Farley vs Lochinvar

Farley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 40 in Lochinvar. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Farley, about half of households rent. In Lochinvar, the large majority of households own their home and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lochinvar: a median of $800,000, against $732,000 in Farley, though rent is higher in Farley. On these figures, Farley tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Lochinvar suits couples.

Lochinvar is the larger and more established community, with nearly double Farley's population and a median age of 40 compared to 30, suggesting a more settled demographic. Lochinvar also offers higher median household income at $118,924 versus $104,780, and scores notably better on liveability (50 versus 32) and walkability (26 versus 5). However, Farley has lower bushfire risk at 0 compared to Lochinvar's 21, and rental yields on houses are stronger at 4.2 percent. Rent is notably cheaper in Lochinvar at $370 per week, while house prices are slightly lower there too, though Farley's unit prices edge ahead. The choice depends on whether you prioritise a more walkable, established neighbourhood with better amenities, or a quieter, car-dependent area with lower environmental risk and stronger rental returns.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Lochinvar

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 67%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Lochinvar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($370/wk vs $440/wk)
  • But Farley has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 12%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Lochinvar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (26/100 vs 5/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (125 min vs 132 min)
  • But Farley sits closer to the CBD (172.5 km vs 177.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lochinvar

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (26/100 vs 5/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 10%)
  • But Farley has more units and townhouses to downsize into (33% vs 3%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Farley

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (177.5% vs 39.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Farley and Lochinvar drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Farley Lochinvar
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Farley Lochinvar
Walkability 5 / 26
Farley — Walkability: 5/100 Lochinvar — Walkability: 26/100
Safety 4 / 10
Farley — Safety: 4/100 Lochinvar — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 79
Farley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Lochinvar — Low fire risk: 79/100

Demographics

Lochinvar has more residents (1,095 vs 605); Lochinvar skews older (40 vs 30).

Farley Lochinvar
Population 605 1,095
+81% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +177.5% +39.7%
Median age 30 40
Median household income $104,780/yr $118,924/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+16% vs other
 $370/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Farley Lochinvar
0-4 8.9% / 7.9%
Farley — 0-4: 8.9% Lochinvar — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 12.9% / 13.9%
Farley — 5-14: 12.9% Lochinvar — 5-14: 13.9%
15-19 5.6% / 4.7%
Farley — 15-19: 5.6% Lochinvar — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 11.6% / 4.5%
Farley — 20-24: 11.6% Lochinvar — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 17.7% / 12.7%
Farley — 25-34: 17.7% Lochinvar — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 13.4% / 13.0%
Farley — 35-44: 13.4% Lochinvar — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 9.9% / 13.9%
Farley — 45-54: 9.9% Lochinvar — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 9.1% / 12.2%
Farley — 55-64: 9.1% Lochinvar — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 6.3% / 10.6%
Farley — 65-74: 6.3% Lochinvar — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 2.1% / 4.8%
Farley — 75-84: 2.1% Lochinvar — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 1.3% / 1.8%
Farley — 85+: 1.3% Lochinvar — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Farley 36.7% couple families
Farley — Couple Families: 36.7% Farley — Lone Person: 22.7% Farley — One Parent Families: 26.7% Farley — Group Household: 10.0% Farley — Other Families: 4.0%
Lochinvar 56.9% couple families
Lochinvar — Couple Families: 56.9% Lochinvar — Lone Person: 22.5% Lochinvar — One Parent Families: 15.0% Lochinvar — Group Household: 2.0% Lochinvar — Other Families: 3.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Farley 51.8% renting
Farley — Owned Outright: 19.1% Farley — Mortgage: 29.1% Farley — Renting: 51.8%
Lochinvar 12.0% renting
Lochinvar — Owned Outright: 34.7% Lochinvar — Mortgage: 53.2% Lochinvar — Renting: 12.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Farley Lochinvar
Certificate III & IV 18.8% / 21.6%
Farley — Certificate III & IV: 18.8% Lochinvar — Certificate III & IV: 21.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 7.3%
Farley — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Lochinvar — Bachelor Degree: 7.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 8.3%
Farley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Lochinvar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.4%
Farley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Lochinvar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%
Postgraduate Degree 0.5% / 1.7%
Farley — Postgraduate Degree: 0.5% Lochinvar — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Farley Lochinvar
England 1.5% / 1.7%
Farley — England: 1.5% Lochinvar — England: 1.7%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.4%
Farley — New Zealand: 0.7% Lochinvar — New Zealand: 1.4%
India 2.0% / —
Farley — India: 2.0% Lochinvar — India: not among its largest
South Africa 0.8% / —
Farley — South Africa: 0.8% Lochinvar — South Africa: not among its largest
Ireland 0.5% / —
Farley — Ireland: 0.5% Lochinvar — Ireland: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.5%
Farley — Germany: not among its largest Lochinvar — Germany: 0.5%
Indonesia — / 0.4%
Farley — Indonesia: not among its largest Lochinvar — Indonesia: 0.4%
Canada — / 0.4%
Farley — Canada: not among its largest Lochinvar — Canada: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Farley 67.3% houses
Farley — Houses: 67.3% Farley — Townhouses: 33.2% Farley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Lochinvar 97.0% houses
Lochinvar — Houses: 97.0% Lochinvar — Townhouses: 0.8% Lochinvar — Flats / Apartments: 2.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Farley Lochinvar
Median house price $732,500 $800,000
Median unit price $683,000 $657,500
Median land price $475,000 $440,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 30 sales
 48 days
from 83 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Farley Lochinvar
3 bed $705K / $775K
Farley — 3 bed: $705K (17 sales) Lochinvar — 3 bed: $775K (46 sales)

