New South Wales · Postcode 2289
Kotara postcode and suburb data
New South Wales · Phone area code 02 · 112 km from Sydney
Suburb snapshot
Kotara 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.
Where Kotara ranks: household income is in the top 25% of NSW suburbs; SEIFA decile 9 puts it in the top 20% of Australia for socio-economic advantage.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
Kotara vs the NSW average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Kotara | NSW avg | AU avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $2,077 ≈NSW | $1,931 | $1,836 |
| Rent/wk | $460 ≈NSW | $445 | $390 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,167 ≈NSW | $2,247 | $1,958 |
| Median age | 39 | 45.0 | 45.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 9/10 +NSW | 6.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 4.0% -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 2289 covers Kotara, an inland suburb of Sydney about 112 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 Newcastle.
According to the 2021 Census, Kotara has a population of 3,980 with a median age of 39. The median weekly household income is $2,077, close to the NSW average. The unemployment rate is 4.0%, lower than the NSW average. The Indigenous population is 123 (3.1% of residents).
Housing in Kotara includes a median weekly rent of $460, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,167, with 1,476 total dwellings. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 78.4% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Kotara scores in decile 9 out of 10, which is well above the national average.
Schools in Kotara include Kotara South Public School and Kotara School.
Kotara is part of the Newcastle statistical area in New South Wales.
Kotara details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2289 |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 3,980 |
| Median Age | 39 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $2,077/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $927/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $460 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,167 |
| Average Household Size | 2.6 persons |
| Area | 2.5 km² |
| Population Density | 1593/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 1,476 |
| Australian Citizens | 92.7% |
| Indigenous Population | 123 (3.1%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 9/10 (well above average) |
| Latitude | -32.9433965 |
| Longitude | 151.6976421 |
| Distance from Sydney | 112 km |
| Region (SA4) | Newcastle and Lake Macquarie |
| Area (SA3) | Newcastle |
| Local Government | Newcastle |
| Federal Electorate | Newcastle |
| State Electorate | Wallsend |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 764 (19.2%) |
| 15–24 years | 523 (13.1%) |
| 25–44 years | 1,063 (26.7%) |
| 45–64 years | 993 (24.9%) |
| 65+ years | 638 (16.0%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Asthma | 386 (9.7%) |
| Arthritis | 316 (7.9%) |
| Heart Disease | 152 (3.8%) |
| Diabetes | 150 (3.8%) |
| Cancer | 133 (3.3%) |
| Lung Condition | 45 (1.1%) |
| Dementia | 27 (0.7%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 68 (4.6%) |
| 1 vehicle | 481 (32.9%) |
| 2 vehicles | 645 (44.1%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 269 (18.4%) |
Schools in Kotara
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Kotara. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Kotara
Same Postcode (2289)
More Kotara 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.