Question 1

Is Islington a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Islington is an inner-west Newcastle pocket with a distinctly urban, working-class character that has softened as old warehouses give way to small commercial strips and low-rise housing. Streets mix modest timber cottages and terraces with brick buildings and a handful of apartment conversions, so the area feels practical and lived-in rather than polished.

Home to about 2,026 people with a median age of 35, the community is dominated by couple families and is slightly more owner-occupied than rented. Day-to-day life is made easy by major roads, frequent bus services and Hamilton railway station on the southern boundary, plus ready access to the cafes, pubs and shops of neighbouring Hamilton. The suburb sits next to the Newcastle campus of the Hunter Institute (TAFE), and recent public works include a completed cycleway and playground upgrades at Islington Park. Whether that close-in, utilitarian character suits you depends on what you want from a neighbourhood.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Islington?

Accepted Answer

Rents in Islington take a notable share of local household income as recorded at the last Census. A house renting for $745 a week would be about 40.8% of a typical local household's weekly income of $1,828 at the last Census, which is a large share of income, while a unit at $650 a week is about 35.5% of that income, a sizeable share.

If you're renting rather than buying, those rent shares are the most relevant numbers to consider; whether they feel expensive will depend on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Islington a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

The clearest movement over the past year is in unit rents, which jumped 15.0%. In Islington, house values rose 9.5% and unit values rose 9.8% over the same 12 months, while house rents climbed 9.9%. The value increases sit in the "solid" band and the house rent rise is similar in size, whereas the unit rent change is a stronger move. If rental income is your priority, the unit rent figure is the standout; if capital growth is your focus, both house and unit values showed comparable, solid rises.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	N/A	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	9.5%	9.8%
Sold Past 3 months	9	2
Median days on market Past 12 months	28	23
Average rent Past 12 months	$745	$650
Change in rent Past 12 months	9.9%	15.0%

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