Stockton vs Newcastle

Newcastle is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 47 in Stockton. In Stockton, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Newcastle, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Newcastle: a median of $1.49 million, against $1.32 million in Stockton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Newcastle tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Stockton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 2%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 19%)
  • carries lower crime risk (82/100 vs 98/100)
  • But Newcastle has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Stockton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($580,500 vs $962,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,320,000 vs $1,492,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Stockton has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $490/wk)
  • Newcastle has a bigger rental market to choose from (55% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Newcastle

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 32/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (160.8 km vs 166.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Newcastle

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (98% vs 18%)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 32/100)
  • But Stockton carries lower crime risk (82/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Stockton returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.2%)
  • Newcastle is growing faster (39.9% vs -2.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Stockton Newcastle
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.

Stockton Newcastle
Walkability 32 / 96
Stockton — Walkability: 32/100 Newcastle — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 18 / 2
Stockton — Safety: 18/100 Newcastle — Safety: 2/100
Low fire risk 69 / 100
Stockton — Low fire risk: 69/100 Newcastle — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Newcastle rents higher ($490/wk vs $370/wk); Newcastle has higher household incomes ($101,036 vs $79,820).

Stockton Newcastle
Population 4,046
+5% vs other
 3,852
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.7% +39.9%
Median age 47 41
Median household income $79,820/yr $101,036/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk $490/wk
+32% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Stockton Newcastle
0-4 4.1% / 2.5%
Stockton — 0-4: 4.1% Newcastle — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 11.1% / 3.7%
Stockton — 5-14: 11.1% Newcastle — 5-14: 3.7%
15-19 5.7% / 2.5%
Stockton — 15-19: 5.7% Newcastle — 15-19: 2.5%
20-24 4.6% / 9.1%
Stockton — 20-24: 4.6% Newcastle — 20-24: 9.1%
25-34 9.8% / 23.0%
Stockton — 25-34: 9.8% Newcastle — 25-34: 23.0%
35-44 11.3% / 13.3%
Stockton — 35-44: 11.3% Newcastle — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 13.5% / 12.4%
Stockton — 45-54: 13.5% Newcastle — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 16.2% / 14.7%
Stockton — 55-64: 16.2% Newcastle — 55-64: 14.7%
65-74 13.9% / 12.1%
Stockton — 65-74: 13.9% Newcastle — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 6.5% / 5.6%
Stockton — 75-84: 6.5% Newcastle — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 3.4% / 1.3%
Stockton — 85+: 3.4% Newcastle — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Stockton 41.8% lone person
Stockton — Lone Person: 41.8% Stockton — Couple Families: 34.6% Stockton — One Parent Families: 17.8% Stockton — Group Household: 4.3% Stockton — Other Families: 1.5%
Newcastle 70.0% lone person
Newcastle — Lone Person: 70.0% Newcastle — Couple Families: 11.8% Newcastle — One Parent Families: 7.1% Newcastle — Group Household: 9.9% Newcastle — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Stockton 30.7% renting
Stockton — Owned Outright: 38.1% Stockton — Mortgage: 31.2% Stockton — Renting: 30.7%
Newcastle 55.1% renting
Newcastle — Owned Outright: 25.8% Newcastle — Mortgage: 19.1% Newcastle — Renting: 55.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Stockton Newcastle
Bachelor Degree 10.9% / 24.9%
Stockton — Bachelor Degree: 10.9% Newcastle — Bachelor Degree: 24.9%
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 13.2%
Stockton — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Newcastle — Certificate III & IV: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 10.2%
Stockton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Newcastle — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 11.5%
Stockton — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Newcastle — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.9%
Stockton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Newcastle — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.9%).

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.

