The Top 10 Cheapest Suburbs in Newcastle

As the second-largest city in New South Wales and the sixth-largest in Australia, Newcastle is known as the “gateway to the Hunter Valley” and considered to be the commercial, administrative and industrial centre of the region.

With its origins rooted in coal and steel, today Newcastle is a vibrant and modern hub with a rejuvenated foreshore harbour area packed with trendy restaurants, inviting boardwalks and much more for residents to enjoy. Although it has been named as one of the world’s top “Smart Cities” to watch by global magazine National Geographic Traveler, Newcastle still celebrates its rich and diverse history with numerous museums, Fort Scratchley, James Cook Memorial Fountain, The Lock Up, ANZAC Memorial Walk, Victorian architecture and more.

The city doesn’t only appeal to modern-day urbanites and history buffs, however – sea lovers have access to pristine beaches and outdoor and wellness enthusiasts can enjoy cycling paths, parks and more.

With home values down 8.8 percent over the 12 months to June 2019, the city offers more affordability at the moment, making it a great time for aspiring homeowners and investors to get in.

If you are looking to make an investment or buy your first home in Newcastle’s current favourable market conditions, see below suburbs, ranked as the top 10 most affordable by CoreLogic and Aussie Home Loans:

1. Beresfield

Located 22 kilometres northwest of the Newcastle CBD, Beresfield is popular with residents and continues to attract buyers due to the convenience it offers. Like the neighbouring suburbs of Tarro, Woodberry and Thornton, Beresfield is located on a low ridge rising out of the surrounding floodplain and wetlands of the Hunter River.

Beresfield has a local shopping centre, schools and everything residents require for easy living, including sports facilities like a bowling club, swimming pool, cricket oval, rugby and soccer fields and a golf course. The community-orientated suburb also has popular and well-attended sports clubs and youth organisations.

With a median housing price of $333,867 and lower quartile price of $319,513, Beresfields affordability is likely a contributing factor to why it is so popular with prospective buyers and investors, and properties rarely linger on the market.

2. Tarro

20 minutes from Newcastle’s centre, 10 minutes from Maitland and only two minutes from the F3, Tarro, a north-western suburb, is described by residents as one of Newcastle’s best-kept secrets – close to everything and offering loads of convenience.

Tarro, together with the adjacent suburbs of Beresfield, Woodberry and Thornton, is situated on low ridges rising out of the surrounding floodplain and wetlands of the Hunter River.

Despite its great connectivity for commuters, Tarro is a quiet, laidback suburb, making it great for families, professionals and retirees, and many homeowners have lived in the area for decades, simply buying and moving within the suburb as their needs change. The area is also popular with renters, meaning investors generally enjoy good yields.

With a median housing price of $354,987 and lower quartile price of $331,568, Tarro offers buyers and investors affordable property options within Newcastle.

3. Black Hill

Are you looking for a slower pace of life removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet still close enough for an easy commute and access to amenities? Black Hill might be worth checking out. It is a small rural suburb on the outskirts of Newcastle, just off John Renshaw Drive, about 27 kilometres from the central business district.

With plenty of parks, leafy bush reserves and good walking areas, Black Hill is ideal for nature lovers and health enthusiasts, while its easy access to good schools in surrounding areas make it a great choice for families with children. The suburb is also close to shopping centres and Newcastle University and approximately 30 minutes from the airport.

The suburb offers modern brick homes on larger-than-average blocks, and residents describe it as friendly, quiet and leafy. Black Hill especially appeals to professionals, families with kids and retirees.

Black Hill has an average house price of $380,173 and a lower quartile price of $342,901, meaning family buyers and investors can still find well-priced homes.

4. Shortland

About 12 kilometres from Newcastle’s central business district, Shortland offers convenient city living and easy access to schools and a host of amenities, yet the Hunter Wetlands Centre also means that the area is great for those who prefer to live closer to nature.

Established in 1984, the Hunter Wetlands Centre is set on 45 hectares of rehabilitated wetlands between Shortland and Hexham Swamp. The Shortland Wetlands also form part of the Ramsar Convention-recognised Hunter Estuary Wetlands, and provide a habitat for many bird and wildlife species, as well as recreational and educational facilities for visitors.

It is clear why Shortland is popular with families and nature lovers, and the suburb is also great for health and fitness enthusiasts, offering numerous recreational facilities, including the Shortland Waters Golf Course, netball courts and sporting ovals. Parks and reserves include Tuxford Park, Alister Street Reserve, Northcote Park and Coral Sea Avenue Reserve.

