Considering Charlestown? This page brings together 17 data cards on what it’s like to live there, what the catchments and amenities are, and where the suburb is heading. The analysis covers safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle.
Is Charlestown a good suburb to buy in 2026?
Charlestown (2290) scores a Stickybeak Grade across safety, family fit, financial picture, and lifestyle. Scroll down for the full 17-card analysis, or use the section navigation to jump to what matters most.
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252 min
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The verdict
Who it is for
Charlestown suits established families and older owner-occupiers who already own a car and are not relying on walkable daily errands. The median household income of $1,839 per week suggests a reasonably comfortable demographic, and the 72% owner-occupier rate signals a stable, settled neighbourhood. With 76% separate houses and 13 public schools averaging an ICSEA of 1004, it is a reasonable fit for families who prioritise space and schooling over urban convenience.
Who would not love it
If you need to walk to a supermarket or a park, the data is blunt: zero of either within 1.6 kilometres, and a walkability score sitting at the 9th percentile. That is genuinely poor. The bushfire-prone land figure is the harder concern. At 70.1% of the postcode area, this is not a minor footnote. Buyers sensitive to insurance costs, evacuation risk, or building restrictions should think carefully before proceeding. The composite Stickybeak grade of C- reflects these structural limitations honestly.
What to verify before you bid
- Confirm the specific bushfire risk category for any property you are considering, as 70.1% postcode coverage means individual lots vary significantly in exposure and BAL rating, which directly affects construction costs and insurance premiums. - Check whether the nearest supermarket requires a car trip and factor that into your daily routine honestly, particularly if any household member does not drive. - Review the financial and safety Stickybeak sub-grades, both rated insufficient, before relying on headline suburb comparisons.
Refreshed fortnightly; last refresh 12 May 2026. Verify any specific fact against its source card below.
SAFETY
Will I feel safe and comfortable in Charlestown?
BOCSAR · CHARLESTOWN 2290
Recorded incidents reported to police
12-month rolling total at suburb level, indexed against Greater Sydney.
RATE PER 100K8,66812 mo to Dec 2025
VS GREATER SYDNEY+8%Above Sydney average
5-YR TREND (LGA)Lake Macquarie
Within LGA: Lake Macquarie
TOP OFFENCE CATEGORIES
THEFT75%630 reports
ASSAULT14%115 reports
AGAINST JUSTICE PROCEDURES11%93 reports
ASSAULT SPLIT (DOMESTIC VS NON-DOMESTIC)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FLAGGED46%
NON-DOMESTIC54%
Across 111 assault reports in this window.
DV-flagged assault has risen statewide as reporting has improved. Compare with caution to suburbs whose population has changed materially.
BOCSAR Recorded Criminal Incidents · Updated March 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Median weekly rent from lodged bonds. Sep 2025. Bond count suppressed by DCJ (30 or fewer lodgements this quarter).
Rents here sit around the Sydney middle. A balance of rental stock and owner-occupier demand.
Median weekly rent · Unit · 2 bed
Small sample
$560per week
Sep 2025 · bond count suppressed
Quarterly trend · last 12 quarters
Nearby suburbs · same combination
Warners Bay2282
$640▲$80
4.4 km away
Adamstown2289
$565▲$5
4.8 km away
Merewether2291
$600▲$40
6.1 km away
Hamilton2303
$470▼$90
8.2 km away
NSW DCJ Rental Bond Board↗ · Sep 2025 · CC BY. Cells with 10 or fewer bond lodgements are suppressed; cells with 30 or fewer have the bond count suppressed but rent published. Figures are transacted rents, not asking rents.
DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE · NSW PLANNING PORTAL · 2290
What’s in the pipeline
NSW Planning Portal feed paused at the source for postcode 2290. Expected back by Q3 2026.
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Compare Charlestown with another suburb
Also in Lake Macquarie
Comparing suburbs in the same area can sharpen your decision. Browse suburb insights for other Lake Macquarie postcodes, or explore the full Lake Macquarie suburb index.
Charlestown is the primary suburb with postcode 2290 in New South Wales. In some cases multiple suburbs share the same postcode — Charlestown is the main locality.
Which local government area is Charlestown in?
Charlestown (2290) is located in the Lake Macquarie local government area in New South Wales.
What data does Stickybeak show for Charlestown?
Stickybeak shows 16 data cards for Charlestown (2290) covering affordability (median sale prices, rental yield, first home buyer eligibility), lifestyle (schools, childcare, walkability, commute times), risk factors (flood zones, bushfire prone land, air quality, traffic volume), and suburb growth signals (development pipeline, price trajectory, demographics).
Is Charlestown flood prone?
Flood risk varies street by street in Charlestown. Check the Dealbreakers section on this page for the latest NSW flood zone mapping sourced from official state government data. Always verify at the property level with a Section 10.7 certificate before purchasing.
What are the best schools near Charlestown?
The Schools card on this page lists primary and secondary schools within the catchment area for Charlestown (2290), including their NAPLAN performance data and distance from the suburb centre.
Is Charlestown (2290) eligible for the First Home Buyer scheme?
The First Home Buyer eligibility card on this page shows which NSW and federal government schemes — including the First Home Guarantee, stamp duty exemptions, and the First Home Super Saver scheme — apply to purchases in Charlestown (2290). Eligibility depends on the purchase price and your individual circumstances.
How is Charlestown changing?
The Change section on this page covers new housing supply from the development pipeline, historical price trajectory, and demographic shifts for Charlestown (2290) using data from NSW Planning, the ATO, and the ABS.
