NSW · Newcastle Council
Tighes Hill, 2297
Current weather
18.1°CClear sky
64% humidity · 14.1 km/h wind · 21.8° / 14.1° today · 2.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Tighes Hill is a practical smaller community in Newcastle, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. The market sits in a sensible middle ground: not cheap, but fair value for the area.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and transport and access lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in community and employment and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,801
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $2,084
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.3%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 46 of 730
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,810
- Employment rate
- 68.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 55 / 52 / 41
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $780
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 (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 135
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 91
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 75
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 95 residents
- State safety percentile
- 53.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -13.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud10
- Malicious Damage To Property16
- Motor Vehicle Theft10
- Other Theft18
- Steal From Motor Vehicle12
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,104
- Tighes Hill Public SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
29 public transport stops in this suburb
- Maitland Rd After Elizabeth St
- Maitland Rd After Elizabeth St
- Maitland Rd At Elizabeth St
- Maitland Rd At Elizabeth St
- Newcastle TAFE, Maitland Rd
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
160 planning-related records
2026· 11 proposals
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space45 FERNDALE STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
March 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)46-48 WILLIAM STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Withdrawn
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 MITCHELL STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 MCISAAC STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 HEWISON STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
February 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure59 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home5 FRANCIS STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Under Assessment
- Demolition; Hotel or motel accommodation; Subdivision173 MAITLAND ROAD TIGHES HILL 2297Withdrawn
- Food and drink premise; Hours of operation and trading350C INDUSTRIAL DRIVE TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 Union Street Tighes Hill 2297Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 JOHN STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
2025· 29 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space96 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool27 HEWISON STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24 MARGARET STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Subdivision6 FRANCIS STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 MCISAAC STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 MARGARET STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
October 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 BRYANT STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 JOHN STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool52 ELIZABETH STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation12 Union Street Tighes Hill 2297Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation3 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure3 FERNDALE STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool52 ELIZABETH STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Rejected
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure81 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading350C INDUSTRIAL DRIVE TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure56 ELIZABETH STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool81 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation31 GEORGE STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Subdivision203 MAITLAND ROAD TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure62 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Subdivision110 ELIZABETH STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation40 MITCHELL STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Subdivision32 MARGARET STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure35 MCISAAC STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
March 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure71 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading350C INDUSTRIAL DRIVE TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 GEORGE STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space95 HENRY STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure43 BRYANT STREET TIGHES HILL 2297Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
19 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Elizabeth St At Revelation ClBus stop
- Elizabeth St at William StBus stop
- Elizabeth St before Maitland RdBus stop
- Elizabeth St Near Hannell StBus stop
- Elizabeth St Near Industrial DrBus stop
- Elizabeth St Opp Kings RdBus stop
- Industrial Dr opp Hunter Bulk TerminalBus stop
- Maitland Rd after Elizabeth StBus stop
- Maitland Rd at Elizabeth StBus stop
- Newcastle TAFE, Maitland RdBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gross Street ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Cariyna Children‘s Serviceskindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 40.4/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3416th in Australia
- State rank
- 1081st in NSW
- Peer rank
- #251 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #627 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- BPamenitiesfuel
- Elizabeth St At Revelation Clamenitiesbus_stop
- Elizabeth St Near Hannell Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Elizabeth St Near Industrial Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Elizabeth St Opp Kings Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Elizabeth St at William Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Elizabeth St before Maitland Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Industrial Dr opp Hunter Bulk Terminalamenitiesbus_stop
- Maitland Rd after Elizabeth Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Maitland Rd at Elizabeth Stamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
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.