Maitland
A 10.4% vacancy rate and 80.4% population growth over the past decade together tell Maitland's story: a rapidly expanding Hunter Valley suburb pulling in internal migrants at 213 per year while its housing stock has not kept up. The median house price of $650,000 sits well below the NSW state median, yet household income falls in the 27.4th percentile nationally, which compresses affordability differently than coastal markets. Rent grew 56% over the period and the gentrification stage scores Active with a score of 40, signalling a suburb in transition rather than decline.
Population
1,972
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,241/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
56
Median House
$650K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
At $650,000, Maitland's median house price is accessible compared to most NSW coastal markets, and the CAGR of 7.8% from $625,000 in 2024 to $673,750 in 2025 shows sustained upward movement. Separate houses dominate at 72.2% of dwellings, giving buyers genuine choice of detached stock rather than competing for a scarce product. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 43.1%, followed by two-bedroom at 24.6% and four-plus at 20.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. That combination of detached-dominant supply and below-stress repayments makes Maitland one of the more financially manageable entry points in the Hunter region.
For Buyers
At $650,000, Maitland's median house price is accessible compared to most NSW coastal markets, and the CAGR of 7.8% from $625,000 in 2024 to $673,750 in 2025 shows sustained upward movement. Separate houses dominate at 72.2% of dwellings, giving buyers genuine choice of detached stock rather than competing for a scarce product. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 43.1%, followed by two-bedroom at 24.6% and four-plus at 20.2%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. That combination of detached-dominant supply and below-stress repayments makes Maitland one of the more financially manageable entry points in the Hunter region.
For Investors
A 42.4% renter share is substantially above average and creates a consistently deep tenant pool. Weekly rent of $320, against a $650,000 median, gives a gross yield around 2.6%, modest but backed by 56% rent growth over the prior decade. The 10.4% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants caution in the apartment segment, though that segment is only 7.2% of dwellings. Net internal migration averages 213 per year, the primary growth driver, and the forecast population climbs from 9,805 in 2025 to 11,667 by 2031 under the medium scenario. Development activity reached 56 applications in the past 12 months, with subdivisions and structures among recent lodgements, indicating active land-use change rather than a stagnant market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
285
Last 12 Months
56
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-15.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Maitland iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St John the Baptist Primary School
K-6 · 397 students
All Saints College
7-12 · 1191 students
Maitland Public School
K-6 · 405 students
Telarah Public School
P-6 · 519 students
Demographics
Maitland's median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, older than most growing suburbs, though the working-age share actually gained 1.4 points over the decade while the senior share fell 3.2 points, suggesting the age profile is stabilising rather than ageing further. University qualifications reach 22.7%, which is 7.4 points below the national figure, consistent with a trade and services workforce. Overseas-born residents are 10.5%, some 11.1 points below the national average, giving Maitland one of the more Anglo-Celtic profiles in NSW: English (813), Irish (299) and Scottish (243) are the top three ancestries. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national 2.5, and 30.3% of families are couples without children.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.2%
Houses
13.9%
Townhouse
7.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split across renters (42.4%), mortgage holders (29.1%) and outright owners (28.5%), with renters the largest cohort, which is unusual for a suburb where 72.2% of dwellings are separate houses. The price history shows a clear one-year gain from $625,000 to $673,750, a 7.8% move that exceeded inflation. The three-bedroom dwelling is the modal type at 43.1%, with four-plus at 20.2%, meaning most of the stock suits families rather than investors targeting studio or one-bedroom demand. Rent-to-income at 25.8% keeps tenants below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 28.2% does the same for buyers, pointing to an affordable market by Hunter Valley standards rather than a stressed one. The elevated renter share likely reflects the arrival of working households who have not yet accumulated a deposit rather than long-term structural rental demand.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$320
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$635
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.4%
Unoccupied
93
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.3%
Couples, no children
1,298
