Kotara
NSW 2289 · Newcastle
3,980 (2021) → 4,200 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Part of the Newcastle local government area (est. 179,758 residents)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Kotara is a moderate growth suburb in Newcastle, NSW 2289, about 113km from Sydney CBD. Its median house price of $966K is around the same as the NSW average. The suburb has 3 schools, a transport score of 92/100, and is a short drive from the coast. Kotara has an overall score of 85/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 68/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (2.76%), New Zealand (0.88%), USA (0.75%), China (0.68%), Nepal (0.5%)
Top languages: Mandarin (0.93%), Macedon (0.75%), Vietnamese (0.58%), Spanish (0.45%), Nepali (0.35%)
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 1022 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- St James' Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1103
- Kotara South Public SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1065
- Kotara SchoolCombined · GovernmentICSEA 933
Nearby (within 10km)
- Kotara High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1057
- New Lambton Heights Infants SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 1125
- Belair Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1109
- Garden Suburb Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1045
- St Pius X High SchoolSecondary · Catholic · 1.8kmICSEA 1098
- Alesco Senior College - Charlestown CampusSecondary · Independent · 2.2km
- New Lambton South Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1100
- Newcastle Junior SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 968
- Charlestown Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1025
- John Hunter Hospital SchoolCombined · Government · 2.5km
- Hillsborough Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.5kmICSEA 1007
- New Lambton Public SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.6kmICSEA 1106
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
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Great outdoor access
Well above average — plenty of parkland and outdoor recreation within easy reach.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Rich cultural scene
Well above average — a strong mix of cultural venues nearby.
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 Newcastle
Compare Kotara with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Kotara
Is Kotara safe?
Kotara 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 17,362 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Kotara?
In Kotara, the median house price is $966K and the median unit price is $845K. Median weekly house rent is $780.
How far is Kotara from Sydney CBD?
Kotara is about 113.0 km from Sydney CBD.
What schools are in Kotara?
Kotara has 3 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1034 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Kotara?
Kotara has a transport score of 92/100, including 1 train station and 48 bus stops.