Living in Newtown: rents, schools, census and property titles
The 2,817 live property titles in Newtown, Wellington City are mostly freehold (65%), as recorded by LINZ on 30 September 2026. Cross-lease titles number 95 (3.4%), well below the national share of 8.7%.
- Cross-lease titles
- 95
- Share of live titles
- 3.4%
- Live titles in total
- 2,817
- Wellington City share
- 5.6%
- New Zealand share
- 8.7%
- Rank by share in Wellington City
- joint 27 of 32
- Rank by share in New Zealand
- joint 562 of 644
Newtown at a glance
Where Newtown differs most from suburbs across New Zealand: median age (lower than 96% of NZ suburbs).
Higher or lower is not better or worse. Sources and limits
Start here
What the data tells you
Recorded facts
- Newtown is listed under Wellington City.
- 2,817 live titles are recorded here, including 95 cross-lease titles (3.4%).
- The page includes 2023 Census context for the statistical area that represents this suburb.
- The page includes MBIE new-tenancy rent figures for April–June 2026.
Contextual observations
- Cross-lease titles make up 3.4% of the recorded title mix. That describes the suburb, not any particular home.
- Unit titles account for 28.4% of recorded titles, so title structure can vary within the suburb.
- Public-transport figures describe how recorded titles sit near mapped stops. They do not describe a service from a particular property.
- Coast distance is a suburb-level map measure, not a flood or hazard assessment.
Questions worth investigating
- For any cross-lease property you consider, do the current title, flats plan and lease match what is built today?
- What do the LIM, council property file and a suitable inspection add for the specific address?
No data held for this suburb
- The core title, Census, rent, transport and coast measures used by this page are available.
Title mix in Newtown
| Title type | Live titles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 1,836 | 65.2% |
| Cross lease | 95 | 3.4% |
| Unit title | 801 | 28.4% |
| Leasehold | 14 | 0.5% |
| Other record types | 71 | 2.5% |
| Total | 2,817 | 100% |
Counts are titles, not homes; the register can lag conversions, so check the certificate of title. Sources and limits
How Newtown compares
Nationally, 8.7% of live titles are cross-lease; Newtown is well below the national share (8.7%).
Across Wellington City as a whole, the share is 5.6%; Newtown is well below the overall Wellington City share (5.6%).
Its cross-lease share is in the lowest quarter of 32 in Wellington City (among suburbs with an indexed page on this site).
How cross-leases in Newtown are set up
Fewer leases include a garage (3% of schemes, against 28% nationally).
Carports appear in fewer leases (3% of schemes, against 13% nationally).
Three-flat schemes are less common here (3%, against 12% nationally).
| Scheme structure | Newtown | Wellington City | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-lease schemes (shared sections) | 29 | 2,130 | 87,651 |
| Two-flat schemes | 62.1% | 82.4% | 76.2% |
| Three-flat schemes | 3.4% | 6.7% | 12.2% |
| Four or more flats | 34.5% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| Typical section size (from the titles, not a survey) | 551 m² | 759 m² | 908 m² |
| Typical land per flat | 186 m² | 350 m² | 408 m² |
| Schemes with a garage written into a lease | 3.4% | 18.0% | 28.4% |
| Schemes with a carport in a lease | 3.4% | 8.1% | 13.3% |
| Schemes with a separate exclusive-use area | 3.4% | 4.3% | 4.5% |
| Schemes referring to more than one flats plan (usually redrawn; not by itself a problem) | 10.3% | 22.5% | 35.6% |
| Median year of earliest current title | 1987 | 1987 | 1988 |
| Two-flat schemes on 700 m² or more | 2 | 991 | 54,978 |
Unit titles and leasehold in Newtown
Unit titles are 28% of Newtown's titles, slightly above Wellington City (25%) and well above New Zealand (8%). They belong to 71 developments, each run by a body corporate; 4 have 50 or more units.
The unit-title share is in the highest quarter of 32 in Wellington City.
14 titles (0.5%) are leasehold.
1 of them have a stated term that has ended or has under 10 years to run, which is worth reading closely in the lease.
Stated lease terms, as at 30 September 2026:
| Stated lease term | Titles |
|---|---|
| Stated term has ended | 0 |
| Under 10 years left | 1 |
| 10 to 50 years left | 2 |
| More than 50 years left | 6 |
| Term mentions renewal (including perpetually renewable) | 4 |
| Term not stated or not readable | 1 |
New titles in Newtown since 2020
211 of Newtown's current titles (7%) were first issued since 2020, slightly below Wellington City's suburbs with new-title figures taken together (8%) and well below New Zealand (12%).
Most are unit titles: 160 in 7 developments (apartments, terraces or townhouses under a body corporate).
| Title type | Since 2020 | Since 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 44 | 29 |
| Unit title | 160 | 8 |
| Cross-lease | 0 | 0 |
| Leasehold | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 1 |
New titles include cross-leases converted to freehold and titles re-issued; they are not a count of new homes. Sources and limits
The lie of the land in Newtown
The typical building in Newtown stands on ground sloping 5.4° (read on an 8 m grid, so short steep banks may be understated), in the flattest quarter of 32 in Wellington City.
