Kotara vs Kotara South

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

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

Kotara

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Kotara South carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kotara South

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($378/wk vs $460/wk)

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

Kotara South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 94/100)

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

Investors

Kotara South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.8% vs 1.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Kotara and Kotara 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.

Kotara Kotara 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.

Kotara Kotara South
Walkability 66 / 62
Kotara — Walkability: 66/100 Kotara South — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 6 / 58
Kotara — Safety: 6/100 Kotara South — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kotara — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kotara South — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kotara has more residents (3,980 vs 1,267); Kotara rents higher ($460/wk vs $378/wk).

Kotara Kotara South
Population 3,980
+68% vs other
 1,267
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +14.8%
Median age 39 37
Median household income $108,004/yr $115,960/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $460/wk
+18% vs other
 $378/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kotara Kotara South
0-4 5.8% / 6.5%
Kotara — 0-4: 5.8% Kotara South — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 13.4% / 18.2%
Kotara — 5-14: 13.4% Kotara South — 5-14: 18.2%
15-19 6.9% / 6.8%
Kotara — 15-19: 6.9% Kotara South — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 6.2% / 4.4%
Kotara — 20-24: 6.2% Kotara South — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 12.5% / 10.4%
Kotara — 25-34: 12.5% Kotara South — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 14.2% / 17.6%
Kotara — 35-44: 14.2% Kotara South — 35-44: 17.6%
45-54 14.4% / 13.3%
Kotara — 45-54: 14.4% Kotara South — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 10.5% / 8.6%
Kotara — 55-64: 10.5% Kotara South — 55-64: 8.6%
65-74 6.9% / 5.9%
Kotara — 65-74: 6.9% Kotara South — 65-74: 5.9%
75-84 6.3% / 6.0%
Kotara — 75-84: 6.3% Kotara South — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 2.8% / 2.4%
Kotara — 85+: 2.8% Kotara South — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kotara 47.1% couple families
Kotara — Couple Families: 47.1% Kotara — Lone Person: 29.3% Kotara — One Parent Families: 17.0% Kotara — Group Household: 5.4% Kotara — Other Families: 1.2%
Kotara South 55.9% couple families
Kotara South — Couple Families: 55.9% Kotara South — Lone Person: 29.0% Kotara South — One Parent Families: 13.6% Kotara South — Group Household: 1.5% Kotara South — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kotara 21.6% renting
Kotara — Owned Outright: 36.2% Kotara — Mortgage: 42.3% Kotara — Renting: 21.6%
Kotara South 23.3% renting
Kotara South — Owned Outright: 30.6% Kotara South — Mortgage: 46.1% Kotara South — Renting: 23.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kotara Kotara South
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 15.9%
Kotara — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Kotara South — Bachelor Degree: 15.9%
Certificate III & IV 14.5% / 12.9%
Kotara — Certificate III & IV: 14.5% Kotara South — Certificate III & IV: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 8.4%
Kotara — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Kotara South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 5.8%
Kotara — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Kotara South — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 1.9%
Kotara — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Kotara South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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.

Kotara Kotara South
England 2.8% / 1.8%
Kotara — England: 2.8% Kotara South — England: 1.8%
South Africa 0.5% / 1.3%
Kotara — South Africa: 0.5% Kotara South — South Africa: 1.3%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.6%
Kotara — New Zealand: 0.9% Kotara South — New Zealand: 0.6%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.6%
Kotara — Scotland: 0.5% Kotara South — Scotland: 0.6%
China 0.7% / 0.3%
Kotara — China: 0.7% Kotara South — China: 0.3%
Nepal 0.5% / —
Kotara — Nepal: 0.5% Kotara South — Nepal: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.5%
Kotara — Italy: not among its largest Kotara South — Italy: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kotara 88.1% houses
Kotara — Houses: 88.1% Kotara — Townhouses: 11.4% Kotara — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Kotara South 96.4% houses
Kotara South — Houses: 96.4% Kotara South — Townhouses: 3.6% Kotara South — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kotara Kotara South
Median house price $1,050,000 $1,040,000
Median unit price $745,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 33 sales
 33 days
from 6 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.

Kotara Kotara South
3 bed $1M / $1.02M
Kotara — 3 bed: $1M (54 sales) Kotara South — 3 bed: $1.02M (20 sales)

54 vs 20 sales

4 bed $1.4M / $1.15M
Kotara — 4 bed: $1.4M (12 sales) Kotara South — 4 bed: $1.15M (6 sales)

12 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Kotara Kotara South
Residential 56% 77%
Parks and recreation 12% 18%
Environmental 9% 0%
Commercial 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 3%
Industrial 5% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Kotara and 99% of Kotara South. 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

Kotara Kotara South
New dwellings approved 912
across Newcastle
 1,212
across Lake Macquarie
Approvals change year on year +77% +2%

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.

Kotara Kotara South
Houses 3.9%
$760/wk on $1.02M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Kotara Kotara South
House price Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Income Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Schools Higher than 21% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 87% of NSW Higher than 85% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of NSW —

Liveability

Kotara South scores higher overall (67 vs 45).

Kotara Kotara South
Grade C B
Score 45/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kotara carries more crime risk (94 vs 42).

Kotara Kotara South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
94/100
 Moderate
42/100
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 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Kotara Kotara South
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 5.7 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.1%

Schools in Kotara

  • Kotara South Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St James' Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Kotara School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Kotara South

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

Amenities in the suburb

Kotara Kotara South
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 17 0
Parks & reserves 9 1
Childcare 7 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Kotara Kotara South
Walkability score 66/100 62/100
Distance to Sydney 157.2 km 156.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 120 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 136.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 35.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 2289
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 2289
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.

Kotara Kotara South
Car (driver) 60.3% / 64.1%
Kotara — Car (driver): 60.3% Kotara South — Car (driver): 64.1%
Worked from Home 33.8% / 32.1%
Kotara — Worked from Home: 33.8% Kotara South — Worked from Home: 32.1%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 2.6%
Kotara — Car (passenger): 3.7% Kotara South — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Bicycle 0.8% / 0.6%
Kotara — Bicycle: 0.8% Kotara South — Bicycle: 0.6%
Walked Only 1.0% / —
Kotara — Walked Only: 1.0% Kotara South — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus — / 0.6%
Kotara — Bus: not among its largest Kotara South — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.1%).

Setting

Kotara Kotara South
Elevation 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 67 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.3 km 4.5 km

NBN connectivity

Kotara Kotara South
Connectivity score 65/100 63/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 30%
2,216 premises
 34%
491 premises

Climate

Kotara Kotara 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)

Kotara Kotara South
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³ 6.1 µg/m³
PM10 21.7 µg/m³ 16.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.64 pphm 0.53 pphm

Council rates

Kotara Kotara South
Average residential rate $1,783/yr $1,708/yr
Council Newcastle Lake Macquarie

Federal electorate

Kotara Kotara South
Division Newcastle Shortland
Member Sharon Claydon Pat Conroy
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Kotara

Large Blocks Parks Quiet River

Kotara South

Family Parks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kotara

Kotara vs New Lambton Kotara vs Adamstown Kotara vs Adamstown Heights Kotara vs New Lambton Heights Kotara vs Garden Suburb

Other comparisons with Kotara South

Kotara South vs Charlestown Kotara South vs Adamstown Heights Kotara South vs Garden Suburb
Full data on Kotara Full data on Kotara 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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