Highfields vs Whitebridge

Highfields is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Whitebridge. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Whitebridge: a median of $1.28 million, against $1.01 million in Highfields. On these figures, Highfields tends to suit 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

  • Highfields has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 80%)
  • Whitebridge has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Highfields

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($584,000 vs $835,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,007,500 vs $1,280,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Whitebridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (20% vs 3%)

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

Highfields and Whitebridge 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 Whitebridge
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 Whitebridge
Walkability 54 / 54
Highfields — Walkability: 54/100 Whitebridge — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 50 / 52
Highfields — Safety: 50/100 Whitebridge — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 28 / 40
Highfields — Low fire risk: 28/100 Whitebridge — Low fire risk: 40/100

Demographics

Whitebridge has more residents (2,900 vs 936); Whitebridge skews older (40 vs 37).

Highfields Whitebridge
Population 936 2,900
+210% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.1% +11.0%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $114,296/yr
+6% vs other
 $107,224/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk $410/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highfields Whitebridge
0-4 8.3% / 5.4%
Highfields — 0-4: 8.3% Whitebridge — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 14.6% / 14.4%
Highfields — 5-14: 14.6% Whitebridge — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 5.2% / 5.5%
Highfields — 15-19: 5.2% Whitebridge — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 5.0% / 5.8%
Highfields — 20-24: 5.0% Whitebridge — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 10.8% / 11.3%
Highfields — 25-34: 10.8% Whitebridge — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 15.2% / 13.2%
Highfields — 35-44: 15.2% Whitebridge — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 13.8% / 13.8%
Highfields — 45-54: 13.8% Whitebridge — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 11.9% / 12.4%
Highfields — 55-64: 11.9% Whitebridge — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 7.2% / 10.6%
Highfields — 65-74: 7.2% Whitebridge — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 4.4% / 6.0%
Highfields — 75-84: 4.4% Whitebridge — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 3.5% / 1.8%
Highfields — 85+: 3.5% Whitebridge — 85+: 1.8%

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%
Whitebridge 49.9% couple families
Whitebridge — Couple Families: 49.9% Whitebridge — Lone Person: 27.3% Whitebridge — One Parent Families: 16.9% Whitebridge — Group Household: 4.5% Whitebridge — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Whitebridge 18.9% renting
Whitebridge — Owned Outright: 40.9% Whitebridge — Mortgage: 40.2% Whitebridge — Renting: 18.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Highfields Whitebridge
Bachelor Degree 18.1% / 14.7%
Highfields — Bachelor Degree: 18.1% Whitebridge — Bachelor Degree: 14.7%
Certificate III & IV 15.8% / 16.3%
Highfields — Certificate III & IV: 15.8% Whitebridge — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 8.8%
Highfields — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Whitebridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 4.4%
Highfields — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Whitebridge — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.3%
Highfields — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Whitebridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

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 Whitebridge
England 1.8% / 1.8%
Highfields — England: 1.8% Whitebridge — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 0.6% / 0.8%
Highfields — New Zealand: 0.6% Whitebridge — New Zealand: 0.8%
India 0.9% / —
Highfields — India: 0.9% Whitebridge — India: not among its largest
Italy 0.4% / 0.2%
Highfields — Italy: 0.4% Whitebridge — Italy: 0.2%
Taiwan 0.5% / —
Highfields — Taiwan: 0.5% Whitebridge — Taiwan: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.5%
Highfields — Scotland: not among its largest Whitebridge — Scotland: 0.5%
Germany — / 0.4%
Highfields — Germany: not among its largest Whitebridge — Germany: 0.4%
Netherlands — / 0.4%
Highfields — Netherlands: not among its largest Whitebridge — Netherlands: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.8%).

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%
Whitebridge 80.3% houses
Whitebridge — Houses: 80.3% Whitebridge — Townhouses: 18.0% Whitebridge — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Highfields Whitebridge
Median house price $1,007,500 $1,280,000
Median unit price $584,000 $835,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 6 sales
 30 days
from 5 sales

Zoning mix

Whitebridge has more land zoned for conservation (60% vs 42%).

Highfields Whitebridge
Environmental 42% 60%
Residential 42% 21%
Parks and recreation 12% 6%
Other and special use 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 0%
Rural and farming 0% 2%
Industrial 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

Highfields Whitebridge
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 Whitebridge
Houses — 4.4%
$825/wk on $985K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Highfields Whitebridge
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 79% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 88% of NSW

Liveability

Highfields Whitebridge
Grade C B
Score 47/100 49/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Highfields carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 60).

Highfields Whitebridge
Bushfire High
72/100
 Moderate
60/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
48/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
23/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Highfields Whitebridge
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 6.6 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 7.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 1.6%

Schools in Highfields

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

Schools in Whitebridge

  • Whitebridge High School Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Highfields Whitebridge
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 5
Childcare 1 2
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3 12

Mobility

Highfields Whitebridge
Walkability score 54/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 148.1 km
+1% vs other
 146.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 125 min 122 min
Public transport score 60/100
Bus
 50/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 18.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Whitebridge
Car (driver) 58.4% / 64.8%
Highfields — Car (driver): 58.4% Whitebridge — Car (driver): 64.8%
Worked from Home 33.8% / 29.8%
Highfields — Worked from Home: 33.8% Whitebridge — Worked from Home: 29.8%
Car (passenger) 4.8% / 3.6%
Highfields — Car (passenger): 4.8% Whitebridge — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Bus 1.5% / 0.2%
Highfields — Bus: 1.5% Whitebridge — Bus: 0.2%
Bicycle 1.5% / 0.2%
Highfields — Bicycle: 1.5% Whitebridge — Bicycle: 0.2%
Walked Only — / 1.3%
Highfields — Walked Only: not among its largest Whitebridge — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Highfields Whitebridge
Elevation 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 93 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.1 km
3.8 km to a named beach
 987 m
4.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Highfields Whitebridge
Connectivity score 71/100 72/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
365 premises
 49%
1,240 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Highfields Whitebridge
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

Whitebridge

Coastal River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highfields

Highfields vs Charlestown Highfields vs Merewether Highfields vs Adamstown Heights Highfields vs Kahibah

Other comparisons with Whitebridge

Whitebridge vs Charlestown Whitebridge vs Merewether Whitebridge vs Redhead Whitebridge vs Gateshead Whitebridge vs Kahibah Whitebridge vs Dudley
Full data on Highfields Full data on Whitebridge
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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