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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Maitland's population is around 9,978 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,367 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,611 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,542 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 538 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 311 persons per square kilometer. Maitland's growth rate of 15.9% since the 2021 census exceeded the non-metro area (4.8%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 78.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period, placing Maitland in the top 10 percent of Australia's regional areas. The area is expected to increase by 7,623 persons to 2041 based on latest population numbers, recording a gain of 72.0% in total 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. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, with 737 dwellings approved over the past five years from FY2021 to FY2025, and an additional 52 approved in FY2026 so far. On average, each dwelling has accommodated around 2.3 new residents annually over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values. New homes are constructed at an average expected cost of $321,000, which is below regional levels, providing more affordable housing options for buyers.

In FY2026, there have been $72.2 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of NSW, Maitland exhibits moderately higher construction activity, with a 35.0% increase per person over the five-year period, balancing buyer choice while supporting current property values. This is significantly higher than national averages, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location. New development consists of 49.0% standalone homes and 51.0% medium to high-density housing, offering accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This shift represents a notable change from the area's existing housing stock, which is currently 82.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting evolving lifestyles that require diverse and affordable housing options. With approximately 50 people per dwelling approval, Maitland displays characteristics of a growth area.

Population forecasts indicate that Maitland will gain around 7,182 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, there may be a shortage in housing supply to match population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of thirty projects that are likely to impact this particular area. Notable projects include the Maitland Regional Sports Complex Redevelopment, the Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project, the Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041, and Wallis Meadows Estate. The following list details those projects considered 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 essential services well represented. The unemployment rate was 4.3% as of June 2025.

There were 4,625 employed residents, an unemployment rate 0.6% higher than Rest of NSW's 3.7%, and workforce participation at 66.2%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, construction, with mining showing strong specialization at 2.6 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.1%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.9 as of Census. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.2% and employment declined by 4.9%, increasing unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points.

In contrast, Rest of NSW had employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.41%, losing 19,270 jobs, with state unemployment rate at 4.3%. National forecasts from May 2025 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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 released postcode-level ATO data for financial year 2022. Maitland's median income among taxpayers was $54,885, with an average of $68,104. This is higher than the national average. Rest of NSW had 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. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Maitland cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 35.3% of locals (3,522 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income category. This is similar to metropolitan regions where 29.9% occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Maitland, with only 82.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile nationally. 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

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

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

Family households account for 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 constitute the remaining 27.0%, with lone person households at 24.5% and group households comprising 2.6% of the total. 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

The area faces educational challenges with university qualification rates at 17.7%, significantly below the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 11.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (31.4%).

Educational participation is high at 29.9%, including 11.2% in primary education, 6.6% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education. Maitland has a robust network of 7 schools educating approximately 2,357 students, serving as an educational center for the broader region with school capacity exceeding typical residential needs (23.6 places per 100 residents vs 17.7 regionally). The area demonstrates balanced educational opportunities with ICSEA score of 1002. Four primary and three secondary schools serve distinct age groups, meeting residential educational requirements.

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. The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located 225 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 1,222 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 91 weekly trips per individual 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 average, particularly among older age groups.

Approximately 53% (~5,328 people) of Maitland's total population has private health cover. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 12.5% and 9.4% of residents respectively. Conversely, 63.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in the Rest of NSW. Maitland has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 12.7% (1,265 people), compared to 15.4% in the Rest of NSW. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those of 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, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2016 data, showed lower cultural diversity with 90.7% of its population born in Australia, 92.6% being citizens, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 50.7% of Maitland's population. Notably, the 'Other' religious group was relatively overrepresented at 0.9%, compared to 0.7% in the Rest of NSW.

Regarding ancestry (country of birth of parents), Australians made up 32.6%, English 30.5%, and Scottish 7.6%. Some ethnic groups were notably divergent: Australian Aboriginal at 5.5% (vs 5.1% regionally), Maltese at 0.4% (vs 0.3%), and Sri Lankan at 0.2% (vs 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 average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of NSW average, Maitland has an over-representation of the 25-34 cohort at 18.4%, while the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 7.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 35 to 44 age group grew from 14.6% to 15.8% of the population, and the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 17.2% to 18.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 9.4% to 8.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Maitland's age profile will change significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow by 1,472 people (an increase of 80%) from 1,830 to 3,303.