Mayfield
Healthcare employment at 23.6% is one of the highest concentrations in this dataset, driven by Mayfield's proximity to John Hunter Hospital, the largest hospital in the Hunter region. Despite this anchor employer, household incomes at $1,566/week sit at just the 51.1st percentile nationally, placing Mayfield squarely at the national midpoint. The $900,000 median house price rose 9.4% from $868,000 in 2024 to $950,000 in 2025, and 113 development applications in 12 months make it the most actively developing suburb in this batch. With 42.1% renters and 28.8% residential turnover, Mayfield is a transient inner-Newcastle suburb rather than a settled residential enclave.
Population
9,760
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,566/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
119
Median House
$900K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The $900,000 median rose 9.4% from $868,000 in 2024 to $950,000 in 2025. Detached houses at 74.6% dominate, but the bedroom mix skews smaller than most suburbs: 47.8% three-bedroom, 30.2% two-bedroom, and 9.3% studio/one-bedroom, making three-bedroom houses the prevailing format. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,845 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, below the stress threshold. Walking and cycling at 5.7% is above the suburban norm, consistent with Mayfield's inner-Newcastle location. University qualifications at 37.0% run 6.9 points above the national average, reflecting the influence of the hospital and university sectors.
For Buyers
The $900,000 median rose 9.4% from $868,000 in 2024 to $950,000 in 2025. Detached houses at 74.6% dominate, but the bedroom mix skews smaller than most suburbs: 47.8% three-bedroom, 30.2% two-bedroom, and 9.3% studio/one-bedroom, making three-bedroom houses the prevailing format. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,845 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, below the stress threshold. Walking and cycling at 5.7% is above the suburban norm, consistent with Mayfield's inner-Newcastle location. University qualifications at 37.0% run 6.9 points above the national average, reflecting the influence of the hospital and university sectors.
For Investors
Renters at 42.1% provide one of the deepest tenant pools in this batch, and median weekly rent of $375 against a $900,000 median produces a gross yield around 2.2%. The vacancy rate of 7.3% is elevated, suggesting some rental oversupply. 113 DAs in 12 months include shop-top housing, new dwellings, and structural modifications, confirming active densification. Population grows at 0.46% per year (98 persons), with 28.8% turnover indicating a highly mobile resident base. The combination of high renter share, strong DA pipeline, and healthcare-anchored employment creates a tenant demand floor, though the elevated vacancy tempers optimism.
Development Activity
Total DAs
635
Last 12 Months
119
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+6.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Mayfield iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Hunter Christian School
K-12 · 337 students
San Clemente Catholic College
7-10 · 605 students
St Columban's Primary School
K-6 · 162 students
Mayfield West Public School
P-6 · 342 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads overwhelmingly at 4,038, with Irish (1,362) and Scottish (1,144) forming a strongly Anglo-Celtic profile. Only 14.4% were born overseas, 7.2 points below the national average, making Mayfield one of the least diverse suburbs in this dataset. The median age of 36 sits 4 years below national. Average household size of 2.2 is below the national 2.5, consistent with the high proportion of smaller dwellings and a couples-without-children share of 31.1%. Non-English languages are present at very small counts: Urdu (21), Macedonian (21), and Italian (17). Mobility is high at 28.8% turnover, reflecting the transient nature of hospital and university-linked populations.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.6%
Houses
17.4%
Townhouse
6.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Renters at 42.1% and outright owners at 23.4% with mortgage holders at 34.5% indicate a renter-heavy market. Detached houses at 74.6% dominate, with semi-detached at 17.4% and apartments at 6.8%. The bedroom profile is smaller than typical: three-bedroom at 47.8%, two-bedroom at 30.2%, and studios at 9.3%, with four-plus at just 12.7%. Prices rose from $868,000 to $950,000 in the latest year, a 9.4% gain. Rent-to-income at 23.9% and mortgage-to-income at 27.2% are both below stress thresholds. The combination of smaller dwelling sizes and high renter share reflects an inner-suburban housing market rather than a family-oriented outer suburb.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,845
Rent / wk
$375
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$805
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
321
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.1%
Couples, no children
6,467
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare overwhelmingly leads at 23.6% (822 workers), more than double any other sector, driven by John Hunter Hospital's proximity. Education follows at 12.9% (450), Professional/Technical at 9.5% (330), Public Administration at 8.5% (296), and Construction at 7.6% (266). Professionals (1,376) dominate occupations, with Community/Personal (705) second, reflecting the health and community services sector's workforce weight. Unemployment at 6.0% is slightly above the national average, and participation at 58.9% is moderate. Full-time employment at 62.1% is below the national average, consistent with healthcare's significant part-time and shift workforce.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
31.9%
Participation
58.9%
Employed
4,562
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.0%
Postgraduate
8.6%
Born Overseas
14.4%
Dwellings
4,054
Transport to Work
Four schools serve the suburb: Hunter Christian School (Independent Combined, ICSEA 1,061, 337 students), San Clemente Catholic College secondary (1,038, 605 students), St Columban's Catholic Primary (1,034, 162 students), and Mayfield West Public School (Government, 1,033, 342 students). All four exceed the national ICSEA benchmark, though none by a large margin. Walking and cycling at 5.7% is above the suburban average. Rent-to-income at 23.9% is moderate. The suburb's inner-Newcastle location provides access to broader city amenities without the extreme density of the CBD.
Drive
86.4%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
5.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Mayfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mayfield a good suburb to live in?
Mayfield suits professionals in the health and education sectors, with 23.6% employed in healthcare and 37.0% holding university qualifications (6.9 points above national). The $900,000 median produces a 27.2% mortgage-to-income ratio, below the stress line. All 4 schools exceed the ICSEA benchmark, and walking/cycling at 5.7% reflects inner-Newcastle walkability.
What is the median house price in Mayfield?
The median is $900,000 (PSI-derived), rising 9.4% from $868,000 in 2024 to $950,000 in 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,845, and median weekly rent is $375. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2% is below the stress benchmark, at household incomes in the 51.1st percentile nationally.
What schools are in Mayfield?
Four schools, all above the national ICSEA 1,000 benchmark: Hunter Christian School (Independent, 1,061, 337 students), San Clemente Catholic College (Secondary, 1,038, 605 students), St Columban's Catholic Primary (1,034, 162 students), and Mayfield West Public School (Government, 1,033, 342 students).
Is Mayfield safe?
Crime-specific data is not available in the current dataset. SEIFA data is also unavailable for the suburb boundary. The 6.0% unemployment rate is slightly above the national average. The 42.1% renter share and 28.8% turnover rate indicate a transient population, which can correlate with higher property crime in comparable suburbs.
Is Mayfield good for property investment?
The 42.1% renter share provides a deep tenant pool, but gross yield is modest at approximately 2.2% ($375/week on $900,000). The 7.3% vacancy rate is elevated. 113 DAs in 12 months signal active development. Capital growth was strong at 9.4% over the latest year, and real incomes grew 21.5% over the decade. The healthcare employment anchor (23.6%) provides structural demand stability.
How is Mayfield's population changing?
Population grows at 0.46% per year (98 persons), with the 2025 estimate at 19,370. The 10-year change of 16.7% is above the national average, and the gentrification score of 41 (active) reflects accelerating growth. Internal migration adds 154/year and overseas arrivals 78/year. Real incomes grew 21.5% over the decade.
How much development is happening in Mayfield?
113 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, the highest count in this batch. Applications include shop-top housing, new dwelling houses, and demolition-plus-rebuild projects. This volume reflects inner-Newcastle's densification trend and the suburb's transition from a traditional worker-cottage area to a higher-density urban village.
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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