Charlestown - Dudley
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Charlestown - Dudley reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Charlestown - Dudley's population, as of August 2025, is approximately 26,044, indicating a rise of 790 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 3.1% growth from the previously reported figure of 25,254. The rise is inferred from an estimated resident population of 25,944 in June 2024 and an additional 259 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,168 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages observed across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Notably, Charlestown - Dudley's growth rate of 3.1% since the 2021 census exceeds that of the SA3 area at 2.8%, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 50.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Charlestown - Dudley is projected to increase by approximately 3,009 persons, representing an overall increase of 11.2% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Charlestown - Dudley when compared nationally

Charlestown - Dudley has approved approximately 124 residential properties annually, with a total of 620 homes granted approval over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25. In the current financial year FY-26, 22 homes have been approved so far. On average, about 1.4 new residents have arrived per newly constructed home each year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand ratio in the housing market.

The average construction cost of new dwellings over this period was $448,000. In terms of commercial development, $26.1 million worth of approvals have been registered in the current financial year. Compared to the rest of NSW, Charlestown - Dudley has shown elevated construction activity, with a 17.0% increase per person over the past five years. This higher level of construction supports good buyer choice and maintains existing property values, although there has been a recent easing in construction activity. The current housing mix comprises 35.0% standalone homes and 65.0% medium to high-density housing.

This shift towards higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, marking a significant change from the previous housing mix of 80.0% houses. With approximately 371 people per approval, Charlestown - Dudley indicates a mature market. Projections suggest that the area is expected to grow by around 2,909 residents by the year 2041. Given current construction levels, it is anticipated that housing supply will adequately meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Charlestown - Dudley has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 35 potential impact projects in total. Key projects include Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Expansion, Macquarie Tower, Uniting Charlestown, and Charlestown Private Hospital and Medical Centre. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment performance in Charlestown - Dudley exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Charlestown - Dudley has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.7%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%. As of June 2025, 14,088 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% below the regional average. Workforce participation is high at 64.4%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training, with a strong specialization in health care & social assistance (130% of regional level).

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.2%, compared to the regional average of 5.3%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3% and labour force grew by 2.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% decrease in employment, a 0.3% increase in labour force, and an unemployment rate rise of 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Charlestown - Dudley's industry mix suggests local employment could grow by approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though these are illustrative extrapolations not accounting for localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that Charlestown - Dudley has a high national median income of $55,290 and an average income of $74,133. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $62,262 (median) and $83,481 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Charlestown - Dudley cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. Income brackets reveal that 31.3% of the population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 29.9%. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 55th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Charlestown - Dudley is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Charlestown - Dudley, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.2% houses and 19.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.4% houses and 17.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charlestown - Dudley stood at 35.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.4% and rented ones at 26.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average, while the median weekly rent was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Charlestown - Dudley's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, and rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

Charlestown - Dudley has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 71.1% of all households, including 31.5% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.9%, with lone person households at 25.4% and group households comprising 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of NSW.

Educational attainment in Charlestown - Dudley aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The educational profile of the area is notable within its region, with 28.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications, surpassing both the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA3 area's rate of 23.5%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 37.8% of residents aged 15 and above possessing such skills - advanced diplomas comprise 10.8% while certificates account for 27.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education. The area has 15 schools serving a total of 5,258 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1014) indicating balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix consists of 10 primary, 4 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School capacity exceeds residential needs, with 20.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.6, suggesting the area functions as an educational hub for the broader region. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Charlestown-Dudley has 223 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 72 different routes that together facilitate 2,346 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average being 154 meters from the nearest stop.

On a daily basis, there are an average of 335 trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Charlestown - Dudley is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Charlestown - Dudley faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~14,714 people), compared to 54.2% across Rest of NSW. Mental health issues impact 9.9% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.3%. 66.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.6% across Rest of NSW. As of 16 September 2021, 16.9% of residents are aged 65 and over (4,401 people), which is lower than the 21.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Charlestown - Dudley is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Charlestown-Dudley has a below-average cultural diversity level, with 88.7% of its population born in Australia, 92.7% being citizens, and 92.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 48.3% of Charlestown-Dudley's population. Notably, Judaism is slightly overrepresented compared to Rest of NSW, with 0.1% in Charlestown-Dudley versus 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (30.0%), English (30.0%), and Scottish (9.0%). Other ethnic groups show notable differences: Welsh is equally represented at 0.8%, Macedonian is slightly overrepresented at 0.8% compared to the regional average of 0.4%, and Australian Aboriginal is slightly underrepresented at 3.3% versus 3.4%.

Charlestown - Dudley's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Charlestown-Dudley is 37 years, which is lower than the Rest of NSW average of 43 years and close to the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are prominent at 14.9%, while those aged 65-74 are smaller at 8.6% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.0% to 15.1%, and the 25-34 cohort has increased from 13.9% to 14.9%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 11.3% to 10.1%. By 2041, demographic projections show that the 25-34 age group is expected to increase by 1,138 people (29%), reaching 5,024 from 3,885. Meanwhile, both the 15-24 and 65-74 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.