Waratah vs Waratah West

Waratah West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 41 in Waratah. In both, about half of households rent and most homes are detached houses. In Waratah, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Waratah tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Waratah West suits young adults and share households.

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

Waratah West

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 62%)
  • carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 91/100)
  • But Waratah has more childcare (9 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Waratah West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($621,000 vs $734,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Waratah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($350/wk vs $390/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Waratah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 70/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Waratah

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 15%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (25% vs 15%)
  • But Waratah West carries lower crime risk (71/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Waratah Waratah West
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.

Waratah Waratah West
Walkability 88 / 70
Waratah — Walkability: 88/100 Waratah West — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 9 / 29
Waratah — Safety: 9/100 Waratah West — Safety: 29/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Waratah — Low fire risk: 100/100 Waratah West — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Waratah has more residents (4,927 vs 3,142); Waratah skews older (41 vs 31).

Waratah Waratah West
Population 4,927
+36% vs other
 3,142
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.7% +5.2%
Median age 41 31
Median household income $78,572/yr $78,936/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk $390/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Waratah Waratah West
0-4 4.0% / 5.2%
Waratah — 0-4: 4.0% Waratah West — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 8.2% / 8.5%
Waratah — 5-14: 8.2% Waratah West — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 4.2% / 6.6%
Waratah — 15-19: 4.2% Waratah West — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 8.4% / 13.5%
Waratah — 20-24: 8.4% Waratah West — 20-24: 13.5%
25-34 17.0% / 21.7%
Waratah — 25-34: 17.0% Waratah West — 25-34: 21.7%
35-44 11.3% / 11.6%
Waratah — 35-44: 11.3% Waratah West — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 11.3% / 9.4%
Waratah — 45-54: 11.3% Waratah West — 45-54: 9.4%
55-64 10.2% / 8.8%
Waratah — 55-64: 10.2% Waratah West — 55-64: 8.8%
65-74 9.1% / 6.1%
Waratah — 65-74: 9.1% Waratah West — 65-74: 6.1%
75-84 7.4% / 5.7%
Waratah — 75-84: 7.4% Waratah West — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 8.8% / 3.3%
Waratah — 85+: 8.8% Waratah West — 85+: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Waratah 45.7% lone person
Waratah — Lone Person: 45.7% Waratah — Couple Families: 24.0% Waratah — One Parent Families: 17.0% Waratah — Group Household: 11.0% Waratah — Other Families: 2.2%
Waratah West 36.8% lone person
Waratah West — Lone Person: 36.8% Waratah West — Couple Families: 26.3% Waratah West — One Parent Families: 15.8% Waratah West — Group Household: 18.1% Waratah West — Other Families: 3.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Waratah 48.4% renting
Waratah — Owned Outright: 22.2% Waratah — Mortgage: 29.3% Waratah — Renting: 48.4%
Waratah West 45.5% renting
Waratah West — Owned Outright: 25.6% Waratah West — Mortgage: 29.0% Waratah West — Renting: 45.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Waratah Waratah West
Bachelor Degree 14.4% / 14.4%
Waratah — Bachelor Degree: 14.4% Waratah West — Bachelor Degree: 14.4%
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 14.3%
Waratah — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Waratah West — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 6.6%
Waratah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% Waratah West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.9% / 5.1%
Waratah — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9% Waratah West — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 1.5%
Waratah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Waratah West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

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.

Waratah Waratah West
England 1.8% / 1.9%
Waratah — England: 1.8% Waratah West — England: 1.9%
China 0.6% / 1.4%
Waratah — China: 0.6% Waratah West — China: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.5%
Waratah — New Zealand: 1.3% Waratah West — New Zealand: 0.5%
India 0.7% / 0.9%
Waratah — India: 0.7% Waratah West — India: 0.9%
Pakistan 0.4% / 0.9%
Waratah — Pakistan: 0.4% Waratah West — Pakistan: 0.9%
Nepal 1.2% / —
Waratah — Nepal: 1.2% Waratah West — Nepal: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.1%
Waratah — Vietnam: not among its largest Waratah West — Vietnam: 1.1%
Philippines 0.8% / —
Waratah — Philippines: 0.8% Waratah West — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Waratah 62.5% houses
Waratah — Houses: 62.5% Waratah — Townhouses: 19.4% Waratah — Flats / Apartments: 18.1%
Waratah West 85.2% houses
Waratah West — Houses: 85.2% Waratah West — Townhouses: 9.1% Waratah West — Flats / Apartments: 5.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Waratah Waratah West
Median house price $975,000 $930,000
Median unit price $734,000 $621,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 19 sales
 20 days
from 19 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.