Slope is not a measure of ground stability. Sources and limits
Distance to the coast from Newtown
0% of Newtown's titles are within 200 m of the sea or harbour edge, 0% within 500 m and 17% within 1 km. The typical title is 1.3 km away.
Measured in a straight line from the centre of each title's land to the coastline on LINZ's 1:50k topographic map, which follows harbours and estuaries as well as the open coast; lakes and rivers are not included. Distance says nothing about beach access, views or exposure to coastal hazards; council hazard maps and the LIM describe those.
Who lives around Newtown: 2023 Census
Newtown's titles fall in 4 census areas (Stats NZ statistical areas). The 3 shown below hold 100% of its titles; their figures are shown side by side and are not added together.
Fewer households own their home in Newtown West than across Wellington City: 25.8% against 58.6%.
Fewer residents are children under 15 in Newtown West than across Wellington City: 8.9% against 14.4%.
More households have no car in Newtown West than across Wellington City: 24.5% against 15.2%.
| Measure | Newtown West 38% of titles | Newtown South 37% of titles | Newtown North 25% of titles | Wellington City whole council |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residents | 3,372 | 3,588 | 2,166 | 202,689 |
| Change since 2018 | −1.2% | −1.5% | +2.0% | −0.0% |
| Change since 2013 | +7.5% | +10.6% | +7.3% | +6.1% |
| Median age | 29.1 | 33.7 | 32.9 | 34.9 |
| Households | 1,266 | 1,425 | 687 | 77,004 |
| Own or part-own their home (including family trusts) | 25.8% | 32.2% | 34.9% | 58.6% |
| Not owned and not in a family trust (mostly renting) | 74.2% | 68.0% | 64.6% | 41.4% |
| Median household income | $111,200 | $89,700 | $122,000 | $134,500 |
| Median weekly rent, renting households | $556 | $440 | $610 | $560 |
| Dwellings unoccupied on census night | 8.9% | 7.1% | 9.7% | 7.8% |
| Ages | ||||
| Under 15 | 8.9% | 13.5% | 9.1% | 14.4% |
| 15 to 29 | 43.3% | 27.7% | 33.9% | 27.2% |
| 30 to 64 | 40.1% | 48.4% | 40.6% | 46.8% |
| 65 and over | 7.6% | 10.4% | 16.3% | 11.7% |
| Where people came from | ||||
| Born overseas | 36.6% | 39.9% | 35.5% | 34.6% |
| Of those born overseas, arrived in the last 5 years | 32.3% | 26.7% | 28.8% | 23.2% |
| Lived elsewhere in New Zealand 5 years ago (of all residents, including children born since) | 61.7% | 49.4% | 59.3% | 44.2% |
| Lived overseas 5 years ago (of all residents) | 6.4% | 7.3% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Moved here in the last year (of all residents) | 39.7% | 26.1% | 37.0% | 24.0% |
| Work and study (people 15 and over) | ||||
| Bachelor degree or higher | 48.7% | 45.5% | 49.6% | 48.6% |
| Employed full-time | 60.2% | 54.9% | 54.0% | 59.0% |
| Unemployed (share of everyone 15 and over, not the unemployment rate) | 4.1% | 3.9% | 4.6% | 3.0% |
| Managers and professionals (of those employed) | 57.4% | 55.4% | 56.4% | 59.5% |
| Median personal income | $44,700 | $42,100 | $43,500 | $55,500 |
| Getting to work (of those employed) | ||||
| Work from home | 12.5% | 14.8% | 14.1% | 18.7% |
| Car, truck or van | 23.5% | 30.1% | 23.5% | 39.0% |
| Bus, train or ferry | 31.3% | 25.7% | 26.6% | 20.0% |
| Walk or cycle | 29.7% | 25.2% | 32.0% | 19.8% |
| Households and families | ||||
| One-person households | 25.9% | 31.4% | 24.1% | 24.1% |
| Average people per household | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| Households with no motor vehicle | 24.5% | 27.3% | 22.1% | 15.2% |
| Crowded households (need one or more extra bedrooms) | 8.5% | 10.9% | 9.9% | 5.0% |
| Couples with children (of families) | 29.7% | 36.0% | 34.5% | 43.0% |
| Couples without children | 56.5% | 45.2% | 53.4% | 44.8% |
| One-parent families | 13.9% | 18.8% | 12.1% | 12.2% |
| Homes | ||||
| Separate (stand-alone) houses | 38.1% | 35.4% | 54.6% | 59.7% |
| Average bedrooms | 2.5 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.8 |
| Heated with a heat pump | 55.0% | 42.1% | 55.5% | 53.6% |
| Damp, always or sometimes | 28.3% | 26.2% | 29.5% | 22.9% |
| Mould over A4 size, always or sometimes | 19.7% | 18.6% | 19.0% | 16.1% |
Rents around Newtown
New tenancies in Newtown West in the April–June 2026 quarter had a median rent of $578 a week (up 5.1% on a year earlier). That is slightly below the typical suburb in Wellington City ($625), and close to the national median ($600); in the lowest quarter of 27 in Wellington City.
