Warabrook vs Shortland

Shortland is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 45 in Warabrook. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Warabrook: a median of $988,000, against $810,000 in Shortland. On these figures, Shortland tends to suit young adults and 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

Shortland

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • But Warabrook is already more of a family suburb (54% vs 45%)

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

First-home buyers

Shortland

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($810,000 vs $987,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Warabrook

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Warabrook is more walkable (76/100 vs 63/100)
  • Shortland sits closer to the CBD (156.5 km vs 159.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Warabrook

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 63/100)

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

Investors

Shortland

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (16.2% vs 0.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Warabrook 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.

Warabrook 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.

Warabrook Shortland
Walkability 76 / 63
Warabrook — Walkability: 76/100 Shortland — Walkability: 63/100
Safety 30 / 21
Warabrook — Safety: 30/100 Shortland — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 100 / 44
Warabrook — Low fire risk: 100/100 Shortland — Low fire risk: 44/100

Demographics

Shortland has more residents (4,537 vs 1,982); Warabrook skews older (45 vs 33).

Warabrook Shortland
Population 1,982 4,537
+129% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.5% +16.2%
Median age 45 33
Median household income $84,968/yr
+18% vs other
 $69,888/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk $377/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Warabrook Shortland
0-4 4.0% / 6.3%
Warabrook — 0-4: 4.0% Shortland — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 10.0% / 9.3%
Warabrook — 5-14: 10.0% Shortland — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 5.0% / 4.7%
Warabrook — 15-19: 5.0% Shortland — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 6.2% / 11.4%
Warabrook — 20-24: 6.2% Shortland — 20-24: 11.4%
25-34 13.4% / 20.8%
Warabrook — 25-34: 13.4% Shortland — 25-34: 20.8%
35-44 10.2% / 11.0%
Warabrook — 35-44: 10.2% Shortland — 35-44: 11.0%
45-54 11.6% / 8.0%
Warabrook — 45-54: 11.6% Shortland — 45-54: 8.0%
55-64 13.1% / 8.7%
Warabrook — 55-64: 13.1% Shortland — 55-64: 8.7%
65-74 12.6% / 9.7%
Warabrook — 65-74: 12.6% Shortland — 65-74: 9.7%
75-84 7.1% / 7.8%
Warabrook — 75-84: 7.1% Shortland — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 6.2% / 2.6%
Warabrook — 85+: 6.2% Shortland — 85+: 2.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Warabrook 36.7% lone person
Warabrook — Lone Person: 36.7% Warabrook — Couple Families: 37.0% Warabrook — One Parent Families: 16.9% Warabrook — Group Household: 6.7% Warabrook — Other Families: 2.8%
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.

Warabrook 34.2% renting
Warabrook — Owned Outright: 38.2% Warabrook — Mortgage: 27.6% Warabrook — Renting: 34.2%
Shortland 39.3% renting
Shortland — Owned Outright: 27.0% Shortland — Mortgage: 33.8% Shortland — Renting: 39.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Warabrook Shortland
Certificate III & IV 13.1% / 19.1%
Warabrook — Certificate III & IV: 13.1% Shortland — Certificate III & IV: 19.1%
Bachelor Degree 13.1% / 10.6%
Warabrook — Bachelor Degree: 13.1% Shortland — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.2%
Warabrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Shortland — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 3.1%
Warabrook — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Shortland — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.1%
Warabrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Shortland — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

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

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.

Warabrook Shortland
China 3.3% / 1.7%
Warabrook — China: 3.3% Shortland — China: 1.7%
England 1.5% / 1.4%
Warabrook — England: 1.5% Shortland — England: 1.4%
India 0.9% / 1.4%
Warabrook — India: 0.9% Shortland — India: 1.4%
Philippines 1.4% / 0.8%
Warabrook — Philippines: 1.4% Shortland — Philippines: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.8%
Warabrook — New Zealand: 1.2% Shortland — New Zealand: 0.8%
Vietnam 1.5% / 0.4%
Warabrook — Vietnam: 1.5% Shortland — Vietnam: 0.4%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Warabrook 69.9% houses
Warabrook — Houses: 69.9% Warabrook — Townhouses: 26.7% Warabrook — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Shortland 69.7% houses
Shortland — Houses: 69.7% Shortland — Townhouses: 28.2% Shortland — Flats / Apartments: 2.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Warabrook Shortland
Median house price $987,500 $810,000
Median unit price $765,000 $707,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 17 days
from 28 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.

Warabrook Shortland
3 bed $848K / $825K
Warabrook — 3 bed: $848K (14 sales) Shortland — 3 bed: $825K (45 sales)

14 vs 45 sales

4 bed $1.05M / $907K
Warabrook — 4 bed: $1.05M (13 sales) Shortland — 4 bed: $907K (9 sales)

13 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Warabrook has more industrially zoned land (16% vs 0%); Shortland has more land zoned for conservation (42% vs 28%).

Warabrook Shortland
Environmental 28% 42%
Residential 41% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 24%
Industrial 16% 0%
Parks and recreation 7% 13%
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

Warabrook 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.

Warabrook Shortland
Houses 3.8%
$645/wk on $876K
 4.3%
$650/wk on $780K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Warabrook Shortland
House price Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 30% of NSW
Income Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 33% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 84% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 86% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 65% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW

Liveability

Warabrook scores higher overall (56 vs 43); Warabrook is more walkable (76 vs 63).

Warabrook Shortland
Grade B C
Score 56/100 43/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Shortland carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0).

Warabrook Shortland
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime High
70/100
 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 15
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Warabrook Shortland
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 1.3 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 5.3%

Schools in Warabrook

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

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

Warabrook Shortland
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 0 12
Childcare 2
same for both
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 5

Mobility

Warabrook sits further from the CBD (159.9 km vs 156.5 km).

Warabrook Shortland
Walkability score 76/100 63/100
Distance to Sydney 159.9 km
+2% vs other
 156.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 122 min 118 min
Public transport score 80/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 45.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2304
 0.5%
postcode 2307
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2304
 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.

Warabrook Shortland
Car (driver) 67.5% / 74.1%
Warabrook — Car (driver): 67.5% Shortland — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 24.2% / 19.0%
Warabrook — Worked from Home: 24.2% Shortland — Worked from Home: 19.0%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 4.1%
Warabrook — Car (passenger): 3.8% Shortland — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 2.2% / 0.8%
Warabrook — Walked Only: 2.2% Shortland — Walked Only: 0.8%
Bus 0.8% / 1.6%
Warabrook — Bus: 0.8% Shortland — Bus: 1.6%
Train 1.5% / 0.2%
Warabrook — Train: 1.5% Shortland — Train: 0.2%

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

Setting

Warabrook Shortland
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.2 km 6.5 km

NBN connectivity

Warabrook Shortland
Connectivity score 95/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 85%
1,044 premises
 40%
2,006 premises

Climate

Warabrook 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)

Warabrook Shortland
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³ 6.1 µg/m³
PM10 21.1 µg/m³ 16.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.75 pphm 0.53 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Warabrook

Parks Quiet Retirees Townhouses Trains Transport Hub

Shortland

Parks Quiet River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Warabrook

Warabrook vs Waratah West Warabrook vs Mayfield West Warabrook vs Callaghan Warabrook vs Sandgate

Other comparisons with Shortland

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