Stockton Newcastle
England 2.2% / 3.2%
Stockton — England: 2.2% Newcastle — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.7%
Stockton — New Zealand: 1.3% Newcastle — New Zealand: 1.7%
India — / 1.2%
Stockton — India: not among its largest Newcastle — India: 1.2%
Germany 0.5% / 0.5%
Stockton — Germany: 0.5% Newcastle — Germany: 0.5%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.7%
Stockton — Philippines: 0.3% Newcastle — Philippines: 0.7%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.6%
Stockton — South Africa: 0.3% Newcastle — South Africa: 0.6%
Thailand 0.4% / —
Stockton — Thailand: 0.4% Newcastle — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Stockton 11.1% flats / apartments
Stockton — Flats / Apartments: 11.1% Stockton — Houses: 82.0% Stockton — Townhouses: 6.9%
Newcastle 94.0% flats / apartments
Newcastle — Flats / Apartments: 94.0% Newcastle — Houses: 2.2% Newcastle — Townhouses: 3.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Stockton Newcastle
Median house price $1,320,000 $1,492,500
Median unit price $580,500 $962,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 48 days
from 31 sales
 —

Zoning mix

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

Stockton Newcastle
Residential 33% 51%
Parks and recreation 22% 37%
Infrastructure and transport 33% 6%
Environmental 11% 0%
Commercial 1% 6%
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

Stockton Newcastle
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.

Stockton Newcastle
Houses 3.7%
$850/wk on $1.2M
 3.2%
$850/wk on $1.39M
Units — 4.6%
$850/wk on $952K

Ranking within NSW

Stockton Newcastle
House price Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Income Higher than 47% of NSW Higher than 69% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 29% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of NSW Higher than 72% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 29% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 50% of NSW

Liveability

Newcastle is more walkable (96 vs 32); Newcastle scores higher overall (64 vs 35).

Stockton Newcastle
Grade C B
Score 35/100 64/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Stockton carries more bushfire risk (31 vs 0); Newcastle carries more crime risk (98 vs 82).

Stockton Newcastle
Bushfire Low
31/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
82/100
 High
98/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
75/100
 Moderate
47/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Stockton Newcastle
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 3.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Newcastle City), 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.4% 3.5%

Schools in Stockton

  • St Peter's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Stockton Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Newcastle

  • Newcastle Grammar Bolton Street Campus Independent · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Stockton Newcastle
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 4 87
Parks & reserves 3 9
Childcare 3 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 1 4
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 3 7
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Stockton sits further from the CBD (166.8 km vs 160.8 km).

Stockton Newcastle
Walkability score 32/100 96/100
Distance to Sydney 166.8 km
+4% vs other
 160.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 129 min 126 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus · Ferry
Peak arrivals per hour 109.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 242.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2295
 1.7%
postcode 2300
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2295
 12
postcode 2300

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.

Stockton Newcastle
Car (driver) 64.1% / 43.6%
Stockton — Car (driver): 64.1% Newcastle — Car (driver): 43.6%
Worked from Home 26.9% / 37.0%
Stockton — Worked from Home: 26.9% Newcastle — Worked from Home: 37.0%
Walked Only 4.3% / 12.5%
Stockton — Walked Only: 4.3% Newcastle — Walked Only: 12.5%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 2.1%
Stockton — Car (passenger): 3.3% Newcastle — Car (passenger): 2.1%
Bus 0.6% / 2.4%
Stockton — Bus: 0.6% Newcastle — Bus: 2.4%

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

Setting

Stockton Newcastle
Elevation 4 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 48 m
2.6 km to a named beach
 110 m
814 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Stockton Newcastle
Connectivity score 59/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 25%
1,984 premises
 34%
4,863 premises

Climate

Stockton Newcastle
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)

Stockton Newcastle
PM2.5 7.5 µg/m³ 6.5 µg/m³
PM10 30.4 µg/m³ 21.7 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.73 pphm 0.64 pphm

Council rates

Stockton Newcastle
Average residential rate $1,783/yr
same for both
Council Newcastle
same for both

Federal electorate

Stockton Newcastle
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Stockton Newcastle
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Stockton

Coastal

Newcastle

Apartments Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Nightlife Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Stockton

Stockton vs Fern Bay

Other comparisons with Newcastle

Newcastle vs Cooks Hill Newcastle vs The Hill Newcastle vs Carrington Newcastle vs Tighes Hill Newcastle vs Wickham Newcastle vs Newcastle West
Full data on Stockton Full data on Newcastle
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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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