Maitland
An agricultural service town on Yorke Peninsula, Maitland carries a median age of 51, which is 11 years above the national figure, yet its population trajectory is one of the fastest-shifting profiles in regional SA. Rent grew 56% over the decade and real incomes climbed 36.7%, placing it in the Active gentrification stage with a score of 54. Household income sits at the 21.4th percentile nationally, reflecting the town's farming and community-service base, but housing stress is low: both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income land at 17.5%. The 20.5% vacancy rate signals structural oversupply relative to the 1,312-strong population, making it a market where affordable entry comes with meaningful tenancy risk.
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
15
No recent median sale price is recorded for Maitland, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of a 1,312-person town in a 373 km2 catchment. What the data does show is that housing costs are low relative to income: monthly mortgage repayments average $867, and mortgage-to-income sits at 17.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold seen in capital cities. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.4%, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 54.3% of dwellings and four-plus at 29.8%, so buyers get genuine family-sized space. With 52.8% of households owning outright, the suburb rewards patient long-term ownership rather than speculative short-term flipping. The 20.5% vacancy rate is worth monitoring before purchase, as it signals that rental demand is thinner than supply.
For Buyers
No recent median sale price is recorded for Maitland, which reflects the thin transaction volume typical of a 1,312-person town in a 373 km2 catchment. What the data does show is that housing costs are low relative to income: monthly mortgage repayments average $867, and mortgage-to-income sits at 17.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold seen in capital cities. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 95.4%, with three-bedroom homes accounting for 54.3% of dwellings and four-plus at 29.8%, so buyers get genuine family-sized space. With 52.8% of households owning outright, the suburb rewards patient long-term ownership rather than speculative short-term flipping. The 20.5% vacancy rate is worth monitoring before purchase, as it signals that rental demand is thinner than supply.
For Investors
Maitland presents a high-yield, high-risk profile compared with metro SA. Weekly rent of $200 is very affordable, attracting stable local tenants, but the 20.5% vacancy rate is significantly above average and signals that demand cannot absorb all available stock. Fourteen development applications in the past 12 months show modest activity, mostly small residential works, so new supply is not the driver of vacancy. The population is growing at 3.16% annually, driven by net internal migration averaging 213 residents per year, which should gradually tighten the rental market. Gentrification score of 54 and Active stage suggest the area is mid-transition, not yet repriced, so investors who can tolerate current vacancy may find the entry price attractive relative to the income-growth trajectory.
Development Activity
Total DAs
138
Last 12 Months
15
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-42.3%
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
Maitland Lutheran School
R-12 · 480 students
Central Yorke School
R-12 · 132 students
Demographics
The median age of 51 is 11 years above the national average, one of the older resident profiles in regional SA. The senior share fell 3.2 points over the decade while the working-age share rose 1.4 points, a mild rejuvenating signal consistent with the Active gentrification classification. Overseas-born residents account for just 6.4%, which is 15.2 percentage points below national, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (534), German (143), Scottish (116) and Irish (86) dominate, with German heritage reflecting the historic Lutheran settlement patterns of Yorke Peninsula. University qualifications reach only 15.4%, which is 14.7 points below national, consistent with an agricultural and trades-based economy. Volunteering stands at 32%, well above average, pointing to a community where civic participation runs deep despite limited formal education credentials.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.4%
Houses
4.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupation is the dominant tenure pattern: 52.8% own outright and 29.1% carry a mortgage, leaving only 18.1% as renters. This high outright-ownership rate reflects an older demographic that has paid off long-held homes rather than a recently arrived population. Detached housing accounts for 95.4% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 4.6% and no measurable apartment stock, so the housing market is effectively a single-product market. Three-bedroom homes make up 54.3% and four-plus bedrooms 29.8%, meaning the average dwelling is more spacious than in capital-city suburbs. Mortgage repayments average $867 per month against household weekly income of $1,143, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.5%, comfortable by any national comparison. The 20.5% vacancy rate is the standout risk factor, well above the national benchmark.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wk
$200
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
35.2%
Couples, no children
905
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture is the dominant industry at 25.4% of local jobs (76 workers), which aligns with Maitland's role as a service hub for the grain-farming and livestock operations of Yorke Peninsula. Healthcare follows at 18.4% (55 workers) and Education at 13.4% (40 workers), a pattern typical of regional service towns where public-sector anchors stabilise employment. Construction accounts for 7.7% and Retail 6.0%. By occupation, Managers lead with 128 workers, well above Labourers (62) and Community/Personal (59), suggesting the town attracts owner-operators and farm managers rather than purely wage earners. Unemployment is 5.6%, above the capital-city average, and the participation rate of 44.1% is low, partly because 458 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age. SEIFA IRSAD sits at decile 4, below the national median.
