Newtown vs Erskineville

In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Newtown, most households rent. In Erskineville, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. Newtown is closer to the city centre: 5.9 km, against 6.7 km.

Newtown and Erskineville are neighbouring inner-west suburbs with similar walkability and socio-economic standing, but they differ in some key ways. Erskineville has a higher liveability score of 88 compared to Newtown's 68, and median household income is notably higher at $157,040 versus $121,160. However, Newtown offers more affordable units, with a median price of $788,500 against Erskineville's $1,100,000, and slightly lower weekly rent at $550. Newtown also sits closer to the CBD at 5.9 km, though both suburbs carry similar crime risk profiles—Newtown's is notably higher at 86 compared to Erskineville's 60.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Newtown

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 5)
  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 12)
  • But Erskineville carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 87/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Newtown has cheaper units ($800,000 vs $1,100,000)
  • Erskineville leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 30%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Newtown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $620/wk)

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

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Newtown has more GPs (7 vs 1)
  • Erskineville carries lower crime risk (61/100 vs 87/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Newtown returns a higher gross yield on units (6.1% vs 4.9%)
  • Erskineville is growing faster (20.5% vs -2.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Newtown Erskineville
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.

Newtown Erskineville
Walkability 96 / 94
Newtown — Walkability: 96/100 Erskineville — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 13 / 39
Newtown — Safety: 13/100 Erskineville — Safety: 39/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Newtown — Low fire risk: 100/100 Erskineville — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Newtown has more residents (14,690 vs 9,657); Erskineville has higher household incomes ($157,040 vs $121,160).

Newtown Erskineville
Population 14,690
+34% vs other
 9,657
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.3% +20.5%
Median age 34
same for both
Median household income $121,160/yr $157,040/yr
+30% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk $620/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Newtown Erskineville
0-4 3.5% / 4.9%
Newtown — 0-4: 3.5% Erskineville — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 6.1% / 5.9%
Newtown — 5-14: 6.1% Erskineville — 5-14: 5.9%
15-19 3.1% / 2.2%
Newtown — 15-19: 3.1% Erskineville — 15-19: 2.2%
20-24 9.9% / 5.1%
Newtown — 20-24: 9.9% Erskineville — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 28.8% / 32.2%
Newtown — 25-34: 28.8% Erskineville — 25-34: 32.2%
35-44 17.1% / 23.0%
Newtown — 35-44: 17.1% Erskineville — 35-44: 23.0%
45-54 13.5% / 13.0%
Newtown — 45-54: 13.5% Erskineville — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 9.7% / 8.3%
Newtown — 55-64: 9.7% Erskineville — 55-64: 8.3%
65-74 5.4% / 3.6%
Newtown — 65-74: 5.4% Erskineville — 65-74: 3.6%
75-84 2.0% / 1.5%
Newtown — 75-84: 2.0% Erskineville — 75-84: 1.5%
85+ 0.7% / 0.4%
Newtown — 85+: 0.7% Erskineville — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (32.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Newtown 50.5% lone person
Newtown — Lone Person: 50.5% Newtown — Couple Families: 21.3% Newtown — Group Household: 19.4% Newtown — One Parent Families: 7.3% Newtown — Other Families: 1.5%
Erskineville 50.9% lone person
Erskineville — Lone Person: 50.9% Erskineville — Couple Families: 24.8% Erskineville — Group Household: 15.6% Erskineville — One Parent Families: 7.3% Erskineville — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 58.6% renting
Newtown — Owned Outright: 17.6% Newtown — Mortgage: 23.9% Newtown — Renting: 58.6%
Erskineville 54.1% renting
Erskineville — Owned Outright: 12.9% Erskineville — Mortgage: 33.0% Erskineville — Renting: 54.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Newtown Erskineville
Bachelor Degree 31.5% / 34.9%
Newtown — Bachelor Degree: 31.5% Erskineville — Bachelor Degree: 34.9%
Postgraduate Degree 14.6% / 17.2%
Newtown — Postgraduate Degree: 14.6% Erskineville — Postgraduate Degree: 17.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.6%
Newtown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Erskineville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 6.2% / 5.4%
Newtown — Certificate III & IV: 6.2% Erskineville — Certificate III & IV: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 3.6%
Newtown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Erskineville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.9%).

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.

Newtown Erskineville
England 5.7% / 7.7%
Newtown — England: 5.7% Erskineville — England: 7.7%
New Zealand 2.7% / 3.2%
Newtown — New Zealand: 2.7% Erskineville — New Zealand: 3.2%
China 1.5% / 3.5%
Newtown — China: 1.5% Erskineville — China: 3.5%
Ireland 1.0% / 1.1%
Newtown — Ireland: 1.0% Erskineville — Ireland: 1.1%
India — / 1.1%
Newtown — India: not among its largest Erskineville — India: 1.1%
Thailand 1.0% / —
Newtown — Thailand: 1.0% Erskineville — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Newtown 42.9% flats / apartments
Newtown — Flats / Apartments: 42.9% Newtown — Townhouses: 52.0% Newtown — Houses: 5.0%
Erskineville 62.3% flats / apartments
Erskineville — Flats / Apartments: 62.3% Erskineville — Townhouses: 34.5% Erskineville — Houses: 3.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Newtown Erskineville
Median house price $1,875,000 $1,922,500
Median unit price $800,000 $1,100,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 149 sales
 23 days
from 81 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.

