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 $1.00M 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
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 Q4 2025
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 2025
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 1111
- Charlestown South Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1064
- Charlestown East Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1040
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1025
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1007
- Newcastle Junior SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 968
- Alesco Senior College - Charlestown CampusSecondary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- St Paul's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.4kmICSEA 1043
- St Mary's Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 1.5kmICSEA 1057
- Kahibah Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1066
- Whitebridge High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.8kmICSEA 1021
- Wiripaang Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 826
- Lakeside SchoolCombined · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 892
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.1kmICSEA 1103
- Hunter Sports High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.2kmICSEA 946
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1065
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1045
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 1057
- Mount Hutton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.6kmICSEA 937
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
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.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
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
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
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Lake Macquarie
Compare Charlestown with another suburb
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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 8,669 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Charlestown?
In Charlestown, the median house price is $1.00M and the median unit price is $704K. Median weekly house rent is $700.
How far is Charlestown from Sydney CBD?
Charlestown is about 110.5 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Charlestown?
Charlestown has 7 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1036 (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.