Maitland
Statistical Area - sa2

Maitland lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Maitland's population is 9,978 as of Aug 2025. This reflects a growth of 1,367 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,611. The increase was inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 9,542 in June 2024 and an additional 538 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 311 persons per square kilometer. Maitland's growth rate of 15.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the non-metro area (4.8%) and the state average, making it a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and overseas migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, they use NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population dynamics predict exceptional growth, placing Maitland in the top 10 percent of Australia's regional areas. Based on latest numbers, the area is expected to increase by 7,623 persons by 2041, recording a gain of 72.0% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Maitland was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Maitland averaged approximately 147 new dwelling approvals annually. Between Financial Year 2021 (FY-21) and FY-25, a total of 737 homes were approved. As of FY-26, there have been 79 dwelling approvals.

This averages out to about 2.3 new residents per year for each dwelling over the past five financial years, indicating strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of these dwellings is $321,000, which is lower than regional levels, providing more affordable housing choices for buyers. In FY-26, there have been $72.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Maitland shows moderately higher construction activity, at 35.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This indicates strong developer confidence in the location. New development in Maitland consists of approximately 49.0% standalone homes and 51.0% medium to high-density housing.

This shift towards denser development provides accessible entry options, appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This trend represents a notable change from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 82.0% houses. Maitland shows characteristics of a growth area, with around 50 people moving in for each dwelling approval. Population forecasts indicate that Maitland will gain approximately 7,182 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting property price increases.

Maitland has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Maitland Regional Sports Complex Redevelopment, Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project, Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041, and Wallis Meadows Estate. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment performance in Maitland has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Maitland's workforce is skilled with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 4.3%.

At that time, 4625 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9% compared to Rest of NSW's 4.2%, and a participation rate of 66.2% versus the region's 56.4%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Mining stands out with an employment share 2.6 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 5.3%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.9 in the Census.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.2% while employment declined by 4.9%, increasing unemployment by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW saw a 0.1% employment decline and 0.3% labour force growth, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data from Sep-25 shows NSW's employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5% and employment growth was 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary between sectors. Applying these projections to Maitland's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates Maitland's median income among taxpayers is $54,885, with an average of $68,104. This is higher than the national average. Rest of NSW has a median income of $49,459 and an average of $62,998. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Maitland would be approximately $60,703 (median) and $75,323 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Maitland cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 35.3% of locals (3,522 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% fall within this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Maitland, with only 82.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Maitland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Maitland's dwelling structure at the latest Census was 82.2% houses and 17.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 87.1% houses and 13.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Maitland was at 24.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.8% and rented dwellings at 35.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,872, higher than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,862, while the median weekly rent was $390, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $375. Nationally, Maitland's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,872 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $390 compared to the national figure of $375.

Maitland has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 73.0% of all households, including 32.7% couples with children, 25.2% couples without children, and 13.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.0%, with lone person households at 24.5% and group households comprising 2.6%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.7.

Educational attainment in Maitland aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Maitland has lower university qualification rates at 17.7% compared to NSW's average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives in the area. Bachelor degrees are most common (11.8%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 42.7% holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (31.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.2%), secondary education (6.6%), and tertiary education (4.1%). Maitland operates a network of 7 schools educating approximately 2,357 students, offering balanced educational opportunities with an ICSEA score of 1002. The area has 4 primary and 3 secondary schools serving distinct age groups, with school capacity exceeding typical residential needs (23.6 places per 100 residents vs regional average of 17.7), indicating Maitland serves as an educational center for the broader region. Note: if 'n/a' appears for enrolments, please refer to parent campus details.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Maitland has 94 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 137 individual routes, facilitating 8,558 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 225 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency across all routes averages 1,222 trips per day, translating to approximately 91 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Maitland is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Maitland faces significant health challenges, with a notably higher prevalence of common health conditions compared to averages, particularly amongst older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively high, with approximately 53% (~5,328 people) of the total population having it. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 12.5 and 9.4% of residents respectively. Around 63.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in Rest of NSW. Maitland has a lower proportion of seniors (aged 65 and over), at 12.7% (1,265 people), than the state average of 15.4%. Health outcomes for seniors require more attention than those for the broader population.

Maitland is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Maitland's population, as per the 2016 Census, showed lower cultural diversity with 90.7% born in Australia, 92.6% being citizens, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 50.7%. The 'Other' category saw an overrepresentation in Maitland at 0.9%, compared to 0.7% regionally.

Ancestry wise, Australian (32.6%), English (30.5%), and Scottish (7.6%) were the top groups. Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Australian Aboriginal was slightly overrepresented at 5.5% in Maitland versus 5.1% regionally, Maltese at 0.4% compared to 0.3%, and Sri Lankan at 0.2% versus 0.1%.

Maitland hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Maitland has a median age of 34, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 and Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Maitland has an over-representation of the 25-34 cohort at 18.4%, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 7.2%. Between 2021 and the present, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 14.6% to 15.8%, and the 25 to 34 cohort has risen from 17.2% to 18.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has decreased from 9.4% to 8.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Maitland's age profile, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 1,472 people (an 80% increase) from 1,830 to 3,303.