Morpeth
At a median age of 55, Morpeth sits 15 years above the national figure, making it one of the older resident profiles in the Hunter region. Household income falls in the 18.2nd percentile nationally, yet the $835,000 median house price remains above what that income level would comfortably support. Over half of residents (51.3%) own their home outright, a rate well above the national average, pointing to long-established ownership rather than active turnover. With only 1,686 people across 4.44 km2, the suburb is compact and stable, with 81.4% of residents living at the same address they did five years prior.
Population
1,686
Median Age
55.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,122/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
19
Median House
$835K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price is $835,000, down 1.8% from $850,000 in 2024, so buyers are entering a slightly softening market compared to the recent peak. Separate houses make up 65.2% of dwellings, higher than many comparable NSW towns, while semi-detached stock is 33.1% and apartments just 1.7%. The bedroom mix skews toward smaller homes: 39.8% are 2-bedroom and 33.0% are 3-bedroom, with 26.6% at 4 or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,788, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 36.8%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household income is in the 18.2nd percentile nationally. Buyers with existing equity rather than new borrowers are better placed to absorb the cost.
For Buyers
The median house price is $835,000, down 1.8% from $850,000 in 2024, so buyers are entering a slightly softening market compared to the recent peak. Separate houses make up 65.2% of dwellings, higher than many comparable NSW towns, while semi-detached stock is 33.1% and apartments just 1.7%. The bedroom mix skews toward smaller homes: 39.8% are 2-bedroom and 33.0% are 3-bedroom, with 26.6% at 4 or more bedrooms. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,788, but the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 36.8%, above the 30% stress threshold, because household income is in the 18.2nd percentile nationally. Buyers with existing equity rather than new borrowers are better placed to absorb the cost.
For Investors
The rental market is small but functional: 19.6% of households rent, paying a median $370 per week. Against the $835,000 median, that implies a gross yield near 2.3%, low by regional NSW standards. The vacancy rate of 7.4% is elevated, signalling that demand for rental properties is soft relative to supply. Development activity is modest, with 17 applications in the past 12 months, mostly alterations and carports rather than new dwellings, so no significant supply wave is expected. Rent-to-income at 33.0% is at the stress boundary, meaning tenants are stretched and vacancy could rise further if rents increase. The investment case depends on long-term capital hold rather than strong rental yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
118
Last 12 Months
19
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Morpeth iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Morpeth Public School
K-6 · 262 students
Demographics
The median age of 55 is 15 years above the national figure, placing Morpeth among the older suburbs in NSW. Residents born overseas make up 8.4% of the population, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (817 residents), Scottish (261) and Irish (237) are the top three ancestries. University qualifications reach 30.1%, on par with the national rate, so education levels are not a distinguishing factor. Average household size is 2.1, compared to the national figure of 2.5, and couples without children account for 41.6% of families. The high outright ownership rate and the 81.4% residential stability rate both reflect a settled, low-turnover community.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.2%
Houses
33.1%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Morpeth is strongly skewed toward outright ownership: 51.3% own without a mortgage, 29.1% carry a mortgage, and only 19.6% rent. An outright ownership rate above 50% is well above the national average and points to long-held property by older, debt-free residents rather than churn. The stock is 65.2% separate houses and 33.1% semi-detached, leaving apartments at just 1.7%. The price history shows a mild decline from $850,000 in 2024 to $835,000 in 2025, a 1.8% fall over one year. Mortgage repayments of $1,788 per month produce a 36.8% mortgage-to-income ratio because household income sits at the 18.2nd national percentile, making fresh mortgage entry financially tight for typical residents.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,788
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$634
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.4%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.0% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
36.8% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
41.6%
Couples, no children
1,275
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates local employment at 20.8% of workers (87 people), followed by Education at 14.6% (61) and Construction and Public Admin each at 8.9% (37). By occupation, Professionals are the largest group (160 workers), ahead of Community and Personal service roles (79) and Managers (74). The unemployment rate is 4.7%, moderate by regional standards, and the full-time employment rate is 58.8%. The participation rate of 41.2% is low, reflecting the older age structure: 725 residents are not in the labour force. No SEIFA index data is available for Morpeth, but the 18.2nd percentile household income rank nationally indicates relative financial disadvantage compared to state and national benchmarks.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.8%
Part-time
36.5%
Participation
41.2%
Employed
563
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.1%
Postgraduate
6.8%
Born Overseas
8.4%
Dwellings
744
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 89.7% of commuters driving to work, with only 4.7% walking or cycling. No public transport usage figures are available for the suburb. No schools are recorded within the Morpeth boundary in the dataset, so families depend on nearby facilities in surrounding suburbs. Crime statistics are not available in this dataset. Volunteering participation stands at 18.9% of the population, above the national average, and 7.5% of residents (121 people) require daily assistance, consistent with the older median age of 55. Rent-to-income at 33.0% is at the boundary of housing stress for renters, though the majority of residents own their homes outright and are not subject to that pressure.
Drive
89.7%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Morpeth compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morpeth a good suburb to live in?
Morpeth appeals to those seeking a stable, low-turnover residential setting with high outright ownership: 51.3% of residents own without a mortgage, well above the national average. The median age is 55, which is 15 years above the national figure, so the community skews toward older households. Household income sits in the 18.2nd national percentile, which is a material constraint on local services and amenity compared to wealthier NSW suburbs.
What is the median house price in Morpeth?
The median house price is $835,000, down 1.8% from $850,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,788, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 36.8%, above the 30% stress threshold given that household income is in the 18.2nd national percentile. Weekly rent averages $370 for the 19.6% of households who rent.
What schools are in Morpeth?
No schools are recorded within the Morpeth boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in surrounding suburbs in the Maitland area. The local university qualification rate is 30.1%, on par with the national average, suggesting residents value education despite the lack of institutions within the suburb itself.
Is Morpeth safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Morpeth in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb has a volunteering rate of 18.9%, and 81.4% of residents remained at the same address over five years, a high residential stability rate that is generally associated with lower crime and community cohesion. Income sits in the 18.2nd national percentile, which is a disadvantage factor in broader safety research.
Is Morpeth good for property investment?
Rental yield is modest: $370 per week rent against an $835,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.3%, below what most regional NSW markets offer. The 7.4% vacancy rate is elevated, indicating soft rental demand. Only 17 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, mostly minor works, so supply risk is low. The price fell 1.8% in 2025 compared to 2024, and the aging population demographic limits organic demand growth.
How is Morpeth's population changing?
Morpeth has a population of 1,686 with a median age of 55, which is 15 years above the national average. Residential stability is high: 81.4% of residents did not move in the five years prior to the last Census. No forward population forecast data is available, but the aging age structure and low development activity of 17 applications in 12 months suggest limited near-term population 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 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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