Wallsend vs Shortland

Shortland is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 39 in Wallsend. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. On these figures, Shortland tends to suit young adults.

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

Wallsend

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (26 vs 12)
  • But Shortland has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit 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

Wallsend

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 63/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (111 min vs 118 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (150.4 km vs 156.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wallsend

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 63/100)

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

Investors

Shortland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.2% vs 6.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wallsend Shortland
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.

Wallsend Shortland
Walkability 89 / 63
Wallsend — Walkability: 89/100 Shortland — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 14 / 21
Wallsend — Safety: 14/100 Shortland — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 57 / 44
Wallsend — Low fire risk: 57/100 Shortland — Low fire risk: 44/100

Demographics

Wallsend has more residents (13,244 vs 4,537); Wallsend skews older (39 vs 33).

Wallsend Shortland
Population 13,244
+66% vs other
 4,537
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.2% +16.2%
Median age 39 33
Median household income $72,852/yr
+4% vs other
 $69,888/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk $377/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wallsend Shortland
0-4 5.4% / 6.3%
Wallsend — 0-4: 5.4% Shortland — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 10.2% / 9.3%
Wallsend — 5-14: 10.2% Shortland — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 5.2% / 4.7%
Wallsend — 15-19: 5.2% Shortland — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 8.0% / 11.4%
Wallsend — 20-24: 8.0% Shortland — 20-24: 11.4%
25-34 15.8% / 20.8%
Wallsend — 25-34: 15.8% Shortland — 25-34: 20.8%
35-44 11.9% / 11.0%
Wallsend — 35-44: 11.9% Shortland — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 11.1% / 8.0%
Wallsend — 45-54: 11.1% Shortland — 45-54: 8.0%
55-64 11.6% / 8.7%
Wallsend — 55-64: 11.6% Shortland — 55-64: 8.7%
65-74 9.9% / 9.7%
Wallsend — 65-74: 9.9% Shortland — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 6.7% / 7.8%
Wallsend — 75-84: 6.7% Shortland — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 4.3% / 2.6%
Wallsend — 85+: 4.3% Shortland — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wallsend 41.1% lone person
Wallsend — Lone Person: 41.1% Wallsend — Couple Families: 31.8% Wallsend — One Parent Families: 17.9% Wallsend — Group Household: 7.3% Wallsend — Other Families: 2.0%
Shortland 40.5% lone person
Shortland — Lone Person: 40.5% Shortland — Couple Families: 27.4% Shortland — One Parent Families: 18.0% Shortland — Group Household: 11.4% Shortland — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wallsend 38.2% renting
Wallsend — Owned Outright: 30.5% Wallsend — Mortgage: 31.2% Wallsend — Renting: 38.2%
Shortland 39.3% renting
Shortland — Owned Outright: 27.0% Shortland — Mortgage: 33.8% Shortland — Renting: 39.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Wallsend Shortland
England 1.7% / 1.4%
Wallsend — England: 1.7% Shortland — England: 1.4%
China 1.1% / 1.7%
Wallsend — China: 1.1% Shortland — China: 1.7%
India 1.0% / 1.4%
Wallsend — India: 1.0% Shortland — India: 1.4%
Philippines 0.9% / 0.8%
Wallsend — Philippines: 0.9% Shortland — Philippines: 0.8%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.8%
Wallsend — New Zealand: 0.8% Shortland — New Zealand: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.7%).

Qualifications

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

Wallsend Shortland
Certificate III & IV 17.0% / 19.1%
Wallsend — Certificate III & IV: 17.0% Shortland — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Bachelor Degree 11.1% / 10.6%
Wallsend — Bachelor Degree: 11.1% Shortland — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.7% / 6.2%
Wallsend — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7% Shortland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 3.1%
Wallsend — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Shortland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.1%
Wallsend — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Shortland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wallsend 77.7% houses
Wallsend — Houses: 77.7% Wallsend — Townhouses: 16.9% Wallsend — Flats / Apartments: 5.4%
Shortland 69.7% houses
Shortland — Houses: 69.7% Shortland — Townhouses: 28.2% Shortland — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Wallsend Shortland
Median house price $848,750 $810,000
Median unit price $647,500 $707,500
Median land price $585,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 142 sales
 17 days
from 28 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.

