Tarro
With 46.5% of residents owning their home outright, Tarro sits well above the national average for debt-free ownership, pointing to a settled, older resident base. At a median age of 45, the suburb is 5 years older than the national figure. Household income places in the 23.2nd percentile nationally, notably below average, yet the median house price reached $705,000 in 2025. The suburb is almost entirely detached houses at 93.1%, and car dependency is extreme, with 91.9% of residents driving to work compared to the national average.
Population
1,703
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,167/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
20
Median House
$675K
2024-2025 (PSI derived)
The median house price reached $705,000 in 2025, up from $643,000 in 2024, a 9.6% rise in one year. At 93.1% detached houses, buyers get a genuine house-dominant market, with apartments accounting for just 0.4% of stock. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant dwelling size at 55% of the market, with 2-bedroom at 25.4% and 4-plus at 17.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.0%, just at the stress threshold. Compared to many NSW markets, the entry price remains more accessible, though household incomes at the 23.2nd percentile nationally mean affordability is relative rather than comfortable.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $705,000 in 2025, up from $643,000 in 2024, a 9.6% rise in one year. At 93.1% detached houses, buyers get a genuine house-dominant market, with apartments accounting for just 0.4% of stock. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant dwelling size at 55% of the market, with 2-bedroom at 25.4% and 4-plus at 17.9%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 30.0%, just at the stress threshold. Compared to many NSW markets, the entry price remains more accessible, though household incomes at the 23.2nd percentile nationally mean affordability is relative rather than comfortable.
For Investors
Tarro's rental market is modest: 22.1% of dwellings are rented at a median $340 per week. Against the $705,000 median price, that implies a gross yield near 2.5%, below typical investment benchmarks. The vacancy rate at 3.5% sits slightly above the 3% threshold considered balanced. Development activity totalled 18 applications in the past 12 months, including secondary dwelling and CDC approvals, indicating modest but present supply additions. The suburb's 84.3% residential stability rate suggests low turnover, which limits churn-driven rental demand. Compared to higher-growth NSW corridors, Tarro's appeal to investors rests on affordability relative to nearby Newcastle markets rather than yield strength.
Development Activity
Total DAs
61
Last 12 Months
20
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+25.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Tarro iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School
K-6 · 260 students
Tarro Public School
K-6 · 115 students
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5.0 years above the national figure, making Tarro one of the older suburbs in the Hunter region. University qualifications reach just 15.4%, which is 14.7 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with a blue-collar employment base. Overseas-born residents make up 8.0%, which is 13.6 points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly Australian-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (736 residents), Scottish (175) and Irish (163) are the top three. Average household size of 2.3 is slightly below national, and couples without children represent 34.1% of families, reinforcing the aging household profile. Volunteering participation runs at 9.2%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.1%
Houses
6.5%
Townhouse
0.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Ownership rates tell a clear story: 46.5% own outright, well above national norms, 31.3% carry a mortgage and 22.1% rent. The dominance of outright owners reflects a long-settled, older population rather than recent buyers. Detached houses account for 93.1% of all dwellings, with semi-detached at 6.5% and apartments at just 0.4%, so the housing stock is almost entirely houses on their own land. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 55.0%, with 2-bedroom at 25.4% and 4-plus at 17.9%. The median price rose from $643,000 in 2024 to $705,000 in 2025, a 9.6% gain. Rent-to-income sits at 29.1% and mortgage-to-income at 30.0%, both near stress thresholds given household incomes at the 23.2nd percentile nationally.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$623
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.5%
Unoccupied
26
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
30.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.1%
Couples, no children
1,251
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 20.1% of workers (75 residents), followed by Manufacturing at 11.8% (44) and Retail at 9.9% (37), with Construction at 9.4% and Education at 7.5%. By occupation, Labourers are the largest group at 132 workers, ahead of Machinery and Drivers at 103, reflecting Tarro's blue-collar character compared to the national workforce mix. The unemployment rate is 7.6%, above the national average, with 54 residents unemployed. The full-time employment rate is 63.9% and the participation rate is 49.7%, lower than national levels, partly because 612 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older population. Household income sits at the 23.2nd percentile nationally, underscoring the area's working-class economic profile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.9%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
49.7%
Employed
659
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.4%
Postgraduate
2.2%
Born Overseas
8.0%
Dwellings
721
Transport to Work
Car dependency in Tarro is among the highest you will find: 91.9% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average, while only 1.2% use public transport and 1.3% walk or cycle. This points to limited public transport access and a layout designed around car ownership. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby schools in the broader Maitland LGA. Crime data is not available for this suburb in the current dataset. The rent-to-income ratio of 29.1% sits near the 30% stress threshold, limiting affordability for renters, while 8.7% of residents (140 people) require daily assistance, reflecting the older median age of 45. The 3.5% vacancy rate is slightly above the balanced market threshold of 3%.
Drive
91.9%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Tarro compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tarro a good suburb to live in?
Tarro offers a predominantly detached-house environment with 93.1% of dwellings being separate houses, and 46.5% of residents own their home outright. The suburb suits those seeking a settled, low-turnover community with a median age of 45. The main limitations are very high car dependency at 91.9% driving to work, limited public transport, and household incomes at the 23.2nd percentile nationally.
What is the median house price in Tarro?
The median house price in Tarro is $705,000 as of 2025, up 9.6% from $643,000 in 2024. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517 and weekly rent averages $340. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 30.0%, sitting at the stress threshold given local income levels.
What schools are in Tarro?
No schools are recorded within the Tarro suburb boundary in this dataset. With a population of 1,703 residents spread across 5.79 km2, families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Maitland LGA. The local university qualification rate is 15.4%, which is 14.7 points below the national figure.
Is Tarro safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Tarro in the current dataset. As context, the suburb has a high residential stability rate of 84.3%, with most residents staying put year to year, and a volunteering rate of 9.2%. The older median age of 45, which is 5 years above the national figure, is generally associated with more settled, lower-crime areas.
Is Tarro good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $340 against a $705,000 median price gives a gross yield near 2.5%, below typical investment benchmarks. The vacancy rate of 3.5% is slightly above the balanced-market threshold of 3%. The 9.6% price gain from 2024 to 2025 is a positive signal, but household incomes at the 23.2nd percentile nationally limit the pool of local owner-occupier buyers.
How is Tarro's population changing?
Tarro has 1,703 residents across 5.79 km2 at a density of 294 per km2, low compared to metropolitan standards. The suburb shows a residential stability rate of 84.3%, meaning only 15.7% of residents moved in the reference period. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, suggesting the population is aging rather than being renewed by younger arrivals.
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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