| April–June 2026 | Newtown West 38% of titles | Newtown South 37% of titles | Newtown North 25% of titles | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent, new tenancies | $578 | $620 | $640 | $600 |
| Middle half of rents | $470–$750 | $515–$723 | $413–$710 | $490–$700 |
| Change in median on a year earlier | +5.1% | +3.3% | +14.7% | +0.2% |
| Bonds lodged in the quarter | 48 | 24 | 33 | 40,827 |
Schools and hospitals near Newtown
LINZ maps 3 school sites inside Newtown, among them Newtown School (Contributing) and South Wellington Intermediate (Intermediate).
- Newtown School (Contributing)
- South Wellington Intermediate (Intermediate)
- St Annes School (Newtown) (Full Primary)
- Nearest school: St Annes School (Newtown) (0.2 km)
- Nearest secondary school: Wellington College (1.1 km)
- Nearest public general hospital: Wellington Hospital (0.4 km)
School enrolment zones in Newtown: a guide
Four secondary schools have a home zone covering most of Newtown's titles, among them Hutt International Boys School, St Oran's College and Wellington East Girls' College.
- Newtown School (primary, Years 1–6): all or nearly all titles
- Berhampore School (primary, Years 1–6): about 20% of titles
- Evans Bay Intermediate (intermediate, Years 7–8): about 10% of titles
- Hutt International Boys School (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- St Oran's College (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Wellington East Girls' College (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Wellington High School & Com Ed Centre (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Wellington College (secondary): about 15% of titles
A guide only: check the school's own zone map for any address. Zones as at 14 July 2026. Sources and limits
Public transport in Newtown
99% of Newtown's titles are within 400 m of a stop with a scheduled weekday service, close to Wellington City as a whole (96%).
94% are that close to a frequent stop (60 or more departures that day), above the council (69%).
The typical title is 106 m in a straight line from its nearest stop.
Timetable of Wednesday 30 September 2026, Metlink (Greater Wellington Regional Council). Sources and limits
Places of worship near Newtown
OpenStreetMap maps 7 places of worship inside Newtown (7 Christian).
Nearest mapped place of each tradition within 10 km:
- Christian: St. Anne’s Catholic Church / St Anne's Parish, under 1 km away
- Hindu: ISKCON Wellington Newlands Temple, 9.8 km away
- Buddhist: Wellington Buddhist Centre, 1.0 km away
- Muslim: Wellington Islamic Centre, 1.4 km away
- Jewish: Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation, 2.5 km away
Listed as facilities for access; not an indicator of who lives here. Sources and limits
Other suburbs in Wellington City with many cross-leases
- Johnsonville: 616 cross-lease titles (13.1%)
- Karori: 469 cross-lease titles (7.9%)
- Tawa: 380 cross-lease titles (6.8%)
- Miramar: 335 cross-lease titles (8.8%)
- Newlands: 328 cross-lease titles (10.5%)
- Churton Park: 271 cross-lease titles (9.2%)
- Khandallah: 230 cross-lease titles (6.6%)
- Woodridge: 186 cross-lease titles (25.4%)
All suburbs in Wellington City
Suburbs like Newtown
The closest match on the measures on this site is Kilbirnie in Wellington City, nearest on cross-lease share, new titles, distance to the coast. Closeness is arithmetic, not a rating. Sources and limits
| Suburb | Council | Cross-lease share of titles | Median weekly rent, new tenancies | Median age | Closest on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilbirnie | Wellington City | 3.4% | $540 | 37.5 | cross-lease share, new titles, distance to the coast |
| Mount Victoria | Wellington City | 2.0% | $600 | 32.7 | population change, distance to the coast, elevation |
| Grey Lynn | Auckland | 6.7% | $650 | 32.8 | elevation, distance to the coast, near a stop |
| Kingsland | Auckland | 7.3% | $675 | 32.8 | elevation, near a stop, distance to the coast |
| Hutt Central | Lower Hutt City | 15.1% | $500 | 36.2 | stand-alone houses, near a stop, near a frequent stop |
Questions
What is the rent in Newtown?
New tenancies in Newtown West (the rent area for part of Newtown) had a median rent of $578 a week in the April–June 2026 quarter (MBIE bond data, all dwelling types). These are rents agreed for new tenancies, not asking rents. The middle half of those rents ran from $470 to $750.
What schools are in Newtown?
LINZ maps 3 school sites inside Newtown: Newtown School, South Wellington Intermediate and St Annes School (Newtown). The nearest secondary school to its centre is Wellington College (1.1 km in a straight line). Secondary-school home zones covering most of its titles include Hutt International Boys School, St Oran's College and Wellington East Girls' College; check the school's own zone map for any address.