Islington vs Hamilton

Islington is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 39 in Hamilton. In both, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. In Hamilton, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Hamilton: a median of $1.13 million, against $1.01 million in Islington.

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

  • Islington has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Hamilton has more childcare (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Islington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,010,000 vs $1,130,000)

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 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hamilton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 10%)

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

Investors

Islington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Islington Hamilton
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.

Islington Hamilton
Walkability 89 / 91
Islington — Walkability: 89/100 Hamilton — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 8 / 4
Islington — Safety: 8/100 Hamilton — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Islington — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hamilton — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Hamilton has more residents (4,614 vs 2,026); Hamilton skews older (39 vs 35).

Islington Hamilton
Population 2,026 4,614
+128% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.6% +9.1%
Median age 35 39
Median household income $95,056/yr
+8% vs other
 $87,828/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+2% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Islington Hamilton
0-4 5.0% / 3.5%
Islington — 0-4: 5.0% Hamilton — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 8.2% / 7.7%
Islington — 5-14: 8.2% Hamilton — 5-14: 7.7%
15-19 3.6% / 4.0%
Islington — 15-19: 3.6% Hamilton — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 10.5% / 12.2%
Islington — 20-24: 10.5% Hamilton — 20-24: 12.2%
25-34 22.2% / 16.9%
Islington — 25-34: 22.2% Hamilton — 25-34: 16.9%
35-44 15.6% / 12.5%
Islington — 35-44: 15.6% Hamilton — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 14.5% / 11.5%
Islington — 45-54: 14.5% Hamilton — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 10.8% / 12.5%
Islington — 55-64: 10.8% Hamilton — 55-64: 12.5%
65-74 6.7% / 10.8%
Islington — 65-74: 6.7% Hamilton — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 2.6% / 5.3%
Islington — 75-84: 2.6% Hamilton — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 0.7% / 3.2%
Islington — 85+: 0.7% Hamilton — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Islington 44.1% lone person
Islington — Lone Person: 44.1% Islington — Couple Families: 23.8% Islington — Group Household: 16.5% Islington — One Parent Families: 13.3% Islington — Other Families: 2.3%
Hamilton 45.8% lone person
Hamilton — Lone Person: 45.8% Hamilton — Couple Families: 23.4% Hamilton — Group Household: 15.1% Hamilton — One Parent Families: 13.7% Hamilton — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Islington 47.8% renting
Islington — Owned Outright: 20.8% Islington — Mortgage: 31.4% Islington — Renting: 47.8%
Hamilton 45.9% renting
Hamilton — Owned Outright: 29.6% Hamilton — Mortgage: 24.5% Hamilton — Renting: 45.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Islington Hamilton
Bachelor Degree 22.1% / 19.5%
Islington — Bachelor Degree: 22.1% Hamilton — Bachelor Degree: 19.5%
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 13.2%
Islington — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Hamilton — Certificate III & IV: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.0%
Islington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Hamilton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 7.8% / 7.2%
Islington — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8% Hamilton — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.9%
Islington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Hamilton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

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.

Islington Hamilton
England 2.3% / 3.0%
Islington — England: 2.3% Hamilton — England: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.1%
Islington — New Zealand: 1.8% Hamilton — New Zealand: 1.1%
India 1.0% / 1.3%
Islington — India: 1.0% Hamilton — India: 1.3%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.6%
Islington — Philippines: 0.9% Hamilton — Philippines: 0.6%
Italy — / 1.1%
Islington — Italy: not among its largest Hamilton — Italy: 1.1%
Nepal — / 1.0%
Islington — Nepal: not among its largest Hamilton — Nepal: 1.0%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Islington — South Africa: 0.9% Hamilton — South Africa: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Islington 55.9% houses
Islington — Houses: 55.9% Islington — Townhouses: 30.4% Islington — Flats / Apartments: 13.8%
Hamilton 58.3% houses
Hamilton — Houses: 58.3% Hamilton — Townhouses: 25.2% Hamilton — Flats / Apartments: 16.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Islington Hamilton
Median house price $1,010,000 $1,130,000
Median unit price $770,000 $748,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 24 sales
 23 days
from 47 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.

Islington Hamilton
2 bed $848K / $906K
Islington — 2 bed: $848K (12 sales) Hamilton — 2 bed: $906K (21 sales)

12 vs 21 sales

3 bed $1.04M / $1.16M
Islington — 3 bed: $1.04M (40 sales) Hamilton — 3 bed: $1.16M (67 sales)

40 vs 67 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $1.6M
Islington — 4 bed: $1.41M (6 sales) Hamilton — 4 bed: $1.6M (18 sales)

6 vs 18 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Islington Hamilton
1 bed $500K / $520K
Islington — 1 bed: $500K (7 sales) Hamilton — 1 bed: $520K (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

2 bed $778K / $732K
Islington — 2 bed: $778K (16 sales) Hamilton — 2 bed: $732K (25 sales)

16 vs 25 sales

3 bed $1M / $925K
Islington — 3 bed: $1M (7 sales) Hamilton — 3 bed: $925K (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Islington has more industrially zoned land (14% vs 0%).

Islington Hamilton
Residential 57% 74%
Industrial 14% 0%
Parks and recreation 13% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 13%
Commercial 4% 8%
Environmental 5% 0%
Planning zones cover 99% of Islington and 100% of Hamilton. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Islington Hamilton
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.

Islington Hamilton
Houses 4.0%
$688/wk on $905K
 2.8%
$700/wk on $1.3M
Units — 5.3%
$600/wk on $592K

Ranking within NSW

Islington Hamilton
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Income Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 14% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 77% of NSW

Liveability

Islington Hamilton
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Islington Hamilton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
96/100
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 22
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Islington Hamilton
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 3.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 3.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 5.2%

Schools in Islington

  • Islington Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Hamilton

  • Hamilton Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Islington Hamilton
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 7 18
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 1 4
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1 5
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 3 2

Mobility

Islington Hamilton
Walkability score 89/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 158.2 km 157.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 121 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 89.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 141.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2296
 1.5%
postcode 2303
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2296
 30
postcode 2303

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.

Islington Hamilton
Car (driver) 54.0% / 54.5%
Islington — Car (driver): 54.0% Hamilton — Car (driver): 54.5%
Worked from Home 34.7% / 31.9%
Islington — Worked from Home: 34.7% Hamilton — Worked from Home: 31.9%
Walked Only 3.4% / 6.3%
Islington — Walked Only: 3.4% Hamilton — Walked Only: 6.3%
Bicycle 3.5% / 2.1%
Islington — Bicycle: 3.5% Hamilton — Bicycle: 2.1%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.5%
Islington — Car (passenger): 2.2% Hamilton — Car (passenger): 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.5%).

Setting

Islington Hamilton
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
3.6 km to a named beach
 2.6 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Islington Hamilton
Connectivity score 71/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
1,293 premises
 31%
2,901 premises

Climate

Islington Hamilton
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)

Islington Hamilton
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 22.6 µg/m³ 21.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.89 pphm 0.64 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Islington

Coastal Parks Professionals Townhouses

Hamilton

Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Islington

Islington vs Mayfield Islington vs Georgetown Islington vs Tighes Hill Islington vs Maryville Islington vs Wickham Islington vs Hamilton North

Other comparisons with Hamilton

Hamilton vs Hamilton South Hamilton vs Broadmeadow Hamilton vs Wickham Hamilton vs Newcastle West Hamilton vs Hamilton East Hamilton vs Hamilton North
Full data on Islington Full data on Hamilton
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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