6.2% Hamilton South — Walked Only: 2.8%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.7%
Hamilton East — Car (passenger): 3.2% Hamilton South — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Bicycle 1.2% / 2.2%
Hamilton East — Bicycle: 1.2% Hamilton South — Bicycle: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.6%).

Setting

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.9 km
2.0 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Connectivity score 55/100 57/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
461 premises
 22%
2,148 premises

Climate

Hamilton East Hamilton South
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)

Hamilton East Hamilton South
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

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Average residential rate $1,783/yr
same for both
Council Newcastle
same for both

Federal electorate

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hamilton East Hamilton South
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hamilton East

Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals

Hamilton South

Coastal Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hamilton East

Hamilton East vs Hamilton Hamilton East vs Newcastle West

Other comparisons with Hamilton South

Hamilton South vs Merewether Hamilton South vs Adamstown Hamilton South vs Hamilton Hamilton South vs Cooks Hill Hamilton South vs Broadmeadow Hamilton South vs Newcastle West
Full data on Hamilton East Full data on Hamilton South
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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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