Stickybeak

Charlestown 2290 suburb insights

Thinking about buying in Charlestown (2290)? This page consolidates 16 data cards from NSW government, the ABS, and Transport for NSW to help you build a complete picture of what ownership and life in the Lake Macquarie suburb actually looks like. The analysis covers affordability signals — median sale prices, rental yield, and first home buyer eligibility — alongside lifestyle indicators including school catchments and walkability, risk factors such as flood and bushfire exposure, and suburb-change metrics covering the development pipeline and price trajectory. Jump between the four sections using the sticky navigation above, or scroll through the full analysis below.

Last refreshed May 2026 (most cards). Per-card sources show exact dates.

All data has limits. See our data caveats.

Affordability

Can I afford Charlestown?

Can I afford Charlestown?

Rental market in Charlestown

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
Dec 22: $450 per week (bond count suppressed)Mar 23: $430 per week (bond count suppressed)Jun 23: $485 per week (bond count suppressed)Sep 23: $493 per week (bond count suppressed)Dec 23: $475 per week (bond count suppressed)Mar 24: $470 per week (bond count suppressed)Jun 24: $495 per week (bond count suppressed)Sep 24: $500 per week (bond count suppressed)Dec 24: $530 per week (bond count suppressed)Mar 25: $540 per week (bond count suppressed)Jun 25: $550 per week (bond count suppressed)Sep 25: $560 per week (bond count suppressed)Dec 22Jun 24Sep 25

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.

Lifestyle

Charlestown Lifestyle

Source: ABS Census 2021, Postal Areas (CC BY 4.0).

Dealbreakers

Any dealbreakers?

View dealbreakers as a standalone report →

Change

How might Charlestown change?

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.

NSW PLANNING PORTAL
How might Charlestown change?

Investor activity in Charlestown

2290 · ATO Taxation Statistics · ~18-month lag
Source: ATO Taxation Statistics (CC BY 2.5 AU).

What to do next

Three steps to move from research to action.

1
Get pre-approved

Know your budget before you inspect. A pre-approval letter strengthens your offer.

Read our guides
2
Set a listings alert

See new listings in Charlestown.

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3
Join the contract-review waitlist

Have your Section 66W reviewed before you sign.

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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.

Nords Wharf 2281Warners Bay 2282

Frequently asked questions

What suburb is postcode 2290?
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.

Explore Charlestown in depth

Dig deeper into specific topics for Charlestown 2290: see flood risk, schools, walkability, and rental market as standalone pages. Or browse the full Lake Macquarie suburb index to compare nearby options.