Kotara South vs Charlestown

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

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

  • Kotara South carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 83/100)
  • Charlestown has more childcare (15 vs 0)

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

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

Charlestown

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 62/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (145 km vs 156.7 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 4%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Kotara South carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 83/100)

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 5.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Kotara South 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.

Kotara South 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.

Kotara South Charlestown
Walkability 62 / 92
Kotara South — Walkability: 62/100 Charlestown — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 58 / 17
Kotara South — Safety: 58/100 Charlestown — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 54
Kotara South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Charlestown — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

Charlestown has more residents (13,601 vs 1,267); Kotara South has higher household incomes ($115,960 vs $95,628).

Kotara South Charlestown
Population 1,267 13,601
+973% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.8% +5.3%
Median age 37 38
Median household income $115,960/yr
+18% vs other
 $95,628/yr
Median weekly rent $378/wk $400/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kotara South Charlestown
0-4 6.5% / 6.4%
Kotara South — 0-4: 6.5% Charlestown — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 18.2% / 12.3%
Kotara South — 5-14: 18.2% Charlestown — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 6.8% / 5.0%
Kotara South — 15-19: 6.8% Charlestown — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 4.4% / 6.1%
Kotara South — 20-24: 4.4% Charlestown — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 10.4% / 14.7%
Kotara South — 25-34: 10.4% Charlestown — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 17.6% / 14.6%
Kotara South — 35-44: 17.6% Charlestown — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 13.3% / 11.8%
Kotara South — 45-54: 13.3% Charlestown — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 8.6% / 10.8%
Kotara South — 55-64: 8.6% Charlestown — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 5.9% / 8.9%
Kotara South — 65-74: 5.9% Charlestown — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 6.0% / 6.2%
Kotara South — 75-84: 6.0% Charlestown — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.4% / 3.1%
Kotara South — 85+: 2.4% Charlestown — 85+: 3.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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.

Kotara South 23.3% renting
Kotara South — Owned Outright: 30.6% Kotara South — Mortgage: 46.1% Kotara South — Renting: 23.3%
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.

Kotara South Charlestown
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 15.1%
Kotara South — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Charlestown — Bachelor Degree: 15.1%
Certificate III & IV 12.9% / 16.9%
Kotara South — Certificate III & IV: 12.9% Charlestown — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.3%
Kotara South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Charlestown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 5.8% / 4.3%
Kotara South — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8% Charlestown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 1.9%
Kotara South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Charlestown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

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 South Charlestown
England 1.8% / 2.1%
Kotara South — England: 1.8% Charlestown — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.0%
Kotara South — New Zealand: 0.6% Charlestown — New Zealand: 1.0%
South Africa 1.3% / —
Kotara South — South Africa: 1.3% Charlestown — South Africa: not among its largest
China 0.3% / 0.9%
Kotara South — China: 0.3% Charlestown — China: 0.9%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.4%
Kotara South — Scotland: 0.6% Charlestown — Scotland: 0.4%
India 0.3% / 0.7%
Kotara South — India: 0.3% Charlestown — India: 0.7%
Italy 0.5% / 0.4%
Kotara South — Italy: 0.5% Charlestown — Italy: 0.4%
Philippines — / 0.5%
Kotara South — Philippines: not among its largest Charlestown — Philippines: 0.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kotara South 96.4% houses
Kotara South — Houses: 96.4% Kotara South — Townhouses: 3.6% Kotara South — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Charlestown 76.0% houses
Charlestown — Houses: 76.0% Charlestown — Townhouses: 14.9% Charlestown — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kotara South Charlestown
Median house price $1,040,000 $1,055,500
Median unit price — $675,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 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.

Kotara South Charlestown
3 bed $1.02M / $1,000K
Kotara South — 3 bed: $1.02M (20 sales) Charlestown — 3 bed: $1,000K (135 sales)

20 vs 135 sales

4 bed $1.15M / $1.25M
Kotara South — 4 bed: $1.15M (6 sales) Charlestown — 4 bed: $1.25M (80 sales)

6 vs 80 sales

Zoning mix

Charlestown has more land zoned for conservation (11% vs 0%).

Kotara South Charlestown
Residential 77% 70%
Parks and recreation 18% 12%
Environmental 0% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 3%
same for both
Commercial 0% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Kotara South and 100% of Charlestown. 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 South 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.

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

Ranking within NSW

Kotara South Charlestown
House price Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 50% of NSW
Income Higher than 80% of NSW Higher than 63% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 81% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% 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 62); Kotara South scores higher overall (67 vs 56).

Kotara South Charlestown
Grade B
same for both
Score 67/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Charlestown carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 0); Charlestown carries more crime risk (83 vs 42).

Kotara South Charlestown
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 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 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Kotara South 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 (Callaghan), 6.7 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 8.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 1.9%

Schools in Kotara South

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

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

Mobility

Kotara South sits further from the CBD (156.7 km vs 145 km).

Kotara South Charlestown
Walkability score 62/100 92/100
Distance to Sydney 156.7 km
+7% vs other
 145 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 120 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 35.5
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.

Kotara South Charlestown
Car (driver) 64.1% / 63.5%
Kotara South — Car (driver): 64.1% Charlestown — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 32.1% / 28.1%
Kotara South — Worked from Home: 32.1% Charlestown — Worked from Home: 28.1%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 4.5%
Kotara South — Car (passenger): 2.6% Charlestown — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only — / 2.1%
Kotara South — Walked Only: not among its largest Charlestown — Walked Only: 2.1%
Bus 0.6% / 1.2%
Kotara South — Bus: 0.6% Charlestown — Bus: 1.2%
Bicycle 0.6% / 0.4%
Kotara South — Bicycle: 0.6% Charlestown — Bicycle: 0.4%

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

Setting

Kotara South Charlestown
Elevation 67 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 108 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.5 km 3.3 km

NBN connectivity

Kotara South Charlestown
Connectivity score 63/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
491 premises
 38%
6,886 premises

Climate

Kotara South 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Kotara South

Family Parks Professionals

Charlestown

Parks Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kotara South

Kotara South vs Adamstown Heights Kotara South vs Kotara Kotara South vs Garden Suburb

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 Kotara South Full data on Charlestown
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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