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New South Wales · Postcode 2290
Charlestown postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 110 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Charlestown at a glance vs NSW
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against NSW
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Detailed comparison table
Charlestown vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Charlestown | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $1,839 ≈NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $400 -NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,000 -NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 38 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 7/10 ≈NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 3.9% -NSW | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the NSW average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Postcode 2290 covers Charlestown, an inland suburb of Sydney about 110 km from the city centre. It forms part of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales. Local government services are provided by Lake Macquarie.
According to the 2021 Census, Charlestown has a population of 13,601 with a median age of 38. The median weekly household income is $1,839, close to the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 3.9%, lower than the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 518 (3.8% of residents).
Housing in Charlestown includes a median weekly rent of $400, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,000, with 5,302 total dwellings. Housing costs in the area sit below the NSW average. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 73.3% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Charlestown scores in decile 7 out of 10, which is above the national average.
There are 5 schools in the Charlestown area, including St Joseph's Primary School, Charlestown East Public School, Charlestown South Public School and others.
Charlestown is part of the Newcastle statistical area in New South Wales.
Charlestown details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2290 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 13,601 |
| Median Age | 38 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $1,839/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $880/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $400 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,000 |
| Average Household Size | 2.5 persons |
| Area | 7.1 km² |
| Population Density | 1912/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 5,302 |
| Australian Citizens | 92.1% |
| Indigenous Population | 518 (3.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 7/10 (above average) |
| Latitude | -32.965 |
| Longitude | 151.685 |
| Distance from Sydney | 110 km |
| Region (SA4) | Newcastle and Lake Macquarie |
| Area (SA3) | Newcastle |
| Local Government | Lake Macquarie |
| Federal Electorate | Shortland |
| State Electorate | Swansea |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 2,533 (18.6%) |
| 15–24 years | 1,504 (11.1%) |
| 25–44 years | 3,993 (29.4%) |
| 45–64 years | 3,075 (22.6%) |
| 65+ years | 2,493 (18.3%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Arthritis | 1,292 (9.5%) |
| Asthma | 1,181 (8.7%) |
| Heart Disease | 621 (4.6%) |
| Diabetes | 576 (4.2%) |
| Cancer | 415 (3.1%) |
| Lung Condition | 230 (1.7%) |
| Dementia | 125 (0.9%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 333 (6.4%) |
| 1 vehicle | 1,861 (35.5%) |
| 2 vehicles | 2,141 (40.9%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 905 (17.3%) |
Schools in Charlestown
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Charlestown. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Charlestown
Same Postcode (2290)
More Charlestown Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.