Newcastle East vs Cooks Hill.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,390,000 and $1,590,000. Cooks Hill edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Cooks Hill (median $1,590,000) is roughly 50% cheaper to buy into than Newcastle East ($2,390,000). Over the past year, Newcastle East (+13.8%) ran 6.9 percentage points ahead of Cooks Hill (+6.9%) on house-price growth.
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Cooks Hill (1075) sits above Newcastle East (1073).
For buyers
Cooks Hill is the lower entry point at $1,590,000 median, 50% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Cooks Hill delivers the better gross yield (2.45% vs 1.63%), but Newcastle East has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
For families
Cooks Hill edges out on average school ICSEA (1075 vs 1073).
Common questions
Is Newcastle East or Cooks Hill cheaper to buy in?
Cooks Hill has the lower median house price at $1,590,000, roughly 50% below Newcastle East ($2,390,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Newcastle East or Cooks Hill?
Over the past 12 months, Newcastle East grew +13.8% vs +6.9% in Cooks Hill, a gap of 6.9 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 Newcastle East or Cooks Hill have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Cooks Hill scores 1075 vs 1073 in Newcastle East. 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 suburb has higher rental yield, Newcastle East or Cooks Hill?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.45% in Cooks Hill vs 1.63% in Newcastle East. 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).
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