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs 24.0% of the local workforce (136 workers), well ahead of second-placed Retail at 9.0% and Education at 8.8%, a concentration that reflects Maitland's role as a regional service hub for the Hunter. Construction at 7.2% and Professional/Tech at 7.1% round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals (160) lead, followed by Community and Personal Service workers (132) and Managers (108), then Labourers (97). Unemployment is 8.5%, above average, and the participation rate is 50.3%, partly because 635 residents are not in the labour force. The SEIFA IRSD and IRSAD both score decile 6, placing Maitland in the middle tier nationally, while the IER (economic resources) scores decile 8, meaning the physical asset base is stronger than the income profile would suggest.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
4,916
Unemployed
222
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.2%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
50.3%
Employed
782
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.7%
Postgraduate
6.5%
Born Overseas
10.5%
Dwellings
801
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 78.9% of commuters, consistent with a regional centre where public transport takes only 5.5% of trips. Walking and cycling accounts for 9.9%, above what density would predict for a 360 residents per km2 suburb, pointing to a walkable core. The IRSAD decile 6 score places Maitland in the middle nationally, meaning neither concentrated advantage nor serious disadvantage. About 12.4% of residents need daily assistance, a higher share than the national median, and 11.0% volunteer, consistent with a community-oriented regional town. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, though Maitland serves as a regional centre with educational institutions in surrounding areas. Rent-to-income at 25.8% keeps renters below the 30% stress level, and the lack of crime data prevents a direct safety ranking.
Drive
78.9%
Public Transport
5.5%
Walk / Cycle
9.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.16%/yr
(+310 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 80.4% over the decade, a figure that classifies Maitland as high-growth and separates it from most NSW regional centres. Current population reached 9,805 in 2025 and the medium forecast projects 11,667 by 2031, an annual addition of roughly 310 residents. Internal migration is the primary engine at a net 213 per year, with overseas migration adding another 23. The gentrification score of 40 sits at Active stage, supported by signals including the net internal migration rate and an increase in the 37% to 45% bracket. Affordability improved from 50.7% in 2011 to 47.0% in 2021 as incomes grew 36.7% in real terms, which is one reason internal migrants continue to choose Maitland over higher-cost Hunter alternatives. Annual growth now runs at 3.16%, well above the national population growth rate.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+23
Net Internal / yr
+213
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +213/yr, Accelerating: 37% → 45%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Maitland compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maitland a good suburb to live in?
Maitland offers a $650,000 median house price well below most NSW coastal markets, with mortgage repayments averaging $1,517 per month and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%, below the stress threshold. The SEIFA IRSAD decile 6 places it in the national middle tier. The trade-off is a 10.4% vacancy rate and 78.9% car dependency for commutes.
What is the median house price in Maitland?
The median house price is $650,000, rising 7.8% from $625,000 in 2024 to $673,750 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $320 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.2%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Maitland?
No schools are recorded inside the Maitland suburb boundary in this dataset. Maitland is a regional centre and educational facilities serve the broader area, but families should verify specific school catchments with the NSW Department of Education. University qualifications among residents reach 22.7%, which is 7.4 points below the national figure.
Is Maitland safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Maitland in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 6, placing it in the middle tier nationally for relative disadvantage, and 12.4% of its 1,972 residents need daily assistance. The 11.0% volunteering rate suggests an engaged community.
Is Maitland good for property investment?
A 42.4% renter share is well above average, creating strong rental demand, and rent grew 56% over the prior decade. Weekly rent of $320 against a $650,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.6%. The population is forecast to grow from 9,805 to 11,667 by 2031, adding rental demand. The 10.4% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants monitoring.
How is Maitland's population changing?
Population grew 80.4% over the past decade and reached 9,805 in 2025. The annual growth rate is 3.16%, adding about 310 residents per year. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 213 per year. The medium forecast projects the population reaching 11,667 by 2031.
How much development is happening in Maitland?
There were 56 development applications lodged in the past 12 months, including subdivisions and new structures. Active development is consistent with the 80.4% population growth over the decade and the Active gentrification stage. Net internal migration of 213 per year continues to underpin construction demand.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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