Charlestown - Dudley

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 is around 26,304 as of Feb 2026. This shows an increase of 1,050 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 25,254. The change is inferred from ABS estimates: 25,944 in June 2024 and an additional 303 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,180 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Charlestown - Dudley's growth rate of 4.2% since the 2021 census exceeds the SA3 area's growth rate of 4.1%. Natural growth contributed approximately 50.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to grow by 3,009 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 10.1% over the 17-year period.

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

Charlestown - Dudley has averaged approximately 124 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 620 homes. As of FY-26, 49 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.4 people move to the area per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction value of new homes is $323,000.

In FY-26, $26.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to the rest of NSW, Charlestown - Dudley has seen slightly more development activity, with 17.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. Recent construction comprises 35.0% standalone homes and 65.0% medium and high-density housing. This shift from the current housing mix of 80.0% houses reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Charlestown - Dudley indicates a mature market with around 371 people per approval.

Future projections estimate an addition of 2,649 residents by 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development patterns suggest that new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

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

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 35 potential impact projects. Notable ones include Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Expansion, Uniting Charlestown, 27 Dickinson Street Residential Development, and 14 Frederick Street Residential Development. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

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

Charlestown-Dudley has an educated workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.2% as of September 2025, lower than the Rest of NSW's 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.0%.

As of September 2025, 14,045 residents were employed with a workforce participation rate of 69.6%, higher than the Rest of NSW's 61.5%. A significant 27.1% of residents worked from home according to Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training, with a notable specialisation in health care & social assistance at 1.3 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 0.2% employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%.

While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 3.0%, labour force grew by 3.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, the Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5% with a slight contraction in labour force and a similar increase in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Charlestown-Dudley's employment mix suggests local employment could increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 2023 shows that income in Charlestown - Dudley SA2 is higher than average nationally. The median income is $59,168 and the average income stands at $73,292. This contrasts with Rest of NSW's figures where the median income is $52,390 and the average income is $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Charlestown - Dudley would be approximately $64,410 (median) and $79,786 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Charlestown - Dudley cluster around the 57th percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate that 31.3% of the population, which is 8,233 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, aligning with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 29.9%. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, though 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 ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure in Charlestown - Dudley, as evaluated at the latest Census conducted on 28 August 2016, comprised 80.2% houses and 19.8% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charlestown - Dudley was at 35.2%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (38.4%) or rented (26.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $390. Nationally, Charlestown - Dudley's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

Charlestown - Dudley has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 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 constitute 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 is larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate of 28.0% for residents aged 15+ exceeds the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. This is also higher than the SA3 area average of 23.5%, indicating a strong emphasis on higher education in the community. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%).

Vocational credentials are held by 37.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 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.

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

Charlestown-Dudley has 252 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are served by 72 individual routes, providing a total of 2,378 weekly passenger trips. Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 154 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area, with cars being the dominant mode of transport at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a high 27.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 339 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop. The map provided shows the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.

Charlestown - Dudley's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Charlestown's health metrics are close to national benchmarks according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat typical for the general population but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~14,572 people), compared to 51.9% across Rest of NSW. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.9 and 8.3% of residents respectively. 66.0% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Rest of NSW. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.8% of residents aged 65 and over (4,419 people), which is lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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, with 88.7% of its population born in Australia, 92.7% being citizens, and 92.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Charlestown-Dudley, comprising 48.3% of its population. Judaism appears to be overrepresented, with 0.1% of the population compared to 0.1% across Rest of NSW.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (30.0%), English (30.0%), and Scottish (9.0%). Notably, Welsh (0.8%) and Macedonian (0.8%) groups are overrepresented in Charlestown-Dudley compared to regional averages of 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Additionally, Australian Aboriginal representation is lower at 3.3% compared to the regional average of 4.6%.

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 15.2%, while those aged 65-74 are smaller in number at 8.6% compared to Rest of NSW. Between 2021 and the present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.0% to 15.4% of the population, while the 25-34 cohort increased from 13.9% to 15.2%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has declined from 11.3% to 9.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Charlestown - Dudley's age structure. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to increase by 1,015 people (25%), growing from 4,008 to 5,024. Conversely, both the 15-24 and 65-74 age groups are expected to decrease in number.