Maitland
A 20.5% vacancy rate sits beside a 3.16% annual growth trend, making Maitland a small but changing Yorke Peninsula centre rather than a static rural settlement. Its 1,312 residents have a median age of 51, 11 years above the national comparison, while 95.4% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with nearby Minlaton and Yorketown, Maitland has a spacious, car-oriented setting because density is only 3.5 people per sq km across 373.55 sq km. The profile suits buyers seeking detached homes and continuity, but high vacancy points to a thinner year-round housing market.
Local council: Yorke Peninsula
Population
1,312
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,143/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Homebuyers face a market without a current median house price, so recent comparable sales and an independent appraisal matter more than a headline estimate. The monthly mortgage figure is $867, weekly rent is $200 and mortgage costs equal 17.5% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Housing is overwhelmingly detached: 95.4% separate houses, 54.3% with 3 bedrooms and 29.8% with 4 or more. Compared with denser regional markets, this layout favours households wanting space because semi-detached stock is only 4.6%. Buyers should inspect utilities, maintenance and service access across the 373.55 sq km area.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a market without a current median house price, so recent comparable sales and an independent appraisal matter more than a headline estimate. The monthly mortgage figure is $867, weekly rent is $200 and mortgage costs equal 17.5% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Housing is overwhelmingly detached: 95.4% separate houses, 54.3% with 3 bedrooms and 29.8% with 4 or more. Compared with denser regional markets, this layout favours households wanting space because semi-detached stock is only 4.6%. Buyers should inspect utilities, maintenance and service access across the 373.55 sq km area.
For Investors
Investment decisions require caution because weekly rent is $200 but vacancy is 20.5%, which can limit rental income reliability even when holding costs look manageable. Renting accounts for 17.3% of households, while 95.4% of homes are separate houses, so the tenant pool is weighted toward detached living. Compared with tighter rental markets, vacancy is more important than rent alone. The 3.16% annual growth trend and internal migration driver support demand, but no gross yield can be calculated without a median house price. Development activity totals 20 applications in 12 months, so check whether new work adds dwellings before assuming supply growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
146
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-25.9%
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.
Central Yorke School
Demographics
Maitland's demographic profile is older than the national pattern: median age is 51, or 11 years above the national comparison. University attainment is 15.4%, 14.7 points below nationally, and only 6.4% were born overseas, 15.2 points lower than the national figure. English ancestry counts 534 people, followed by German 143, Scottish 116 and Irish 86; Christianity records 685 and no religion 442. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below national, because couples without children are 50.3% of families versus 35.9% with children. With 85.8% staying at the same address, Maitland is more settled than mobile regional centres.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.4%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by detached, owner-occupied stock: 50.6% is owned outright and 27.9% has a mortgage, compared with 17.3% renting. Separate houses make up 95.4% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 4.6%; no apartment share or current median house price is available, so property-level evidence matters. The bedroom mix centres on 3-bedroom homes at 54.3%, followed by 4 or more at 29.8%, while 2-bedroom homes account for 13.0%. Weekly rent is $200 and the mortgage-to-income measure is 17.5%, below a stressed housing profile. Vacancy is 20.5%, so compared with listings in Minlaton and Yorketown, buyers should check occupancy patterns and local demand at the individual property level.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$200
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$617
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.5%
Unoccupied
122
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.9%
Couples with children
50.3%
Couples, no children
11.7%
Single parent
326
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by agriculture at 25.4% of jobs, followed by healthcare 18.4%, education 13.4%, construction 7.7% and retail 6.0%. The mix connects Maitland to land-based production and essential services because the top five industries span farms, care, schools, building and shops. Managers lead occupations at 128 people, ahead of labourers 62, trades 59, community/personal services 59 and clerical/admin 53. Unemployment is 5.3%, participation 46.8% and full-time work 56.0%. Household income ranks at the 21.4th percentile, below the national midpoint. SEIFA deciles are 4 for education and occupation, 6 for economic resources, and 4 for both disadvantage and advantage/disadvantage, meaning resources rank higher than the other measures.
Unemployment
5.3%
Labour Force
513
Unemployed
27
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.0%
Part-time
37.9%
Participation
46.8%
Employed
486
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
0.8%
Born Overseas
6.4%
Dwellings
475
Transport to Work
Daily life is structured around low density and private vehicles. Maitland covers 373.55 sq km at 3.5 people per sq km, and 68.6% of commuters drive a car, while 11.0% walk or cycle and 15.8% work from home. That pattern supports rural access and home-based work because services are spread across a large area, but households should plan for longer trips and vehicle costs. Schooling is centred on 1 local government primary/secondary combined school; confirm enrolment zones against the exact address. Crime is recorded at 51.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 68 total incidents, so current street-level checks remain sensible. Volunteering reaches 32.0%, while the IRSAD decile is 4, indicating lower socioeconomic advantage compared with higher-ranked areas.
Drive
68.6%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
11.0%
Work from Home
15.8%
Growth Outlook
Growth signals are unusually strong for an established rural centre. The annual trend is 3.16%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while the shift profile is labelled Rejuvenating. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is 80.4%, and gentrification is rated Active with a score of 40; a separate shift score is 54 and also Active. Affordability is marked Improving, moving from 50.7 in 2011 to 47.0 in 2021, while rents grew 56.0%. Compared with a static ageing trajectory, the combination suggests younger and working-age demand is increasing because internal arrivals and improving affordability are adding momentum. The 3.8-point rise in young share and 3.2-point fall in senior share reinforce the Rejuvenating label.
Population trend: Yorke Peninsula council area
Maitland sits in the Yorke Peninsula council area. These are the council area's residents, not Maitland's.
Residents 2025
12,242
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
68
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
51.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
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 may suit buyers seeking detached housing, low density and a quieter pace. Its median age is 51, density is 3.5 people per sq km and 68.6% drive to work, so it compares more with a rural service centre than a walkable metro suburb. Check services, road access and the exact property before deciding.
What is the median house price in Maitland?
A reliable current median house price cannot be quoted for Maitland. As a guide to housing costs, the monthly mortgage figure is $867, weekly rent is $200 and 95.4% of dwellings are separate houses. Compare recent local sales, land size, condition and services rather than applying a metro median.
What schools are in Maitland?
Maitland has 1 local government primary/secondary combined school. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone, year-level availability and transport arrangements because the suburb covers 373.55 sq km. Do not infer school performance from sector or location alone.
Is Maitland safe?
Recorded crime is 51.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 68 total incidents. That figure should be read alongside the exact street, time period and offence mix, since a population of 1,312 can make rates move noticeably. Compare current local conditions before renting or buying.
Is Maitland good for property investment?
Maitland could suit an investor seeking detached housing, but the risk profile is mixed. Weekly rent is $200, vacancy is 20.5% and the annual growth trend is 3.16%. Compared with tighter rental markets, vacancy may matter more than headline rent; assess tenant depth and property-level costs before committing because no median house price is available for a yield calculation.
How is Maitland's population changing?
Maitland has 1,312 residents today. The wider area's trajectory is labelled Rejuvenating, with a 3.16% annual trend driven primarily by internal migration. Population change across 10 years is 80.4%, while the gentrification stage is Active with a score of 40. These indicators point to change rather than a static ageing path.
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).
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