Maitland
Maitland combines a 10.4% rental vacancy rate with a 3.16% annual growth trend, giving it a different profile from slower established centres nearby. Its population is 1,972 and the median age is 43, which is 3 years above the national comparison. The suburb is detached-house dominated, with 72.2% of dwellings separate houses, while its rejuvenating trajectory is attracting internal migrants. Compared with East Maitland and Rutherford, Maitland has a more compact, older inner-suburban feel, but active development and a 50-application 12-month pipeline are adding change. The main opportunity is renewed demand without the price pressure associated with a tightly supplied rental market.
Local council: Maitland
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
49
Maitland suits buyers seeking established housing and manageable commuting costs, although household budgets need close attention. The typical monthly mortgage commitment is $1,517 and mortgage payments equal 28.2% of household income, while household income sits at the 27.4th percentile, below the national midpoint. A 3-bedroom share of 43.1% supports couples and smaller families, and 72.2% of homes are separate houses. Buyers wanting lower-maintenance stock will find fewer apartments at 7.2%. Compared with newer outer suburbs, Maitland's established setting can reduce the need for major infrastructure waiting, but buyers should compare renovation costs, flood exposure and street conditions property by property.
For Buyers
Maitland suits buyers seeking established housing and manageable commuting costs, although household budgets need close attention. The typical monthly mortgage commitment is $1,517 and mortgage payments equal 28.2% of household income, while household income sits at the 27.4th percentile, below the national midpoint. A 3-bedroom share of 43.1% supports couples and smaller families, and 72.2% of homes are separate houses. Buyers wanting lower-maintenance stock will find fewer apartments at 7.2%. Compared with newer outer suburbs, Maitland's established setting can reduce the need for major infrastructure waiting, but buyers should compare renovation costs, flood exposure and street conditions property by property.
For Investors
Maitland has a substantial renter base at 41.6%, with weekly rent of $320 and a 10.4% vacancy rate. That vacancy level is higher than investors usually prefer because it can lengthen letting periods and reduce short-term pricing power, even though rent growth across the wider forecast area has reached 56.0%. Internal migration is the primary growth driver, while 50 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing commercial and land-use activity. The 3.16% annual growth trend is supportive, but investors should weigh that against the high vacancy setting. Compared with a tightly supplied suburb, the case here depends more on entry value, tenant demand and asset condition than on immediate scarcity.
Development Activity
Total DAs
296
Last 12 Months
49
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-24.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Maitland
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Maitland has an older age profile than Australia overall, with a median age of 43, around 3 years above the national comparison. University attainment is 22.7%, or 7.4 percentage points below the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 10.5%, 11.1 points below national levels. The average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below the national comparison, helping explain the strong presence of couples without children at 40.0% of families. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 813, 299 and 243 respectively, indicating a more Anglo-leaning profile than many growth suburbs. Compared with Rutherford, Maitland appears more established and less migrant-intensive, while its rejuvenating shift is bringing a younger share increase of 3.8 points.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
72.2%
Houses
13.9%
Townhouse
7.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Maitland's housing stock is more detached than apartment-based, with separate houses accounting for 72.2%, semi-detached dwellings 13.9% and apartments 7.2%. Three-bedroom homes are the largest bedroom group at 43.1%, followed by 2-bedroom dwellings at 24.6% and 4 or more bedrooms at 20.2%. Tenure is mixed: 27.9% of homes are owned outright, 28.5% have a mortgage and 41.6% are rented. Weekly rent is $320, while mortgage repayments represent 28.2% of household income. Compared with a high-rise market, Maitland provides more family-oriented housing than apartments because its built form is predominantly low-rise. Its 10.4% vacancy rate also gives renters more choice than in a tightly constrained market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $320.
