Islington vs Tighes Hill

In both, most homes are detached houses. In Islington, about half of households rent. In Tighes Hill, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Tighes Hill: a median of $1.27 million, against $1.01 million in Islington, though rent is higher in Islington. On these figures, Islington tends to suit renters, 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

Tighes Hill

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (86% vs 56%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (53% vs 37%)
  • carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 92/100)

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

First-home buyers

Islington

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,010,000 vs $1,270,000)
  • has cheaper units ($770,000 vs $847,500)
  • But Tighes Hill leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 25%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Islington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 35%)

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

Commuting to the city

Islington

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 58/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (158.2 km vs 160.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Islington

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 14%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 58/100)
  • But Tighes Hill carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 92/100)

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

Islington and Tighes Hill 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 Tighes Hill
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 Tighes Hill
Walkability 89 / 58
Islington — Walkability: 89/100 Tighes Hill — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 8 / 23
Islington — Safety: 8/100 Tighes Hill — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Islington — Low fire risk: 100/100 Tighes Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Tighes Hill has higher household incomes ($108,368 vs $95,056).

Islington Tighes Hill
Population 2,026
+11% vs other
 1,801
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.6% +7.2%
Median age 35 36
Median household income $95,056/yr $108,368/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+7% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Islington Tighes Hill
0-4 5.0% / 6.0%
Islington — 0-4: 5.0% Tighes Hill — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 8.2% / 10.6%
Islington — 5-14: 8.2% Tighes Hill — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 3.6% / 4.7%
Islington — 15-19: 3.6% Tighes Hill — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 10.5% / 8.5%
Islington — 20-24: 10.5% Tighes Hill — 20-24: 8.5%
25-34 22.2% / 18.5%
Islington — 25-34: 22.2% Tighes Hill — 25-34: 18.5%
35-44 15.6% / 15.2%
Islington — 35-44: 15.6% Tighes Hill — 35-44: 15.2%
45-54 14.5% / 13.9%
Islington — 45-54: 14.5% Tighes Hill — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 10.8% / 12.5%
Islington — 55-64: 10.8% Tighes Hill — 55-64: 12.5%
65-74 6.7% / 6.5%
Islington — 65-74: 6.7% Tighes Hill — 65-74: 6.5%
75-84 2.6% / 3.1%
Islington — 75-84: 2.6% Tighes Hill — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 0.7% / 1.2%
Islington — 85+: 0.7% Tighes Hill — 85+: 1.2%

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 — One Parent Families: 13.3% Islington — Group Household: 16.5% Islington — Other Families: 2.3%
Tighes Hill 32.5% lone person
Tighes Hill — Lone Person: 32.5% Tighes Hill — Couple Families: 35.6% Tighes Hill — One Parent Families: 17.7% Tighes Hill — Group Household: 12.6% Tighes Hill — Other Families: 1.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household 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%
Tighes Hill 34.8% renting
Tighes Hill — Owned Outright: 26.0% Tighes Hill — Mortgage: 39.2% Tighes Hill — Renting: 34.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Islington Tighes Hill
Bachelor Degree 22.1% / 21.8%
Islington — Bachelor Degree: 22.1% Tighes Hill — Bachelor Degree: 21.8%
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 13.0%
Islington — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Tighes Hill — Certificate III & IV: 13.0%
Postgraduate Degree 7.8% / 7.2%
Islington — Postgraduate Degree: 7.8% Tighes Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 6.3%
Islington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Tighes Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.5%
Islington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Tighes Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

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 Tighes Hill
England 2.3% / 2.7%
Islington — England: 2.3% Tighes Hill — England: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.3%
Islington — New Zealand: 1.8% Tighes Hill — New Zealand: 1.3%
India 1.0% / 0.9%
Islington — India: 1.0% Tighes Hill — India: 0.9%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.3%
Islington — Philippines: 0.9% Tighes Hill — Philippines: 0.3%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Islington — South Africa: 0.9% Tighes Hill — South Africa: not among its largest
Afghanistan — / 0.6%
Islington — Afghanistan: not among its largest Tighes Hill — Afghanistan: 0.6%
Bangladesh — / 0.5%
Islington — Bangladesh: not among its largest Tighes Hill — Bangladesh: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

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%
Tighes Hill 86.5% houses
Tighes Hill — Houses: 86.5% Tighes Hill — Townhouses: 7.6% Tighes Hill — Flats / Apartments: 5.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Islington Tighes Hill
Median house price $1,010,000 $1,270,000
Median unit price $770,000 $847,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 24 sales
 26 days
from 7 sales

Zoning mix

Islington Tighes Hill
Residential 57% 49%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 30%
Industrial 14% 15%
Parks and recreation 13% 3%
Environmental 5% 0%
Commercial 4% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Islington and 100% of Tighes Hill. 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 Tighes Hill
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 Tighes Hill
Houses 4.0%
$688/wk on $905K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Islington Tighes Hill
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 65% of NSW
Income Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 61% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of NSW —

Liveability

Islington is more walkable (89 vs 58).

Islington Tighes Hill
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 56/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Islington carries more crime risk (92 vs 77).

Islington Tighes Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
77/100
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
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Islington Tighes Hill
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
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% 3.9%

Schools in Islington

  • Islington Public School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Tighes Hill

  • Tighes Hill Public School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Islington Tighes Hill
Cafes & restaurants 7 1
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 1 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Fuel stations 3 1

Mobility

Tighes Hill sits further from the CBD (160.6 km vs 158.2 km).

Islington Tighes Hill
Walkability score 89/100 58/100
Distance to Sydney 158.2 km 160.6 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 121 min 123 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 89.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 34.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2296
 1.9%
postcode 2297
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2296
 40
postcode 2297

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 Tighes Hill
Car (driver) 54.0% / 54.0%
Islington — Car (driver): 54.0% Tighes Hill — Car (driver): 54.0%
Worked from Home 34.7% / 33.6%
Islington — Worked from Home: 34.7% Tighes Hill — Worked from Home: 33.6%
Bicycle 3.5% / 5.0%
Islington — Bicycle: 3.5% Tighes Hill — Bicycle: 5.0%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.5%
Islington — Walked Only: 3.4% Tighes Hill — Walked Only: 2.5%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 3.6%
Islington — Car (passenger): 2.2% Tighes Hill — Car (passenger): 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.0%).

Setting

Islington Tighes Hill
Elevation 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
3.6 km to a named beach
 1.3 km
3.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Islington Tighes Hill
Connectivity score 71/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
1,293 premises
 40%
924 premises

Climate

Islington Tighes Hill
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 Tighes Hill
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 22.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.89 pphm
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Islington Tighes Hill
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

Tighes Hill

Coastal Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Islington

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

Other comparisons with Tighes Hill

Tighes Hill vs Mayfield Tighes Hill vs Newcastle Tighes Hill vs Carrington Tighes Hill vs Mayfield East Tighes Hill vs Maryville
Full data on Islington Full data on Tighes Hill
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or