Metford

Metford is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Metford is around 4,730, reflecting an increase of 23 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,707. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 4,728 following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of 7 new addresses since the Census date. The current density ratio is 1,954 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed approximately 56.99999999999999% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch projections for Metford are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for areas not covered by ABS data.

These projections indicate an above median population growth for regional areas nationwide, with Metford expected to increase by 618 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.0% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Metford is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Metford's development activity is very limited with an average of 2 approvals per year over the five-year period from 2016 to 2020, totalling 11 dwellings. This low level of development is typical in rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is constrained by local demand and infrastructure capacity. It's important to note that the small sample size can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Metford shows considerably less construction activity, with development levels also below national averages. The new development consists of 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 84.0% houses. This change suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Metford has approximately 1057 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Metford is projected to gain 616 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Metford has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects that may impact this region. Notable projects are Stony Pinch Urban Development, Sophia Waters Sportsground, Ashtonfield Public School Upgrade, and Sophia Waters Estate. Relevant details follow.

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

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Employment drivers in Metford are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Metford has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 6.5% as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there were 2,188 employed residents, with an unemployment rate at 3.9%, which is 2.5% higher than Regional NSW's rate.

Workforce participation in Metford matches Regional NSW's figure of 61.3%. According to Census responses, 14.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Manufacturing is particularly specialized with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.1% of Metford's workforce compared to 5.3% in Regional NSW. The predominantly residential area appears to have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, labour force decreased by 1.3%, while employment declined by 1.5%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 1.2% employment decline and a 0.8% labour force decline, with a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years for national employment. Applying these projections to Metford's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 indicates that Metford's median income is $50,329 and average income stands at $61,852. This is lower than national averages of $52,390 (median) and $65,215 (average). By September 2025, based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86%, median income in Metford would be approximately $54,788 and average income would be around $67,332. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes rank at the 34th percentile, family incomes at the 34th percentile, and personal incomes also at the 34th percentile in Metford. The predominant earnings cohort consists of 37.4% (1,769 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999 annually. This is similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% fall within this income range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Metford, with only 81.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 32nd percentile nationally.

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

Metford's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.2% houses and 15.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Metford was at 24.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.3% and rented ones at 38.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Metford was $1,625, below Regional NSW's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in Metford was $350, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Metford's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Metford features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 71.5% of all households, including 27.3% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 16.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.5%, consisting of 24.3% lone person households and 4.2% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.

Metford faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 11.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (34.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.2% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Metford has 37 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 56 unique routes, facilitating 4,459 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents located an average of 168 meters from the nearest stop. Predominantly residential, most Metford residents commute outward, with cars being the primary mode of transport at 94%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 14.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Daily service frequency across all routes averages 637 trips, equating to roughly 120 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Metford is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Metford faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low, at approximately 51% of the total population (~2,432 people). The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (14.4%) and asthma (10.4%). Conversely, 58.2% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 13.9% of residents aged 65 and over (657 people), lower than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Metford's cultural diversity was below average, with 89.9% born in Australia, 91.6% being citizens, and 92.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 54.7%, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Top ancestry groups were Australian (30.8%), English (30.4%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.1%).

Polish, Samoan, and Maori groups were notably overrepresented in Metford compared to regional averages.

Metford's population is younger than the national pattern

Metford's median age is 35 years, which is significantly below the Regional NSW average of 43 and somewhat younger than the Australian median of 38. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Metford at 17.6%, compared to the Regional NSW average, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 4.0%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 15.7% to 17.6% of Metford's population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.7% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 14.2% to 12.8%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.2% to 11.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that Metford's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 26%, adding 220 residents to reach 1,053. Meanwhile, both the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.