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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Population
Chisholm lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Chisholm (NSW) is around 7,072. This reflects a growth of 2,495 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,577. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 6,851 in June 2025 and an additional 960 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of approximately 953 persons per square kilometer. Chisholm's growth rate of 54.5% since the 2021 census exceeds that of the Rest of NSW (4.9%) and the state, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed around 71.0% to overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is using ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are utilized. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the suburb is projected to grow by 6,304 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an overall increase of 86.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Chisholm was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Chisholm averaged around 242 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 1,214 homes were approved, with an additional 135 approved in FY-26 so far. Each new home constructed attracted an average of 2.9 people over the past five financial years, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.
New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $393,000. This financial year, $4.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Rest of NSW, Chisholm has 313.0% more new home approvals per person, offering buyers ample choice despite a slowdown in building activity in recent years. This high level of activity reflects strong developer confidence in the area. New building activity comprises 75.0% detached dwellings and 25.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes. This shift from the existing housing stock (currently 100.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options.
With around 32 people per dwelling approval, Chisholm exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate Chisholm will gain approximately 6,082 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Chisholm (NSW)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Chisholm has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 12 projects expected to impact the region. Notable projects are Chisholm Plaza, Sophia Waters Estate, Raymond Terrace Place Plan, and Sophia Waters Sportsground. The following details projects deemed most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Raymond Terrace Place Plan
Port Stephens Council is developing a Raymond Terrace Place Plan to replace the 2015 Raymond Terrace and Heatherbrae Strategy. The new plan responds to major infrastructure investment, housing reforms and shifting community priorities. It targets approximately 2,500 new dwellings with a focus on diverse housing types including townhouses, smaller units and affordable living options. The plan covers town centre revitalisation, public space improvements, safety and connectivity upgrades, and includes a Public Domain Plan for William Street and surrounding areas. Heatherbrae is being considered separately given its relationship to the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension by Transport for NSW.
Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041
The Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041 is a comprehensive framework adopted by Council in June 2023 and endorsed by the NSW Government in September 2024. It manages residential growth to accommodate a projected population increase of 54,800 residents by 2041, requiring approximately 25,200 additional dwellings. The strategy prioritises housing diversity, infill development, and the 15-minute neighbourhood concept, seeking to shift from a 90:10 greenfield-to-infill ratio toward the Hunter Regional Plan target of 20:80 by 2041. Implementation milestones include the Residential Density Guide placed on public exhibition in March 2025, and the East Maitland Catalyst Area Structure Plan endorsed for public exhibition in October 2025, estimating 4,000 new homes for that precinct alone.
Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project
A purpose-built 64-bed mental health facility on the Maitland Hospital campus. It features a transitional model of care with three inpatient units: low-secure and medium-secure forensic units, and a rehabilitation and recovery unit. Designed by Bates Smart, the facility includes single bedrooms with ensuites, shared therapy spaces, and nature-integrated outdoor areas. The project serves to relocate and expand forensic services from the Morisset Hospital campus to a contemporary setting. Construction officially commenced with a sod-turning ceremony on March 12, 2026, led by Richard Crookes Constructions.
East Maitland Catalyst Area Structure Plan
The East Maitland Catalyst Area (EMCA) Structure Plan is a 20-year strategic land use framework guiding population growth and infill development across East Maitland. The precinct extends from Victoria Street Station in the north, south to Metford Station, and south-west to Ashtonfield and Green Hills, anchored by the new Maitland Hospital, Maitland Private Hospital and Stockland Green Hills regional shopping centre. The draft plan proposes rezoning land from R1 General Residential to a mix of low, medium and high-density zones to accommodate around 4,000 new dwellings and 6,000 additional residents by 2045. It also outlines shop-top housing and secondary dwellings, upgrades to Metford Road, a new northern access at Metford Station, and a new or significantly upgraded primary school. A supporting infrastructure needs analysis identifies utilities and social infrastructure required to support growth. The draft was placed on public exhibition from 27 October to 24 November 2025 following endorsement at the 21 October 2025 council meeting; council is reviewing community feedback to inform the final plan. The work is funded through a grant from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure under the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund.
Stony Pinch Urban Development
A long-term conceptual urban transformation initiative covering the post-mining repurposing of the Bloomfield Colliery and adjoining landholdings southeast of Maitland in the Lower Hunter. The Stony Pinch Group is a consortium formed under a legal agreement between major landowners in the area - The Bloomfield Group, Ashtonfields and Yancoal (which acquired the adjoining Donaldson site) - to coordinate future land use and development outcomes across their combined holdings. Earlier conceptual structure planning referenced in Bloomfield's Modification 4 environmental assessment envisaged a substantial mixed-use precinct extending from John Renshaw Drive towards East Maitland, including residential, town centre, employment lands, and recreation, with significant bushland retention. The site sits within the Hunter Regional Plan 2041 'Four Mile Creek Precinct', which is identified for employment uses leveraging access to the M1 Pacific Motorway and rail, the repurposing of existing infrastructure to support transition to new uses, and the conservation of high environmental value lands. Bloomfield Colliery currently operates under Project Approval 07_0087 with mining permitted until 31 December 2030. A Modification 5 (Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project) is under assessment by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and the Commonwealth under the EPBC Act, seeking to extend mining to 31 December 2035, reduce the production rate to 0.9 Mtpa, and amend the approved final landform. The Environmental Impact Statement was on public exhibition from 22 April to 20 May 2025, and a Response to Submissions report was lodged in September 2025. The currently approved final land use is grazing pasture; any future urban development would require separate planning approvals through Maitland and Cessnock Councils and the NSW Government.