17 vs 46 sales

4 bed $750K / $820K
Farley — 4 bed: $750K (59 sales) Lochinvar — 4 bed: $820K (155 sales)

59 vs 155 sales

5 bed $1.03M / $974K
Farley — 5 bed: $1.03M (6 sales) Lochinvar — 5 bed: $974K (26 sales)

6 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Farley has more rural and farming land (75% vs 62%).

Farley Lochinvar
Rural and farming 75% 62%
Residential 12% 28%
Environmental 12% 3%
Industrial 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Farley Lochinvar
New dwellings approved 1,413
across Maitland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +20%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Farley Lochinvar
Houses 4.2%
$630/wk on $785K
 3.4%
$670/wk on $1.01M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Farley Lochinvar
House price Higher than 13% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Income Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 83% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 89% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 46% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 84% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 57% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 81% of NSW Higher than 42% of NSW

Liveability

Lochinvar is more walkable (26 vs 5); Lochinvar scores higher overall (49 vs 32).

Farley Lochinvar
Grade C B
Score 32/100 49/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Lochinvar carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0).

Farley Lochinvar
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
21/100
Crime High
96/100
 High
90/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Farley Lochinvar
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Farley

  • Hunter Trade College Independent · Secondary

Schools in Lochinvar

  • Lochinvar Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Patrick's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Farley Lochinvar
Parks & reserves 0 2
Childcare 0 4
GPs 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Waterways 2 8

Mobility

Lochinvar sits further from the CBD (177.2 km vs 172.5 km).

Farley Lochinvar
Walkability score 5/100 26/100
Distance to Sydney 172.5 km 177.2 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 132 min 125 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2320
 0.6%
postcode 2321
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 2320
 69
postcode 2321

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Farley Lochinvar
Car (driver) 78.5% / 70.3%
Farley — Car (driver): 78.5% Lochinvar — Car (driver): 70.3%
Worked from Home 16.5% / 23.4%
Farley — Worked from Home: 16.5% Lochinvar — Worked from Home: 23.4%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.1%
Farley — Car (passenger): 3.7% Lochinvar — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 1.2% / 2.3%
Farley — Walked Only: 1.2% Lochinvar — Walked Only: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.5%).

Setting

Farley Lochinvar
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.1 km 33.3 km

NBN connectivity

Farley Lochinvar
Connectivity score 92/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 88%
686 premises
 72%
1,323 premises

Climate

Farley Lochinvar
Annual rainfall 996 mm 804 mm
Summer max (Jan) 30.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.1°C 5.1°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Farley Lochinvar
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Farley Lochinvar
Average residential rate $1,908/yr
same for both
Council Maitland
same for both

Federal electorate

Farley Lochinvar
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Farley Lochinvar
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Farley

Rural Townhouses Young Families

Lochinvar

Acreage

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Farley

Farley vs Rutherford Farley vs Gillieston Heights Farley vs Telarah Farley vs Bishops Bridge

Other comparisons with Lochinvar

Lochinvar vs Rutherford Lochinvar vs Windella Lochinvar vs Bishops Bridge Lochinvar vs Luskintyre Lochinvar vs Oswald Lochinvar vs Allandale
Full data on Farley Full data on Lochinvar
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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