Charlestown
NSW 2290 · Lake Macquarie
13,601 (2021) → 13,988 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Lake Macquarie local government area (est. 222,310 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Charlestown is a moderate growth suburb in Lake Macquarie, NSW 2290, about 110km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $1.05M is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 7 schools, a transport score of 64/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Charlestown has an overall score of 69/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 68/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2290 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (2.13%), New Zealand (1.01%), China (0.94%), India (0.74%), Philippines (0.54%)
Top languages: Mandarin (0.92%), Macedon (0.88%), Cantonese (0.72%), Italian (0.45%), Nepali (0.4%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: NSW Valuer General · Updated Q1 2026
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: BOCSAR · Updated March 2026
Schools
Strong school options
Well above average — good-quality schools within reach and a healthy range of options to choose from.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1021 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1102
- Charlestown South Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1075
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1037
- Charlestown East Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1036
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1020
- Newcastle Junior SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 940
- Alesco Secondary College - Charlestown CampusSecondary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- Lakeside SchoolCombined · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 910
- St Paul's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.4kmICSEA 1023
- St Mary's Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 1.5kmICSEA 1062
- Kahibah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1076
- Whitebridge High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1022
- Wiripaang Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 853
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.1kmICSEA 1104
- Hunter Sports High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.2kmICSEA 955
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1069
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1045
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 1066
- Mount Hutton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.6kmICSEA 940
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Decent access
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of fitness facilities, with more variety a short drive away.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Limited outdoor options
Below average — fewer parks and green spaces close by.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Few cultural venues
Very few cultural venues in and around this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: Liquor & Gaming NSW · Updated June 2024
Childcare
Some choices available
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of childcare options, though popular services may have waiting lists.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Lake Macquarie
Compare Charlestown with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Charlestown
Is Charlestown safe?
Charlestown has a residential safety score of 68/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 7,970 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Charlestown?
In Charlestown, the median house price is $1.05M and the median unit price is $713K. Median weekly house rent is $720.
How far is Charlestown from Sydney CBD?
Charlestown is about 110.5 km from Sydney CBD, an estimated 249 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Charlestown?
Charlestown has 7 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1035 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Charlestown?
Charlestown has a transport score of 64/100 and 115 bus stops.