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 was 26,079 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure reflects an increase of 825 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 25,254. The growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 25,944 in June 2024 and an additional 273 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,170 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Charlestown - Dudley's growth rate of 3.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area's rate of 2.9%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 50.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch uses NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, 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. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of locations outside capital cities, with Charlestown - Dudley expected to increase by 3,009 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, marking a total increase of 11.0% over the 17 years.

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

Charlestown - Dudley has granted approximately 124 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 620 homes were approved, with an additional 40 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, about 1.4 new residents have arrived per new home each year over these five years.

This balance between supply and demand has maintained stable market conditions. The average expected construction cost of new dwellings is around $323,000. In terms of commercial development, approximately $26.1 million in approvals were registered this financial year. Compared to the rest of NSW, Charlestown - Dudley's construction activity has been somewhat elevated, at 17.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This has contributed to maintaining good buyer choice and supporting existing property values.

However, recent construction activity has eased slightly. Recent developments consist of 35.0% standalone homes and 65.0% medium and high-density housing. This shift towards higher-density living creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers, reflecting a considerable change from the current housing mix, which is currently 80.0% houses. With around 371 people per approval, Charlestown - Dudley indicates a mature market. Looking ahead, it is projected to grow by approximately 2,874 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 35 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Lake Macquarie Private Hospital Expansion, Macquarie Tower, Uniting Charlestown, and Charlestown Private Hospital and Medical Centre. The following list details those 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 prominent essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, and there was a 2.3% employment growth in the past year (as of June 2025).

There are 14,088 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% lower than Rest of NSW's 3.7%. 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. Health care & social assistance has a strong presence with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level (0.2% in agriculture, forestry & fishing compared to regionally 5.3%).

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. In the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3%, and labour force increased by 2.5%, raising unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of NSW where employment fell by 0.1%, labour force expanded by 0.3%, and unemployment rose by 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, with varying rates across industries. Applying these projections to Charlestown-Dudley's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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 ended June 2022 shows median income in Charlestown - Dudley is $55,290 and average income is $74,133. This compares to Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% from financial year ended June 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $62,262 and average income is around $83,481 as of September 2025. Census data indicates incomes in Charlestown - Dudley cluster at the 58th percentile nationally. Income brackets show 31.3% of population (8,162 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income. Disposable income ranks at the 55th percentile and SEIFA income ranking places area 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). This compares to Non-Metro NSW's 82.4% houses and 17.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charlestown - Dudley was at 35.2%, with the rest either mortgaged (38.4%) or rented (26.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with Non-Metro NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $370. Nationally, Charlestown - Dudley's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000, while rents exceeded 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 comprise 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 matches the average for the Rest of NSW.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 28.0% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. This rate also exceeds that of the SA3 area at 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 also prominent, with 37.8% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (27.0%). Educational participation is high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This comprises 10.2% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education. Fifteen schools serve a total of 5,258 students in the area, which demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1014) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes ten primary, four secondary, and one K-12 school. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 20.2 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.6, suggesting that the area serves 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

Transport analysis shows 223 active transport stops operating within Charlestown-Dudley. These comprise a mix of buses serving 72 individual routes, providing 2,346 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 154 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 335 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 10 weekly trips per 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, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 56% of the total population (~14,734 people) have private health cover, compared to 54.2% across Rest of NSW.

Mental health issues impact 9.9% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.3%. Sixty-six percent declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.6% in Rest of NSW. Sixteen-point-nine percent of residents are aged 65 and over (4,407 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 low 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 predominant religion, comprising 48.3% of people in Charlestown-Dudley. Judaism is slightly overrepresented compared to Rest of NSW, with 0.1% of the population identifying as such.

In terms of ancestry, Australian (30.0%), English (30.0%), and Scottish (9.0%) are the top represented groups. Notably, Welsh (0.8%), Macedonian (0.8%), and Australian Aboriginal (3.3%) populations are slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages.

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%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.0% to 15.1%, and the 25-34 cohort increased from 13.9% to 14.9%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 11.3% to 10.1%. By 2041, projections indicate significant shifts in Charlestown - Dudley's age structure. The 25-34 age group is projected to increase by 1,133 people (29%), from 3,890 to 5,024. Conversely, both the 15-24 and 65-74 age groups are expected to decrease in number.