Charlestown vs Kotara South.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $990,000 and $1,071,000. Charlestown edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Charlestown (median $990,000) is roughly 8% cheaper to buy into than Kotara South ($1,071,000). Over the past year, Charlestown (+8.8%) ran 11.4 percentage points ahead of Kotara South (-2.6%) on house-price growth.
Charlestown scores higher on walkability (22/100 vs 0/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Kotara South (1034) sits above Charlestown (1017).
For buyers
Charlestown is the lower entry point at $990,000 median, 8% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Charlestown carries both higher gross yield (3.82% vs 3.64%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Kotara South edges out on average school ICSEA (1034 vs 1017).
Common questions
Is Charlestown or Kotara South cheaper to buy in?
Charlestown has the lower median house price at $990,000, roughly 8% below Kotara South ($1,071,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Charlestown or Kotara South?
Over the past 12 months, Charlestown grew +8.8% vs -2.6% in Kotara South, a gap of 11.4 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Charlestown or Kotara South have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Kotara South scores 1034 vs 1017 in Charlestown. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Charlestown or Kotara South?
Charlestown scores 22/100 on walkability vs 0/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Charlestown or Kotara South?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.82% in Charlestown vs 3.64% in Kotara South. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Charlestown against another suburb