Newcastle

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 493,466 people were usually resident in Newcastle: of these 49.0% were male and 51.0% were female. Of the total population 2.5% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 19.7% of people usually resident in Newcastle were children aged 0-14 years, and 27.3% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 38 years.

In the 2006 Census, 91.5% of people usually resident in Newcastle were Australian citizens, 9.5% were born overseas and 0.4% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 49.6% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Newcastle were married, 12.1% were either separated or divorced, 7.0% were widowed and 31.3% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 84.7% of people usually resident in Newcastle, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 2.6%, New Zealand 1.0%, Scotland 0.5%, Germany 0.5% and Italy 0.3%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Newcastle were Anglican 28.1%, Catholic 24.6%, No Religion 15.1%, Uniting Church 7.9% and Presbyterian and Reformed 3.9%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Newcastle were Italian 0.4%, Macedonian 0.4%, Greek 0.3%, German 0.2% and Cantonese 0.2%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 91.7%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 224,094 people aged 15 years and over in Newcastle were in the labour force. Of these 56.4% worked full-time, 30.4% worked part-time, 3.7% were away from work, 2.5% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 7.1% were unemployed. 151,996 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Newcastle were Professionals 18.3%, Technicians and Trades Workers 16.8%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.4%, Sales Workers 10.9%, Labourers 10.8%, Managers 10.0%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.5% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 7.7%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Newcastle, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 4.7%, Hospitals 4.2%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 3.9%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.7% and Residential Care Services 2.0%.

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $395, the median family income was $1,099 and the median household income was $900.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 134,052 families in Newcastle: of these 38.1% were couple families without children, 42.7% were couple families with children, 17.7% were one parent families and 1.4% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 191,011 occupied private dwellings were counted in Newcastle.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Newcastle, 83.1% were separate houses, 7.7% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 7.8% were flats, units or apartments and 1.3% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, 35.6% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 31.9% were owned with a mortgage and 25.9% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 52.1% were rented from a real estate agent, 19.4% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 26.0% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, the median weekly rent was $185. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300. The average people per household was 2.5 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, 69.0% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 24.1% were single (or lone) person households and 3.3% were group households.