$620
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $640 · units $495
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
30.6%
Couples with children
40.0%
Couples, no children
25.7%
Single parent
483
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Maitland's largest industry at 24.0%, employing 136 people, followed by retail at 9.0% with 51, education at 8.8% with 50, construction at 7.2% with 41, and professional and technical services at 7.1% with 40. This service mix supports local employment because health, education and retail generate recurring demand, while construction benefits from ongoing growth. The unemployment rate is 7.9% and participation is 54.6%, with 54.2% of workers employed full time. SEIFA results are mixed: education and occupation sits at decile 5, economic resources at decile 8, and disadvantage and advantage at decile 6. The economic-resources result is above the household income percentile of 27.4, suggesting local assets and housing tenure lift that measure beyond wages alone.
Unemployment
7.9%
Labour Force
927
Unemployed
73
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.2%
Part-time
37.4%
Participation
54.6%
Employed
854
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.7%
Postgraduate
6.5%
Born Overseas
10.5%
Dwellings
801
Transport to Work
Maitland is practical for car-based households: 60.4% of residents drive to work, compared with 4.2% using public transport. Working from home is also significant at 23.5%, while 7.6% walk or cycle, so daily convenience depends heavily on trip distance and access to services. Two nearby primary schools are identified, both government sector, providing local primary access without implying school performance or ranking. The IRSAD decile is 6, above the midpoint and consistent with moderate overall socioeconomic conditions, although the IEO decile is 5. No suburb-level crime rate is stated, so safety should be checked using current local reporting and an address-level visit. Compared with a denser centre, Maitland provides more separate-house living but is less suited to households seeking extensive public transport.
Drive
60.4%
Public Transport
4.2%
Walk / Cycle
7.6%
Work from Home
23.5%
Growth Outlook
Maitland is on a Rejuvenating trajectory, with annual growth forecast at 3.16% and internal migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area reaches 80.4% over 10 years, while rent growth is 56.0%, creating pressure for new housing and services. Gentrification is classified as Active with a score of 40, and a separate shift measure records an Active score of 54. The younger share has risen 3.8 points while the senior share has fallen 3.2 points, supporting the rejuvenating label. Compared with a flat established suburb, this combination points to stronger turnover and changing demand, because incoming households and 50 recent development applications are reshaping the local market.
Population trend: Maitland council area
Maitland sits in the Maitland council area. These are the council area's residents, not Maitland's.
Residents 2025
100,439
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit households wanting established services, separate houses and a moderate rental price of $320 per week. The median age is 43, work-from-home participation is 23.5% and 60.4% commute by car. It is a better fit for practical, car-oriented living than for residents seeking high public transport use.
What is the median house price in Maitland?
A current median house price is not stated. Housing decisions can still be framed by the 72.2% share of separate houses, the $320 weekly rent and mortgage repayments of $1,517 per month. Buyers should check recent comparable sales by dwelling type, because Maitland's detached homes and smaller attached properties can produce different medians.
What schools are in Maitland?
Maitland has 2 nearby government primary schools: Maitland Public School and Telarah Public School. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone for an address, as school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries. The available listings identify primary education, not secondary schools or school performance.
Is Maitland safe?
A current suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so safety should be checked through recent NSW Police information, council updates and visits at different times. Maitland has 1,972 residents and a compact 5.47 square kilometre area, meaning street conditions and activity can vary noticeably within a short distance.
Is Maitland good for property investment?
Maitland has investment positives including 41.6% renting, $320 weekly rent, a 3.16% annual growth trend and 50 development applications in 12 months. The 10.4% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market, so investors should allow for leasing competition and assess tenant demand, property condition and future supply.
How is Maitland's population changing?
Maitland's current population is 1,972, and the wider-area forecast records 3.16% annual growth with internal migration as the primary driver. The trajectory is labelled Rejuvenating, with the younger share up 3.8 points and the senior share down 3.2 points. This indicates changing demand rather than a static established profile.
What development is happening in Maitland?
There were 50 development applications in the 12 months covered, indicating more active change than a quiet established suburb. Recent examples include office premises, food and drink premises, and a function centre. The mix points to commercial and land-use activity, although the available examples do not establish how many new dwellings will be delivered.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
Explore Maitland on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map