Newtown Erskineville
1 bed $700K / $781K
Newtown — 1 bed: $700K (95 sales) Erskineville — 1 bed: $781K (52 sales)

95 vs 52 sales

2 bed $1.16M / $1.22M
Newtown — 2 bed: $1.16M (53 sales) Erskineville — 2 bed: $1.22M (91 sales)

53 vs 91 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.

Newtown Erskineville
1 bed $1.38M / $1.27M
Newtown — 1 bed: $1.38M (15 sales) Erskineville — 1 bed: $1.27M (7 sales)

15 vs 7 sales

2 bed $1.71M / $1.72M
Newtown — 2 bed: $1.71M (110 sales) Erskineville — 2 bed: $1.72M (43 sales)

110 vs 43 sales

3 bed $2.15M / $2.18M
Newtown — 3 bed: $2.15M (65 sales) Erskineville — 3 bed: $2.18M (47 sales)

65 vs 47 sales

4 bed $2.64M / $2.68M
Newtown — 4 bed: $2.64M (24 sales) Erskineville — 4 bed: $2.68M (10 sales)

24 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Newtown Erskineville
Residential 69% 70%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 11%
Commercial 12% 10%
Parks and recreation 4% 8%
Industrial 1% 0%
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

Newtown Erskineville
New dwellings approved 2,350
across Sydney
same for both
Approvals change year on year +929%
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.

Newtown Erskineville
Houses 3.0%
$992/wk on $1.7M
 3.2%
$995/wk on $1.6M
Units 6.1%
$650/wk on $550K
 4.9%
$950/wk on $1.01M

Ranking within NSW

Newtown Erskineville
House price Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Income Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Schools Higher than 38% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 52% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 31% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW

Liveability

Erskineville scores higher overall (88 vs 69).

Newtown Erskineville
Grade B A+
Score 69/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Newtown carries more crime risk (87 vs 61).

Newtown Erskineville
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 Moderate
61/100
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 9
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Newtown Erskineville
Inside the suburb 7 2
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 3 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Sydney, 1.2 km
 3
The University of Sydney, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.2% 2.3%

Schools in Newtown

  • Camdenville Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • Newtown High School of Performing Arts Government · Secondary at peers
  • Newtown North Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Newtown Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Pius' Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • The Athena School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Erskineville

  • Erskineville Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Mary's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Newtown Erskineville
Supermarkets 8 2
Cafes & restaurants 102 18
Parks & reserves 19 12
Childcare 11 5
GPs 7 1
Pharmacies 8 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 1 0

Mobility

Newtown Erskineville
Walkability score 96/100 94/100
Distance to Sydney 5.9 km 6.7 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 18 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 458.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 2042
 2.4%
postcode 2043
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 10
postcode 2042
 5
postcode 2043

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.

Newtown Erskineville
Worked from Home 63.9% / 72.2%
Newtown — Worked from Home: 63.9% Erskineville — Worked from Home: 72.2%
Car (driver) 15.9% / 14.3%
Newtown — Car (driver): 15.9% Erskineville — Car (driver): 14.3%
Walked Only 8.5% / 4.4%
Newtown — Walked Only: 8.5% Erskineville — Walked Only: 4.4%
Train 6.3% / 6.0%
Newtown — Train: 6.3% Erskineville — Train: 6.0%
Bicycle 2.0% / 1.6%
Newtown — Bicycle: 2.0% Erskineville — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.2%).

Setting

Newtown Erskineville
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.4 km 5.1 km

NBN connectivity

Newtown Erskineville
Connectivity score 70/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
9,055 premises
 42%
5,701 premises

Climate

Newtown Erskineville
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Newtown Erskineville
PM2.5 5.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 12.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.73 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Newtown Erskineville
Average residential rate $875/yr
same for both
Council Sydney
same for both

Federal electorate

Newtown Erskineville
Division Sydney
same for both
Member Tanya Plibersek
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Newtown Erskineville
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Newtown

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Erskineville

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban Village Feel

More comparisons

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Newtown vs Marrickville Newtown vs Camperdown Newtown vs Stanmore Newtown vs Enmore Newtown vs St Peters Newtown vs Darlington

Other comparisons with Erskineville

Erskineville vs Alexandria Erskineville vs St Peters Erskineville vs Eveleigh
Full data on Newtown Full data on Erskineville
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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