Mayfield
Rents outweigh ownership in Mayfield, with 53.4% of homes rented compared with 20.7% owned outright and 25.2% mortgaged. The suburb is small and dense, holding 1525 people in 0.67 sq km at 2275.1 people per sq km, which gives it a compact urban feel beside larger Mowbray and Newnham. Detached houses still dominate at 86.3%, so the area is renter-majority without being apartment-led. Household income sits at the 7.2 percentile, below the national middle, shaping a price-sensitive local market.
Local council: Launceston
Population
1,525
Median Age
34.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$886/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers in Mayfield are mainly weighing low ongoing outgoings against lower household incomes. The typical mortgage payment is $867 a month, and mortgage-to-income is 22.6%, below the rent-to-income figure of 26.9%. Housing choice is practical rather than varied because 86.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 76.0% have 3 bedrooms, while only 4.7% have 4 or more. That suits buyers seeking basic family-sized stock, but the 53.4% renting share means street-by-street presentation can vary more than in higher owner-occupier areas.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Mayfield are mainly weighing low ongoing outgoings against lower household incomes. The typical mortgage payment is $867 a month, and mortgage-to-income is 22.6%, below the rent-to-income figure of 26.9%. Housing choice is practical rather than varied because 86.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 76.0% have 3 bedrooms, while only 4.7% have 4 or more. That suits buyers seeking basic family-sized stock, but the 53.4% renting share means street-by-street presentation can vary more than in higher owner-occupier areas.
For Investors
Mayfield has clear rental-market depth because 53.4% of households rent, higher than both outright ownership at 20.7% and mortgaged ownership at 25.2%. Weekly rent is $238 and vacancy is 3.5%, so cash flow depends on purchase price discipline rather than premium rents. Development pressure is low, with 0 approvals in the past 12 months, which limits new supply competition. The 31.6% rent growth signal supports demand, but lower incomes and a 13.4% unemployment rate make tenant affordability a key risk.
Demographics
Mayfield is younger and more locally born than the national profile. The median age is 34, which is 6.0 years below the national benchmark, while 9.8% were born overseas, 11.8 percentage points below nationally. University attainment is 15.0%, also 15.1 points below the national level, matching a workforce tilted to labouring, community service and driver roles. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 630 people, followed by Irish at 117 and Scottish at 88, while average household size is 2.3, slightly lower than the national comparison by 0.2.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.3%
Houses
13.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Mayfield's housing stock is strongly detached and rental oriented. Separate houses make up 86.3% of dwellings, compared with 13.7% semi-detached homes, and the bedroom mix is concentrated in 3-bedroom properties at 76.0%. Tenure is the main differentiator: 53.4% rent, 25.2% have a mortgage and 20.7% own outright. That structure matters because rental turnover can be higher than owner-occupier stability, yet housing stress indicators are contained, with rent-to-income at 26.9% and mortgage-to-income at 22.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$238
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$494
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.5%
Unoccupied
22
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.1%
Couples with children
26.8%
Couples, no children
38.9%
Single parent
380
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mayfield's local workforce is service and care oriented, with healthcare the largest industry at 27.2% or 59 workers, followed by retail at 13.8% and hospitality at 9.7%. Labourers are the biggest occupation group at 123 people, above community and personal service workers at 92 and machinery or driver roles at 65. Employment conditions are weaker than average, with unemployment at 13.4% and participation at 48.3%. All 4 SEIFA measures sit in decile 1, so education, resources, advantage and disadvantage indicators point to broad economic constraint rather than a single anomaly.
Unemployment
13.4%
Labour Force
575
Unemployed
77
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
44.0%
Part-time
46.6%
Participation
48.3%
Employed
498
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.0%
Postgraduate
4.7%
Born Overseas
9.8%
Dwellings
605
Transport to Work
Daily life in Mayfield is strongly car based. Car drivers account for 82.5% of commuting, far higher than public transport at 4.7%, walking or cycling at 1.9% and working from home at 1.7%. The suburb's 0.67 sq km footprint and density of 2275.1 people per sq km keep trips short, but low public transport use means households usually need reliable vehicle access. Livability is also shaped by disadvantage, with IRSAD in decile 1, while 9.6% of residents need assistance and volunteering is 8.7%, both important for local support needs.
Drive
82.5%
Public Transport
4.7%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
1.7%
Growth Outlook
Growth in Mayfield is steady rather than rapid. The forecast trend is 0.91% a year, with Overseas migration listed as the primary driver, so change is likely to come through household churn and arrivals rather than large construction cycles. The shift trajectory is Mixed and the 10-year population change is 12.2%, compared with rent growth of 31.6% and real income growth of 22.4%. Gentrification is scored at 19 and labelled Not gentrifying, which fits the low development count of 0 and SEIFA decile 1 setting.
Population trend: Launceston council area
Mayfield sits in the Launceston council area. These are the council area's residents, not Mayfield's.
Residents 2025
71,341
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.3%
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 Mayfield compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mayfield a good suburb to live in?
Mayfield can suit households prioritising affordable weekly outgoings and detached housing, with 86.3% separate houses and rent at $238 a week. It sits below national income levels, with household income at the 7.2 percentile, so buyers should weigh value against lower amenity depth and car dependence.
What is the median house price in Mayfield?
A reliable current median house price is not available for Mayfield. For context, typical rent is $238 a week, the typical mortgage payment is $867 a month, and mortgage-to-income is 22.6%, lower than the rent-to-income figure of 26.9%.
What schools are in Mayfield?
There are 0 schools recorded within Mayfield itself, so families generally need to look to surrounding Launceston suburbs for schooling. This makes transport important, especially because 82.5% of commuters drive compared with 4.7% using public transport.
Is Mayfield safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Mayfield, so current police and local inspection checks matter. The suburb has 1525 residents, and 80.6% stayed at the last mobility count, a higher share than the 19.4% turnover rate.
Is Mayfield good for property investment?
Mayfield has rental depth, with 53.4% of homes rented and vacancy at 3.5%. Rent is $238 a week, and the 31.6% rent growth signal is useful, but investor returns need to be compared with tenant affordability because unemployment is 13.4%.
How is Mayfield's population changing?
Mayfield has 1525 residents today, with forecast growth running at 0.91% a year. The 10-year population change is 12.2%, and the primary driver is Overseas migration, while the broader shift trajectory is labelled Mixed rather than high-growth.
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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