Charlestown vs Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)
The verdict
Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) is more affordable, with a median house price of $870K versus $1.05M in Charlestown. Charlestown rates higher for education (60 vs 46). Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) rates higher for liveability (90 vs 81). Charlestown is closer to the coast (3.3 km vs 5.2 km). On the separate residential safety score, Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) rates higher (82 vs 68/100 in Charlestown).
Scores
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 69 | 65 |
| Transport | 64 | 55 |
| Education | 60 | 46 |
| Liveability | 81 | 90 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,601 | 641 |
| Median age | 38 | 40 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,839 | $1,970 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 39.7% | 22.7% |
| Born in Australia | 84.2% | 91.4% |
| Avg household size | 2.5 | 2.7 |
Growth: Charlestown Moderate Growth · Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) Moderate Growth
Property
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.05M | $870K |
| Median unit price | $713K | Data not available |
| House price YoY | 20.9% | Data not available |
| Median rent — house (wk) | $720 | $720 |
| Rental yield (house) | 3.4% | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | 40 | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 68 | 82 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 191 | 0 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 213 | 468 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 368 | 312 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 7,970 | 3,744 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 7 | 0 |
| Government | 5 | 0 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,035 | Data not available |
See the full school list on each profile: Charlestown · Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)
Transport
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 64 | 55 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 115 | 8 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 249 | 249 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 2.9 km | 2.4 km |
Liveability
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 27.5°C | 27.5°C |
| Winter max temp | 18.0°C | 18.0°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Supermarkets | 3 | 0 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 4 | 0 |
| Parks | 7 | 0 |
| Playgrounds | 4 | Data not available |
| Swimming pools | 4 | Data not available |
| Medical GPs | 8 | 0 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 3.3 km | 5.2 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 110.5 km | 110.3 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 3.3 km | 5.3 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 5.0 km | 5.0 km |
Population & growth
| Charlestown | Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 13,601 | 641 |
| Estimated 2025 | 13,988 | 663 |
| Projected 2041 | 15,417 | 747 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.70% | 0.85% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Charlestown or Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)?
Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) has the higher residential safety score (Charlestown 68/100 vs Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) 82/100).
Which is more affordable, Charlestown or Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)?
Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) is more affordable, with a median house price of $870K versus $1.05M.
Which has better public transport, Charlestown or Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie)?
Charlestown has the higher transport score (Charlestown 64/100 vs Hillsborough (Lake Macquarie) 55/100).
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