Waratah Waratah West
2 bed $900K / $907K
Waratah — 2 bed: $900K (9 sales) Waratah West — 2 bed: $907K (9 sales)

9 vs 9 sales

3 bed $999K / $932K
Waratah — 3 bed: $999K (40 sales) Waratah West — 3 bed: $932K (58 sales)

40 vs 58 sales

4 bed $1.02M / $960K
Waratah — 4 bed: $1.02M (10 sales) Waratah West — 4 bed: $960K (20 sales)

10 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Waratah West has more land zoned for conservation (23% vs 2%).

Waratah Waratah West
Residential 71% 62%
Environmental 2% 23%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 10%
Parks and recreation 8% 5%
Commercial 6% 0%
Industrial 3% 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

Waratah Waratah West
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.

Waratah Waratah West
Houses 4.0%
$750/wk on $972K
 4.1%
$735/wk on $932K
Units 4.8%
$480/wk on $525K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Waratah Waratah West
House price Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW
Income Higher than 46% of NSW
same for both
Schools Higher than 3% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 88% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 49% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of NSW Higher than 78% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 55% of NSW —

Liveability

Waratah West scores higher overall (54 vs 42); Waratah is more walkable (88 vs 70).

Waratah Waratah West
Grade C B
Score 42/100 54/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Waratah carries more crime risk (91 vs 71).

Waratah Waratah West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 High
71/100
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 18
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Waratah Waratah West
Inside the suburb 8 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 2.4 km
 2
The University of Newcastle (Callaghan), 1.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 7.8%

Schools in Waratah

  • Callaghan College Waratah Campus Government · Secondary at peers
  • Corpus Christi Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Philip's Christian College - Waratah Independent · Combined at peers
  • Waratah Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Philip's Christian College Dynamic Learning Independent · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Newcastle Middle School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Waratah West

  • Waratah West Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Aspect Hunter School, Waratah West Satellite Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Waratah Waratah West
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 3 6
Childcare 9 1
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0

Mobility

Waratah Waratah West
Walkability score 88/100 70/100
Distance to Sydney 155.3 km 155.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 117 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 145.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 64.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2298
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 2298
same for both

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.

Waratah Waratah West
Car (driver) 62.3% / 67.8%
Waratah — Car (driver): 62.3% Waratah West — Car (driver): 67.8%
Worked from Home 26.8% / 22.0%
Waratah — Worked from Home: 26.8% Waratah West — Worked from Home: 22.0%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 4.0%
Waratah — Car (passenger): 3.8% Waratah West — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 4.0% / 2.6%
Waratah — Walked Only: 4.0% Waratah West — Walked Only: 2.6%
Bus 1.5% / 2.6%
Waratah — Bus: 1.5% Waratah West — Bus: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.8%).

Setting

Waratah Waratah West
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 3.8 km 4.5 km

NBN connectivity

Waratah Waratah West
Connectivity score 69/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
2,512 premises
 58%
1,472 premises

Climate

Waratah Waratah West
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)

Waratah Waratah West
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 21.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.75 pphm
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Waratah Waratah West
Division Newcastle
same for both
Member Sharon Claydon
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Waratah Waratah West
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Waratah

Parks Retirees

Waratah West

Parks Quiet Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Waratah

Waratah vs Mayfield Waratah vs Lambton Waratah vs North Lambton Waratah vs Georgetown Waratah vs Mayfield West Waratah vs Broadmeadow

Other comparisons with Waratah West

Waratah West vs Lambton Waratah West vs North Lambton Waratah West vs Mayfield West Waratah West vs Warabrook Waratah West vs Callaghan
Full data on Waratah Full data on Waratah West
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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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