Chart Color Schemes
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.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Population
An assessment of population growth drivers in East Maitland reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends
Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the suburb of East Maitland's population is estimated at around 12,227 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 367 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 11,860. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 12,201 residents following examination of ABS's latest ERP data release in June 2025 and an additional 179 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 767 persons per square kilometer. East Maitland's growth rate of 3.1% since census positions it within 1.8 percentage points of the Rest of NSW (4.9%). Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 57.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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. Considering projected demographic shifts, an above median population growth is projected for locations outside capital cities. The suburb of East Maitland is expected to grow by 1,961 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 15.8% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in East Maitland according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
East Maitland recorded approximately 30 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years up to FY-25. This totals an estimated 153 homes. In FY-26, 33 approvals have been recorded so far. On average, 1.1 people moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25.
The average construction value of new properties is $516,000. There were $12.2 million in commercial approvals this financial year. Compared to Rest of NSW, East Maitland has 79.0% lower building activity per person. New development consists of 54.0% detached dwellings and 46.0% townhouses or apartments. The estimated population growth by 2041 is 1,935 residents.
Looking ahead, East Maitland is expected to grow by 1,935 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around East Maitland
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
East Maitland has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that could impact this area. Notable projects include the Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project, East Maitland Catalyst Area Structure Plan, Stony Pinch Urban Development, 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.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
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.
New Maitland Hospital
A $470 million state-of-the-art 339-bed hospital featuring emergency care, maternity services, paediatric care, surgical services, chemotherapy chairs, and a rooftop helipad. The seven-storey, 50,000 square metre facility provides 150 additional beds and treatment spaces compared to the previous hospital, serving the growing health needs of the Maitland and Hunter Valley communities. Built on a decommissioned brick quarry site with contemporary design, the hospital includes critical care, mental health services, cardiac catheterisation, palliative care, outpatient clinics and dental services.
Stockland Green Hills Expansion
A $414 million expansion that doubled the size of the shopping centre to 74,000 square metres, adding a second level with over 220 specialty stores including David Jones, H&M, Target, JB Hi-Fi, and The Courtyard outdoor dining precinct with LED light trees. The development features 3,125 car parking spaces and represents the largest retail redevelopment completed in Australia in 2018.
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
While East Maitland retains a healthy unemployment rate of 3.6%, recent employment declines have impacted its national performance ranking
East Maitland has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.6% as of December 2025. This rate is 0.3% lower than Regional NSW's rate of 3.9%.
Workforce participation in East Maitland is similar to Regional NSW at 60.5%. According to Census responses, 22.5% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a significant mining industry with an employment share twice the regional level.
Agriculture, forestry & fishing have limited presence at 1.0%, compared to 5.3% regionally. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census data. Over the year ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.5% and employment declined by 0.5%, leaving unemployment broadly flat. In comparison, Regional NSW saw employment fall by 1.2%, labour force contract by 0.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest East Maitland's employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
The suburb of East Maitland had a median income among taxpayers of $51,931 and an average income of $63,768 in the financial year 2023, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are lower than national averages for Regional NSW, which stood at $52,390 median and $65,215 average respectively during the same period. By March 2026, estimates based on a 10.32% Wage Price Index growth suggest median income will be approximately $57,290 and average income around $70,349 in East Maitland. Census data from 2021 shows incomes in East Maitland rank modestly, between the 30th and 37th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income analysis reveals that 29.5% of the population (3,606 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, similar to the metropolitan region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in East Maitland, with only 82.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
East Maitland is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
East Maitland's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 74.5% houses and 25.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Regional NSW had 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Maitland was 30.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.6% and rented ones at 37.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Regional NSW's average. The median weekly rent was $330, matching Regional NSW's figure. Nationally, East Maitland's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
East Maitland features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 64.2% of all households, including 24.9% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households making up 2.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
East Maitland shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist
The area's university qualification rate is 20.1%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.4%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 29.3%. Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.2% in primary, 7.6% in secondary, and 4.3% in tertiary education.
Educational participation is notably high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 4.3% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
East Maitland has 176 active public transport stops operating, consisting of both train and bus services. These stops are served by 152 individual routes, together facilitating 5,960 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility to these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 137 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents in this primarily residential area commute outward, with cars being the dominant mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 22.5% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
The service frequency averages 851 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop. A map accompanying this analysis displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centrepoint.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in East Maitland is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
East Maitland faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment.
The prevalence of common health conditions is high among both younger and older age groups, with mental health issues affecting 12.3% of residents and arthritis impacting 10.3%. Notably, 60.4% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. The area has a higher rate of private health cover at approximately 52% of the total population (~6,377 people), which is slightly above the average SA2 area's rate. The working-age population in East Maitland faces considerable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. As of 2021, 21.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (2,604 people), which is lower than the 23.4% figure for Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
East Maitland is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
East Maitland's population shows low cultural diversity, with 91.3% being citizens, 90.3% born in Australia, and 94.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, at 56.6%, slightly higher than Regional NSW's 55.9%. Top ancestral groups are English (32%), Australian (30.7%), and Irish (9%).
Notable differences include Welsh (0.7% vs regional 0.5%), Australian Aboriginal (4.5% vs 4.6%), and Samoan (0.2% vs 0.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
East Maitland's population is slightly older than the national pattern
The median age in East Maitland is 40 years, which is slightly below Regional NSW's average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 14.1% of the population in East Maitland, higher than Regional NSW's average, while those aged 65-74 comprise 10.4%, lower than the regional average. Between the 2021 Census and now, the proportion of people aged 25 to 34 has increased from 13.1% to 14.1%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 45 to 54 has decreased from 12.9% to 11.8%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest significant demographic shifts in East Maitland. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 510 people (30%), reaching 2,235 from the current 1,724. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 15-24 age groups are expected to experience population declines.