NSW · Newcastle Council

Sandgate, 2304

Est. population · Jun 2025

328

Growth (1 yr)

+2.5%

Growth (5 yr)

+13.5%

Median age

69

Median income

$687/wk

Employment rate

19.8%

University qualified

6.8%

Work from home

0%

Median house price · October to December 2025

$1,055,000

Languages at home

12.8%non-English

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

16/100
Below average

2149th in NSW

Verified 95% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Excellent transport
  • Outer suburban
What Sandgate is known for: Excellent transport, Outer suburban

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Sandgate, NSW suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

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Suburb Guide, “Sandgate, NSW Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/nsw/sandgate-nsw

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Suburb profile

Sandgate is an outer metropolitan suburb of Sydney, in Newcastle Council. It is mainly residential, with little in the way of a distinct commercial centre or landmark identity.

Rents are unusually low against comparable places, with median rents 15% below the peer median. Population has been growing faster than in comparable places, well above typical levels for outer metropolitan suburbs. Space is a strength, but car dependence is high. Trade-offs centre on thinner park access and lower socio-economic advantage, with park access 100% below the peer median.

Sandgate's appeal is better explained by housing, access and location than by a strong standalone precinct or destination.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Outer metropolitan suburb · compared with outer metropolitan suburbs in New South Wales (504)

Strengths

  • Rents are unusually low against comparable places
  • Population has been growing faster than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Park access is a relative weakness
  • Socio-economic advantage is well below comparable places

What stands out

  • Space is a strength, but car dependence is high

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Budget buyers

Housing, growth and risk

How Sandgate compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

$1.05M

+13% change

Median rent

$550/wk

Houses $680 · Units $423

Population (ERP)

328

+2.5% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

7.9%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#152

among Metro Sydney · Mature

Crime rate

79th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

92nd

percentile in NSW

Rented dwellings

47%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

1/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

17th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
16.0/100 — Below average
National rank
6944th in Australia
State rank
2149th in NSW
Peer rank
#152 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#889 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data confidence
95%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

Flats / units (January to March 2026)
$423
Houses (January to March 2026)
$680
All types (January to March 2026)
$550
Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
247
Median house price (October to December 2025)
$1,055,000
Median price change
+13.4%

Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)

Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

328(June 2025)

+2.5% annual · +13.5% over 5 years · 92th percentile in NSW

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.5%
5-year growth
+13.5%
Change in 1 year
+8
Change in 5 years
+39
Growth rank in NSW
92th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~350), extrapolated at +2.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
276
Median age
69
Median household income / week
$687
Dwelling vacancy
7.9%
Unoccupied private dwellings
6 of 76
Median monthly mortgage
$1,684
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$288
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
26.7% / 26.7% / 46.7%
Employment rate
19.8%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
0% / 0% / 63.5%
Walked or cycled to work
0%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
49 / 16 / 0 (+ 5 other)

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

6.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 27.8% across New South Wales. 8% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified6.8% · 27.8% NSW
  • Diploma qualified4.4% · 9.3% NSW
  • Trade / vocational8% · 15% NSW
  • Year 12 or below80.8% · 47.9% NSW

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies39.6%
  • Health18.8%
  • Management and commerce18.8%
  • Education12.5%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services10.4%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$61,838

69th percentile in NSW · +5% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$67,076

65th percentile in NSW · +3% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
12.0%

37th percentile in NSW · -13% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$70,401

50th percentile in NSW · +11% vs Australia

Residents with business income
9.0%

33rd percentile in NSW · -13% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 2304 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
9,419
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,139
Median net rent
-$496
Taxpayers reporting business income
866
Taxable income vs state median
+10%
Salary / wages vs state median
+7%
Rental investment vs state median
-14%
Super vs state median
0%
Business income vs state median
-10%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in NSW, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

12.8% speak a language other than English at home; 15.5% born overseas

Language at home
129 English only · 19 other
Non-English at home
12.8%
Born overseas
23 (15.5%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
16 (5.8%)
Australian citizens
139

Religion

25.7%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 25.7%, while 22.5% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion22.5%32.8%
Christianity25.7%47.6%
Islam4%4.3%
Other / not stated47.8%15.3%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic13.4%22.4%
Anglican6.2%11.9%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 2304, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
36
Against the person
9
Against property
19
Rate per 1,000 residents
109.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 31 residents
State crime-rate percentile
79th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate)
+0.3%
Recorded road crashes (in suburb)
24
Crash rate per 1,000 residents (state rank)
73.17

Most common offence types

  • Fraud3
  • Malicious Damage To Property3
  • Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault3
  • Steal From Motor Vehicle3
  • Steal From Retail Store3

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
2
Median school ICSEA
926
Median ICSEA percentile
17th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
3
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
2
School list
  • Awabakal Environmental Education CentreCombined · Government · 1.3 km awayView on My School →
  • Shortland Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 926 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 271 students · Top SEA quarter 9% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Callaghan JesmondGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Callaghan Waratah TechGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment
  • Heaton PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Mayfield WPSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Shortland PSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