M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace
A 2.24 billion dollar, 15-kilometre dual carriageway motorway extension from Black Hill to Raymond Terrace, bypassing Hexham and Heatherbrae and finally fixing the Pacific Motorway's missing link. The northern 5-kilometre Heatherbrae Bypass is now complete, including the Raymond Terrace interchange, the Masonite Road overpass and the Windeyers Creek bridge. Work continues on the 10-kilometre southern section from Black Hill to Tomago, where 10 of 11 bridge decks have been poured and the 2.6-kilometre viaduct over the Hunter River, New England Highway and Main North Rail Line is taking shape with girders being installed over water. The full motorway is now on track to open in late 2026, more than a year ahead of the original 2028 schedule. The project includes four new interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago and Raymond Terrace, removes five sets of traffic lights, and is expected to cut up to 9 minutes from peak travel times. Jointly funded with 1.792 billion from the Albanese Government and 448 million from the Minns Government.
Chisholm Plaza
Chisholm Plaza is a $180 million neighbourhood shopping centre currently under construction in the Waterford Estate. The 15,000 sqm development is triple-anchored by Woolworths, Aldi, and Dan Murphys, and will include over 50 specialty stores. The precinct features a 112-place childcare centre, swim school, gym, medical centre, and a dining precinct with a tavern. The project targets a 4-star Green Star rating and will provide over 600 car spaces to support the growing Maitland region.
Sophia Waters Estate
Sophia Waters Estate is a major master-planned residential development in Chisholm near Maitland, featuring over 1500 planned dwellings across multiple stages. The estate emphasizes open spaces, extensive landscaping, and community amenities including a new $10 million Maitland Council sportsground scheduled for completion in late 2026. Located in the picturesque Hunter Valley with easy access to Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens.
Employment
Employment conditions in Chisholm rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally
Chisholm has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 1.0% as of December 2025. Over the past year, employment growth was estimated at 6.2%.
This rate is lower than Regional NSW's unemployment rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is higher at 82.0%. According to Census responses, 26.5% of residents work from home. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Mining has a particularly strong presence with an employment share twice the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.4%.
Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 6.2% while labour force increased by 6.2%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. In contrast, Regional NSW saw a decline in employment of 1.2% and labour force of 0.8%, with a slight increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chisholm's industry mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending 30 June 2023 shows that median income in Chisholm suburb is $68,549 and average income stands at $79,813. This contrasts with Regional NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year ending 30 June 2023, current estimates for Chisholm would be approximately $75,623 (median) and $88,050 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals that incomes in Chisholm rank highly nationally, between the 89th and 94th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income brackets indicate that 39.0% of locals (2,758 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, which is consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 29.9% in the same category. A substantial proportion of high earners (43.3%) are those earning above $3,000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout Chisholm. High housing costs consume 16.0% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 94th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Chisholm is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
In Chisholm, as per the latest Census evaluation, 99.6% of dwellings were houses, with 0.4% being other types such as semi-detached homes or apartments. This contrasts with Regional NSW's dwelling composition of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chisholm stood at 18.9%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 61.7% and rented dwellings making up 19.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Chisholm was $2,344, significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Chisholm was recorded at $550, compared to Regional NSW's figure of $330. Nationally, Chisholm's mortgage repayments were notably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Chisholm features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 92.2% of all households, including 56.5% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 7.8%, with lone person households at 6.6% and group households comprising 1.7%. The median household size is 3.2 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Chisholm shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators
Chisholm's educational attainment exceeds broader standards significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 27.3% hold university qualifications, compared to 15.2% in the SA4 region and 17.6% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 42.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 13.5% and certificates for 28.5%.
Educational participation is notably high, with 34.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 14.0% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Chisholm has 26 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 48 different routes, offering a total of 365 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents on average being 271 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transport, used by 98% of residents. On average, there are 2.0 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.
According to the 2021 Census, 26.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 52 trips per day, equating to roughly 14 weekly trips per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
The level of general health in Chisholm is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions
Chisholm demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.
The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 58% of the total population (4,132 people), compared to 51.9% across Regional NSW. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.1 and 8.1% of residents respectively. 73.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 9.3% of residents aged 65 and over (657 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
In terms of cultural diversity, Chisholm records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Chisholm's population was found to be approximately in line with the broader regional average regarding cultural diversity, with 84.1% born in Australia, 92.6% being citizens, and 87.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Chisholm, accounting for 60.7% of its population, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW as a whole. The top three ancestry groups in Chisholm are Australian (30.4%), English (29.4%), and Scottish (6.9%).
Notably, Korean ethnicity is overrepresented in Chisholm at 0.7%, compared to the regional average of 0.1%. Similarly, Indian ethnicity stands at 4.3% in Chisholm versus 0.6% regionally, and Welsh ethnicity is represented at 0.6% compared to 0.5% regionally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Chisholm hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
The median age in Chisholm is 32 years, which is notably lower than Regional NSW's average of 43 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Regional NSW, Chisholm has a higher concentration of residents aged 35-44 (20.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (6.0%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.3%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 1.6% to 2.7%. Conversely, the population aged 5 to 14 has declined from 19.0% to 17.1%. By 2041, Chisholm is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 35 to 44 group projected to grow by 90%, adding 1,292 people and reaching a total of 2,728 from the current figure of 1,435.