Highfields vs Charlestown

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Highfields, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Highfields tends to suit families with children and 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

  • Highfields carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 83/100)
  • Charlestown has more childcare (15 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Highfields

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($584,000 vs $675,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Charlestown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 16%)

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

Commuting to the city

Charlestown

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 54/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (120 min vs 125 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (145 km vs 148.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, 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 3%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 54/100)
  • But Highfields carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 83/100)

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

Investors

Highfields

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.1% vs 5.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Highfields 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.

Highfields 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.

Highfields Charlestown
Walkability 54 / 92
Highfields — Walkability: 54/100 Charlestown — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 50 / 17
Highfields — Safety: 50/100 Charlestown — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 28 / 54
Highfields — Low fire risk: 28/100 Charlestown — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

Charlestown has more residents (13,601 vs 936); Highfields has higher household incomes ($114,296 vs $95,628).

Highfields Charlestown
Population 936 13,601
+1353% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.1% +5.3%
Median age 37 38
Median household income $114,296/yr
+16% vs other
 $95,628/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highfields Charlestown
0-4 8.3% / 6.4%
Highfields — 0-4: 8.3% Charlestown — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 14.6% / 12.3%
Highfields — 5-14: 14.6% Charlestown — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.2% / 5.0%
Highfields — 15-19: 5.2% Charlestown — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 5.0% / 6.1%
Highfields — 20-24: 5.0% Charlestown — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 10.8% / 14.7%
Highfields — 25-34: 10.8% Charlestown — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 15.2% / 14.6%
Highfields — 35-44: 15.2% Charlestown — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 13.8% / 11.8%
Highfields — 45-54: 13.8% Charlestown — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 11.9% / 10.8%
Highfields — 55-64: 11.9% Charlestown — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 7.2% / 8.9%
Highfields — 65-74: 7.2% Charlestown — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 4.4% / 6.2%
Highfields — 75-84: 4.4% Charlestown — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 3.5% / 3.1%
Highfields — 85+: 3.5% Charlestown — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highfields 53.0% couple families
Highfields — Couple Families: 53.0% Highfields — Lone Person: 24.3% Highfields — One Parent Families: 15.8% Highfields — Group Household: 4.9% Highfields — Other Families: 2.0%
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.

Highfields 15.5% renting
Highfields — Owned Outright: 37.3% Highfields — Mortgage: 47.2% Highfields — Renting: 15.5%
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.

Highfields Charlestown
Bachelor Degree 18.1% / 15.1%
Highfields — Bachelor Degree: 18.1% Charlestown — Bachelor Degree: 15.1%
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 16.9%
Highfields — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Charlestown — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 8.3%
Highfields — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Charlestown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 4.3%
Highfields — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Charlestown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 1.9%
Highfields — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Charlestown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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.

Highfields Charlestown
England 1.8% / 2.1%
Highfields — England: 1.8% Charlestown — England: 2.1%
India 0.9% / 0.7%
Highfields — India: 0.9% Charlestown — India: 0.7%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.0%
Highfields — New Zealand: 0.6% Charlestown — New Zealand: 1.0%
China — / 0.9%
Highfields — China: not among its largest Charlestown — China: 0.9%
Italy 0.4% / 0.4%
Highfields — Italy: 0.4% Charlestown — Italy: 0.4%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.5%
Highfields — Philippines: 0.3% Charlestown — Philippines: 0.5%
Taiwan 0.5% / —
Highfields — Taiwan: 0.5% Charlestown — Taiwan: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highfields 97.0% houses
Highfields — Houses: 97.0% Highfields — Townhouses: 1.5% Highfields — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Charlestown 76.0% houses
Charlestown — Houses: 76.0% Charlestown — Townhouses: 14.9% Charlestown — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Highfields Charlestown
Median house price $1,007,500 $1,055,500
Median unit price $584,000 $675,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 6 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.

Highfields Charlestown
2 bed $952K / $905K
Highfields — 2 bed: $952K (6 sales) Charlestown — 2 bed: $905K (25 sales)

6 vs 25 sales

3 bed $935K / $1,000K
Highfields — 3 bed: $935K (11 sales) Charlestown — 3 bed: $1,000K (135 sales)

11 vs 135 sales

Zoning mix

Highfields has more land zoned for conservation (42% vs 11%).

Highfields Charlestown
Residential 42% 70%
Environmental 42% 11%
Parks and recreation 12%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 3%
same for both
Commercial 0% 3%
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

Highfields 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.

Highfields Charlestown
Houses — 3.8%
$780/wk on $1.06M
Units — 4.4%
$620/wk on $730K

Ranking within NSW

Highfields Charlestown
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 81% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 63% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 40% of NSW

Liveability

Charlestown is more walkable (92 vs 54); Charlestown scores higher overall (56 vs 47).

Highfields Charlestown
Grade C B
Score 47/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Charlestown carries more crime risk (83 vs 50); Highfields carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 46).

Highfields Charlestown
Bushfire High
72/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Highfields Charlestown
Inside the suburb 0 7
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 6.6 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 1.9%

Schools in Highfields

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

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

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

Mobility

Highfields sits further from the CBD (148.1 km vs 145 km).

Highfields Charlestown
Walkability score 54/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 148.1 km
+2% vs other
 145 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 125 min 120 min
Public transport score 60/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 18.8
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.

Highfields Charlestown
Car (driver) 58.4% / 63.5%
Highfields — Car (driver): 58.4% Charlestown — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 33.8% / 28.1%
Highfields — Worked from Home: 33.8% Charlestown — Worked from Home: 28.1%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 4.5%
Highfields — Car (passenger): 4.8% Charlestown — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bus 1.5% / 1.2%
Highfields — Bus: 1.5% Charlestown — Bus: 1.2%
Walked Only — / 2.1%
Highfields — Walked Only: not among its largest Charlestown — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bicycle 1.5% / 0.4%
Highfields — Bicycle: 1.5% Charlestown — Bicycle: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.5%).

Setting

Highfields Charlestown
Elevation 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 108 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.1 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 3.3 km

NBN connectivity

Highfields Charlestown
Connectivity score 71/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
365 premises
 38%
6,886 premises

Climate

Highfields 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)

Highfields Charlestown
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Highfields

Coastal Family Large Blocks Parks Professionals River

Charlestown

Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highfields

Highfields vs Merewether Highfields vs Adamstown Heights Highfields vs Whitebridge Highfields vs Kahibah

Other comparisons with Charlestown

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