Rutherford
Fast growth is Rutherford's standout trait: the population has lifted 50.8% over 10 years and the forward trend adds about 499 people a year. Compared with nearby Maitland, Aberglasslyn and Telarah, its identity is clearest in its own housing mix: 87.1% separate houses, only 1.9% apartments and a median age of 35. The suburb is still priced for outer Maitland family budgets, with a $705,000 median house price, but household income sits at the 45.8 percentile, so affordability depends heavily on dual incomes and car access.
Population
13,091
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,475/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
125
Median House
$780K
12m to Jun 2026 (PSI)
Homebuyers get a strongly detached market, with 87.1% separate houses and 39.5% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. The $705,000 median house price sits alongside a $1,733 monthly mortgage and mortgage costs at 27.1% of income, below common stress thresholds. That matters because 38.5% of homes are mortgaged and car commuting is dominant. Compared with denser infill markets, Rutherford suits buyers who prioritise space over public transport, but the 9.8% price rise from 2024 to 2025 narrows the entry point.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a strongly detached market, with 87.1% separate houses and 39.5% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. The $705,000 median house price sits alongside a $1,733 monthly mortgage and mortgage costs at 27.1% of income, below common stress thresholds. That matters because 38.5% of homes are mortgaged and car commuting is dominant. Compared with denser infill markets, Rutherford suits buyers who prioritise space over public transport, but the 9.8% price rise from 2024 to 2025 narrows the entry point.
For Investors
Rutherford has a sizeable rental base, with 36.0% of households renting and a median rent of $360 a week. Vacancy is 4.5%, higher than a tight rental market, so yield and tenant quality need more scrutiny than in lower-vacancy pockets. Demand is supported by internal migration averaging 373 people a year and 101 development applications in 12 months, because growth is adding households and local services. The catch is income depth: household income is only at the 45.8 percentile, which can cap rent increases despite 29.0% rent growth in the shift period.
Development Activity
Total DAs
802
Last 12 Months
125
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+23.8%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Rutherford iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Paul's Primary School
K-6 · 370 students
Rutherford Public School
K-6 · 1007 students
Rutherford Technology High School
7-12 · 1405 students
Demographics
Rutherford is younger than the national benchmark, with a median age of 35, which is 5.0 years below the national comparison. It is also less migrant-led: 9.1% were born overseas, 12.5 percentage points below national, while university attainment is 14.6%, 15.5 points lower. English ancestry dominates at 5,441 people, followed by Scottish at 1,289 and Irish at 1,181. This points to a blue-collar, locally rooted population because occupation and education patterns are more trade and service aligned than professional-office aligned.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.1%
Houses
10.9%
Townhouse
1.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by family stock: 87.1% separate houses, 10.9% semi-detached homes and only 1.9% apartments. Prices rose from $665,000 in 2024 to $730,000 in 2025, a 9.8% gain, with the latest price equal to the peak and 0.0% below it. The listed median house price of $705,000 is about 9.2 times annual household income based on $1,475 a week. Tenure is mixed, with 25.5% owned outright, 38.5% mortgaged and 36.0% renting, so compared with owner-dominated suburbs, Rutherford has a broader tenant and upgrader market.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (12m to Jun 2026 (PSI))
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (January to March 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $360.
$600
Bond data Mar 2026 · houses $620 · units $485
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$711
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
227
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.2%
Couples, no children
10,316
Total families
Economy & Employment
Rutherford's economy leans practical rather than white-collar. Healthcare is the largest industry at 20.7% or 707 workers, followed by construction at 8.7%, mining at 8.6%, education at 7.8% and retail at 7.6%. Occupations reinforce that pattern, with 871 community and personal service workers, 741 labourers and 680 machinery or driver roles. Unemployment is 6.1% and participation is 54.0%. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 2, IER decile 5, IRSD decile 3 and IRSAD decile 3, meaning economic resources are around the middle but education and advantage rank below average.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
9,425
Unemployed
333
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
29.3%
Participation
54.0%
Employed
5,182
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.6%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
9.1%
Dwellings
4,825
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-based: 90.8% drive to work, compared with just 1.0% using public transport and 2.1% walking or cycling. That makes access to Maitland jobs, shops and schools important because convenience depends on roads rather than rail or bus usage. The suburb has 3 schools across Catholic and government sectors, with ICSEA values from 922 to 996. St Paul's Primary is the highest at 996, while Rutherford Public at 933 and Rutherford Technology High at 922 give a local government pathway. IRSAD decile 3 is below average, signalling fewer high-advantage amenities than wealthier suburbs.
Drive
90.8%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.5%/yr
(+499 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is a central part of Rutherford's outlook. The trend forecast is 2.5% a year, or about 499 additional people annually, lifting the medium population path from 20,473 in 2026 to 22,966 in 2031. Migration is mostly domestic, with internal migration averaging 373 people a year compared with 71 from overseas, so demand is more regional-relocation driven than global-arrival driven. The gentrification score is 25 and the stage is Early signs, while the broader shift is aging, with senior share up 4.7 points because established family homes are maturing with residents.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+71
Net Internal / yr
+373
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal migration +373/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Rutherford compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rutherford a good suburb to live in?
Rutherford can suit households wanting space and value near Maitland, with 87.1% separate houses and 39.5% of homes having 4 or more bedrooms. It is more car-dependent than inner areas, with 90.8% driving to work.
What is the median house price in Rutherford?
The median house price in Rutherford is $705,000. Recent price history shows movement from $665,000 in 2024 to $730,000 in 2025, a 9.8% rise, so buyers should check the latest sales against their budget.
What schools are in Rutherford?
Rutherford has 3 local schools: St Paul's Primary School, Rutherford Public School and Rutherford Technology High School. The sector mix includes Catholic and government options, with ICSEA scores ranging from 922 to 996.
Is Rutherford safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available, so safety should be checked by street, time of day and property type. Practical local context includes 3 schools, 90.8% car commuting and a population base of 13,091.
Is Rutherford good for property investment?
Rutherford has investor appeal through 36.0% renting, $360 weekly median rent and internal migration averaging 373 people a year. The 4.5% vacancy rate is higher than a tight market, so leasing risk needs attention.
How is Rutherford's population changing?
Rutherford is growing quickly, with a 2.5% annual trend adding about 499 people a year. The medium path rises from 20,473 in 2026 to 22,966 in 2031, driven mainly by internal migration.
What development is happening in Rutherford?
Development activity is high, with 101 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include demolition and alterations, industrial development, earthworks and new structures, which fits a growing outer Maitland suburb.
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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