Wallsend Shortland
2 bed $610K / $680K
Wallsend — 2 bed: $610K (19 sales) Shortland — 2 bed: $680K (5 sales)

19 vs 5 sales

3 bed $705K / $725K
Wallsend — 3 bed: $705K (14 sales) Shortland — 3 bed: $725K (12 sales)

14 vs 12 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.

Wallsend Shortland
2 bed $750K / $782K
Wallsend — 2 bed: $750K (49 sales) Shortland — 2 bed: $782K (14 sales)

49 vs 14 sales

3 bed $840K / $825K
Wallsend — 3 bed: $840K (194 sales) Shortland — 3 bed: $825K (45 sales)

194 vs 45 sales

4 bed $955K / $907K
Wallsend — 4 bed: $955K (62 sales) Shortland — 4 bed: $907K (9 sales)

62 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Wallsend Shortland
Environmental 36% 42%
Residential 40% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 24%
Parks and recreation 7% 13%
Industrial 3% 0%
Commercial 2% 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

Wallsend Shortland
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.

Wallsend Shortland
Houses 4.2%
$700/wk on $860K
 4.3%
$650/wk on $780K
Units 3.9%
$525/wk on $705K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Wallsend Shortland
House price Higher than 36% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Income Higher than 39% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Schools Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 96% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 18% of NSW —

Liveability

Wallsend is more walkable (89 vs 63).

Wallsend Shortland
Grade C
same for both
Score 42/100 43/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
same for both

Risk profile

Shortland carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 43).

Wallsend Shortland
Bushfire Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime High
86/100
 High
79/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Wallsend Shortland
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 4.1 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 5.3%

Schools in Wallsend

  • Callaghan College Wallsend Campus Government · Secondary above peers
  • Plattsburg Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Wallsend Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Shortland

  • Our Lady of Victories Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Margaret Jurd College Independent · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • Shortland Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Awabakal Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Wallsend Shortland
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 2
Parks & reserves 26 12
Childcare 9 2
GPs 8 0
Pharmacies 3 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 5 1
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 7 5

Mobility

Shortland sits further from the CBD (156.5 km vs 150.4 km).

Wallsend Shortland
Walkability score 89/100 63/100
Distance to Sydney 150.4 km 156.5 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 111 min 118 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 508.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 2287
 0.5%
postcode 2307
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 2287
 33
postcode 2307

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.

Wallsend Shortland
Car (driver) 69.2% / 74.1%
Wallsend — Car (driver): 69.2% Shortland — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 21.7% / 19.0%
Wallsend — Worked from Home: 21.7% Shortland — Worked from Home: 19.0%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.1%
Wallsend — Car (passenger): 4.9% Shortland — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Bus 1.9% / 1.6%
Wallsend — Bus: 1.9% Shortland — Bus: 1.6%
Walked Only 1.9% / 0.8%
Wallsend — Walked Only: 1.9% Shortland — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.1%).

Setting

Wallsend Shortland
Elevation 37 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 6.5 km

NBN connectivity

Wallsend Shortland
Connectivity score 62/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
6,452 premises
 40%
2,006 premises

Climate

Wallsend Shortland
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)

Wallsend Shortland
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

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

Federal electorate

Wallsend Shortland
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wallsend Shortland
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wallsend

Parks Regional Centre River

Shortland

Parks Quiet River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wallsend

Wallsend vs Cameron Park Wallsend vs Fletcher Wallsend vs Maryland Wallsend vs Edgeworth Wallsend vs Elermore Vale Wallsend vs Lambton

Other comparisons with Shortland

Shortland vs Maryland Shortland vs Birmingham Gardens Shortland vs Warabrook Shortland vs Callaghan Shortland vs Sandgate Shortland vs Hexham
Full data on Wallsend Full data on Shortland
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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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