Tenambit - East Maitland

Population growth drivers in Tenambit - East Maitland are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Tenambit - East Maitland's population is around 10,658 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 567 people (5.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,091 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,469 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 198 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 616 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Over the past decade, Tenambit - East Maitland has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a 1.2% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the Rest of NSW. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 47.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including natural growth and overseas migration, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, as released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, an above-median population growth of non-metropolitan areas nationally is projected, with the area expected to grow by 2,555 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 22.2% in total over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Tenambit - East Maitland when compared nationally

Tenambit - East Maitland has averaged around 38 new dwelling approvals per year, with 193 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 15 so far in FY-26. Given an average of 3 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand significantly exceeds new supply, which usually results in price growth and increased buyer competition, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $232,000—below the regional average—suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. Additionally, $496,000 in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus.

When measured against the Rest of NSW, Tenambit - East Maitland has significantly less development activity (69.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. New building activity shows 68.0% detached dwellings and 32.0% attached dwellings, showing an expanding range of medium-density options creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets, from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. The estimated count of 418 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Population forecasts indicate Tenambit - East Maitland will gain 2,366 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 15 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include East Maitland Catalyst Area, Chisholm Plaza, Stockland Green Hills Expansion, and Sophia Waters Estate, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment landscape in Tenambit - East Maitland presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 4.0%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Tenambit - East Maitland has a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of only 4.0%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 4,752 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is in line with Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is somewhat below standard (57.5% compared to Regional NSW's 61.3%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 22.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area has a particular employment specialization in mining, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry & fishing has a limited presence with 1.1% employment compared to 5.3% regionally. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.7% while employment declined by 0.4%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced an employment decline of 1.2% and a labour force decline of 0.8%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Tenambit - East Maitland. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Tenambit - East Maitland's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Tenambit - East Maitland SA2's median income among taxpayers is $58,168, with an average of $73,407. This is above the national average, and compares to Regional NSW's median of $52,390 and average of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $63,322 (median) and $79,911 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Tenambit - East Maitland, between the 30th and 37th percentiles. The earnings profile shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.1% of residents (3,208 people), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 29.9% similarly occupy this range. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.8% of income remaining, ranking at the 28th percentile, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure within Tenambit - East Maitland, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 80.2% houses and 19.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Tenambit - East Maitland lagged that of Regional NSW, at 35.6%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (34.5%) or rented (29.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was in line with the Regional NSW average at $1,733, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $360, compared to Regional NSW's $1,733 and $330. Nationally, Tenambit - East Maitland's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

Tenambit - East Maitland has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households dominate at 68.7% of all households, comprising 25.8% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 13.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 31.3%, with lone person households at 29.4% and group households comprising 1.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.4 people matches the Regional NSW average.

Educational outcomes in Tenambit - East Maitland fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (19.6%) substantially below the NSW average of 32.2%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 14.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (11.5%) and certificates (29.7%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 118 active transport stops operating within Tenambit - East Maitland, comprising a mix of trains and buses. These stops are serviced by 99 individual routes, collectively providing 4,726 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling. Some 22.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 675 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map shows the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

Health outcomes in Tenambit - East Maitland are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Tenambit - East Maitland, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical, though higher than the national average among older cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~5,904 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 11.6% and 11.2% of residents, respectively, while 58.9% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 22.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,401 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

The latest Census data sees Tenambit - East Maitland placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Tenambit - East Maitland was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 92.2% of the population born in Australia, 93.8% being citizens, and 97.0% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Tenambit - East Maitland is Christianity, which makes up 58.0% of the population. This compares to 55.9% across Regional NSW.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Tenambit - East Maitland are English, comprising 32.7% of the population, Australian, comprising 31.2% of the population, and Irish, comprising 9.2% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Australian Aboriginal is notably overrepresented at 4.9% of Tenambit - East Maitland (vs 4.6% regionally), Scottish at 8.5% (vs 8.0%) and Polish at 0.8% (vs 0.5%).

Tenambit - East Maitland's population is slightly older than the national pattern

At 41 years, Tenambit - East Maitland's median age is somewhat lower than the Regional NSW average of 43 yet modestly exceeds the 38-year national average. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 13.2% compared to Regional NSW, whereas the 65 - 74 cohort is less prevalent at 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 12.0% to 13.0% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.9% to 11.1%. Demographic modeling suggests Tenambit - East Maitland's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 38%, adding 541 residents to reach 1,948. In contrast, the 15 to 24 cohort shows minimal growth of just 7% (83 people).