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
59.6%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
44.1%
Employed
456
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
0.8%
Born Overseas
6.4%
Dwellings
475
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 81.5% of commuters driving, above the national average, which is expected for a town of 1,312 people spread across a 373 km2 area with no recorded public transport usage. Walking and cycling account for 13% of trips, a respectable share for a low-density rural setting. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on institutions in surrounding townships. Crime totals 68 incidents with a rate of 51.8 per 1,000 residents, a figure that warrants contextual reading given the small population base where a handful of incidents moves the rate significantly. SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 places Maitland below the national median on the relative advantage and disadvantage scale. Housing stress is low at a rent-to-income ratio of 17.5%, and the 32% volunteering rate is notably higher than national averages.
Drive
81.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
13.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.16%/yr
(+310 people/yr)
EstablishedThe population growth story for the Maitland area is striking for a regional SA town: 80.4% growth over 10 years and a current annual rate of 3.16%, adding around 310 residents per year. Internal migration is the primary driver, averaging 213 net arrivals annually, with overseas migration contributing a further 23. Medium forecasts project the catchment population reaching 11,667 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 9,805. Rent grew 56% over the decade and real incomes rose 36.7%, two signals that underpin the Active gentrification classification with a score of 54. Affordability improved from 50.7% in 2011 to 47.0% in 2021, meaning housing became slightly more reachable relative to incomes. The 85.8% residential stability rate, meaning only 14.2% of residents moved in the prior year, suggests this growth is consolidating rather than transient.
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%
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 suits those seeking affordable, low-stress housing in a rural setting. Mortgage-to-income and rent-to-income both sit at 17.5%, well below stress thresholds. The town has a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4, below the national median, reflecting lower incomes and services than capital cities, but its 32% volunteering rate signals a strong community. The 20.5% vacancy rate and limited services are the main trade-offs.
What is the median house price in Maitland?
No recent median sale price is recorded for Maitland SA, reflecting thin transaction volumes in this 1,312-person town. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867 and weekly rent is $200, indicating entry costs are low by national comparison. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.5% confirms housing remains affordable relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Maitland?
No schools are recorded within the Maitland SA suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area typically travel to nearby townships for schooling. University qualifications among residents stand at 15.4%, which is 14.7 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with an agricultural and trades-based local economy.
Is Maitland safe?
Maitland recorded 68 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 51.8 per 1,000 residents. This figure should be read carefully given the small 1,312-person population, where a small number of incidents can shift the rate significantly. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4 indicates below-average socioeconomic conditions nationally, which correlates with some crime risk factors.
Is Maitland good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $200 is affordable for tenants, but the 20.5% vacancy rate is above the national average and represents the key risk. On the positive side, population is growing at 3.16% annually driven by internal migration of 213 net arrivals per year, rent grew 56% over the decade, and the Active gentrification score of 54 suggests the area is mid-repricing cycle.
How is Maitland's population changing?
The Maitland catchment has grown 80.4% over the past decade and is currently expanding at 3.16% annually, adding about 310 residents per year. Internal migration averages 213 net arrivals annually and is the primary driver. Medium forecasts project the area population reaching 11,667 by 2031. Despite this growth, the suburb's own residential stability is high at 85.8% of residents not moving in the prior year.
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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