Shortland has a median house price of $414,823, but its lower quartile price of $381,622 means there are more affordably-priced options available for prospective buyers and investors.

5. Birmingham Gardens

About 11 kilometres from the Newcastle central business district, Birmingham Gardens is bordered by the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan Campus to the east. This makes the suburb extremely popular with student renters, and a safe bet for property investors.

However, Birmingham is far from simply being a student hotspot – with access to surfing beaches, mountains, trendy eateries and restaurants, wineries and more, it is the perfect place to call home if you want to enjoy a balance between country and city living. It is no surprise that the suburb has a strong education system, employment opportunities and great access to public transport, all of which make it a desirable area for singles, professionals, families and retirees.

Birmingham offers investors and prospective home buyers family-sized homes and townhouses, with a median house price of $417,432. The lower quartile price of $386,103 means there are more affordable property options on the market.

6. Jesmond

About 6 kilometres from Newcastle’s central business district, Jesmond might be a small suburb, but it’s proximity to the university has resulted in it becoming the city’s largest multicultural hub. Apart from a large population of students, and maybe surprisingly, the suburb is also home to a large population of retirees, taking up the purpose-built accommodation.

Situated on Blue Gum Road, Jesmond’s commercial centre has a number of mixed businesses as well as a large shopping mall, Stockland Shopping Centre, which offers everything residents need, along with a large selection of speciality stores.

The suburb also offers excellent access to public transport, parks with play and sporting facilities and schools, and is home to The Rams, the local soccer team with a proud history dating back to 1928.

Due to its large student population, Jesmond offers a lot of townhouses and units, but you will still find many detached houses. The median house price is $422,693, but with a lower quartile price of $391,70, buyers and investors do have more affordably-priced options.

7. Wallsend

From its humble beginning as two mining towns, Wallsend today is a large, bustling residential and commercial suburb 11 kilometres northwest of Newcastle’s central business district.

Upping its appeal to families and nature lovers, Wallsend is home to Wallsend Park, Invermore Close Reserve, Federal Park, Wallsend Brickworks Park, as well as a few smaller reserves. These green areas provide idyllic picnic spots and children’s play areas. There is also a small cycle way near the commercial centre, a squash court and swimming facility for fitness enthusiasts.

The suburb has a number of schools, as well as the award-winning Wallsend District Library – one of the largest in Newcastle.

Wallsend has a median house price of $455,129 and lower quartile price of $421,300.

8. Maryland

Located about 14 kilometres from Newcastle’s central business district, Maryland was originally an agricultural area, and with residential development only beginning in the 1970s, it’s a relatively young suburb.

Home to the large Fletcher Park with all its sporting facilities, a number of schools, nature reserves, a skate park, shopping centre and cycle and walking tracks, today Maryland is a family-oriented residential suburb looking out to the wetlands.

Maryland has a median house price of $470,313, with a much more affordably lower quartile price of $422,970.

9. Minmi

Said to be the last remaining mining village in Newcastle, Minmi is a small suburb located about 19 kilometres from the city’s central business district.

With a history dating back to the 1830s, Minmi was a privately-owned town for a very long time. The suburb has a courthouse, school and small shopping centre, as well as a sportsground and tennis facilities.

With a median house price of $472,890, Maryland’s lower quartile price of $413,708 means there are still affordably-priced housing options available for buyers and investors.

10. North Lambton

About 9 kilometres from Newcastle’s central business district and just south of the University of Newcastle, North Lambton is ideally situated for students, professionals and singles, with the majority of residents currently aged under 35.

The suburb is also popular with families, offering excellent road access, parks, shopping centres and more. North Lambton is also conveniently set between John Hunter Hospital and the Calvary Mater Hospital – Newcastle’s largest hospitals.

The suburb offers large houses and single-room units designed for university students, as well as family homes and townhouses, with a median house price of $486,891 and lower quartile price of $451,437.

Conclusion

Loved by locals and popular with visitors, Newcastle offers pristine beaches, historical architecture, fine dining, numerous outdoor activities, a great climate and so much more. However, it is easy to be overwhelmed by everything the city has to offer when looking for a home or investment property. The best way to ensure your success is to partner with a reputable real estate agent.

After you’ve completed a quick assessment of your needs, Perfect Agent can recommend a number of qualified real estate agents in your area of interest. Are you looking for a home or investment property in Newcastle? Let Perfect Agent help you make it happen.