Suburb report · NSW 2290
Charlestown
Prepared by the property strategists at Chase Wealth Australia
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Population
13,988
Charlestown suburb profile
Who lives in Charlestown
Charlestown is a regional centre 110km from the Sydney CBD. Charlestown is one of the most populous suburbs in New South Wales, with 13,988 residents, more than 91% of the state's suburbs. Among the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, it ranks 25 by population. A median age of 38 places Charlestown at the 36th percentile of New South Wales suburbs, on the younger side. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 517 of 763 have an older median age. That is in line with the average of 38.1 across the other 4 suburbs of the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area.
Income and home ownership
Households earn a median $103,600 a year, higher than 49% of New South Wales suburbs. That matches the average of $105,067 across the other 4 suburbs of the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area. On household income it ranks 246 of 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD. 73.3% of households own their home and 26.7% rent, close to the 73.1% ownership of a typical New South Wales suburb. 428 of the 763 New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD have a higher ownership share. Across the other 4 suburbs of the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area, the ownership share is 73.7%, so tenure here is typical of the area.
Household mix
The 2021 Census counted 5,302 occupied private dwellings in Charlestown, one of the larger housing stocks in New South Wales. Families with children are the largest household type at 43.3%, ahead of couples without children at 26.8% and people living alone at 26.1%. Among New South Wales suburbs and towns more than 40km from the Sydney CBD, 422 of 761 have a smaller share of families with children than Charlestown. The 3.9% share of group households runs above most of New South Wales, at the 78th percentile. The 26.8% share of couples without children is typical for New South Wales. In the other 4 suburbs of the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area, families with children make up 47.3% of households, against 43.3% here.
Housing supply
Approvals have fallen sharply: 67 new dwellings were approved across the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area in the year to June 2025, against its 2020 to 2024 average of 125 a year. Supply figures here are for the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area, home to 26,087 residents in 2025, which takes in Charlestown and neighbouring suburbs. At 2.6 per 1,000 residents of that area, the pipeline sits mid-range for New South Wales, above 46% of areas. Between 2020 and 2025 the area's approvals peaked at 217 in 2023 and bottomed at 61 in 2020.
Population trend
The population of the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area grew 3.5% from 2020 to 2025, against 5.9% for New South Wales as a whole. Over those 5 years a typical New South Wales statistical area added 2.5%, putting this area 1 points ahead. That rate is faster than 59% of New South Wales statistical areas. The fastest single year was to 2023, at 0.9%, and the slowest to 2025, at 0.4%.
Against its neighbours
Of the nearby suburbs listed below, Wallsend differs most on the owner-occupied share: 61.8% there against 73.3% in Charlestown. New Lambton is the closest match on the share of families with children, at 43.9% against 43.3%. At 7km, Merewether counts 12,166 residents against 13,988 in Charlestown.
Location
Demographics
ABS Data by Region to 2025, on ABS Census 2021 suburb baselineHousehold Mix Census 2021
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Reading this report
Every figure in the Charlestown data table is dated at its source. Supply and population change cover the Charlestown-Dudley statistical area, whose boundary differs from Charlestown's, and our guide to reading a suburb report explains how our buyers agents weigh them.
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This report is market intelligence prepared by Chase Wealth Australia for general information only. Figures are statistical estimates for the suburb, not valuations of any individual property, and do not constitute financial or credit advice. Consider your circumstances and seek professional advice before acting. Demographic figures are sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021 (licensed CC BY 4.0) where available.