Moving to Charlestown NSW 2290
What the official numbers say about living in Charlestown — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $400 a week, against a median household income of $1,839 a week.
About 73% of homes are owner-occupied and 27% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Charlestown grew 10% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (12,411 → 13,601 people).
Around 70% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, China; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Macedonian, Cantonese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Charlestown scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (68% of workers), while 28% work from home.
Nearest train station: Kotara, 2.8 km north.
Nearest bus interchange: Newcastle Interchange, 7.6 km north-east.
Nearest airport: Lake Macquarie Airport, 11.9 km south.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 110 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 43 schools · 8 cafes & restaurants · 6 supermarkets · 25 parks · 1 beach — see them all on the Charlestown profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Charlestown Public School 350 m · Pure Dance 450 m · Charlestown South Public School 550 m · St Joseph's Primary School 850 m · Charlestown East Public School 1.2 km · Hillsborough Public School 1.4 km · Lakeside Public School 1.4 km · Newcastle Junior School 1.5 km
Groceries: Aldi 200 m · Woolworths 250 m · Coles 250 m · Foodworks 1.9 km · Woolworths 2.8 km · Coles 2.9 km
Parks and reserves: Mahraahkah Park 100 m · Charlestown Oval 100 m · Anniversary Grove 250 m · Attunga Park 450 m · Lookout Tower Park 1.5 km · Carramar Park 1.6 km · Kahibah Memorial Park 1.6 km · Pickering Oval 1.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Charlestown, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Noisy Miner · Laughing Kookaburra · Australian Magpie · Australian Raven · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Charlestown, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlestown here | 13,601 | — | 7/10 | 26% |
| Kotara South | 1,267 | — | 9/10 | 20% |
| Gateshead | 3,121 | — | 1/10 | 46% |
| Kahibah | 2,603 | — | 8/10 | 20% |
| Whitebridge | 2,900 | — | 9/10 | 60% |
| Kotara | 3,980 | — | 9/10 | 24% |
| Adamstown Heights | 5,621 | — | 10/10 | 22% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Lake Macquarie — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Shortland — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2290 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Charlestown profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $400 a week, and about 27% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 10% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 12,411 people to 13,601. It sits about 110 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line, and Kotara station is roughly 2.8 km away. Local government is Lake Macquarie council, and the federal seat is Shortland.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Charlestown vs Cardiff · Charlestown vs Adamstown.
Nearby guides: Kotara South · Gateshead · Kahibah · Whitebridge · Kotara · Adamstown Heights.
Keep an eye on Charlestown
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