Waratah West NSW

Postcode 2298 · Newcastle LGA

Waratah West is a smaller suburb in New South Wales within the Newcastle local government area (postcode 2298). With a population of 3,142, the suburb has a young professional demographic with a median age of 31. Households earn a median income of $79K per year, with an average household size of 2.4 people. The most common occupations are professionals, community & personal service, technicians & trades. The top ancestries reported are English, Australian, Irish.

The median house price in Waratah West is $1.0 million, having grown strongly 8.1% over the past year. Units have a median price of $711,000 (-2.3% YoY). The current median weekly rent is $575. This gives a gross rental yield of approximately 3.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,853.

Waratah West is served by 1 school, including 1 primary. The average ICSEA score is 963, which is around the national average of 1,000. Public transport access includes 24 bus stops. The crime rate in the Newcastle LGA is moderate at 6,194 incidents per 100,000 population.

From an investment perspective, Waratah West offers a gross rental yield of 3.0%, rated as low yield. Property prices sit below the state median ($1.0M/$1.5M), suggesting a potential value opportunity. The price-to-income ratio of 12.7x is considered stretched. House prices have moved +8.1% year-on-year.

INVESTMENT SIGNALS
Rental Yield3.0% Low Yield
Price vs State$1.0M/$1.5M Below Median
Affordability12.7x Stretched
Price Momentum+8.1% Rising
SEIFA INDEX (ABS)
Advantage4/10
Education7/10
Economic1/10
Disadvantage5/10
MEDIAN HOUSE
$1.0M
8.1% YoY
MEDIAN UNIT
$711K
-2.3% YoY
MEDIAN RENT /WK
$390
POPULATION
3,142
DEMOGRAPHICS
Median Age31
Household Size2.4
HH Income /wk$1,518
Personal Income /wk$686
Mortgage /mth$1,853
CRIME (Newcastle LGA)
Crime Rate (per 100k)6,194
Total Incidents10,954
TRANSPORT
Bus Stops24
SCHOOLS (1)
Avg ICSEA963
Total Students113
Government1
Waratah West Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 963
Data: 2026