Rankin Park vs New Lambton Heights

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Rankin Park, about half of households are couple families. In New Lambton Heights, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in New Lambton Heights: a median of $1.28 million, against $960,000 in Rankin Park, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Rankin Park tends to suit 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Rankin Park carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 64/100)
  • New Lambton Heights has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Rankin Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($960,000 vs $1,280,000)

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

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

Rankin Park

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 64/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 16%)
  • But New Lambton Heights has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Rankin Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Rankin Park and New Lambton Heights drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
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.

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Walkability 56 / 57
Rankin Park — Walkability: 56/100 New Lambton Heights — Walkability: 57/100
Safety 69 / 36
Rankin Park — Safety: 69/100 New Lambton Heights — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 54
Rankin Park — Low fire risk: 100/100 New Lambton Heights — Low fire risk: 54/100

Demographics

New Lambton Heights has higher household incomes ($142,584 vs $115,128).

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Population 2,547 2,610
+2% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.5% +6.4%
Median age 40 41
Median household income $115,128/yr $142,584/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $483/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
0-4 6.6% / 5.1%
Rankin Park — 0-4: 6.6% New Lambton Heights — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 14.2% / 16.6%
Rankin Park — 5-14: 14.2% New Lambton Heights — 5-14: 16.6%
15-19 5.7% / 7.3%
Rankin Park — 15-19: 5.7% New Lambton Heights — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 4.5% / 4.9%
Rankin Park — 20-24: 4.5% New Lambton Heights — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 11.6% / 7.9%
Rankin Park — 25-34: 11.6% New Lambton Heights — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 15.0% / 13.8%
Rankin Park — 35-44: 15.0% New Lambton Heights — 35-44: 13.8%
45-54 12.0% / 15.0%
Rankin Park — 45-54: 12.0% New Lambton Heights — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 9.7% / 12.9%
Rankin Park — 55-64: 9.7% New Lambton Heights — 55-64: 12.9%
65-74 12.6% / 10.4%
Rankin Park — 65-74: 12.6% New Lambton Heights — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 7.6% / 4.6%
Rankin Park — 75-84: 7.6% New Lambton Heights — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 1.3% / 1.5%
Rankin Park — 85+: 1.3% New Lambton Heights — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rankin Park 52.5% couple families
Rankin Park — Couple Families: 52.5% Rankin Park — Lone Person: 23.1% Rankin Park — One Parent Families: 18.1% Rankin Park — Group Household: 4.2% Rankin Park — Other Families: 2.2%
New Lambton Heights 62.3% couple families
New Lambton Heights — Couple Families: 62.3% New Lambton Heights — Lone Person: 18.3% New Lambton Heights — One Parent Families: 16.2% New Lambton Heights — Group Household: 2.6% New Lambton Heights — Other Families: 0.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rankin Park 12.0% renting
Rankin Park — Owned Outright: 42.8% Rankin Park — Mortgage: 45.3% Rankin Park — Renting: 12.0%
New Lambton Heights 12.5% renting
New Lambton Heights — Owned Outright: 41.7% New Lambton Heights — Mortgage: 45.7% New Lambton Heights — Renting: 12.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Bachelor Degree 17.7% / 20.7%
Rankin Park — Bachelor Degree: 17.7% New Lambton Heights — Bachelor Degree: 20.7%
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 10.2%
Rankin Park — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% New Lambton Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.1%
Rankin Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% New Lambton Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 9.2%
Rankin Park — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% New Lambton Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 9.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.9%
Rankin Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% New Lambton Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

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.

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
England 2.1% / 3.3%
Rankin Park — England: 2.1% New Lambton Heights — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.5%
Rankin Park — New Zealand: 0.8% New Lambton Heights — New Zealand: 1.5%
China 0.7% / 1.3%
Rankin Park — China: 0.7% New Lambton Heights — China: 1.3%
India 0.5% / 1.0%
Rankin Park — India: 0.5% New Lambton Heights — India: 1.0%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.5%
Rankin Park — South Africa: 0.5% New Lambton Heights — South Africa: 0.5%
Philippines 0.7% / —
Rankin Park — Philippines: 0.7% New Lambton Heights — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany 0.6% / —
Rankin Park — Germany: 0.6% New Lambton Heights — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rankin Park 99.2% houses
Rankin Park — Houses: 99.2% Rankin Park — Townhouses: 1.2% Rankin Park — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
New Lambton Heights 97.9% houses
New Lambton Heights — Houses: 97.9% New Lambton Heights — Townhouses: 1.3% New Lambton Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Median house price $960,000 $1,280,000
Median unit price — $965,000
Median land price — $560,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 10 days
from 16 sales
 38 days
from 15 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.

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
3 bed $918K / $1.16M
Rankin Park — 3 bed: $918K (48 sales) New Lambton Heights — 3 bed: $1.16M (31 sales)

48 vs 31 sales

4 bed $1M / $1.38M
Rankin Park — 4 bed: $1M (27 sales) New Lambton Heights — 4 bed: $1.38M (34 sales)

27 vs 34 sales

Zoning mix

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Residential 69% 38%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 31%
Environmental 26% 30%
Parks and recreation 3% 1%
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

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
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.

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Houses 4.3%
$780/wk on $938K
 3.3%
$900/wk on $1.44M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
House price Higher than 40% of NSW Higher than 67% of NSW
Income Higher than 79% of NSW Higher than 92% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of NSW
same for both
Affordability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 32% of NSW

Liveability

Rankin Park scores higher overall (68 vs 54).

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 68/100 54/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

New Lambton Heights carries more bushfire risk (46 vs 0); New Lambton Heights carries more crime risk (64 vs 31).

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
46/100
Crime Low
31/100
 Moderate
64/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
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 (Callaghan), 4.2 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 2.6%

Schools in Rankin Park

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

Schools in New Lambton Heights

  • New Lambton Heights Infants School Government · Primary
  • John Hunter Hospital School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 2 1
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 2
Waterways 9 2

Mobility

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Walkability score 56/100 57/100
Distance to Sydney 152.6 km 152.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min 113 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 153.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2287
 1.4%
postcode 2305
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 2287
 38
postcode 2305

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.

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Car (driver) 61.2% / 60.4%
Rankin Park — Car (driver): 61.2% New Lambton Heights — Car (driver): 60.4%
Worked from Home 33.6% / 32.2%
Rankin Park — Worked from Home: 33.6% New Lambton Heights — Worked from Home: 32.2%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.5%
Rankin Park — Car (passenger): 3.2% New Lambton Heights — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.7%
Rankin Park — Walked Only: 1.2% New Lambton Heights — Walked Only: 1.7%
Bus 0.6% / 1.2%
Rankin Park — Bus: 0.6% New Lambton Heights — Bus: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.2%).

Setting

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Elevation 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 84 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.7 km 6.1 km

NBN connectivity

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Connectivity score 66/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
1,007 premises
 47%
1,025 premises

Climate

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
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)

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
PM2.5 6.1 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.53 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Average residential rate $1,783/yr
same for both
Council Newcastle
same for both

Federal electorate

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rankin Park New Lambton Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rankin Park

Large Blocks Professionals River

New Lambton Heights

Large Blocks Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with New Lambton Heights

New Lambton Heights vs Wallsend New Lambton Heights vs New Lambton New Lambton Heights vs Elermore Vale New Lambton Heights vs Lambton New Lambton Heights vs Kotara New Lambton Heights vs Garden Suburb
Full data on Rankin Park Full data on New Lambton Heights
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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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