26 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Maitland Rd After Old Maitland Rd
  • Maitland Rd After Old Maitland Rd
  • Maitland Rd Opp Old Maitland Rd
  • Maitland Rd Opp St Joseph's Retirement Community
  • Maitland Rd Opp St Joseph's Retirement Community

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability

Data sources & freshness

  • Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed

Amenities

33 mapped amenities

1 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily needs
  • Well connected by public transport — 26 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
30/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0
Everyday services(1)
  • metroPetrol station
Sport & outdoors(4)
  • Bike R6 Newcastle City Centre – University – Birmingham GardensCycling route
  • R8: Birmingham Gardens to Tarro via Hexham SwampCycling route
  • S5 - Warrabrook Wetlands TracksCycling route
  • Drinking water
Transport(13)

10 bus stops · 3 train stations

Other(8)
  • Makin MattressesBed

    Friesian Close, Sandgate

  • Brothel
  • Sandgate CemeteryGrave Yard
  • Parking (8)
  • Parking Space
  • Post Box
  • Ticket Validator
  • Weighbridge

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0.4%
Woodland / forest cover
0.4%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
0
Typical summer maximum
27°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Hunter Valley Private Hospital (1.9 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0
Aged-care services
2
Residential aged-care places
136

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Aged-care services
  • Calvary Community Care Services - Hunter RegionSANDGATEHome Care
  • Calvary St Joseph's Retirement CommunitySANDGATEResidential

Australian Government–subsidised services from the AIHW GEN list (30 June 2025), assigned to this suburb by location.

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
11
Participants per 1,000 residents
33.5

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
27° / 18°
Rainfall
295 mm · ~37 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
23° / 14°
Rainfall
366 mm · ~46 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
18° / 8°
Rainfall
272 mm · ~34 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
23° / 13°
Rainfall
230 mm · ~29 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.

2026· 5 proposals
  • July 2026

  • Industrial development; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    53 Wallsend Road, SandgateDetermined
  • May 2026

  • Industrial development; Erection of a new structure
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Additional Information Requested
  • March 2026

  • Advertising and signage; Hardware and building supply
    9 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • January 2026

  • Signage; Advertising and signage
    240 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Transport depot
    16 FERRY ROAD SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
2025· 6 proposals
  • September 2025

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle body repair workshop
    8 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • May 2025

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Depot
    16 FERRY ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • March 2025

  • Advertising and signage; Erection of a new structure; Light industry
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Classified road; Highway
    Maitland road, opposite shamrock streetUnder Assessment
  • February 2025

  • Subdivision
    3 AYRSHIRE CRESCENT SANDGATE 2304Under Assessment
  • January 2025

  • Erection of a new structure; Light industry
    21 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
2024· 13 proposals
  • October 2024

  • Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
    10 MANGROVE ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cemetery
    108 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; General industry
    17 AYRSHIRE CRESCENT SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Storage premises; Self storage units
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • September 2024

  • Demolition
    240 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • July 2024

  • Demolition
    162 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • June 2024

  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    4 MANGROVE ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Hazardous storage establishment; Liquid fuel depot
    10 OLD MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • April 2024

  • Subdivision
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • March 2024

  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Light industry
    45 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cemetery
    108 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • February 2024

  • Demolition
    21 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • January 2024

  • Demolition; Commercial development
    162 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
2023· 10 proposals
  • December 2023

  • Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure
    215-223 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • November 2023

  • Erection of a new structure; Light industry
    53 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • August 2023

  • Change of use
    32 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Withdrawn
  • Signage; Stratum / community title subdivision; Industrial development
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Signage; Stratum / community title subdivision; Industrial development
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Stratum / community title subdivision
    4 RURAL DRIVE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • July 2023

  • Other
    Maitland road, opposite shamrock streetDetermined
  • May 2023

  • Other
    4 2 JERSEY AVENUE SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • March 2023

  • Alterations and additions to industrial development
    27 AYRSHIRE CRESCENT SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • February 2023

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    85 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
2022· 7 proposals
  • December 2022

  • Alterations and additions to industrial development
    12 GUERNSEY STREET SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • September 2022

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    85 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Demolition
    162 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • July 2022

  • Change of use
    83 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • Retaining walls, protection of trees; Change of use
    45 WALLSEND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • June 2022

  • Garages, carports and car parking spaces
    119 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined
  • May 2022

  • Alterations and additions to commercial development
    53 MAITLAND ROAD SANDGATE 2304Determined

Data sources & freshness

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping. Flood cover uses NSW flood planning polygons against the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Newcastle
Member of Parliament
Sharon CLAYDON (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
126,226
Turnout (2025)
92.2%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+2.9 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 29.2%Labor 70.8%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.3 km away).

Coalition 24.8%Labor 75.2%

4.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +2.7 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • ShortlandLabor 74.0% · Coalition 26.0% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • WarabrookLabor 74.8% · Coalition 25.2% TPP (2025)2.3 km away
  • Birmingham Gardens NorthLabor 73.6% · Coalition 26.4% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
  • Mayfield WestLabor 75.6% · Coalition 24.4% TPP (2025)2.9 km away
  • Waratah WestLabor 79.9% · Coalition 20.1% TPP (2025)3.6 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
1/10
IRSD decile (2021)
2/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Newcastle Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.